Autograph Letter Signed from Sir Gilbert Mackereth ('Gilbert Mackereth'), British Consul at Damascus, to Ernest Gye of the Foreign Office, on his posting to Tangier, and including a discussion of British artists there.

8 pp, 12mo. In very good condition, on lightly-aged paper. Addressed to 'Dear Ernest'. He begins by congratulating Gye on his promotion and 'on going to Tangier - a delightful spot'. It is however 'very sad' that Gye's 'guiding hand over our destinies will no longer be there in the Office'. He thanks Gye for his 'kindness' and 'sympathy': 'My path has lain along uneventful ways and it has been an untold solace to feel you did not despise those who had mearly [sic] to 'stand & wait''. Gye will find Tangier ('the gateway to Morocco') a 'joy', and 'the light there & in the rest of Morocco - it varies a lot, will give your brush new elements with which to deal. It was interesting to watch its influence on the paintings of Bishop (Henry A.R.A.)' Gye will 'no doubt meet the weird but not untalented "Teddy Wolf" who seems to be less eccentric as an artist now than when first he came to Fez in 1928.' He finds Damascus 'curiously reminiscent of its offspring - Fez', and he finds it 'so little changed in ten years apart from the devastations of the Forces bombardment in 1925'. Ends by discussing accommodation. He 'can't bear Mrs. Hole's choice of a house', but hopes to change address. 'I feel strongly at the moment that H.M.G. ought to own all official houses'.