The Governor of Tetuan writes to the Governor of Gibraltar 1791

 

For several generations the Ash Ash family, originating from Moors expelled from Spain, provided the Governors of Tetuan within the Moroccan state. This autograph letter lacks the outer wrapper within which it was enclosed as also the letter from “His Imperial Majesty” but it does not appear to be a copy letter.

There are three points of interest. Ash Ash could have dictated this letter which is caligraphically and stylistically well  within English written norms of the period but he may have written it himself. He is forwarding a letter written in Arabic which implies that the Governor of Gibraltar would have had access to a translator; that should have been no problem in multi-ethnic and multi-lingual Gibraltar. Thirdly, it identifies a person “Patron Chicardo” who was trusted to carry diplomatic messages by land and sea. Gibraltar still has a street named “Chicardo’s Passage” which suggests that in the past a Chicardo was of some prominence, perhaps as a merchant. But I cannot get any biography for “Patron Chicardo”.

Click to enlarge

Transcription

Outer address wrapper missing

Docketing note:  1791 6 5     9 March Governor of Tangier   Tetuan with the Emperor’s Letter

Addressed to: His Exc^y. Rob^t  Boyd Esq^r  [Governor of Gibraltar]

Tetuan 9 th March 1791

May it please your Excy to receive the Enclosed letter wrote in Harraback [Arabic] which I received yesterday from His Imperial Majesty my Master whom God Preserve & with orders to send it to Your Excy which I have done by Patron Chicardo and hope you will receive it safe & if your Excy should have any Command in this Place & will be pleased to lay them on me shall always be very ready to Serve you.

I am Excy Sir Your Excellys Most Humble & Obed Serv^t

[ Lines of  Arabic script precedes signature in English] Hadge Abdirhaman Ash Ash [modern spelling more often: Abd ar-Rahman Ash'ash ],

 

References