Description:

James Matra
Tangier, Morocco, ca. 1804
Captain Cook Shipmate 35pp Archive Re: Napoleon, Egypt & the Jews, "I can command the Services of the Jewish Priesthood in Morocco"
Archive
James Mario Matra (ca. 1746-1806). Archive of nine letters to John Pratt, 2nd Earl Camden, 34pp, 8" x 12.75", Tangier, ca. 1804. In this series of letters to Secretary of State for War and the Colonies Earl Camden, British Consul Matra reports on affairs in Morocco during the reign of Mulay Suleiman. After a brief respite, warfare between the United Kingdom and France again erupted in May 1803, when the British declared war. Expected folds and creases; general toning; some edge tears; else, in very good condition.

This small but rich archive includes many details about Anglo-Moroccan relations during the War of the Third Coalition against France. Especially interesting are Consul Matra's observations on relations between Morocco and the United States, including the character of the Englishman who served as the American Consul there.

As British Consul in Tangier, Matra supported the British Royal Navy with supplies and intelligence on the movement of forces in the Mediterranean. He corresponded regularly with admirals of the British Mediterranean fleet and mediated communications between the British government and that of Sultan Mulay Suleiman. He dealt with matters of trade involving British merchants and provided updates on the political and economic affairs of Morocco.

Excerpts include:

-June 6, 1804: "By the following detail I believe it will appear Sir that the restless ambition of Buonaparte is not content with disturbing of Europe, but that he seriously means in his leisure moments to attempt something in this Country." Matra goes on to give a description of an "adventurer" who claimed to be a Syrian, raised and educated in England, but Matra believes he is a French spy.

-August 25: "I have the honour to inform Your Lordship that for a month past an attack by this country on the Commerce of America was considered as certain.... Just at this time their reinforcement destined for Tripoly arrived in Gibraltar; two of the Frigates were immediately stationed on this Coast, one to the Eastward, & one to the Westward of this Port, which most undoubtedly will prevent any hostile measures on the part of the Moors."

"I believe My Lord there has been for a long time past very considerable intrigues on the part of Spain to produce a revolution, as under the present Emperor there is no probability that they will obtain any corn from this Country."

-September 27: "My Lord, the danger I most apprehend arises from the disposition of the Emperor which is a secret to none of the Parties. It is impossible to detest anything more than Muly Suluman does the Jew Butchers of Gibraltar, whom he has described to myself as a set of Rascals enriched at his expense: He certainly has not much more love for us, or for anyone not Mahometan: he would take advantage of their squabbles, & stop the Trade altogether as a source only of riches to the Jews. This My Lord, I know from his own mouth to be his favourite view, we are the only nation who get any thing from him, & he would be glad, of what he would consider as a pretext to be rid of us."

-November 19: "I have had the honour to mention to Your Lordship the demand formerly made by this Country on the American Consul for a Passport for a Moorish Vessel to convey a Present of Corn to Tripoly, then blockaded by the Americans, and its refusal: as the Corn was otherwise disposed of and the destination of the Vessel apparently changed, the dispute was generally considered as terminated. The Governor has sent a message to the Consul which he insisted should be delivered before witnesses. It was composed of every term of the lowest abuse which the most vulgar person could employ grounded on this, that the Emperor could not send a handful of Corn to his Brethren in distress without the Consuls leave, & it finished by observing that when the Consul was turned out of the Country before, he went off quietly in the evening but that very soon he should be sent off in the face of day."

"However disagreeable the result may be to the States, it can be of no detriment to us, for although I have known their Consul intimately for near twenty Years, & have been useful to him, he is so totally abandoned to the adverse Party as to be, the most ceremonious opposer of the Governors Interest, & gives me more trouble than any I have to deal with."

English merchant James Simpson (d. 1820) served as U.S. Consul at Tangier from 1797 until his death. James Mario Matra was born in New York City to a Corsican father named James Magra, who had moved to Dublin, Ireland, studied medicine and changed his surname to Matra, and then migrated to New York. The younger Magra settled in England and entered the Royal Navy in 1761. He joined James Cook's voyage of exploration to Australia in 1768-1770. On that voyage, he befriended English botanist Sir Joseph Banks, with whom he remained a lifelong friend. Some evidence suggests Magra was the anonymous author of A Journal of a Voyage Round the World, published in England in 1771 about Cook's voyage. In 1775, Magra petition the King to revert his surname to Matra to claim a Corsican inheritance. In 1777, Matra requested leave from his position as consul in Tenerife in the Canary Islands to deal with family matters in British-occupied New York City. He was secretary of the embassy in Constantinople from 1778 to 1780. In 1783, he proposed establishing a settlement in New South Wales, especially for American loyalists displaced by the American Revolutionary War. In 1786, Matra received appointment as consul at Tangier, Morocco, a position he held until his death.

John Jeffreys Pratt, 1st Marquess Camden (1759-1840) was born in London and educated at Trinity College, Cambridge. Elected as a Member of Parliament in 1780, he became Teller of the Exchequer that same year and kept the position until his death. From 1782 to 1789, Pratt served as Lord of the Admiralty, then as Lord of the Treasury from 1789 to 1792. When his father was created Earl Camden in 1786, Pratt became Viscount Bayham. At his father's death in 1794, he became 2nd Earl Camden. He served as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland from 1795 to 1798. From May 1804 to July 1805, Camden served as Secretary of State for War and the Colonies under Prime Minister William Pitt the Younger. From 1805 to 1806 and again from 1807 to 1812, he served as Lord President of the Council. In 1812, he was created Earl of Brecknock and Marquess Camden.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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