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THE
WAR IN SYRIA.
BY
COMMODORE SIR CHARLES NAPIER, K.C.B.,
_&c._, _&c._, _&c._
----------
_IN TWO VOLUMES._
---
VOL. II.
------------------------------------
LONDON:
JOHN W. PARKER, WEST STRAND.
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M.DCCC.XLII.
LONDON:
HARRISON AND CO., PRINTERS,
ST. MARTIN’S LANE.
CONTENTS OF THE SECOND VOLUME.
PAGE
CHAPTER I.
Gale on the Egyptian and Syrian Coasts—The Author’s return 1
to Marmorice Bay—Letters from the Admiral, the General and
the Ambassador regarding the Convention—The Author’s
Replies—Letter of the Admiral to Mehemet Ali—Commotion
occasioned by the Convention—Admiral’s Letter to the
Admiralty—Instruction of the 14th November—Captain
Fanshawe dispatched to Alexandria—Instruction to the
Admiral
CHAPTER II.
Captain Fanshawe’s proceedings at Alexandria—Letter from 20
Mehemet Ali to the Admiral—Official Report of Captain
Fanshawe—Letter of Mehemet Ali to the Grand Vizier—English
Ships again ordered to the Coast of Syria—Part of the
Convention carried into effect by the Admiral
CHAPTER III.
Captain Fanshawe’s Arrival at Constantinople—Interview with 33
the Grand Vizier—Conference of Ambassadors and Rechid
Pacha—Conduct of Lord Ponsonby; his Letter to Lord
Palmerston—The Porte accepts the submission of Mehemet
Ali—Letter of Rechid Pacha to the Ambassador and of the
Vizier to Mehemet Ali—Captain Fanshawe returns to
Marmorice
CHAPTER IV.
Disinclination of the Porte to confer the Hereditary 41
Pachalic on Mehemet Ali—Departure of the Turkish
Commissioners—Their orders—Opposition of the Austrian,
Prussian, and Russian Ministers to the views of Lord
Ponsonby—Lord Palmerston’s opinion of his conduct—Rewards
conferred on the Officers of the Squadron at Acre—News
from England—Approval of the Convention—Instruction of the
15th of December—Lord Palmerston’s Letter to Lord
Ponsonby—Prince Metternich and Count Nesselrode, in
approval of the Convention
CHAPTER V.
The Author ordered to Alexandria to carry the Convention 61
into effect—Interviews with the Pacha and Boghos
Bey—Letter from Boghos Bey explaining the Pacha’s
Intentions—Lieut. Loring dispatched to see the Evacuation
of Syria carried into effect; his Instructions—Letters to
the Chief Officers in Syria—Arrival of the Turkish
Commissioners at Alexandria-Surrender of the Turkish
Fleet—Bad Faith of the Turks-Correspondence between the
Author and Boghos Bey respecting the Cotton Crop—The
Commercial Treaty
CHAPTER VI.
The Author visits Cairo—The Mahmoudieh Canal—Fire on board 76
the Steamer—Voyage up the Nile—Appearance of the
Country—Condition of the People—Arrival at Cairo—Visit to
Abbas Pacha—Palace of Schoubrah—Establishments of the
Pacha—Industry of the Arabs—Visit to the Pyramids—Quit
Cairo
CHAPTER VII.
Letter from Captain Stewart—Apprehended Treachery of the 89
Turkish Authorities—Question of the Syrian Troops—Double
dealing of Mehemet Ali—The Author’s Letters to the chief
British and Turkish Officers—Letter to the Admiral
CHAPTER VIII.
Affairs in Syria—Letters of Sir Charles Smith to Lord 97
Palmerston—Course that ought to have been pursued after
the Battle of Boharsof—Ignorance as to Ibrahim’s Movements
and Intentions—General Michell to Lord Palmerston—M.
Steindl’s Report respecting the Advance upon Gaza—Captain
Stewart to the Admiral—General Michell’s and Captain
Stewart’s Opinion as to Lord Ponsonby’s
Orders—Correspondence between Captain Stewart and General
Jochmus
CHAPTER IX.
Examination of the Conduct of General Jochmus regarding 119
Ibrahim Pacha’s Retreat—Sir Robert Stopford styled by him
Commander-in-Chief of the Allied Forces—The General’s
Reports to Sir Robert Stopford—Unwillingness of the
Admiral to prolong the War—Reported Destruction of the
Egyptian Army—Advance upon Gaza—Colonel Alderson’s
Narrative of the Skirmish of Medjdel
CHAPTER X.
General Jochmus’s farther Reports to Sir Robert 134
Stopford—Destruction of the Magazines at Maan—Ignorance as
to Ibrahim’s movements—Ibrahim crosses the Jordan to
Jericho, and menaces Jerusalem, while supposed to be
wandering in the Desert—General Jochmus’s Account of the
Movements of Ibrahim—Reported Destruction of his
Infantry—Ibrahim did not intend to enter Palestine—His
Statement to Colonel Napier
CHAPTER XI.
Fruitless Journey of the Envoys sent in quest of Ibrahim 141
Pacha—Arrival of part of the Egyptian Army at
Gaza—Promised Neutrality of the Turks—The Egyptians
informed of the Cessation of Hostilities by the English
Officers—Terms recommended by Mr. Wood to be imposed upon
Ibrahim Pacha—Colonel Napier’s Narrative of the Retreat of
Ibrahim Pacha
CHAPTER XII.
Conduct of Mr. Wood—His Letter to the Seraskier examined—His 157
Advice disregarded by the British Officers—Mission of
Colonel Alderson to Gaza—Colonel Rose’s Account of the
State of Ibrahim’s Army—Colonel Alderson’s Character of
Ibrahim Pacha—Death of General Michell
CHAPTER XIII.
Detail of the Retreat of the Egyptians—Treacherous 172
Intentions of the Turkish Authorities—Decided Conduct of
the British Officers—Guarantees exchanged—Fright of Rechid
Pacha—Letter from Ibrahim to the Seraskier—The Author’s
Letters to Lords Minto and Palmerston
CHAPTER XIV.
Contradictory Statements as to the Numbers of the Egyptian Army—Reason
for abiding by the Reports of the
British Officers—Colonel Alderson’s Detail of the 182
Retreat—General Jochmus’s Statement—Lieut. Loring’s
Mission
CHAPTER XV.
Embarkation of the Egyptians—Mode in which it was 191
conducted—Departure of Ibrahim Pacha—Retreat of Souliman’s
Division—Complete Evacuation of Syria—Letter of Lord
Ponsonby—Delivery of the Turkish Fleet—Anxiety of Mehemet
Ali for the safety of his Army—Letter from Boghos Bey to
the Author on the subject
CHAPTER XVI.
Examination of the Conduct of the Allied Ministers at 199
Constantinople—Lord Ponsonby’s Propositions regarding the
Hereditary Government of Egypt—Approved by the other
Allied Ministers, but on consideration rejected by
them—Lord Palmerston’s Conversation with the Turkish
Minister—Note of the Four Powers in favour of the
Hereditary Tenure
CHAPTER XVII.
Determination of the Allied Courts to secure the Hereditary 214
Pachalic for Mehemet Ali—Correspondence between Baron
Stunner and Lord Ponsonby—Decisive Instructions from Lord
Palmerston to Lord Ponsonby—Conference of the Allied
Ministers with Rechid Pacha—Project for settling the
Egyptian Question—Lord Ponsonby’s Observations at the
Conference—The Firmans decided on—Refusal of Lord Ponsonby
to allow the English Consul-General to return to
Egypt—Lord Ponsonby’s Letter to Rechid Pacha
CHAPTER XVIII.
Delay in forwarding the Firmans to Mehemet Ali—Instructions 226
to the Commissioner—The Author’s Visit to the Egyptian
Flag-ship—Substance of the Firmans—Objections of the
Pacha—The Author’s Advice—Letter to Lord Palmerston—The
Author’s last Interview with Mehemet Ali—Return to
Malta—Correspondence with Sir Robert Stopford—Return to
England
CHAPTER XIX.
Meeting of the Foreign Ministers in London—Protocol of the 244
5th March—Note of Chekib Effendi—Note of the 13th of
March—Lord Palmerston’s explanation of the Views of the
Allies regarding the Hereditary Tenure—Conference of the
16th March—Protocol—Endeavour to include France in a
Convention for closing the Straits of the Dardanelles and
Bosphorus—False Position of the Porte—Views of Lord
Ponsonby and of the other Ambassadors—Instructions of the
Austrian and British Governments—Opinions of M.
Guizot—Turkish Plan of Settlement—Note of the 10th May
CHAPTER XX.
Colonel Napier’s Account of his Missions to Egypt—Seizure of 259
the Maronite and Druse Emirs and Sheikhs—Their Condition
in Egypt—Their Return to Syria—False Assertions of the
French—Mission for the Liberation of the Syrian
Soldiers—Difficulty of ascertaining their Number—Bad Faith
of the Pacha—Infamous Proposal of a Turkish Officer—Sudden
termination of the Negotiation—Suspicious conduct of the
Egyptians—Liberation of the Syrians
CHAPTER XXI.
Prince Metternich’s Orders to the Internuncio—Lord 267
Ponsonby’s Correspondence with Baron Stürmer—Hesitation of
the Porte—Message from Lord Ponsonby to Rifat Pacha—The
new Firman granted—Accepted by Mehemet Ali—Termination of
the Eastern Question
CHAPTER XXII.
Review of the Turco-Egyptian Question—Mehemet Ali not the 275
Aggressor—Hostile Preparations of the
Porte—Representations of the Allied Powers—What Interests
affected by the Independence of Mehemet Ali—Views of
France—Designs of Russia
CHAPTER XXIII.
Errors of the Pacha—His proper Course of 285
Action—Mismanagement of Ibrahim Pacha in Syria—Gain or
Loss of Turkey by the acquisition of Syria—Conduct of the
Turks in Lebanon—Quarrels of the Mountaineers—Ill
treatment of the Prince—Consequent hatred of Turkish
rule—Conclusion
APPENDIX.
I. Instructions given by the Sultan to Hafiz Pacha, found at 299
the Turkish Head-Quarters after the battle of Nizib
II. Translation of a Petition (in Copy) from the Nations and 303
Inhabitants of Mount Lebanon and Syria, to Sultan Abdul
Medjid of Constantinople
Letter addressed by the Inhabitants of Mount Lebanon to his 306
Excellency the British Ambassador
Letter addressed by the Inhabitants of Mount Lebanon to his 308
Excellency the French Ambassador
III. Letter from Commodore Napier to Lieut.-Colonel Hodges 310
IV. Extract of Letter from Commodore Napier to Admiral the 313
Hon. Sir Robert Stopford, G.C.B.
V. Instructions to Captain Fanshawe, on his Mission to 316
Alexandria
VI. Protocol of the Conference held at the house of the 318
Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Sublime Porte, the
20th of December, 1840, between the Minister for Foreign
Affairs, on one part, and the Representatives of Austria,
Great Britain, Prussia, and Russia, on the other
VII. Letter from Lieutenant-Colonel Napier to Sir Charles 329
Napier
VIII. Letter from Boghos Bey to Sir Charles Napier 332
ERRATA.
Vol. I., p. 88, line 16, _for_ southward, close to the castle, _read_
northward, close to the castle.
Vol. II., p. 41, line 3, _for_ 22nd November, _read_ 11th December.
” p. 199, line 4, _for_ Opposed, _read_ Approved.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE WAR IN SYRIA.
CHAPTER I.
Gale on the Egyptian and Syrian Coasts—The Author’s return to Marmorice
Bay—Letters from the Admiral, the General and the Ambassador
regarding the Convention—The Author’s Replies—Letter of the Admiral
to Mehemet Ali—Commotion occasioned by the Convention—Admiral’s
Letter to the Admiralty—Instruction of the 14th November—Captain
Fanshawe dispatched to Alexandria—Instruction to the Admiral.
Among the reasons that induced me to enter into negotiation with the
Pacha of Egypt, it will be recollected that I have mentioned the
uncertain state of the weather, which rendered it possible that the
British squadron might at any minute be blown off the coast; and I found
that I had concluded my arrangements only just in time. For I had hardly
got the Prometheus away, on the 28th of November, 1840, when it began to
blow, which freshened to a gale in the night; the morning brought more
moderate weather, but towards dusk it came on with great violence, and
lasted thirty-six hours. The Powerful was struck by a heavy sea, which
started her fore-channels and endangered the fore-mast; the new rigging
of the Rodney and Cambridge had given out so much, that their masts
became insecure, and seeing no further necessity for keeping the
squadron at sea, I proceeded to Marmorice Bay, where I anchored on the
8th of December, and was much gratified to be received by the squadron
with three cheers, and the rigging manned, with the same enthusiasm I
had before experienced on joining the squadron off Alexandria.
Captain Henderson, of the Gorgon, first communicated to me that my
Convention had been rejected by the Admiral, which I have reason to
believe he approved of in the first instance, but was overruled by the
authorities in Syria. Next morning the Princess Charlotte and
Bellerophon arrived from Beyrout. They had experienced the same gale we
did off Alexandria, and rode it out in St. George’s Bay; the
Bellerophon, driven from the anchorage at Beyrout, was obliged to cut
her cable and make sail, and after scraping the land as far down the
coast as Latakia, was saved by a miraculous shift of wind; great credit
is due to Captain Austin, and the officers and crew of the Bellerophon,
for saving the ship. The Pique was obliged to cut away her masts to
prevent her going on shore at Caiffa; and the Zebra parted and was
thrown on the beach, with the loss of two men only. The Austrian
squadron quitted the coast of Syria with the English, and the French
vessels of war remained.
On the Admiral’s arrival at Marmorice, letters from himself, Sir Charles
Smith, and Lord Ponsonby, were put into my hand. I insert them here,
together with the replies.
“Princess Charlotte, St. George’s Bay,
Beyrout, December 2, 1840.
“Sir,
“I have received, by the Prometheus, your letter and the Convention
which you have entered into with Boghos Bey, for the evacuation of
Syria.
“I am sorry to say that I cannot ratify, or approve of this measure:
setting aside the unauthorized manner and the unnecessary haste with
which so important a document was executed, with the Commander-in-Chief
within two days’ sail of you, the articles of that Convention, if
carried into execution, in the present state of affairs in Syria, would
be productive of much more evil than good, and occasion much
embarrassment. You will immediately stop the Egyptian transports from
coming to this coast; and should any arrive, I have given orders that
they should return to Alexandria.
“I am, &c.,
(Signed) “ROBERT STOPFORD, _Admiral_.
“Commodore Napier, C. B., H.M.S. Powerful,
Senior Officer off Alexandria.”
“H.M.S. Powerful, Marmorice Bay,
December 14, 1840.
“Sir,
“I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 2nd of
December, disapproving of the Convention I had entered into with the
Egyptian Government for the evacuation of Syria and the surrender of the
fleet. I have only to regret, that what I did with the best intentions,
and believed to be in accordance with the views of the Allies, should
not have met your approbation.
“I beg to assure you that, it was not from any want of respect to you
that I did not communicate with you before signing it, but it was under
the impression that it was of the utmost importance to seize the
opportunity, when the Pacha was highly incensed against France, to bring
him, without loss of time, to terms without the mediation of that power.
“I have also to acknowledge the receipt of the copy of a letter you have
sent me from Lord Ponsonby, the original of which, I presume, is gone to
Alexandria, and I beg to inclose you a copy of my reply.
“I have &c.,
(Signed) “C. NAPIER, _Commodore_.”
“The Hon. Sir R. Stopford,
Commander-in-Chief, &c., &c., &c.”
“Head Quarters, Beyrout,
30th November, 1840.
“Sir,
“Had you fortunately abstained from honouring me with your letter of the
27th instant, I should have been spared the pain of replying to it. I am
not aware that you have been invested with special powers or authority
to treat with Mehemet Ali as to the evacuation of Syria by the Egyptian
troops; and if you have such special powers and authority, you have not
taken the trouble of acquainting me therewith.
“The Convention into which you have entered has been, as relates to the
advanced stage of military events in Syria, more than attained by the
retreat of Ibrahim Pacha. If therefore, you have unknown to me, had
authority to treat, I must decline to be a party to recommending the
ratification of the said Convention; and if unauthorised to treat, such
Convention is invalid, and is, by me, protested against as being highly
prejudicial to the Sultan’s cause, in as far as it has, or may have,
relation to the operations of the army under my command. It is needless
for me to add that a copy of this protest shall be forwarded to Her
Majesty’s Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
“I have, &c.,
“C. F. SMITH, _Major-General_,
“_Commanding the Forces in Syria_.”
“Commodore Napier, C.B.,
H.M.S. Powerful.”
“H.M.S. Powerful, Marmorice,
January 6, 1841.
“Sir,
“Had I unfortunately abstained from writing to you, and the Admiral had
quited the coast, you would have had just cause to have complained of my
want of courtesy.
“When I left Beyrout, Sir Robert Stopford was Commander-in-Chief of the
allied forces by sea and land, it was therefore unnecessary for me to
communicate to you what my powers were, as on him alone devolved the
duty of approving or disapproving of my Convention. He disapproved of
it, and Ibrahim Pacha returned to Damascus. I quite disagree with you
that the Convention was prejudicial to the interests of the Porte, and I
am happy to say it has been approved of (with the exception of the
guarantee) by Her Majesty’s Government, and I am now going to Alexandria
to see it carried into execution.
“I have, &c.,
“CHARLES NAPIER, _Commodore_.”
“To Sir Charles Smith, &c., &c.,
Gibraltar.”
“Sir, “Therapia, December 7, 1840.
“I had the honour last night to receive your communication of a
Convention, dated Medea steamer, Alexandria, 27th November, 1840, signed
Charles Napier, Commodore, and Boghos Bey.
“I immediately laid that Convention before the Sublime Porte, and
acquainted my colleagues, the Austrian Internuncio, the Prussian Envoy,
and the Russian Chargé d’Affaires, with it. It is my duty to acquaint
you that the Sublime Porte has made a formal protest against your acts,
declaring you have no power or authority whatever to justify what you
have done, and that the Convention is null and void.
“My colleagues above-mentioned, and myself, entirely concur with the
Sublime Porte, and declare that we are ignorant of your having the least
right to assume the powers you have exercised; and that we consider the
Convention null and void, _ab initio_.
“It is my duty to call upon you to abstain from every attempt to carry
your Convention into execution, in any degree whatever, and to state
that you are bound by your duty to Her Majesty, to continue to act with
the ships under your command, as you did act before you assumed the
right to make the aforesaid Convention, and as you would have acted in
conformity with your orders, if that Convention had never been made by
you.
“I have sent a copy of this dispatch to Admiral the Hon. Sir Robert
Stopford, and also to Her Majesty’s Principal Secretary of State for
Foreign Affairs.
“I have, &c.,
(Signed) “PONSONBY.”
“To Commodore Napier.”
“H.M.S. Powerful, Marmorice Bay,
Dec. 14, 1840.
“My Lord,
“The Commander-in-Chief has sent me a copy of a letter addressed to me
by your Lordship, the original of which I presume has been sent to
Alexandria; this letter states that the Porte has made a formal protest
against my acts, and that the Convention is null and void, in which your
Lordship and your colleagues entirely concur, and you call upon me to
abstain from carrying it into execution.
“In reply to which I beg leave to acquaint your Lordship that I never
had the least idea that the Convention could be carried into execution
without the authority of the Porte and the Commander-in-Chief, to whom
the whole correspondence was addressed; therefore I cannot see the
necessity of the formal protest of the Porte against my acts. The
Convention simply tied down Mehemet Ali to abandon Syria immediately,
and give up the Turkish fleet when the Porte acknowledged his hereditary
title to govern Egypt; and on these conditions I agreed to suspend
hostilities.
“I was led to believe from Lord Palmerston’s letter to your Lordship
that I had followed up the views of the Allied Powers; I was led to
believe, from letters I have received from different members of the
Government, that they were most anxious to settle the Eastern Question
speedily; I was led to believe, from your Lordship’s correspondence, _*
* * * *_ that Lord Palmerston was anxious to finish everything; that he
had not good information about Egypt; but that your Lordship thought if
I was at liberty to act, Alexandria would not long be in the possession
of Mehemet Ali; and this opinion your Lordship risked, though you had
never seen the place, and confessed yourself entirely ignorant of the
art of war. I saw clearly that your Lordship had an erroneous impression
about Alexandria, and I was convinced that nothing could be done against
it without a military force, and at a proper season, and my being driven
off the coast has confirmed that opinion.
“I further knew that the French Consul-General, and other French agents
at Alexandria, were doing all they could to prevent Mehemet Ali from
submitting, still holding out hopes of assistance from France.
“Under all these circumstances I thought I was serving my country, and
the cause of the Sultan, in tying down Mehemet Ali to immediately
evacuate Syria, and give up the Turkish fleet when acknowledged, and I
knew perfectly well that the Convention did not tie down the Sultan; and
I firmly believe that if Thiers’ ministry had not fallen, all I have
done would have been approved, and I think it still will be approved. I
have thought it necessary to make these explanations to your Lordship,
and I beg at the same time to observe, that it appears to me that your
Lordship has assumed a tone, in the latter part of your letter, that you
are by no means authorized to do. I know my duty to Her Majesty full as
well as your Lordship, and I have always done it, and it is the
Commander-in-Chief alone who has the right to point out to me how I am
to act, and I trust, should your Lordship have any further occasion to
address me, it will be done in a different style.
“I have sent a copy of this to Admiral Sir Robert Stopford, and I trust
your Lordship will send a copy to Her Majesty’s Secretary of State for
Foreign Affairs.
“I have, &c.
(Signed) “CHAS. NAPIER, _Commodore_.”
“The Right Hon. Lord Ponsonby.”
I also insert the Admiral’s letter to Mehemet Ali, acquainting him that
he had disapproved the Convention, couched in no very measured terms. An
admiral may disapprove of the acts of a junior officer, even with
severity if he pleases, but I believe it is not usual in addressing a
foreign prince, to convey to him the opinion he has formed of his second
in command.
“Princess Charlotte, St. George’s Bay, Beyrout,
December 2, 1840.
“Highness,
“I am sorry to find that Commodore Napier should have entered into a
Convention with your Highness for the evacuation of Syria by the
Egyptian troops, which he had no authority to do, and which I cannot
approve of, or ratify.
“Your Highness’s Envoy, Abdel Amen Bey, has consulted with the General,
commanding the troops, as to his best manner of proceeding to Ibrahim
Pacha. The General having good reason to suppose that Ibrahim Pacha had
left Damascus, (a great part of his army having left it a few days since
going to the southward, upon the Mecca road,) could not guarantee a safe
conduct for your Highness’s Envoy further than Damascus. He therefore
returns to Alexandria, having done all in his power to execute your
Highness’s instructions.
“I hope this letter will reach your Highness in time to stop the
transports which Commodore Napier writes me are coming to the coast of
Syria for the purpose of embarking part of the Egyptian army. Should any
of them arrive here, they will be ordered to return to Alexandria.
“I hope this hasty and unauthorized Convention will not occasion any
embarrassment to your Highness. It was no doubt done from an amicable
motive, though under a limited view of the state of affairs in Syria;
but it will not lessen my earnest desire most readily to adopt any
measure which may tend to a renewal of that amity and good feeling which
I trust hereafter may subsist between England and your Highness, the
terms of which I am happy to hear are now in a state of progress with
the Allied Powers.
“ROBERT STOPFORD, _Admiral_.”
“To his Highness Mehemet Ali Pacha.”
The Ambassador wrote also to the Admiral and to the different
authorities in Syria and Egypt, calling upon them to repudiate my
Convention, and in fact no means were neglected by him to prevent the
settlement of the Eastern Question, and do as much mischief to Mehemet
Ali as possible.
The reader will allow this was tremendous odds against me: the
Commander-in-Chief of the Allied Forces, the General commanding in
Syria, Lord Ponsonby, and the four Ambassadors, the Sultan and all the
Divan, against an Old Commodore. The whole corps diplomatique, (for on
this point even the French minister agreed,) were up in arms—they
thought their trade was gone—nevertheless I was not dismayed. I felt
satisfied at Alexandria I was right, and I felt still more satisfied at
Marmorice, when I found our squadron, with the exception of the
steamers, had abandoned the coast, and left Ibrahim to himself. Why he
did not take advantage of it is not my affair—he ought to have done it.
In the fleet we had conventionalists and non-conventionalists: the
Captains who were off Alexandria were satisfied I was right; those who
were not, with few exceptions, were satisfied I was wrong. For my part I
had only to wait patiently the first arrival from England, to announce
either that I was a blockhead, or that I had taken a more correct view
of the affairs of the East, than either Admirals, Generals, Ambassadors,
Sultans, or Divans.
The letter of Sir Robert Stopford to the Admiralty, acquainting their
Lordships that he had rejected my Convention, clearly shows that he was
not aware of Ibrahim’s movements. The Admiral writes under date of the
1st of December, from Beyrout.
“Sir,
“I beg to transmit for their Lordships’ information the copy of a
Convention which Commodore Napier has entered into with Mehemet Ali, the
correspondence leading thereto having been transmitted by him from
Alexandria.
I beg you will further acquaint their Lordships that I do not feel
myself authorized to enter into this Convention; and the Egyptian troops
being already on their retreat by the Mecca road to Egypt, I cannot
consider this as a concession from Mehemet, but the consequence of their
late discomfitures, and the inimical state of the country towards them.
“I have, &c.,
“ROBERT STOPFORD.”
“R. More O’Ferrall, Esq.”
Now, it is well known that Ibrahim did not finally leave Damascus till
the 29th of December; so that it appears by the Admiral’s letter, that
nothing was known at Beyrout of Ibrahim’s movements; and, after the
squadron left the coast, there was nothing to hinder him falling upon
Beyrout; I know that there were strong fears there that he would do so,
and General Michell, as will hereafter appear, requested the Admiral
would send some ships of war back.
Before the Admiral arrived at Marmorice, he fell in with the Megæra,
bringing the Instruction of the 14th of November, which was given to
satisfy Austrian etiquette, Prince Metternich not entirely approving of
the instruction of the 15th of October, his reasons for which he
afterwards explained.
“Foreign Office, Nov. 14, 1840.
“The instruction addressed to Lord Ponsonby on the 15th of October last,
in consequence of a deliberation which had taken place between the
Plenipotentiaries of Austria, Great Britain, Prussia, and Russia,
recorded the propriety of the Representatives of the Four Courts at
Constantinople being authorized to announce to the Sublime Porte, ‘that
their respective Governments, in conformity with the stipulations of the
seventh paragraph of the Separate Act annexed to the Convention of July
15, deem it their duty strongly to recommend to the Government of his
Highness, that, in case Mehemet Ali should submit without delay, and
should consent to restore the Ottoman fleet, to withdraw his troops from
the whole of Syria, from Adana, Candia, Arabia, and the Holy Cities, his
Highness should be pleased not only to reinstate Mehemet Ali in his
functions as Pacha of Egypt, but at the same time to grant him the
hereditary investiture of the said pachalic, according to the conditions
laid down in the Convention of July 15, it being well understood that
this hereditary title should be liable to revocation, if Mehemet Ali, or
one of his successors, should infringe the aforesaid conditions.’
“The advantage of addressing the Sublime Porte a communication couched
in the sense above-mentioned, was unanimously admitted by the Four
Courts.
“Nevertheless, in order to make still more apparent the just respect
which is due to the rights of his Highness, the Cabinet of Vienna was of
opinion that the advice which the Representatives of the Four Powers
should be called upon to address to the Divan, relative to the
reinstatement of Mehemet Ali in the pachalic of Egypt, ought not to be
put forth at Constantinople, until after Mehemet Ali should have taken
the preliminary step of applying to his Sovereign for pardon, submitting
himself to the determination of his Highness.
“Taking into consideration that this opinion of the Cabinet of Vienna
serves as a fresh proof of the respect which the Courts, parties to the
Convention of July 15, entertain for the inviolability of the Sultan’s
rights of sovereignty and independence; considering, moreover, the
necessity of speedily bringing the existing crisis in the Levant to a
pacific solution, in conformity with the true interests, as likewise
with the dignity of the Porte; the Plenipotentiaries of the said Courts
have unanimously resolved to adopt the course above pointed out, in
order that Mehemet Air’s application for pardon and his submission
should precede the friendly measures which the Allied Representatives
will be instructed to adopt, in order to incline the Porte to grant its
pardon to Mehemet Ali.
“With this view, the Plenipotentiaries of the Four Powers being desirous
of hastening as much as possible the moment when it will be possible for
those measures to take place at Constantinople, have judged it fitting
to cause to be pointed out without the least delay to Mehemet Ali, the
way which is still open to him to regain the pardon of his Sovereign,
and to obtain his reinstatement in the pachalic of Egypt,
notwithstanding the decisive events which have declared themselves
against him.
“In consequence it was further agreed to communicate to the Ambassador
of the Sublime Porte, Chekib Effendi, the present Memorandum, as
likewise the instruction thereunto annexed.
(Initialed) N.
P.
B.
B.
Upon the receipt of this document, and a special instruction of the same
date, the Admiral immediately dispatched Captain Fanshawe, with the
following letter, to communicate with the Pacha. His orders were, to
proceed to Alexandria and demand an interview with Mehemet Ali, in the
presence of Boghos Bey, and communicate the instructions of Her
Majesty’s Government. He was not to refuse Mehemet Ali’s answer even if
he expressed a desire to obtain the hereditary government of Egypt.
“Princess Charlotte, at Sea, off Cyprus,
December 6, 1840.
“Highness,
“I have now the honour to transmit to your Highness, by Captain
Fanshawe, the Captain of my flag-ship, the official authority from the
British Government, in the name of the four Allied Powers, to maintain
your Highness in the pachalic of Egypt, upon condition, that within
three days after the communication made to you by Captain Fanshawe, you
agree to restore the Turkish fleet to the Sultan, and finally evacuate
Syria.
“Let me beseech your Highness to take these terms into your serious
consideration; and I implore the Almighty God to impress upon your mind
the benefit you will bestow on a distracted country by an early
compliance with the decision of the four Allied Powers.
“Captain Fanshawe is fully authorized to receive your Highness’s final
decision.
“I have, &c.,
(Signed) “ROBERT STOPFORD, _Admiral_.”
“To his Highness Mehemet Ali Pacha.”
The further conduct of the Admiral was to be guided by the following
instruction, of November 14, from Lord Palmerston to the Admiralty.
“With further reference to my letters of this day, I am to signify to
your Lordships the Queen’s commands that Admiral Sir Robert Stopford
should be informed that he is not in any degree to suspend his
operations, or to relax his efforts, on account of the communication
which he is instructed to make to Mehemet Ali; but, on the contrary, he
should continue to push on with vigour his operations for the purpose of
expelling the Egyptians from the whole of Syria, and he should not
slacken in his exertions, till he learns from Constantinople that an
arrangement has been made with Mehemet Ali.”
The reader must bear in mind that, at the date of these instructions,
the capture of Acre was not known at the Foreign Office, nor was my
Convention signed.