To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Barclay, 24 February 1792
From Thomas Barclay
Gibraltar, 24 Feb. 1792. He wrote to TJ yesterday. A vessel just arrived from Tangier brings nothing that might clarify the situation in Morocco.—If the expedition from Cadiz mentioned in one of the enclosed letters has actually sailed, it must be headed south because none of its vessels has appeared in the Bay of Algazires.—Spain has strictly forbidden all communication between this garrison and the Spanish court “except one by water for letters.”—[P.S.] This day he received a 27 Jan. letter from Joseph Chiappe of Mogadore saying that circumstances prevented him from giving Barclay more than a general description of the unsettled state of Morocco. Some time before this Chiappe sent a messenger to dissuade Barclay from appearing before the Emperor at Mogadore. Nine days after leaving the messenger returned to Mogadore “plundered of every thing.”
RC (DNA: RG 59, CD); 2 p.; at foot of text: “(No. 7)” and “By Captain Baird to Philadelphia”; endorsed by TJ as received 10 Apr. 1792 and so recorded in SJL. Enclosures: (1) Extract of letter from Swedish Consul, Tangier, 22 Feb. 1792, stating that there were uncorroborated reports that the Emperor entered Morocco on 2 Feb. 1792 and caused widespread plundering and loss of life. (2) Extract of letter from Venetian Consul, Tangier, 23 Feb. 1792, stating that there were no confirmed reports of new developments in Morocco. (3) Extract of letter from Venetian Consul, Cadiz, undated, stating that the whereabouts of the Spanish fleet would soon be known. Dupl (same); at foot of text: “(No. 7)” and “Original by Captain Baird this by Cadiz”.