Mcmath to Sedi Mohammed Bargash, His Majesty’s, April 28, 1865

Mr. McMath to Mr. Bargash

Sir: The undersigned, prompted no less by the feelings of humanity than by a sense of justice for unoffending Moorish subjects, is constrained to call the attention of the minister for foreign affairs to the very grave conduct of his Majesty’s authorities with reference to the cruel treatment of the four aged and respectable Israelites again confined in a loathsome prison in Tetuan. The circumstances of the arrest and imprisonment of those persons are already well known to your excellency. It will also be borne in mind that the charge preferred against them was also made against eight other Israelites, equally respected, the latter being foreign-protected. I am officially advised by the vice-consul of the United States at Tetuan, who was ordered to be present and report the result of the inquiry of guilt against the Israelites Spanish-protected, and who were impartially tried before the Spanish tribunal at that place, that there was no evidence tending to criminate said Spanish protégés, and therefore they were dismissed. This, then, leads me to the conclusion that the four Israelites now imprisoned are innocent of any offence against his Majesty’s authority, and their continued imprisonment upon unfounded charges will prove, if persisted in, highly scandalous to the Moorish government, and provoke the indignation of the friends of humanity throughout Europe and America. Therefore, I demand that said Israelites be at once set at liberty.

I avail of the occasion to assure your excellency of my high consideration and regard.