The Virginia Gazette

Sept. 3. Divers Letters have been receiv'd at Amsterdam from Santa Croce and Saffia on the Coast of Africa, by which they have a Confirmation, that the Emperor of Morocco has acceded these two Ports to the King of Denmark: The Contents of which Letters are as follow:

"That Mr. John Rei, Consul of his Danish Majesty, having repair'd to the said Emperor, concluded a Treaty with him, in which it is stipulated, among other Things, that the Danes shall be put in Possession of the said two Ports; that they may carry on Trade there exclusively of all other Nations; that they shall be allow'd to build Forts there; and all this in Consideration of 70,000 Ducats which the King of Denmark has engaged to pay to the Emperor of Morocco, besides a considerable Present of Artillery, Warlike Stores, Mafts, Rigging, &c."

These Letters add, That the Governor of Saffia having appriz'd the Christian Traders in that City of the said Sale or Cession, they had sent a Memorial or Petition to the Court of Morocco, setting forth the Services they had rendered to the Nation since their being settled there: That, in particular, they had brought from Europe more Goods than could be vended in the Country, whose Products and Manufactures were not sufficient to balance them: That from the Year 1737 to 1747, they had imported from Holland, England, and France a Quantity of Corn sufficient to obviate the Scarcity thereof in the Emperor's Dominions, whose Subjects must otherwise have perish'd by Famine; and, in fine, that they had made Pieces of Eight so plenty in the Country, that another Mint was erected to coin Money of the Emperor's Stamp.: Wherefore, they hoped that the said Sale would be suspended, or at least that the new Comers would be order'd to buy up with ready Money, the Commodities which the Petitioners actually have in the Country; and that the latter should moreover be allow'd a reasonable Term for transporting their Effects, calling in their Debts, &c.

This last Article has been granted them, but the Term is short, expiring the 21st of September, N. S. from which Day forth the Danes engross the Trade of Santa Croce and Saffia into their own Hands.

Letters from Saffia further observe, that the four Danish Frigates having sail'd to Magodor, in Order to begin to erect a Fort in Consequence of this Treaty, the Inhabitants made so strong an Opposition, that they were obliged to return to Santa Croce, where they have already mark'd out the Ground for a Fort, &c.