Note (return) — THE PLAGUE

I never could understand the drift of the people either at Tangier or Mogodor, in asserting that my report of the plague was political. God knows, that our politics in Barbary are never remarkable for refinement: they are, if any thing, rather too much in the John Bull style; and the finesse they gave me such credit for, was absolutely beyond my comprehension, as I never could discover what advantage a genuine well-established plague in Barbary could be to our country. Of its existence I had not the shadow of doubt, for more than eight months before it was talked of; and when Doctor Bell was going that way, I begged of him to be particular in his enquiries, which he, as usual, neglected. When John Salmon 124 was up, he was very particular, and I of course was laughed at. Here I saw politics, and told all the gentlemen, that when Salmon 125 arrived at Tariffa, then, and not till then, we should have the plague in Barbary; and just so it turned out.