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The Moorish Government he went on to say, having
only two or three vessels under their flag, would not be inclined to undertake, or even to grant any pecuniary
assistance towards the erection of a lighthouse.
The idea of erecting such a lighthouse had also
occurred to some of his colleagues and several of them
seemed disposed to write to their respective Governments
and to submit a similar proposal to that which he was
making, recommending it to their consideration and showing
the benefit which would result thereby to trade if all
nations were to unite in defraying the expenses and
maintenance of a lighthouse on the site proposed.
Within a short distance of Cape Spartel there was
an excellent stone, well adapted for the building of
such an edifice and Moorish stone-cutters dwelt in the
Vicinity who were accustomed to excavate und chisel
mall-stones from aus quarry and would be Capable of
preparing the materials for building. Lime us cheup
and sc as labour in that country.
He calculated, roughly that the expenses of building
the Lighthouse would amount to £3000 and that the
annual cost of maintaining it would be £250.
In reply Mr. Drummond Hay was informed that
considering the small number of vessels which appeared
to have suffered from the want of such a Lighthouse,
and the almost insuperable difficulties of erecting
and maintaining 1 Her Majesty's Government were not
prepared to take my steps in the matter eather with
the Moorish Government or with other Foreign Powers.
In the following September Mr. Drummond Hay sent
home copy of a letter addressed to him by the French
Chargé d'Affaires at. Tangier acquainting him with the
decision come to by his Government regarding the
erection of a Lighthouse on Cape Spartel.
Monsieur Schmido stated that he hud addressed
an identic letter to the other Foreign Representatives
in that city and that some of them had received &
favourable. reply from their Governments to the com-
munications they had severally made upon this subject
in the previous April.
Monsieur Schmidt added that it was the firm in-
tention of his Government to carry into execution
annual
this