Note 60 — Chapter VI · CEUTA.

“Some of our contemporaries have described in vivid language, the danger to the balance of power, of the French possessions extended along the northern coast of Africa in such a manner as to give France the command of that important part of the shores of the Mediterranean; but we hope that the alarm which exists on this subject will not cause the advantages which the civilized world might reap from the Algerine expedition to be altogether abandoned. It will be a common disgrace to Christendom, if the splendid expedition which has now sailed for Africa is obliged, after giving a temporary check to the insolence of the pirates, to leave that quarter of the world to barbarism, because the powers of Europe are all envious of the prosperity of one another. * * * If the French expedition succeeds, the formation of establishments on the coast of Africa under the guarantee of the great Powers, to which all Europeans should have a right to resort, but with such privileges secured to France as would repay her the expense of the conquest, might not be impossible. At any rate, we are convinced that the present French government, whatever its defects may be, is not grasping or dishonest, and that a just arrangement for securing to Europe collectively the benefit of the civilization of the north of Africa, if not rendered impracticable by the jealousies of other governments, will not be obstructed by the ambition of France.

“We confess that, considering the length of time, &c., we had rather see such a colony established in Africa, without any precaution on the part of the other European Powers, than to see Algiers, if once conquered, again abandoned to its barbarous rulers.”—Globe, May 20th, 1830.