James de Long to H. Pelissier, Chargé d’ Affaires of France, ad interim, at Tangier, March 1, 1862

Circular addressed to the consular corps (at Tangier) by Mr. De Long, consul general of the United States.

Sir: On the afternoon of the 26th of last month the consulate of the United States was besieged, the American flag insulted, and my life placed in danger by an armed populace, composed of European subjects resident in the locality, under the protection of the representatives of foreign nations.

The circumstances which accompanied the recital made of this outrage lead me to believe that no one of the representatives above mentioned interfered to disperse that gang before measures had been taken by the minister for foreign affairs of the government of Morocco.

After the trials my beloved country is passing through, we shall have a Union and a Constitution, which we shall uphold and transmit intact to our children and our children’s children through succeeding generations, and a flag everywhere known and respected will not have been insulted with impunity by a vile European populace on the coast of Africa; above all, proceeding from such authors or from those who have been in connivance with them.

Informing you thereof, in your prompt answer to this communication, you will please to exculpate yourself honorably, and put me in position to render to my government a satisfactory report.

I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,