The commercial intercourse between the north of Africa and the kingdoms of Europe is extremely 11. mited and fluctuating ; and the treaties, which have been formed, at different periods, between the trading nations of Christendom and the piratical states of Barbary, were intended rather for securing protec tion from the African corsairs, than for promoting a mutual exchange of commodities. The instability and tyranny of the several governments in Barbary must still be regarded, as an almost insuperable ob stacle to the industry of the natives, and to the con fidence of foreigners. The wants of the inhabitants also are few and simple ; and those habits of luxury, which are the great springs of commerce, are either altogether unknown among them, or, at least, re strained from open indulgence, by the lawless acts of extortion to which every opulent individual is inva; riably exposed. The little foreign traffic, which the people, or rather the rulers, of Barbary do carry on, has been chiefly engrossed, of late years, by the French, Americans, and British. The principal ar ticles imported into the north of Africa, are, broad. cloths, linens, muslins, silks, metals, hardware, mir rors, sugar, tea, gun-powder, and Mexico dollars; and those hitherto exported are, gums, almonds, dates, aromatic seeds, ivory, leather, hides, ostrich feathers, olive-oil, wax, and wool : The former, it is to be observed, are chiefly manufactured goods, and the latter, raw materials, of the most essential use in the manufactories of our own country. It has, there fore, been strongly urged by those, who are most competent to judge of the subject, that a close con nection between Great Britain and Barbary might be of the very greatest advantage, both in a commercial and political point of view ; that it would provide a most abundant supply of provisions for our fleets in the Mediterranean, and our troops at Gibraltar ; as well as open a way for our manufactures into the very heart of Africa. It has likewise been shewn,
that the northern states of that country are more in clined, than ever, to encourage such an intercourse ; and that nothing is wanting to establish it on a solid foundation, than proper attention and respect on the part of the British government, and especially the appointment of agents well acquainted with the lan guage and manners of the people. It has also been suggested, that the inhabitants of South Barbary, in particular, are very favourably disposed towards the British ; that a purchase might be made from the Emperor of Morocco of his most distant and disaf fected province of Suse ; that at least, in consequence of his alliance, a British factory might be established at Agadeer (Santa Cruz), which would afford secu rity both to the African and European trader, ac custom the natives to the appearance and inanwrs of foreign residents, become in a short time the empo rium of Barbary and Soudan, and open a path for the progress of civilization and knowledge over these extensive regions of barbarity and ignorance. See Letters from Barbary, &c. Abb6 Poiret's Travels in Barbary. Shaw's Travels in Barbary. Chenier's State of Morocco. Lempriere's Tour to Morocco. Bruce's Travels, vol. i. Jackson's Account of Mo , rocco. Mod. Univ. Mist. vols. xviii. and xliii. (a)