After the plague had subsided, a murrain attacked the cattle, and
great numbers of all kinds died; so that they became reduced in the
same proportion as the race of man had been reduced before.
_Letter from His Excellency James M. Matra to Mr. Jackson_.
Gibraltar, 28th Oct. 1799.
Dear Jackson;
Within a few days of each other, I received your packets of the
164 21st of September, and 8th instant. Their inclosures are of course
taken care of. Your letter about Soke Assa was received, and sent
home to government ages ago.
I never could understand the drift of the people either at Tangier
or Mogodor, in asserting that my report of the plague was
political. God knows, that our politics in Barbary are never
remarkable for refinement: they are, if any thing, rather too much
in the John Bull style; and the finesse they gave me such credit
for, was absolutely beyond my comprehension, as I never could
discover what advantage a genuine well-established plague in
Barbary could be to our country. Of its existence I had not the
shadow of doubt, for more than eight months before it was talked
of; and when Doctor Bell was going that way, I begged of him to be
particular in his enquiries, which he, as usual, neglected. When
John Salmon[124] was up, he was _very particular_, and _I_ of
course was laughed at. _Here_ I saw politics, and told all the
gentlemen, that when Salmon[125] arrived at Tariffa, then, and not
till then, we should have the plague in Barbary; and just so it
turned out.
[Footnote 124: John Salmon was Spanish envoy to the emperor of
Marocco, and was at this time up at Fas, _i.e._ on his
embassy.]
[Footnote 125: Arrived at Tariffa, and so secured his admission
into Spain on his return from his embassy.]
165
I am confident, if my advice had been taken, the disease might have
been checked in the beginning; for it was almost three quarters of
a year confined to _old_ Fas. I wrote in the most pressing manner
to Ben Ottoman[126], who never believed me. A few days before he
was seized with it, he wrote me a melancholy letter for advice, and
pathetically lamented that he had not listened to me in time; and I
suppose that even Broussonet[127] believed me when he embarked. I
hope your opinion that it diminishes with you will prove well
founded; but I fear its ravages are only suspended by the great
heats; besides, you should recollect that people cannot die twice,
and with a population so diminished, you must not expect so many as
formerly on your daily dead-list. Mrs. M., who desires her
remembrance to you, is well, but barring plague, would rather be at
Tangier than Gibraltar; so would I.
Ever truly thine,