The English ships withdrawn from the coast of Syria—The Author appointed
to the command of a Squadron—Return to Beyrout—Instructions to the
Squadron—Letters to the Egyptian Authorities, the British Consul,
the Emir Bechir, and others—Proclamation to the Syrians—Letters from
the Emir Bechir and Souliman Pacha.
On the 3rd of August we took leave of Beyrout, and sailed in company
with the Edinburgh, to join the Commander-in-chief’s flag, leaving the
Castor and Gorgon on the coast. Thinking it probable that counter orders
might be sent to Rhodes, we made the best of our way thither. On the
10th we made Castel Rosso, on the coast of Caramania, and there fell in
with the Ganges, commanded by my old friend Captain Reynolds, who
brought me direction to hoist a broad blue pennant, and take under my
command the Ganges, Thunderer, Edinburgh, Castor, and Gorgon, and return
to Beyrout. He was the bearer of the Treaty of the 15th of July, and of
orders to assist the mountaineers, supposing the insurrection to be in
full force; the Ganges was directed to pass to the east of Cyprus, and
the Thunderer to the west, in order to pick me up. All sail was made,
and by noon next day we were fortunate in joining the latter ship, and
then made the best of our way to Beyrout.
The service was rather of a delicate nature; the insurrection was over,
and twenty days were allowed Mehemet Ali to reject or accept the Treaty
of July. In the quarantine ground, two miles from Beyrout, were encamped
4000 Turks; it was known they were dissatisfied, and wished to return to
Constantinople, but how to assist them, and how far to go under the
existing treaty, was not very easy to decide; it was, however, important
some effort should be made before they were moved out of our reach. It
was also desirable to prevent, if possible, that enterprising officer
Souliman Pacha (who had organized the Egyptian army) from removing the
stores from the magazine, and from strengthening the town.
My position was not agreeable. If I commenced hostilities before the
expiration of the twenty days and Mehemet Ali accepted the terms, I
should be accused of precipitation, and of causing an unnecessary
sacrifice of life; on the other hand, should Mehemet Ali hold out, I
might be accused of supineness. Under this embarrassment we anchored at
Beyrout on the 12th of August.
After perusing my orders, Lord Palmerston’s instructions, and the third
article of the Convention, and giving them my best consideration, it
appeared to me evident that, under all circumstances, nothing but a very
decided demonstration could be undertaken, following that demonstration
up by hostilities, should opportunity offer.
Beyrout is a small town surrounded by a wall, with a few weak turrets
mouldering to ruins, and mounting very few guns. The arms, provisions,
and ammunition were stored in two weak castles. About a mile and a half
from the town, on a point of land, stands the quarantine establishment,
surrounded by a high wall; on this establishment the Turkish troops were
encamped, a second camp was a little removed, and a third a still
greater distance in the country, where were quartered the Egyptian and
Albanian troops.
My first object was to rise and protect the Turks, the second to recover
the arms of the mountaineers.
The 13th was employed in preparing the following proclamation, and the
letters necessary to carry this into execution; and at eleven o’clock of
the 14th the squadron weighed. The Powerful was placed within three
hundred yards of one castle, the Edinburgh about the same distance from
another, the Ganges close into the bay, with her broadside bearing
between the two camps I have described; the Thunderer off the point, and
the Castor in the bay round it. The orders were as follows:—
“H.M.S. Powerful, Beyrout,
“12th of August, 1840.
“MEMORANDUM.—The Powerful and Edinburgh will take up a position abreast
of the town; the object of so doing is to induce the Governor to deliver
the arms that have been taken from the inhabitants of Lebanon, and to
assist the Turkish troops to return to their allegiance. I shall avoid
hostilities, if possible, therefore great caution is to be used, and the
Edinburgh will not fire without signal, even if the Powerful should
open, and then the guns will be carefully directed at the batteries.
“The Ganges will take up a position to command the Turkish camp to the
south, the Thunderer abreast of the island, and the Castor in the bay.
Captain Reynolds will endeavour to send the accompanying letter on
shore, and should any attempt be made to withdraw the Turkish troops he
will enfilade the road, and endeavour to prevent their retiring, and he
will do this with great caution, and spill as little blood as possible.
It has been intimated to the Governor that any movement amongst the
Turkish troops will be the signal for hostilities.
“CHARLES NAPIER, _Commodore_.”
“To the Captains of H.M.S. Ganges,
Thunderer, Castor, and Edinburgh.”
An officer was then sent to the Governor and the Consul with the papers
marked 1 and 2. Lieutenant Fitzjames landed in the Turkish camp, a
service of some danger, with No. 3, and the Proclamation. No. 4 was sent
to the Grand Prince, and No. 5 to his Nephew. The Governor declined
giving any answer, and the commander of the Turkish forces said he could
not act without orders.
An attack on the town depended entirely on a movement in the Turkish
camp, but they either had not spirit or inclination to throw up their
caps and declare for the Sultan; or it is possible the soldiers were
kept in ignorance of the proclamation, for though we remained three days
in our position no movement took place. I threatened to commence
hostilities should the Turkish troops be moved, but in the night they
were gradually withdrawn by a gate we could not see, and mingled with
the Egyptians.
Towards dark, as I suspected, the removal of the stores from the castles
and water side began, and I sent an officer to remonstrate and threaten,
and it was with much difficulty I refrained from putting my veto on the
proceedings, through the medium of a few 32lb. shot; this could easily
have been done; but was it justifiable? I thought not—and most
unwillingly made up my mind, unless a fair opportunity offered, to allow
the twenty days to expire.
No. 1.
“Sir,
“Great Britain, Austria, Russia and Prussia, have decided that Syria is
to be restored to the Sultan. I notify this to you for your guidance. I
demand that the Turkish troops be put under my protection, and that the
arms be restored to the inhabitants of Mount Lebanon. I am unwilling to
shed blood, or destroy the property of the inhabitants of Beyrout,
therefore I caution you not to provoke hostilities; you must see, by the
position I have taken up, that the town is at my mercy, therefore if you
are the cause of uselessly shedding blood the responsibility must rest
on your head. Any attempt to move the Turkish troops from their present
position will be the signal for hostilities.
“I am, Sir, &c.,
“CHAS. NAPIER.”
“His Excellency Mahmoud Bey, Governor of Beyrout.”
No. 2.
“Sir,
“I beg you will communicate to the Consuls of the different Powers, and
the British merchants at Beyrout, that Great Britain, Austria, Russia,
and Prussia, have decided that Syria is to be restored to the Sultan. I
have demanded that the Turkish troops be put under my protection, and
that the arms be restored to the inhabitants of Lebanon. I trust the
Governor will not provoke hostilities; if he does, the responsibility of
shedding blood must be on his own head.
“I am, Sir, &c.,
“CHAS. NAPIER, _Commodore_.”
“N. Moore, Esq., British Consul, Beyrout.”
No. 3.
“Sir,
“I inclose you a proclamation I have thought proper to issue; if you
attempt to move out of the camp, hostilities will commence immediately.
“I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
“CHAS. NAPIER, _Commodore_.”
“To the Commanding Officer of the Turkish Troops.”
“_Proclamation._
“Syrians,
“Great Britain, Austria, Russia, and Prussia, &c., in conjunction with
the Sultan, have decided that the rule of Mehemet Ali shall cease in
Syria; and I have been sent here with an advanced squadron to assist in
throwing off the yoke of the Pacha of Egypt.
“You know that a hatti-scheriff has been issued by the Sultan, securing
the life and property of his subjects, and which is in full operation
throughout the Turkish territories; in addition to this the allied
Powers have engaged to recommend to the Sultan an arrangement which will
render your condition happy and comfortable.
“Inhabitants of Lebanon, who are more particularly under my eyes, I call
upon you to rise and throw off the yoke under which you are groaning;
troops, arms, and ammunition, are daily expected from Constantinople,
and, in the mean time, the Egyptians shall no longer molest your coast.
“Soldiers of the Sultan, who were treacherously led from your homes to
the burning sands of Egypt, and have since been transported to Syria, I
call upon you, in the name of the great Powers, to return to your
allegiance. All past events will be forgotten, and your arrears of pay
discharged by the Sultan.
“(Signed) CHARLES NAPIER.“
No. 4.
“Prince,
“I send you a Proclamation I have thought proper to issue. I call upon
your Highness to return to your allegiance to the Sultan, or take the
consequence.
“I have the honour to remain,
“Your Highness’s obedient servant,
“CHARLES NAPIER.”
“His Highness the Emir Bechir,
Grand Prince of Lebanon.”
No. 5.
“Prince,
“My Proclamation will be delivered to you by Mr. Wood, or forwarded. I
call upon you to stand forth in favour of your Sovereign; you may rely
upon all the support I can give, and of reinforcements from the Porte.
“I have the honour to remain,
“Your obedient servant,
“CHARLES NAPIER.”
“To the Emir Bechir Cassim.”
The Grand Prince sent no answer, but a few days after, his surgeon came
on board, and gave me to understand that as soon as the Turkish troops
landed the Emir would declare for the Sultan; the Emir Bechir Cassim
sent a favourable reply, but wavered till he could see what turn affairs
were likely to take.
_Copy of a letter received from the Emir
Bechir Cassim._
“August 14, 1840.
“After the customary compliments to his Excellency Commodore Napier.
“I have had the honour to receive your commands, and I have to pray to
the Almighty to preserve to eternity your Government and your
Excellency.
“I have had the honour to receive the Proclamation you were pleased to
send me, containing the decision of the four great Powers, to which I
readily submit. I am prepared to render instantly all the services that
may be required of me, while I consider the opportunity afforded me as a
peculiar favour from God. I am waiting only for supreme orders to
commence immediately acting accordingly with diligence, when I will also
follow all your commands. I hope to be able to prove to you the
sincerity of my declarations. You have forwarded to us your Proclamation
through Mr. Wood; we will follow your instructions thereon.
“I have requested the bearer of the present to express to you my
sentiments verbally, and I hope that, with your assistance, we shall
obtain peace, tranquillity, and liberty.
“(Signed) EMIR BECHIR CASSIM.”
Vessels were constantly arriving with provisions and warlike stores,
which were detained, much to the annoyance of the unfortunate crews and
passengers, and, I may add, to our own. Many of the vessels were loaded
to the water’s edge, quite unseaworthy should it blow, and badly found
in water and provisions; this induced me to write to Souliman Pacha as
follows:
“Powerful, Beyrout, August 18, 1840.
“Sir,
“I am instructed to detain all ships of war and vessels having troops,
military stores, or provisions on board, going from one part of Egypt or
Syria to another. As it is a very vexatious duty for me to perform, I
submit to your Excellency whether it would not be better to give orders
to all the ports under your jurisdiction, not to permit any vessels to
sail loaded with the description of articles I have pointed out. I have
detained eleven officers and eighty-seven privates on board different
vessels; they have no provisions, and are totally unaccustomed to our
mode of living. I therefore submit to your Excellency’s consideration
whether it would not be desirable to send them off provisions.
“I am, &c.,
“(Signed) CHARLES NAPIER, _Commodore_.”
“His Excellency Souliman Pacha, &c.”
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“Beyrout, August 18, 1810.
“Commodore,
“I am very grateful for the advice which your Excellency gives me. I did
not expect less from the noble character of so loyal and valiant a
soldier as fame has long reported you to be. But it is impossible for me
to profit by it, not having received any instructions from my Government
that war exists between England and Egypt. I cannot, therefore, take
upon myself to interrupt the communications between Egypt and Syria, or
between the ports of the latter country. If, according to your
instructions, you have taken from the vessels any passengers,
provisions, or stores, belonging to the army or to the country, I can no
longer consider them as our subjects or our property. I can only refer
the matter to my Government, regretting that I am without the power to
provide further.
“Receive, I beg you, Commodore, the assurance of the highest
consideration of
“Your very humble servant,
“SOULIMAN PACHA.”
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