Mr. De Long to Mr. Seward.

No. 9.]

Sir: I have the honor to inform you that previous to the Moorish minister having taken any active steps, the viceroy, Prince Muley Abbas, on hearing of the tumult at the American consulate on the 26th of February last, immediately, and of his own free voluntary act, sent his lieutenant governor with soldiers to suppress the mob, and with instructions to render me all the assistance in his power.

Not hearing from my government, I felt it my duty, upon the receipt of this information, to tender to the prince my thanks; which I did in person and by letter, copy of which is herewith enclosed.

In my interview with him I spent over an hour, which time was unusual, but he detained me making inquiries about our civil war and the country generally.

The prince left next day for Tetuan, and from his camp near that place addressed me an autograph letter; a translation of which, made by one of the first oriental scholars in this country, is herewith enclosed.

The perusal of this document will, I trust, prove as satisfactory to my government as it is grateful to my feelings, and that it will tend to convince them that the statements so unscrupulously made by Mr. Layard, in the English Parliament, and reported in some of the European papers, were as unfounded as they were untrue.

I have the honor to be, sir, your most obedient and humble servant,

JAMES DE LONG.

Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State.

[Untitled]

Honored and Esteemed Friend: I was yesterday informed, for the first time, that on the 26th of February last, when the armed mob of Europeans, of my own race and religion, surrounded the United States consulate to offer an indignity and insult to the American flag, you promptly ordered soldiers, accompanied by your lieutenant governor, to come to my relief and to sustain the honor of our national ensign.

For which act, done by you without solicitation upon my part, I therefore embrace the earliest opportunity after the receipt of this information, to tender to you on behalf of the President of the United States, as well as on my own account, our highest consideration and regard. This, together with other acts of kindness that have been extended to me by the authorities and subjects of his Majesty, your worthy brother, the Emperor of Morocco, since my arrival here, has planted in my bosom feelings of attachment for yourself and your people which neither time nor distance can eradicate from my mind, and which feelings I shall carry with me to the grave. And it would give me great pleasure and satisfaction if time and opportunity would permit you to visit the United States; thus enable you to see the growing greatness of our country, and to receive the hospitality of our people.

I am proud to say that for seventy-six years, being the period of our first treaty, relations between your government and that of the United States have been of the most friendly character, trusting in the providence of God that it may always so continue.

[Page 879]

In conclusion, I avail myself of this opportunity to wish your highness health and happiness, and at the same time with hearty prayers for the prosperity of your country.

I have the honor to be your royal highness’s most obedient and humble servant,

JAMES DE LONG, United States Consul.

The Viceroy, Prince Muley Abbas.

[Translation.]

PRAISE TO THE ONE GOD.

To the clever and wise gentleman, consul general for the American nation, James De Long, esq., which premised :

We continue to make inquiries regarding your welfare, and praying God that you are well. We are deeply penetrated with the expressions of gratitude made use of at your interview with us, as well as in the communication addressed to us in your own name, as well as on behalf of your government for the aid and assistance we rendered you in removing the insults offered to you by the christian subjects who surrounded the consular residence, thus offering insult and indignity to the American flag.

Such aid on our part is no more than an act of duty, and one of right, arising out of the uninterrupted reciprocity of friendship which has existed between the two nations from the time of our ancestors. We dislike that any one should be insulted in our country, and when within our power to protect, we protect them till it results with satisfaction to themselves as well as with maintenance to their honor.

Our officers in rendering you this assistance, and in protecting the United States consulate, have but followed the same line of friendly conduct hitherto exercised towards your government. We desire not that either injury or insult should accrue to you or the American nation, a nation known and acknowledged as she universally is for her goodness, as well as remembered by ourselves for the close intimacy and peculiar friendship once existing between her and our ancestors.

It gives me satisfaction to add that you, in virtue of your office, have conducted this affair with a clearness of judgment and honesty of purpose, and at the same time with such firmness and moderation as to have contracted honor for your country. Persons like you deserve to be the representatives of their nation. The good man is he who acknowledges the goodness done to them by others. I can say that from the first day we had intercourse with you we failed not to remark your wisdom and refinement, and considered you in the highest degree characterized by firmness, truth, and honesty.

We request you to express to your government our sentiments of good will towards them, and to assure them that the friendship once so intimately existing between us, not only still exists and continues, but on our part has become confirmed and consolidated by time, and that we heartily wish them the victory (victorious as they always are) over those who have rebelled against them and peace.


EL ABBAS, Son of the Prince of the Believers.

May he rest in glory.