Now therefore we make known to you, that
your physician and servant Dr. Buffa has been in our royal presence,
which is exalted by the bounty of God; and we have been pleased with
his medical knowledge and diligent attention; and moreover with the
relief he hath given to us. We have therefore to entreat or to ask of
you, to give him your royal order to return to our neighbourhood, to
Gibraltar, well provided with all good and necessary medicines; that
he, residing at Gibraltar, may be ready to attend quickly on our royal
person, whenever we may stand in need of his medical assistance: we
trust you will therefore return him immediately without delay or
procrastination; seeing that he has been of essential service to us.
And we recommend you to exalt Dr. Buffa in your favour, and we will
always be your allies and friends. May you be ever surrounded by
wealth and prosperity! Peace be with you! The fourth day of the month
of Jumad Elute, in the year of the Hagira 1222, answering to
the fifth or sixth of July 1807.
Done into the English as literally as the incompatibility of the
idioms of the two languages would admit of, by JAMES GRAY JACKSON,
professor of African and Arabic languages.
Fenchurch Buildings, July 1807.
No. XI.
Translations from the Arabic. The first received the 18th January; the
latter, 6th July, 1808.
In the name of God, from Mahomed Ben
Abdalah Eslawee, Governor of Tetuan, Tangiers,
and its dependencies, &c. &c. &c.
To Doctor BUFFA.
Since your departure from us, we have not received any letter, nor
heard from you; so not having heard any thing of you, we are much
uneasy and concerned about you: for we love you. We are ordered by the
sacred commands of our Sultan, to require you will acquaint us how you
are, if any thing has happened you; and that you will return to us
with an answer to the sacred letter entrusted to you, with a fresh
supply of medicines, according to your promise.
We also request you will endeavour to obtain from the English
Government, two masts for a frigate, of forty-five feet each, which
you will cause to be sent by a frigate to Larache; and all the
expense which may occur, will be paid without fail. We hope you will
assist as much as possible in this business; and we wish you health,
prosperity, and a speedy return among us.
(Signed)
MAHOMED BEN ABDALAH ESLAWEE.
In the Year of the Hagira 1223.
No. XII.
The second Letter, prefaced as the former, to Doctor BUFFA.
