The Life and Adventures of Bruce, the African TravellerHead, Francis Bond, Sir
History
The Life and Adventures of Bruce, the African Traveller
Head, Francis Bond, Sir
Bruce, James, 1730-1794; Ethiopia -- Description and travel
Previous to the arrival of Bruce's successor, the dey caused a letter to
be written to his Britannic majesty, to complain that a party of
Algerine soldiers had been captured off Gibraltar by the Spaniards, in
consequence of secret intelligence of their approach having been given
to the Spanish commander by the British garrison. The above statement is
necessary in order to explain the following translation of this most
curious letter.
"MUSTAPHA HAN.
ALLY, Son of Mohammed, God protect him.
"The help of the helpers and guard of kings, mighty king, the most
merciful, with the help of God at Mecca--commander of the whole
Mohammedans under God! God preserve the king!
"King of land and sea--king, son of king, the king of mercy,
Mustapha Han, may God maintain his glory and his kingdom for
ever--Sovereign lord of my country, also of the west! Ally Bacha,
God fulfil his desires, to his most sacred majesty King George the
third--God grant him long life and _our love_.
"King, defender of Christian faith, king of England, France, and
Ireland, our beloved, great, and noble friend whom God prosper, may
God direct you to do good to me, and may you enjoy your crown for
ever, and our friendship for ever, amen.
"The love and friendship, I continue: now what I beg from your
majesty in the name of God the most mighty, always in mutual
friendship, and pray God to continue our friendship till death,
which that's certain.
"Now, I beg your majesty will listen to what I am going to say
without fail. My great beloved friend, the foundation of this
letter is Athebeck, from my dominions with a parcel of soldiers
when they came below Gibraltar the people in the garrison gave
notice to the Spaniards, and they took 'em, and this treachery
cannot subsist between us. Now, I beg your majesty will do us
justice, and pray God preserve your majesty, and may our friendship
continue for ever. Amen.
"Allgier,
Ally Basha,
the 22d of month
Ramazan, in the year
1178, Dettusura."
(Which corresponds with the
16th of March, 1765.)
As soon as it was known that a consul was coming from England to succeed
Bruce, the effect was produced which he had apprehended; for every one
pretended to consider that it was in consequence of the King of
England's disapprobation of his conduct. Bruce was therefore treated
with great indignity. The cruelties, indeed, of the dey seemed to
increase with his age. In a single morning, seventeen Turks were seized
and strangled in his presence; he even condemned to death his own
brother; and for every trifling complaint brought before him, he
prescribed King Richard's remedy of "Off with his head!"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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