Delay in forwarding the Firmans to Mehemet Ali—Instructions 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.
Although it had been distinctly stated to Mehemet Ali in the Vizier’s
letter of the 12th of January, (in consequence of the remonstrance of
the Allies)[103], that he should be confirmed in the hereditary
government of Egypt after the delivery of the fleet and his complete
submission, still the confirmation was delayed for a considerable time,
and the firman did not arrive at Alexandria until the 20th of February,
and was brought by Said Muhib Effendi, who was instructed to read the
firman[104] in full divan, and if rejected by the Pacha, he was to
exhort him to receive it. He was also the bearer of the fez and the
nisham of the Vizier, which Mehemet Ali was to wear on the day the
firman was read. He was to inform him, that in consequence of his
advanced age, the Sultan did not require him to go to Constantinople to
receive his investiture, but that one of his sons was expected to thank
the Sultan in person for the signal favour conferred on his father. He
was further instructed, in the event of Mehemet Ali’s remonstrating
against any part of the firman, to send back the steamboat for further
orders; but in the event of the Pacha’s rejecting the firman, he was to
demand that the rejection should be in writing.
The day after the arrival of the firman, Mehemet Ali visited the
Liverpool steamer, and from thence invited me on board the Egyptian
Admiral’s ship. The old man appeared in low spirits, but nevertheless,
he seemed proud of pointing out the cleanliness and order that reigned
in every part of his ship. On entering the cabin, the whole of the guns
were fired at once, and the rest of the squadron followed the example of
the flag-ship. He conducted me through every part of this magnificent
vessel, and it was quite impossible to conceive any ship better fitted
in every respect. After the inspection the drums beat to quarters, and
in less than three minutes she was ready for action. The men were well
trained, and the guns exercised with great alacrity, though not quite in
the style of the Excellent. The magazine was opened, the powder-boxes
handed up, the rigging stoppered, fire-engines and buckets at hand, and
large tubs full of water were placed along both the lower and main deck
in great abundance. After the gun exercise, a party were paraded with
their cutlasses and muskets, and it was altogether surprising to see how
well the poor Arabs went through their exercises. The yards were then
manned; but in this part of their manœuvres they were not quite so
expert.
After the exercises were over, we retired into the cabin, and I ventured
to ask if he was satisfied with the news from Constantinople, at which
he shook his head, and expressed a desire to see me in his palace. On
arriving there he begged me to sit beside him on the divan, pipes and
coffee were called for as usual, and through the medium of his
interpreter, he communicated the substance of the firman[105], which he
also gave me in writing; it is as follows:—
“Egypt within its ancient limits is granted to you and to your male
descendants on the following conditions:
“1st. When there shall be a decease of the incumbent, the Porte shall
select among his heirs the person who shall best suit it, who will be
summoned to Constantinople to receive the investiture. The present
concession does not involve any precedence over the other Viziers, and
the Governor in whose favour it is made shall, as regards the title and
the other prerogatives, only enjoy the advantages which are assigned to
him.
“2nd. The Hatti Sheriff of Gulhané, and the other fundamental laws of
the empire, as likewise the treaties present or future with foreign
Powers, shall be executed in Egypt.
“3rd. All the duties and all the revenues of Egypt shall be collected in
the name of the Sultan; and as the Egyptians form a portion of the
subjects of the Grand Signior, the rules adopted in the rest of the
empire for the collection of the taxes shall be observed in Egypt. In
order that the Sultan may be well assured that the people are not
over-taxed, a fourth part of the gross revenue arising either from
customs-duties, tenths, or all other duties, shall appertain to the
Sultan, and be in the place of tribute; the other three-fourths shall be
applied to the liquidation of the charges of collection and of the
expenses concerning the internal administration, the maintenance of the
troops, the household of the Viceroy, and the contributions in kind
allotted every year to the Holy Cities. The preceding arrangements shall
take effect from the first day of the year 1257 (the present time), and
be carried into execution for five years, at the expiration of which
term, provision will be made according to the circumstances and
condition of Egypt. In order that the duties may not be levied
arbitrarily, and in a manner prejudicial to the people, the Sultan,
having undertaken to watch over the interests of his subjects, considers
that the presence of a comptroller of finance is necessary in Egypt: you
will conform yourself to the order which shall hereafter be sent to you
on this subject.
“4th. Measures are about to be taken at Constantinople in order that the
money may be coined of the same die, as likewise of the denomination and
weight corresponding with its value; the money coined in Egypt in the
name of the Sultan must be so at the rate adopted.
“5th. During peace, Egypt can be protected by 18,000 soldiers; this
number shall not be exceeded; and as the land and sea forces of Egypt
are at the disposal of the empire, the Porte, in case of war, will fix
the augmentation which it is requisite to give to them. In the other
parts of the empire, the soldier, after a service of five years, is
free; this rule shall be enforced in Egypt. Consequently, there shall be
chosen from the existing army, and according to the periods of service,
20,000 men, of whom 18,000 shall serve in Egypt, and 2000 shall be sent
to Constantinople. Every year a ballot shall be had, in conformity with
the rules of equity, and in proportion to the population of each
district, for the levy of 4000 men, of whom 3600 shall be incorporated
into the troops of Egypt, and 400 shall be sent to Constantinople, the
whole to replace those who are discharged. The soldiers liberated from
service shall not be re-enlisted. It is possible that as regards the
material, the troops cannot be clad in Egypt as they are at
Constantinople, but as regards the shape of the clothing, the badges,
and the standards, they shall be wholly alike. The same is the case with
regard to the naval forces.
“6th. The Viceroy of Egypt cannot confer ranks except up to that of
Solkal-Aghassi (adjutant-major); as regards the superior ranks, they
must be applied for to the Sublime Porte.
“New ships of war shall not be built without the permission of the
Porte.
“The continuance of the hereditary succession being subject to the
execution of each of these fundamental dispositions, in case of
non-execution, the concession of hereditary succession will be revoked.”
Another firman conferred upon the Pacha the government (not hereditary)
of the provinces of Nubia, Darfour, Kordofan, and Sennaar. This firman
forbids the incursion of the troops into these provinces, who had been
permitted to seize the inhabitants, male and female, and retain them as
slaves in lieu of pay. He was also prohibited from reducing the slaves
to the state of eunuchs, a common practice in Egypt.
The Pacha pointed out to me how impossible it was to comply with the
firman relative to the hereditary title. That in the first place, with
respect to the Porte choosing his successor from any of his family, that
it was a blow directed against Ibrahim Pacha, which was both unjust and
impolitic. That he was his eldest son, and well worthy of succeeding
him; besides which, even if he consented to such a condition, it was by
no means clear that Ibrahim would, and even if he did, it would sow the
seeds of dissension in his family. That as to the appointment of his
officers, it had always been the practice to allow the Pacha of Egypt to
appoint them up to the rank of General, and that the proposed
restrictions would dissatisfy the army, and probably cause a mutiny. The
3rd Article, stipulating that he was to pay a fourth of the revenue of
Egypt to the Porte, appeared to him oppressive to Egypt. He asked my
advice how to act in his present position. This was a delicate question;
I had no instructions from home, nor from the Admiral, who was at Malta,
and no communication of any description from Lord Ponsonby, and simply a
letter from Colonel Hodges, stating the fact of the firmans having been
sent, and his opinion that the conditions would not be accepted by the
Pacha.
The reasons the Pacha gave for rejecting parts of the firman were so
just and so strong, that I did not hesitate to express my opinion that
they ought not to be accepted, and I advised him to write to the Porte,
and respectfully point out the impossibility of his accepting such
terms.
I knew in doing this I was taking a good deal of responsibility on
myself, as it was probable these terms had been suggested to the Porte
by some of the Ambassadors, if not by all; but, being on the spot, and
seeing that should Ibrahim, who was at the head of a large army, resist,
and be supported in his resistance by the officers of the army, which
was pretty certain, the whole country would be thrown into confusion, I
knew I should incur censure for not taking upon myself the
responsibility of advising the Pacha to adopt what I thought was the
safest course. Had the British and the other Consuls been at Alexandria,
I should have left it entirely to them.
The following is my letter to Lord Palmerston, relating the whole
occurrence:—
“Stromboli, Alexandria,
Feb. 23, 1841.
“My Lord,
“I have the honour of inclosing the translation of the Hatti Scherif,
which was brought here by the Turkish Commissioner on the 21st.
“The Pacha has accepted the 2nd, 4th, and 5th Articles, and the part of
the 6th which regards the construction of men of war; he begs the
Sublime Porte to modify Article 3 as being oppressive to Egypt.
“The first article he considers quite inadmissable, as it would not be
acceded to by Ibrahim Pacha, would cause discord in his family, and a
civil war at his death. He also objects to the part of Article 6 which
relates to the appointment of officers; hitherto they have all been
appointed by him, with the exception of General of Division, and a
sudden deviation from that system would disorganize the army, and bring
his authority into contempt.
“The Pacha has repeatedly consulted me on this subject; and it is a most
delicate situation to be placed in, as I cannot know what instructions
your Lordship may have given to Lord Ponsonby; but judging of the
intentions of the Allies from the Treaty of the 15th July, I cannot
think it was contemplated by the Allies to attach such a condition to
the hereditary title, and I did not hesitate to tell His Highness as
much. It is true I might have preserved silence; but placed as the Pacha
at present is, he is sure of turning to some one for advice, and that
person would have been the French Consul-General, out of whose hands I
have kept him since my arrival here; in fact, he looks up to England for
protection and advice, and I believe I am the only person he consults.
“There is a separate firman giving him the pachalic of Nubia for life,
with the condition that the chase should be suppressed, and no more
eunuchs made. This he has no objection to; and he regrets the Sublime
Porte has not taken the initiative and abolished slavery. I have urged
him strongly to do this at once; but he says it is surrounded with so
many difficulties, that the people’s minds must be prepared before he
can venture on such a measure.
“Mr. Larking goes home in the Liverpool in bad health; and he will
explain to your Lordship the position of this country, and the anxiety
of the Pacha for the friendship of England. The Consuls are not yet
arrived from Constantinople, which is to be regretted. I don’t know that
I have any right to stay now my mission is finished. Syria is entirely
evacuated, and many lives have been lost in consequence of the rejection
of the Convention, and the menacing attitude of the Turks, which obliged
Ibrahim Pacha to go round the Dead Sea, instead of marching straight on
Gaza.
“After the honourable manner the Pacha has behaved about the fleet, it
is to be regretted the Porte should have pressed him so hard,
particularly as I do not see how they can enforce their demands, and I
do not apprehend the Allies will risk another armament to enforce them.
“The Scheiks and Emirs are arrived at Cairo; and they will be sent to
Syria immediately on their arrival here.
“_February 24._ I saw the Pacha last night; he had a very long
conversation with the Turkish Minister, who seems to be aware of the
impossibility of imposing such terms on the Pacha, and he has sent his
steamer to Constantinople for fresh instructions. I do hope they will be
more reasonable at Constantinople. I do not think it would have been
possible to have concocted a better plan to throw discord and confusion
into a country, than the terms they have proposed to him. Egypt is
making rapid strides to improvement, and is now beginning to feel the
advantages of Mehemet Ali’s system. He is, it is true, an Oriental, and
has many mistaken notions; but he must be treated with kindness and
consideration.
“A good many Syrians have come into Egypt with the Egyptian army. I have
demanded their immediate release; and for the first time, had rather a
warm discussion with him on the subject. He promises to send them to
their homes; but not till he hears from Constantinople. I regret this,
because it will furnish his enemies with weapons against him; but I
cannot wonder at his being irritated, because he has not been treated
well. He behaved so honourably about the fleet, that he deserved some
consideration. Imposing such a heavy tribute on him, will have either
the effect of stopping improvement in Egypt, or if he goes on with his
public works, he will have to oppress the people, and he was on the
point of reducing the poll-tax, when the Hatti Scherif arrived.
“I have, &c.,
(Signed) “CHARLES NAPIER.
“To Viscount Palmerston.
“P.S. I have this moment received a letter from Boghos Bey, promising
the release of the Syrian troops.”
My last interview with the Pacha was not of a very pleasant nature; for
the first time, he neither offered me a pipe, nor took one himself, and
was in very ill humour. I pressed him hard about the Syrians, which he
evaded; and I told him I should speak to him no more on the subject, but
should address an official letter to Boghos Bey; this I did, and he
answered, promising their immediate release.
Next morning the Pacha set out for Cairo to see Ibrahim, who, for some
reason or other, had declined coming to Alexandria. Seeing that I could
be of no further use here, I made up my mind to proceed to join the
Powerful in Marmorice Bay, and accordingly paid a parting visit to
Boghos Bey. The old man was very civil, and informed me he had orders to
present me with a snuff-box set in brilliants. Boghos Bey had before
pressed me to receive a large present as a _souvenir_ from the Pacha,
which I declined, as being contrary to our rules and regulations; but in
this instance he pressed the box, saying it was an Eastern custom, and
the grand _souvenir_ should be given at a later period. I replied that I
should have had no objection to have taken a small keepsake of little
value from the Pacha; but that in my last interview, I did not think he
had behaved well, and evaded giving me any answer about the Syrian
troops, in which I thought he had not kept his word. I added that he
might rely upon it the British Government would insist on the
performance of his promise.
I then took leave of Boghos Bey, left Alexandria on the 1st of March,
and arrived at Marmorice Bay on the 3rd. I there found orders to proceed
to Malta, where I arrived on the 22nd, and was placed in quarantine. The
day after my arrival I received a letter from the Commander-in-Chief,
which left me in doubt whether the Government had repented their
approval of my Convention or not. The letter and answer I insert,
together with the Admiral’s further reply:—
“Princess Charlotte, Malta,
March 15, 1841.
“Sir,
“I am desired by the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to acquaint
you, that whatever may have been the political considerations which
induced Her Majesty’s Government to sanction a Convention entered into
under the circumstances in which you felt yourself placed, their
Lordships fully concur in my opinion of the injury and inconvenience to
which Her Majesty’s service may be exposed by a junior officer taking
upon himself such a responsibility, which can only be justified by the
event as in the present instance.
“I am, &c.,
“ROBERT STOPFORD, _Admiral_.
“Commodore Sir Charles Napier, K.C.B.,
H.M.S. Powerful.”
* * * * *
“H.M.S. Powerful,
Malta, March 28, 1841.
“Sir,
“Had I not received a letter from the Admiralty direct, together with
private ones from Lords Minto and Palmerston, approving of the
Convention I entered into with Mehemet Ali, which Convention was based
on the Treaty of the 15th of July, and approved of by the great Powers
of Europe, who are now carrying it out, I should have considered your
letter of the 15th of March, communicating their Lordships’ opinion, as
intended to convey a sort of censure.
“I am quite aware, when an officer takes upon himself the responsibility
I did, there must be strong reasons to justify him; I took the same
responsibility at Sidon and Boharsof, and had I been defeated I incurred
the same risk of censure, and I trust, as long as I can benefit my
country by incurring responsibility, I shall always possess strength of
mind to do it.
“I take this opportunity of observing how much I regret that you should
have found it necessary, in disapproving of my Convention, to have
expressed yourself in such harsh terms of me to Mehemet Ali, which
placed me in a most unpleasant situation at Alexandria.
“I have, &c., “CHAS.
NAPIER,
“To Admiral the Hon. Sir Robert Stopford,
G.C.B., G.C.M.G., Malta.”
* * * * *
“Princess Charlotte, at Malta,
March 23, 1841.
“Sir,
“I do not intend to enter into the political merits of your Convention
with Mehemet Ali, which has been subsequently sanctioned by Her
Majesty’s Government, but as Commander-in-Chief upon this station I
think I should have signally failed in my duty if I had not represented
to the Admiralty any act of an officer under my command which I
considered to be contrary to the rules and customs of the naval service.
“I am not aware of any harsh expression towards your proceedings, in my
letter to Mehemet Ali, as I consider the words ‘hasty and unauthorized’
perfectly justifiable under the circumstances of the case, and which
accounted for my refusing to ratify the Convention.
“I am, &c.,
“ROBERT STOPFORD, _Admiral_.
“Commodore Sir Charles Napier, K.C.B.,
H.M.S. Powerful.”
On the 31st of the same month, having obtained a month’s leave of
absence, I hauled down my broad pennant, and proceeded to England in the
Oriental steamer, and arrived at Liverpool in the middle of April.
Footnote 103:
_The Grand Vizier to Mazloum Bey._
19 Zilkadé, 1256. (12 January, 1841.)
In the letter which I wrote and sent by your Excellency to his
Highness Mehemet Ali Pacha, there is nothing clear or precise relative
to the hereditary succession to the Government of Egypt. It is said,
in general terms, that he shall be reinstated in the Government of
Egypt. It is then probable, it is to be presumed, that his Highness
will conceive suspicions in this respect; and it is for this reason
that it has been judged necessary to give the following explanations
upon this point.
As the letter which Mehemet Ali Pacha sent to me, and by which he
offered his submission to His Imperial Majesty, commenced by making
mention of the Convention which had been concluded between him and
Commodore Napier, and as the Sublime Porte had not accepted that
Convention, which it regarded as null and of no effect, it was thought
that if I had spoken in my letter of the hereditary succession, it
would have been, in substance, to recognise the Convention, and that
is the reason why it was omitted to speak of it.
Nevertheless, His Imperial Majesty, whose goodness and favours are
shed over his servants truly submissive, entertaining with regard to
Mehemet Ali Pacha the benevolent intentions which are in unison with
the sentiments of moderation by which the High Allied Powers are
animated, it is certain that as soon as he shall have proved by facts,
as has been declared in my letter, the submission which he has
offered, by immediately restoring the Ottoman fleet, and by making
over, without delay, to the Commissioners of the Sublime Porte, the
countries which are known to be in question, and which are situated
out of Egypt, His Highness will be pleased to reinstate him in the
government of Egypt, with right of hereditary succession.
The requisite conditions laid down by the Treaty of Alliance, and
other points connected with those conditions, are about to be settled;
and as all this will be arranged at the same time that the investiture
of the hereditary succession shall take place, I abstain for the
moment from entering into details upon this subject.
However, it is important that His Highness should know in a few words
what is doing, and that he should be apprized beforehand, that if a
single one of the conditions which shall have been laid down, is not
observed, the hereditary succession will be abolished.
You will therefore formally ratify to Mehemet Ali, on the part of His
Imperial Majesty, in case that, in conformity with what has been said
above, his submission shall be a fact, the conditional hereditary
succession aforesaid. And in order altogether to dispel the doubts
which he might have in this respect, and to inspire him with entire
confidence, you will even allow him, if necessary, to see my present
official despatch.
Such are the orders of the Sultan, in conformity with which you will
be careful to act, and it is for this purpose that I write to you the
present despatch.
Footnote 104:
See _Levant Papers_, Part III., p. 242.
Footnote 105:
The firmans are given at length, as are also the instructions of the
Turkish Envoy, and the official notifications connected with the
affair, in the _Levant Papers_, Part III., pp. 241-254.