The
author of these letters (which may be contemporary Copy letters rather than
originals) was British Consul in Tangier at a fraught period in Anglo-Moroccan
relations. In normal times, Morocco - just across the Strait of Gibraltar - was a
source of fresh food for the garrison and people of Gibraltar. During periods
of conflict with Spain over the sovereignty of Gibraltar and notably during the
Great Siege ( 24 June 1779 to 7 February 1783) Morocco had strong motives to remain neutral,
thus allowing it to trade with all sides – in the Great Siege France was allied
with Spain - but equally had motives to
seek most favoured nation agreements with one side. When these letters were
written, Morocco was officially neutral despite the incidents they describe; but
just a few months later the writer Charles Logie was expelled from Tangier and obliged to cross
the Strait to Gibraltar with other British residents of the port. A former
Moroccan ambassador to London, Mohammed Belmahi, described what was going on as
follows in a 2015 lecture:
“.Massa'ud de la Mar was
a Moroccan Jew trading in Amsterdam. Appointed in 1782 diplomatic Envoy to
London, he delivered a letter from Sultan Mohammed III to King George III
concerning Morocco's official decision to expel the British Consul-General,
Charles Logie from Tangier. In his letter, the Sultan stated that he "had
expelled Logie because the Consul-General was a cheat, and because he, the
Sultan, had had bad reports about him." …. The political explanation of
why Logie was expelled is that Morocco made an agreement with England's
traditional enemy, Spain, to let this country's fleet have exclusive use of
both the ports of Tangier and Larache, during one single year (1781). As a
compensation, Spain would return 100 Moroccan captives and pay a given amount
of money. Because Consul-General Logie would counter this agreement, he and
twenty other British Subjects were forced to leave Tangier for Gibraltar, on 28
December 1780. Once the one-year deal with Spain had expired, the Sultan
instructed his Envoy, de la Mar, to forward a message to King George, inviting
him to replace Logie by appointing a new Consul-General”.
For material related to
this post, see on this site
https://www.otherpeoplesletters.com/2026/07/our-man-in-genoa-and-great-siege-of.html
I have been unable to find out more about "Angelo's boat".
Transcription
of First Letter
Addressed
to: To His Excellency The Rt Hble Grl Geo Augs Eliott
Datelined:
Tangier 20th June 1780
No
outer wrapper; docketing note Tangier Consul Logie 20th June 80
Rd.[Replied]10th July
Sir
Occupied
in remonstrating to The Emperor against a Manifest Breach of the Laws of
Nations & Neutrality of His Port, I have not time to answer Your
Excellency’s Letter of the 13th inst.
The
subject of Complaint is the Admitting of the Enemy to send on the 17 Inst an
armd Boat out of the Mole to take off our ships from under the Batterys of This
Town and within Musket shot of the shore. The vessel, supposing the Boat came
off to give him assistance & to Pilot him in, admitted him alongside, when
the Enemy fired into him, wounded a man, and took possession of the ship, - and
this after I had repeatedly sent to the Governor to say that the Boat was gone
out with that Intent, and that I demanded Protection.
I
have explained to the Emperor that we are not to put up with such usage, - that
the Answer with immediate Restitution was what I had every reason to suppose
the King my Master will expect from him as well as strict orders to the
Governors of His sea port Towns to see that the Laws of Nations and Neutrality
of Ports were not violated.
The
ship taken is like a Collier, the Master of the sloop says that she was at
Portsmouth when he sailed, loaded with Coals for the Garrison [at Gibraltar]
– The Enemy say she’s loaded with Butteer – Her Crew consists of 14 men.
I
have the Honour to be Sir Your Excellencys Most Obedt Humbe Servt
Charles Logie
*
Transcription of Second Letter
Tangier
27th June 1780
Addressed to: The Rt. Honble Genl Geo Augs Eliott
Datelined: Tangier 27th June 1780
No
outer wrapper; docketing note Tangier Consul Logie 27th June 80.
Rd [Replied] 10th July
Sir
I
am honoured with Your Excellys Letter of the 13th
Instant, my motive for not Selling the Live Stock on the publick Account is
that they have been Offerd in the Publick Market and the highest price bid for
them has not Exceeded from ten to fourteen Cobbs, owing to the Season of the
Year and the number of Cruizers the Enemy have in this Port, Stoping the
Exportation of Cattle &c [ as part of the siege and blockade of
Gibraltar ] the Expence of Keeping is four reals p[er]. month each
Bullock, if Sold at the present Market price more than half of the first Cost
must be sunk and the Expence of keeping them to the Season of the Year they
were purchased when they will sell for what they stand the Government in if not
more will not amount to three Cobbs p. heads. Sixteen of the Sheep has been
sold for four Cobbs each.
Inclosed
Your Excelly has Copy of the Letter I was employed writing to the
Emperor when I wrote on the 20th instant, he has sent no answer to
the Letter I wrote him the 17th May regarding the taking of Angelo’s
Boat off the Shore [ this may have been a small boat used to cross the
Strait to Gibraltar].
I
hope your Excelly will do me the Justice to point out the Objections
to the Accounts, that I may have it in my power to produce the necessary Proofs
that will place them in their true light
and Satisfy Your Excelly that it was out of my power to have
Conducted that Service with a Strickter Attention or more Aeconomy
I
have the Honour to be / Sir / Your Excellency’s Most Obedient and Most Humble
Servt / Charles Logie
Roy
and Lesley Adkins, Gibraltar the Greatest Siege in British History (2017)
https://discoveringtangier.wordpress.com/2017/07/30/el-consulado-britanico-un-edificio-olvidado-de-la-medina-de-tanger/
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