From Tangier Sir Moses went to Gibraltar, and it was during his stay there that the sad intelligence reached him of the death, at Nice, of his sister, Mrs Goldsmid. He would have at once returned to England had he not felt it a duty to continue his journey in the sacred cause of suffering humanity; but the party lost the valuable co-operation of Mr Guedella, the son-in-law of Mrs Goldsmid, as he had to start at once for Nice. In a further report to the Board of Deputies Sir Moses says:
"Through the kindness of Earl Russell and the Naval Authorities here and at Malta, H.M. ship the _Magicienne_, Captain Armytage, R.N., has been sent from Malta to convey me to Saffi. She is now in port, and her departure is fixed for to-morrow evening.
"We embarked on board the _Magicienne_, Captain Armytage, on Tuesday evening, the 5th instant, and left the Port of Gibraltar early the following morning. We arrived off Saffi the following Saturday, the 9th instant, but it was not safe to land; we learned, however, that the Saffi prisoners had been set at liberty on the preceding Wednesday, the 6th instant.
"Not being able to land at Saffi, we proceeded onwards to Mogador, and arrived here the following morning, the 10th instant.
"The Sultan's escort was awaiting us at Saffi, but had to follow us here. The preparations for the journey to the City of Morocco are, however, as yet very incomplete, and probably we may have to wait here till Monday or Tuesday next, if not later. This, I can assure you, is a great trial of patience.
"On Friday night, the 8th instant, while at sea, part of the rudder of the ship broke, and on the following night we had a very heavy gale.
"The whole of our party, consisting, in addition to myself, of Dr Hodgkin, Mr Samuel, Captain Armytage, two of his officers, and Mr Consul Reade, with servants, &c., are being most hospitably entertained by Mr Abraham Corcos, one of the most opulent of the Jewish merchants at this port. The whole of his house is placed at our disposal."
On Tuesday, January 26th, Sir Moses wrote to the Board of Deputies:
"My last letter, dated the 14th instant, was addressed to you from Mogador. We experienced considerable difficulty in effecting the preliminary arrangements for our departure from Mogador, as a journey through a desert country, for so large a party, needed great care and foresight.