The Author sent to Alexandria—Defences of the Town—Lord Palmerston’s
Instructions to Lord Ponsonby—Lord Ponsonby’s dislike to Mehemet
Ali—The Author’s Correspondence with Boghos Bey—Interview with the
Pacha—His Arsenal—Further Correspondence—Signature of the
Convention.
The Admiral having thought it necessary to increase the squadron off
Alexandria to six sail of the line, I sailed on the 15th November to
take the command; the object was to make a powerful demonstration before
Alexandria under my pennant, as the Admiral wrote to me. The rest of the
squadron, as I have before stated, were to be withdrawn, with the
exception of the Benbow. Ibrahim at this time had collected a very
strong force at Zachle and Malaka, and I thought it very probable,
unless he had decided to abandon Syria altogether, that he would take
advantage of the absence of the squadron, and march a strong force on
Beyrout. Had he attempted such an enterprise he must have succeeded;
Sidon would then have fallen, and probably Acre, for the explosion had
blown a great part of the land-face down, and the temporary reparations
could not have resisted a powerful force.
On the 21st of November I arrived off Alexandria, where I found the
Rodney, Revenge, Ganges, Vanguard, and Cambridge, of the line;
Carysfort, and Medea, steamer. The latter a few days before had been
nearly blown up by the bursting of a shell. Before communicating with
the squadron, I ran in and reconnoitred the defences: the sea-face
appeared covered with guns, but, with the exception of the Pharo Castle,
I saw nothing that could resist a strong naval force; but still any
attack without troops would lead to no result, and at this season of the
year, even if a force could have been spared, it would not have been
prudent to have attempted it.
When I joined the squadron I was put in possession of a copy of the
following letter from Lord Palmerston to Lord Ponsonby:
“London, Oct. 15, 1840.
“My Lord,
“Her Majesty’s Government having taken into consideration the act by
which the Sultan deprived Mehemet Ali of the pachalic of Egypt, the
bearings of that act upon the present state of pending questions, and
the course which it may be expedient to take thereupon, have invited the
Representatives of Austria, Prussia, and Russia at their court, to
submit to their respective Governments, that undoubtedly there is much
force in the reasons which, according to your Excellency’s reports,
induced the Sultan to take this step; and, that while on the one hand,
this measure in no degree prevents the Sultan from reinstating Mehemet
Ali, if he should speedily make his submission to his Sovereign, on the
other hand, it may operate as a powerful instrument of moral coercion
upon Mehemet Ali, by making him aware, that if the contest between him
and his Sovereign should be prolonged, and if the issue of that contest
should be unfavourable to him, he might lose everything by his too
obstinate resistance.
“That in this view, and in order to make the recent exercise of the
sovereign authority of the Sultan useful towards effecting an early and
satisfactory settlement of pending questions, it is the opinion of Her
Majesty’s Government, that it would be expedient that the
Representatives of the Four Powers at Constantinople, should be
instructed to proceed to the Turkish Minister, and state to him that
their respective Governments, in pursuance of the stipulations of the
Seventh Article of the Separate Act annexed to the Treaty of the 15th
July, beg strongly to recommend to the Sultan, that if Mehemet Ali
should at an early period make his submission to the Sultan, and should
agree to restore the Turkish fleet, and to withdraw his troops from
Syria, from Adana, Candia, and the Holy Cities, the Sultan should not
only reinstate Mehemet Ali as Pacha of Egypt, but should also give him
an hereditary tenure to that pachalic, according to the conditions
specified in the Treaty of July, and liable, of course, to the
forfeiture by any infraction of those conditions on the part of Mehemet
Ali, or his successors.
“Her Majesty’s Government have reason to hope that this suggestion will
meet the concurrence of the Governments of Austria, Prussia, and Russia;
and your Excellency will accordingly take the steps pointed out in this
despatch, as soon as your colleagues shall have received corresponding
instructions.
“If the Sultan should consent to act upon this advice, tendered to him
by his four Allies, it would be expedient that he should take immediate
steps for making his gracious intentions in this respect known to
Mehemet Ali; and your Excellency and Sir Robert Stopford should afford
every facility which they may require for this purpose.
“I have, &c.,
(Signed) “PALMERSTON.”
“To his Excellency Lord Ponsonby.”
This letter shows that the British Government was not quite satisfied
with the deposition of Mehemet Ali. The British Ambassador at
Constantinople merely announced it in a short despatch; but his dislike
of Mehemet Ali was so little concealed, that it was generally supposed
he used all his influence with the Porte to induce the Sultan to depose
him. Great praise is, however, due to his Excellency, for the vigour
with which he had pushed the armaments at Constantinople, and I believe,
had it not been for his exertions, neither a Turkish army or fleet would
ever have appeared on the coast of Syria. Had the Ambassador stopped
here, and recommended the Porte to be satisfied with the possession of
that country, he would have shown himself a great statesman, and a wise
man; but it will shortly be seen that he was so exasperated against
Mehemet Ali, that he endeavoured to hurry the Porte into measures, that
they had not the power of carrying into execution, against the wish of
the Ambassadors of the other Powers, and at the imminent risk of a war
with France.
I saw things through a very different telescope. We had met with great
success, more than we had the least right to expect, and notwithstanding
the menaces of France, a European war had as yet been avoided. I knew it
was the intention of the Commander-in-Chief to leave the coast, and also
shortly to recall the squadron from Alexandria. Ibrahim had collected
his troops at Damascus, Zachle, and Malaka, and they could not have
consisted of less than 60,000 men. He had the reputation of being a
great General, and the talents of Souliman were undoubted; he had met
with uninterrupted success in all his campaigns, with the exception of
the last; and it was natural to expect he would seize the first
opportunity of wiping off the stain on his military reputation. He must
have known that the mountaineers were badly provisioned and unsupported
by a regular force, and that the Turkish troops were scattered in
various garrisons, and as the season advanced would be unsupported by a
British fleet. I gave Ibrahim credit for attempting to do the same thing
I should have done in similar circumstances, and I determined to take
the responsibility on myself, and at once open a communication with
Mehemet Ali. Captain Maunsell, of the Rodney, was an old friend of the
Pacha's, and I decided on making him my negotiator, and next morning he
proceeded with a flag of truce to Alexandria with the subjoined letter
to Boghos Bey:—
H.B.M. Ship Powerful, off Alexandria,
November 22, 1840.
“Sir,
“This will be delivered to your Excellency by Captain Maunsell, an old
acquaintance of his Highness Mehemet Ali. I send him to request his
Highness will consent to release or exchange, the Emirs and Scheiks of
Lebanon, who were sent to Alexandria last July by the authorities of
Syria. The greater part of those unfortunate individuals were arrested
only on suspicion of disaffection, at at the instigation of the late
Grand Prince, whose government of Lebanon was anything but just, or
moderate, and who at last deserted Mehemet Ali.
“The retaining those unhappy individuals in captivity can answer no good
purpose at present: Lebanon is entirely free and armed; and come what
may in other parts of Syria, the mountains never can again fall under
the rule of Mehemet Ali.
“His Highness is, no doubt, aware of the willingness of the Allies to
secure to Mehemet Ali the hereditary government of Egypt.
“Will his Highness permit an old sailor to suggest to him an easy means
of reconciliation to the Sultan and the other Great Powers of Europe?
“Let his Highness frankly, freely, and unconditionally deliver up the
Ottoman fleet and withdraw his troops from Syria; the miseries of war
would then cease, and his Highness, in his latter years, would have
ample and satisfactory occupation in cultivating the arts of peace, and
probably laying a foundation for the restoration of the throne of the
Ptolemies.
“By what has taken place in Syria, his Highness must be aware what can
be accomplished in a country where the inhabitants are disaffected to
the Government. In one month 6000 Turks and a handful of marines took
Sidon, Beyrout; defeated the Egyptian troops in three actions; possessed
themselves of 10,000 prisoners and deserters; and caused the evacuation
of all the seaports, the passes of the Taurus and Mount Lebanon; and
this in the face of an army of more than 30,000 men; and in three weeks
more, Acre, the key of Syria, fell to the combined fleets, after a
bombardment of three hours. Should his Highness persist in hostilities,
will he permit me to ask if he is safe in Egypt? I am a great admirer of
his Highness, and would much rather be his friend than enemy.
“In the capacity of the former, I take the liberty of pointing out to
his Highness, the little hope he can have of ever preserving Egypt,
should he refuse to be reconciled to the Sultan.
“Experience has shown that the Egyptian army in Syria are disaffected,
and the whole of the country are in arms against them; and if Ibrahim
Pacha is attacked by a larger and increasing Turkish force, he will
probably be forced to lay down his arms. Let his Highness look to Egypt:
the Turkish seamen are all disaffected; the Vice-Admiral and several of
his officers abandoned him a few days ago, and are now in the squadron;
the Syrian troops in Egypt wish to return to their country; the
Egyptians are in arrears of pay, and are sighing for their homes. From
12,000 to 15,000 Egyptian soldiers, now at Constantinople, are being
clothed, paid, and organized, under the eyes of the Sultan; let his
Highness reflect on his danger, should they be thrown into Egypt, with a
promise of being disbanded, together with the rest of the army, on the
overthrow of his Highness.
“He may rely upon it, Egypt is not invulnerable; he may rely upon it,
Alexandria itself may be made to share the fate of Acre; and his
Highness, who has now an opportunity of founding a dynasty, may sink
into a simple Pacha.
“I am, &c.,
(Signed) “CHARLES NAPIER, _Commodore_.”
“His Excellency Boghos Bey.”
Captain Maunsell returned next evening with the answer, accompanied by
the English Consul, Mr. Larking.
“Alexandria, November 23, 1840.
“Commodore,
“I have received, with much pleasure, the letter which you have done me
the honour to address to me, through my old friend Captain Maunsell, and
I have lost no time in laying a translation of it before the Viceroy, my
master.
“His Highness commands me to acquaint you, that he is particularly
sensible of the good feelings which are expressed in your
above-mentioned letter of the 22nd instant.
“It seems to me impossible, Commodore, that you should give credit to
the malevolent reports of the Rear-Admiral: and your honourable
character is a certain guarantee of the little credit which you will
give to the words of a man, who, when he deserted from Constantinople,
did not hesitate to shower upon the Sublime Porte the calumnies of which
Egypt is now the object on his part. At the time when the officers of
the Ottoman fleet got leave to quit Alexandria, this same Rear-Admiral
solicited the Viceroy’s permission to remain in Egypt.
“Again, lately, he might without difficulty have received from his
Highness permission to retire, but he preferred desertion to a frank and
honourable proceeding, because he thought that he saw in desertion a
means of re-establishing himself. It is enough to be aware of the
conduct of this officer, to appreciate at their true value assertions
which I do not even think I need refute.
“His Highness’s orders have already anticipated your intentions, with
regard to setting the Druse chieftains at liberty. Some time ago several
of these chieftains had quitted Syria and had fixed themselves at Cairo;
at the news of the late events they came, of their own accord, to demand
his Highness’s permission to return among their countrymen, there to act
in the interest of the Egyptian cause, and ten days ago they took the
road for Syria. It is at their request that the Druse chieftains, who
had formerly been banished to Nubia, have been authorized to return to
their homes, and that the order for their return has already been sent.
The restoration of these different personages to their country being
thus, as it may be said, a thing already done, your good intentions with
regard to them are carried into effect, without its being necessary to
have recourse to an exchange.
“It had already come to our knowledge that the intention of the Great
Powers was to leave the hereditary government of Egypt to his Highness,
and the Viceroy awaits an official communication upon this point. His
Highness is not the less grateful for the proposal contained in your
letter, for he sees therein a personal manifestation of your friendly
and conciliatory sentiments. In no case has his Highness intended to
place himself in opposition to the will of the Great Powers of Europe.
You are not ignorant, Commodore, that he had already submitted to the
stipulations of the Treaty which grants to him the hereditary
administration of Egypt. His Highness had only reserved to himself the
power of soliciting from the Sublime Porte the favour of joining the
government of Syria for life to this first concession; and this because
the Viceroy was convinced that Syria in his hands might still furnish
great resources to the Ottoman empire. Instead of making any answer to
this request, hostilities have been had recourse to. You will judge
impartially, Commodore, whether the faults have been on the side of the
Viceroy. His Highness is persuaded of the contrary, and remains
convinced that the Great Powers will do him justice.
“With regard to the restoration of the Ottoman fleet, and the evacuation
of Syria, I hasten to reply on these two points. It has never entered
into his Highness’s intentions to keep the fleet of his Sovereign, and
he has not ceased to express himself in this sense from the very day
that circumstances brought the fleet of the Grand Signor to Alexandria.
“Moreover, when Sami Bey was sent on a mission to the Sublime Porte, he
offered, in the name of his Highness, the restitution of the fleet,
which was on the point of putting to sea to return to Constantinople
when the hostilities begun in Syria postponed the execution of the
orders of the Viceroy. With regard to the evacuation of Syria, his
Highness thought himself justified in waiting for fresh orders from the
Sublime Porte. You are aware, Commodore, of the manner in which the
request of the Viceroy was replied to, who thereupon thought it
necessary to have recourse to the unofficial mediation of France,
manifesting thereby his intention of entering upon the path of
conciliation, and his desire to see an end put to a state of things,
which his Highness is conscious he did not give occasion for.
“The direct communications between the Viceroy and the
Commander-in-Chief of the Egyptian army in Syria are for the moment
suspended, in consequence of the agitation which exists in that country.
It is with the sole object of putting a stop to the disorders, and of
ensuring the means of correspondence between the army and Egypt, that
the Viceroy has directed a body of troops to march upon the frontier,
the object of whose mission is to re-establish the communications.
“I hope, Commodore, that you will be satisfied with the explanations
which the Viceroy has ordered me to transmit to you, and that you will
perceive, in the eagerness which I have shown to reply with frankness to
your friendly communication, a fresh proof of the pacific and
conciliatory feelings which have never ceased to animate the Viceroy, my
master.
“I avail myself, &c.,
(Signed) “BOGHOS JOUSSOUF.”
“To Commodore Napier.”
The weather had been fine, but still we could not expect a long
continuance of it. Mehemet Ali I knew was in some fears that Alexandria
might share the fate of Acre; a gale of wind driving us off the coast
would relieve him from those fears, and restore his confidence,
powerfully supported as he would have been by France. I was so satisfied
with Boghos Bey’s answer, that, to save time, I resolved, to accompany
Captain Maunsell, who returned with the following letter, and offer an
interview, which was accepted.
“H.M.S. Powerful,
Off Alexandria, November 24, 1840.
“Sir,
“I have to acknowledge the receipt of your Excellency’s letter, and am
happy to find that the Emirs and Scheiks of Lebanon have been released
and if they are not all gone, I shall be glad to send them to Beyrout by
sea.
“I have the honour of inclosing a copy of Lord Palmerston’s letter[16]
to Lord Ponsonby, by which your Excellency will observe, that the desire
of the Allied Powers is to reinstate his Highness in the hereditary
government of Egypt, provided he at once evacuates Syria, and gives up
the Ottoman fleet.
Footnote 16:
This letter, dated October 15, 1840, was by mistake, not sent to the
Minister. The error was soon discovered and rectified. A copy of the
letter will be found at p. 249 of this volume.
“It is of the utmost importance that my Government should be informed,
by the packet about to leave Alexandria, of the intention of his
Highness, in a clear and distinct manner. I have therefore to request
your Excellency will at once inform me whether or not it is his
Highness’s intention to give immediate orders for the surrendering the
Ottoman fleet, and the evacuation of Syria? If his Highness consults his
own interests he will not hesitate a moment.
“I shall give every assistance with the squadron, to prepare the Turkish
fleet, and will permit any number of transports to proceed to Beyrout or
Acre, to embark the army, who have now retired on Damascus, the
intelligence of which I have this moment received from the
Commander-in-Chief.
“I beg you will inform his Highness that if he does not at once decide,
should any expedition be sent from Constantinople, I have no
discretionary power, and must act against him according to the best of
my abilities.
“I observe with regret, by your letter, that more troops have already
been sent into Syria, which I fear will be interpreted at
Constantinople, into a determination of persisting in hostilities.
“To avoid all unnecessary delay, I am now on board the steam-boat, and
shall be most happy to pay my respects to his Highness, should he wish
to see me, and offer him any guarantee in my power.
“I beg, &c.,
(Signed) “C. NAPIER.”
“His Excellency Boghos Bey.”
The Minister speedily made answer, in these terms:
“Alexandria, Nov. 24, 1840.
“Commodore,
“I have laid before the Viceroy, my master, the letter which you have
this day done me the honour to address to me.
“The Druse chieftains who were residing at Cairo have departed for Syria
by land, as I have already had the honour to state to you. It is not,
therefore, in his Highnesses power to avail himself of the means of
transport which you place at their disposal to accelerate their return
to their country.
“The copy of the letter from Lord Palmerston to Lord Ponsonby was not,
as you state, inclosed in your despatch.
“I believe, however, Commodore, that I am aware of the contents of that
letter, and it is upon them that I rely in considering as a fact not to
be doubted, the consent of his Highness to restore the Ottoman fleet and
to evacuate Syria; and I can assure you in the name of the Viceroy, that
the fleet shall be restored and Syria evacuated as soon as his Highness
shall have received the official and positive guarantee of the
advantages which are promised him in return for these concessions.
“On another hand, you are not ignorant, Commodore, that the despatches
received from France by the last steam-boat have apprised us that the
French Government, having entered into negotiation with the Four Powers
at the request of the Viceroy, a definitive arrangement was expected to
take place in a few days. In this posture of affairs do not you think,
Commodore, that it would be fitting not to anticipate the decision which
the Great Powers, acting in concert with the Sublime Porte, are about to
take? a decision which the Viceroy engages in the most formal manner to
submit to without delay.
“You seem to fear that the sending of a body of troops upon the
frontiers of Syria might be considered at Constantinople as a proof of
the intention of his Highness to prolong hostilities in that country; it
is in order to put you completely at ease upon this point that I repeat
to you the positive assurance, that the column which has recently been
sent towards El-Arish has no other object, no other destination, than to
secure the means of communication.
“I repeat, &c.,
(Signed) “BOGHOS JOUSSOUF.”
“To Commodore Napier.”
The Turco-Egyptian squadron, consisting of twenty-one sail of the line,
and numerous frigates and corvettes were, when I arrived, lying in the
harbour, with the yards and topmasts struck; but at noon on the 24th of
November, being the first day of the Bairam, an unusual movement was
observed on board the ships, and they began to sway their masts up, and
before sun-set, their royal yards were across, and after dusk they were
brilliantly illuminated.
On the morning of the 25th, I entered the harbour of Alexandria in the
Medea steamer, passed through the Turco-Egyptian fleet, and anchored off
the Palace. I then landed and proceeded to the house of the British
Consul, Mr. Larking. As the Pacha was receiving visits from his officers
and the principal inhabitants of Alexandria, he appointed the following
day at noon to receive me. In the afternoon we walked about the town,
and there appeared much satisfaction in the countenances of the
inhabitants of all nations and all religions at being released from the
apprehension they entertained of having their town knocked about their
ears.
Alexandria is a tolerably good town, and is fast improving. The naval
establishments of the Pacha are wonderful, and whatever may be said
against Mehemet Ali, it must be admitted, that no man of ordinary
abilities could have in so short a time accomplished what he has done. I
am not sure that the means employed were justifiable, but judging him by
an Oriental standard, which is the only fair way of judging him, he must
be considered an astonishing man. In less than twenty years he has
created an army and a navy, and a dockyard that would do credit to any
nation; he has constructed nine or ten sail of the line, and some of
them very fine ships; he has made officers and sailors of his Arabs, and
has instilled some of his own activity into the minds of the indolent
Turks in his service.
His dockyard is very complete; there is a large basin capable of holding
all his squadron; his storehouses are well built, and full of stores,
and the whole establishment is well arranged. Everything is done in the
arsenal. He builds his ships, makes his masts, yards, sails, rope, cabin
furniture, compasses, quadrants, clothing for the crews, (out of his own
manufactures,) shoes, &c.; he paints oil-cloths for the cabins of his
officers, and even the sealing-wax and wafers they are supplied with are
made in the arsenal. He is now constructing a dry-dock, which is,
however, getting on very slow, and I do not think they are going the
right way about it. His principal officers, and, indeed, many of the
inferior ones, have been brought up in our arsenals, and appear
perfectly to understand their business. Outside of the dockyard is a
tolerably well built village for the wives and families of the crews,
half of which are allowed to be on shore every night.
Previously to my interview with the Pacha, the following letters passed
between the Minister and myself:
“H.M. Steam-ship Medea, Alexandria,
Nov. 25, 1840.
“Sir,
“I wish your Excellency to acquaint me whether in informing me that the
Druse chiefs had been sent back to Lebanon, your Excellency means that
all the chiefs that were removed from Syria last July have returned to
their homes.
“I observed to your Excellency in my letter of yesterday, that I had no
direction to suspend hostilities by sea, unless his Highness would
surrender the fleet, and give immediate orders for the evacuation of
Syria, much less can I insure the discontinuance of military operations;
on the contrary, I feel perfectly satisfied that operations will be
carried on, until orders are given for its complete evacuation.
“I am perfectly ignorant of the despatches brought by the last French
steamer, nor have I any knowledge that the French Government has entered
into negotiation with the Allied Powers.
“I only know that the Allied Powers have recommended to the Porte to
reinstate Mehemet Ali in the government of Egypt, and render it
hereditary in his family; and I know that nothing could afford so much
pleasure to the British Government, as my writing by this packet to say
that, orders have been given for the evacuation of Syria, and the
surrender of the fleet. I can enter into his Highness’s feelings in
hesitating to do this until he officially receives the guarantee of the
Allied Powers; but at the same time I must do my duty.
“I am most anxious to avoid any further effusion of blood; war and
sickness have already done enough.
“Therefore, if his Highness will give immediate orders for the
evacuation of Syria, and send transports to receive the troops, and get
the fleet ready for sea, I will not insist on their departure for
Constantinople, until the Pacha is guaranteed in the hereditary
government of Egypt, and on those conditions I will suspend hostilities.
“I have, &c.
(Signed) “CHARLES NAPIER, _Commodore_.”
“His Excellency Boghos Bey.”
“Alexandria, Nov. 25, 1840.
“Commodore,
“I have just received the letter which you have this day done me the
honour to address to me, and I have hastened to lay it before the
Viceroy, my master. Agreeably to his orders, I reply to the different
paragraphs contained in it.
“In the first place, with regard to the Druse chieftains, I repeat to
you, Commodore, that those among them who live at Cairo, have set out
for Syria by land; with regard to those who are still in Nubia, the
order to secure their return has already been forwarded, as I had the
honour to write to you, and I repeat to you the assurance that the
moment they arrive in Egypt, they will be perfectly free to proceed to
their own country.
“With regard to the Ottoman fleet, which is to be put into a fit
condition for sailing, as soon as the decision of the Powers shall have
been officially notified to the Viceroy, his Highness sees with pleasure
that you concur in his sentiments.
“His Highness, sincerely participating in the wish which you express
to put a stop to the shedding of blood, has decided to put an end to
hostilities; but as you are not ignorant that the transport by sea of
an army which has a large quantity of stores, horses, and camp
equipage, presents great difficulties, and that it is above all
important to put an end to the calamities of war, the Viceroy is ready
to order his son Ibrahim Pacha to concentrate his troops in order to
fall back with them upon Egypt, an order which shall be transmitted to
the Commander-in-Chief by an Egyptian officer, accompanied, if you
think fit, by an English officer accredited by you.
“By this means, Ibrahim Pacha will be enabled completely to evacuate
Syria the moment the decision of the Powers shall be officially known.
“I have, &c.
(Signed) “BOGHOS JOUSSOUF.”
“To Commodore Napier.”
At noon on the 26th I proceeded to the Palace, accompanied by Captains
Maunsell, Martin, and Warden. Sir William Eden, who was on board the
Carysfort, did me also the honour of accompanying me, and Mr. Larking,
the British Consul; and I must take this opportunity of stating how much
I am indebted to Sir William Eden for some valuable suggestions; as also
to Captains Maunsell and Martin. A battalion of Egyptian troops was
drawn up in the court-yard of the Palace, and presented arms, the band
playing martial airs.
On entering the reception-room of Mehemet Ali, which is in the old
palace, we were most graciously received. The Pacha, in a short dress,
was standing surrounded by his officers, and free admission seemed to
have been given to Franks of all description. After a few compliments on
both sides, the Pacha walked to a corner of the room, and seated himself
on his Divan. Pipes and coffee were called for, and we smoked away for a
considerable time, as if we had been the best friends in the world. The
palace was too crowded to enter into business; and it was arranged I
should again see the Pacha in the evening, after communicating with
Boghos Bey, and give him in writing the terms I wished him to comply
with.
The Pacha is a man of low stature, is a good deal marked with the
small-pox, his complexion sallow, his eyes quick and penetrating. He
wears a fine white beard; and when in good humour, has a most
fascinating manner; but when out of temper, his eyes sparkle, he raises
himself up in his corner, and soon convinces you he is much easier led
than driven. He is easy of access, and indeed fond of gossipping; and
seems to be informed of every thing that is either said or done in
Alexandria. He has many friends amongst the Franks; and when he takes a
liking, the man’s fortune is made. He has built a very handsome palace,
and furnished it with taste. Opposite the palace is the harem, where his
wife resides; but the old gentleman has given up his visits to that
establishment.
After leaving the Pacha I had an interview with the Bey, and settled
with him the terms of the Convention, which was submitted to the Pacha
in the evening, and after some discussion was agreed upon. I was anxious
that the Egyptian troops should be embarked and return by sea, because I
foresaw their retiring by land would disorganize the whole of Syria, and
stir up the evil passions of the inhabitants, which would not easily
subside. Besides I was afraid some untoward event might bring the Turks
and Egyptians into contact, and upset all I had been doing. Mehemet Ali,
on the other hand, afraid of foul play, (and the sequel has proved he
had reason,) was anxious they should retire by land; and it is singular
enough that there was a greater outcry against that Article which he did
not like, than against all the other Articles of the Convention; and I
feel quite satisfied that the hold of Turkey on Syria has been more
weakened by that retreat than by any other follies they have since
committed; the different sects know their strength, and the day is not
far distant when the Turks will be driven out of the country, with a
severer loss than Ibrahim Pacha met with.
The subjoined correspondence, together with the Convention, is the best
account I can give of the progress of the transaction:—
“H.M. Steam-ship Medea, Alexandria,
Nov. 26, 1840.
“Sir,
“In the last paragraph of your letter of yesterday’s date, you say that
the Pacha will give orders to concentrate the Egyptian army in Syria, in
order that they may evacuate the country, when the decision of the
Powers is officially known.
“I beg to observe to your Excellency that the Egyptian troops are
already concentrated, and my demand is, that the order should be given
for the _immediate_ evacuation; and I shall place a steamer at your
Excellency’s disposal to convey the officer whom the Pacha sends,
together with one I shall appoint, to Beyrout, with the Pacha’s
despatches to his son Ibrahim Pacha.
“Nothing short of this will either meet the Commander-in-Chief’s
approbation, or put an end to hostilities.
“I have, &c.,
(Signed) “CHAS. NAPIER, _Commodore_.”
“His Excellency Boghos Bey.”
I received no answer to this letter, but the following was published in
the _Journal des Debats_:—
“Alexandria, Nov. 26, 1840.
“Commodore,
“I reply to the last letter which you have done me the honour to address
to me, and which I have laid before the Viceroy, my master.
“His Highness consents to re-equip the fleet of the Sublime Porte, to
victual it, in a word to put it in a state to sail at a moment’s notice
for Constantinople, on the express condition,—a condition which you
yourself have laid down,—that the said fleet shall remain in our port
until the official notification of the Powers which shall guarantee the
hereditary government of Egypt to his Highness.
“Besides this, on the formal demand which you have made to the Viceroy
thereupon, his Highness will send to Beyrout, and that forthwith, an
officer of his household, (already appointed,) who will be the bearer of
the necessary orders for the evacuation of Syria by his son Ibrahim
Pacha and his whole army.
“This envoy will embark on board the steamer which you have placed at
his Highness’s disposal, and will be accompanied by an English officer,
on his way there and back again.
“This is written with lively gratitude for the care and the delicacy you
have shown in the solution of this difficult question. And in the name
of his Highness,
“I am, &c.,
(Signed) “BOGHOS JOUSSOUF.”
I had already detained the Oriental with the India mail three days, and
not thinking it proper to keep her longer, I decided on sending the
correspondence by her, and the Convention, when signed, by the Medea. I
wrote at the same time to Lord Palmerston.
“Medea, Alexandria,
Nov. 26, 1840.
“My Lord,
“I have sent to the Admiralty copies of my correspondence with the
Egyptian Government. I am not able to send the reply to my last letter,
because it will not be ready till to-night, when everything will be
signed. But I am just come from the Pacha and Boghos Bey, who have
consented to the immediate evacuation of Syria. But as I have already
kept the Oriental three days, I did not think it right to detain her
longer. I hope I am right, and that I have done what I think you wish;
and as I feel certain the Turkish army, as it is, could not have
followed up Ibrahim without cavalry, artillery, or commissariat, I
thought it better to get them out of Syria by treaty. Had we attacked
them at Zachle, it would have been different; but they are retired on
Damascus. A French steamer arrived here three days ago with a
negotiator, besides the one they had here; and they did all they could
to prevent this. But six eighty-gun ships negotiate better than a
steamer. I should have sent your Lordship copy of the papers, but I
could not any longer detain the Indian mail. I shall, probably, send a
steamer home with the Convention.
“I have done what I think will meet the views of the Government. I know
the responsibility I incur. But an officer ought not to be afraid of
acting without instructions, when it is for the advantage of his
country.
“I have, &c.,
(Signed) “CHARLES NAPIER.”
“The Right Hon. Lord Palmerston.”
“Medea Steamer, Alexandria,
Nov. 26, 1840.
“Sir,
“I have the honour of inclosing copies of a correspondence that has
taken place between the Egyptian Government and myself. I have not been
able to send the reply to my last letter, as I could not get it till
late this evening; but I am this moment returned from the Pacha and
Boghos Bey, who have consented to the immediate evacuation of Syria; and
as the India mail has been already detained three days, I do not like to
detain her another.
“I hope their Lordships will approve of the steps I have taken to at
once settle the Eastern Question.
“I have, &c.,
(Signed) “CHARLES NAPIER.
“R. More O’Ferrall, Esq.“
On the morning of the 28th, the Treaty being signed, I left Alexandria,
and returned to the Powerful. The Prometheus steamer had joined the day
before, and I now dispatched her to Beyrout to the Commander-in-Chief;
and the Medea, with the Treaty and the rest of the correspondence, to
the Admiralty.
“H.M. Steam-vessel Medea, Alexandria,
Nov. 28, 1840.
“Sir,
“In my letter by the Oriental, I sent the copies of the correspondence
that has taken place between the Egyptian Government and myself. I also
acquainted you that the terms had been agreed to.
“I have now the honour of inclosing a copy of the Convention I have
signed, which I trust will meet their Lordships’ approbation. The whole
of the correspondence has been sent to the Commander-in-Chief; and the
Egyptian officer, with the order to Ibrahim Pacha, has also proceeded to
join him.
“I have, &c.,
(Signed) “CHAS. NAPIER, _Commodore_.
“P.S. I beg to observe that I am much indebted to the decision of
Captain Maunsell, of the Rodney, in opening a direct communication with
the Pacha. It had been usual to send in letters by the French boat, but
Captain Maunsell very properly landed at the Palace, and sent right up
to the Pacha at once.”
“R. More O’Ferrall, Esq.”
“CONVENTION between COMMODORE NAPIER, commanding Her Britannic Majesty’s
Naval Forces before Alexandria, on the one part, and his Excellency
BOGHOS JOUSSOUF BEY, specially authorized by his Highness the
VICEROY of EGYPT, on the other part; signed at Alexandria, the 27th
November, 1840.
“ART. I.—Commodore Napier, in his abovementioned capacity, having
brought to the knowledge of his Highness Mehemet Ali, that the Allied
Powers had recommended the Sublime Porte to reinstate him in the
hereditary government of Egypt, and his Highness seeing in this
communication a favourable occasion for putting an end to the calamities
of war, he engages to order his son Ibrahim Pacha to proceed immediately
to the evacuation of Syria. His Highness engages, moreover, to restore
the Ottoman fleet, as soon as he shall have received the official
notification that the Sublime Porte grants to him the hereditary
government of Egypt, which concession is, and remains, guaranteed by the
Powers.
“ART. II.—Commodore Napier will place a steamer at the disposal of the
Egyptian Government, which will convey to Syria the officer charged by
his Highness to carry to the Commander-in-Chief of the Egyptian array
the order to evacuate Syria. The Commander-in-Chief of the British
forces, Sir Robert Stopford, will on his side appoint an officer to
watch over the execution of this measure.
“ART. III.—In consideration of what precedes, Commodore Napier engages
to suspend hostilities on the part of the British forces against
Alexandria, or any other portion of the Egyptian territory. He will, at
the same time, authorize the free passage of the vessels appointed for
the transport of the wounded, the invalids, or of any other portion of
the Egyptian army, which the Government of Egypt might wish to return to
that country by sea.
“ART. IV.—It is well understood that the Egyptian army shall have the
liberty of retiring from Syria with its artillery, arms, horses,
ammunition, baggage, and in general everything that constitutes the
stores of an army.
“Done in duplicate, each Contracting Party to have an original.
(Signed) “CH. NAPIER, _Commodore_.
“BOGHOS JOUSSOUF.”
In order, if possible, to avoid giving rise to any cavil, I thought it
necessary, at the time of signing the Convention, to address the
following explanatory note to the Minister of Mehemet Ali:
“Her Majesty’s Ship Medea,
Nov. 27, 1840.
“Sir,
“In the Convention entered into by your Excellency and myself, Mehemet
Ali is styled his Highness the Viceroy of Egypt. As this does not alter
the spirit of the Convention, I did not hesitate to sign it, but you
must clearly understand that I cannot acknowledge that title until
Mehemet Ali is restored by the Porte.
“I have, &c.,
“CHARLES NAPIER, _Commodore_.”
“His Excellency Boghos Bey.”
Venturing on so important a measure as this Convention without
authority, would only be justified by the result; but it was not without
precedent. Sir Sydney Smith had entered into a Convention with the
French for the evacuation of Egypt, and Captain Foote had also, when
serving under Lord Nelson, entered into one for the evacuation of
Naples. Both were rejected by their superior officers. The rejection of
the first led to the expedition to Egypt, which cost some millions, and
the loss of much life; the rejection of the last, to scenes that are
better buried in oblivion.
--------------
APPENDIX.
CONVENTION concluded between the Courts of GREAT BRITAIN, AUSTRIA,
PRUSSIA, and RUSSIA on the one part, and the SUBLIME OTTOMAN PORTE
on the other, for the pacification of the Levant, signed at London,
July 15, 1840.
In the Name of the Most Merciful God.
His Highness the Sultan having addressed himself to their Majesties the
Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Emperor of
Austria, King of Hungary and Bohemia, the King of Prussia, and the
Emperor of all the Russias, to ask their support and assistance in the
difficulties in which he finds himself placed by reason of the hostile
proceedings of Mehemet Ali, Pacha of Egypt,—difficulties which threaten
with danger the integrity of the Ottoman Empire, and the independence of
the Sultan’s throne,—Their said Majesties, moved by the sincere
friendship which subsists between them and the Sultan; animated by the
desire of maintaining the integrity and independence of the Ottoman
Empire as a security for the peace of Europe; faithful to the engagement
which they contracted by the Collective Note presented to the Porte by
their Representatives at Constantinople, on the 27th of July, 1839; and
desirous, moreover, to prevent the effusion of blood which would be
occasioned by a continuance of the hostilities which have recently
broken out in Syria between the authorities of the Pacha of Egypt and
the subjects of the Sultan; their said Majesties and His Highness the
Sultan have resolved, for the aforesaid purposes, to conclude together a
Convention, and they have therefore named as their Plenipotentiaries,
that is to say:
Her Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Right Honourable Henry John Viscount Palmerston, Baron
Temple, a Peer of Ireland, a Member of Her Britannic Majesty’s Most
Honourable Privy Council, Knight Grand Cross of the Most Honourable
Order of the Bath, a Member of Parliament, and her Principal Secretary
of State for Foreign Affairs;
His Majesty the Emperor of Austria, King of Hungary and Bohemia, the
Sieur Philip, Baron de Neumann, Commander of the Order of Leopold of
Austria, decorated with the Cross for Civil Merit, Commander of the
Orders of the Tower and Sword of Portugal, of the Southern Cross of
Brazil, Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St. Stanislaus of the Second
Class of Russia, his Aulick Councillor, and his Plenipotentiary to Her
Britannic Majesty;
His Majesty the King of Prussia, the Sieur Henry William, Baron de
Bulow, Knight of the Order of the Red Eagle of the First Class of
Prussia, Grand Cross of the Orders of Leopold of Austria, and of the
Guelphs of Hanover, Knight Grand Cross of the Orders of St. Stanislaus
of the Second Class, and of St. Wladimir of the Fourth Class of Russia,
Commander of the Order of the Falcon of Saxe-Weimar, his Chamberlain,
actual Privy Councillor, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister
Plenipotentiary to Her Britannic Majesty;
His Majesty the Emperor of All the Russias, the Sieur Philip, Baron de
Brunnow, Knight of the Order of St. Anne of the First Class, of St.
Stanislaus of the First Class, of St. Wladimir of the Third, Commander
of the Order of St. Stephen of Hungary, Knight of the Order of the Red
Eagle, and of St. John of Jerusalem, his Privy Councillor, Envoy
Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Her Britannic Majesty;
And His Majesty the Most Noble, Most Powerful, and Most Magnificent
Sultan Abdul Medjid, Emperor of the Ottomans, Chekib Effendi, decorated
with the Nichan Iftihar of the First Class, Beylikdgi of the Imperial
Divan, Honorary Councillor of the Department for Foreign Affairs, his
Ambassador Extraordinary to Her Britannic Majesty;
Who, having reciprocally communicated to each other their full powers,
found to be in good and due form, have agreed upon and signed the
following Articles:—
ART. I.—His Highness the Sultan having come to an agreement with their
Majesties the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Emperor of Austria, King of Hungary and Bohemia, the King of
Prussia, and the Emperor of All the Russias, as to the conditions of the
arrangement which it is the intention of His Highness to grant to
Mehemet Ali, conditions which are specified in the Separate Act hereunto
annexed; Their Majesties engage to act in perfect accord, and to unite
their efforts in order to determine Mehemet Ali to conform to that
arrangement; each of the High Contracting Parties reserving to itself to
co-operate for that purpose, according to the means of action which each
may have at its disposal.
ART. II.—If the Pacha of Egypt should refuse to accept the
above-mentioned arrangement, which will be communicated to him by the
Sultan, with the concurrence of their aforesaid Majesties; Their
Majesties engage to take, at the request of the Sultan, measures
concerted and settled between them, in order to carry that arrangement
into effect. In the meanwhile, the Sultan having requested his said
Allies to unite with him in order to assist him to cut off the
communication by sea between Egypt and Syria, and to prevent the
transport of troops, horses, arms, and warlike stores of all kinds, from
the one province to the other; Their Majesties the Queen of the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and the Emperor of Austria, King
of Hungary and Bohemia, engage to give immediately to that effect, the
necessary orders to their naval Commanders in the Mediterranean. Their
said Majesties further engage, that the naval Commanders of their
squadrons shall, according to the means at their command, afford, in the
name of the Alliance, all the support and assistance in their power to
those subjects of the Sultan who may manifest their fidelity and
allegiance to their Sovereign.
ART. III.—If Mehemet Ali, after having refused to submit to the
conditions of the arrangement above-mentioned, should direct his land or
sea forces against Constantinople, the High Contracting Parties, upon
the express demand of the Sultan, addressed to their Representatives at
Constantinople, agree, in such case, to comply with the request of that
Sovereign, and to provide for the defence of his throne by means of a
co-operation agreed upon by mutual consent, for the purpose of placing
the two Straits of the Bosphorus and Dardanelles, as well as the Capital
of the Ottoman Empire, in security against all aggression.
It is further agreed, that the forces which, in virtue of such concert,
may be sent as aforesaid, shall there remain so employed as long as
their presence shall be required by the Sultan; and when His Highness
shall deem their presence no longer necessary, the said forces shall
simultaneously withdraw, and shall return to the Black Sea and to the
Mediterranean, respectively.
ART. IV.—It is, however, expressly understood, that the co-operation
mentioned in the preceding Article, and destined to place the Straits of
the Dardanelles and of the Bosphorus, and the Ottoman Capital, under the
temporary safeguard of the High Contracting Parties against all
aggression of Mehemet Ali, shall be considered only as a measure of
exception adopted at the express demand of the Sultan, and solely for
his defence in the single case above-mentioned; but it is agreed, that
such measure shall not derogate in any degree from the ancient rule of
the Ottoman Empire, in virtue of which it has at all times been
prohibited for ships of war of Foreign Powers to enter the Straits of
the Dardanelles and of the Bosphorus. And the Sultan, on the one hand,
hereby declares that, excepting the contingency above-mentioned, it is
his firm resolution to maintain in future this principle invariably
established as the ancient rule of his empire; and as long as the Porte
is at peace, to admit no foreign ship of war into the Straits of the
Bosphorus and of the Dardanelles; on the other hand, their Majesties the
Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Emperor of
Austria, King of Hungary and Bohemia, the King of Prussia, and the
Emperor of All the Russias, engage to respect this determination of the
Sultan, and to conform to the above-mentioned principle.
ART. V.—The present Convention shall be ratified, and the ratifications
thereof shall be exchanged at London at the expiration of two months, or
sooner if possible.
In witness whereof the respective Plenipotentiaries have signed the
same, and have affixed thereto the seals of their arms.
Done at London, the fifteenth day of July, in the year of Lord One
thousand Eight hundred and forty.
(L.S.) PALMERSTON. (L.S.) CHEKIB.
(L.S.) NEUMANN.
(L.S.) BULOW.
(L.S.) BRUNNOW.
-------
SEPARATE ACT annexed to the CONVENTION concluded at London on
the 15th of July, 1840.
His Highness the Sultan intends to grant, and to cause to be notified to
Mehemet Ali, the conditions of the arrangement hereinafter detailed:—
§ 1. His Highness promises to grant to Mehemet Ali, for himself and for
his descendants in the direct line, the administration of the Pachalic
of Egypt; and his Highness promises, moreover, to grant to Mehemet Ali,
for his life, with the title of Pacha of Acre, and with the command of
the fortress of St. John of Acre, the administration of the southern
part of Syria, the limits of which shall be determined by the following
line of demarkation:
This line, beginning at Cape Ras-el-Nakhora, on the coast of the
Mediterranean, shall extend direct from thence as far as the mouth of
the river Seisaban, at the northern extremity of the Lake of Tiberias;
it shall pass along the western shore of that lake, it shall follow the
right bank of the river Jordan, and the western shore of the Dead Sea;
from thence it shall extend straight to the Red Sea, which it shall
strike at the northern point of the Gulf of Akaba, and from thence it
shall follow the western shore of the Gulf of Akaba, and the eastern
shore of the Gulf of Suez, as far as Suez.
The Sultan, however, in making these offers, attaches thereto the
condition, that Mehemet Ali shall accept them within the space of ten
days after communication thereof shall have been made to him at
Alexandria, by an Agent of his Highness; and that Mehemet Ali shall, at
the same time, place in the hands of that Agent the necessary
instructions to the Commanders of his sea and land forces, to withdraw
immediately from Arabia, and from all the Holy Cities which are therein
situated; from the Island of Candia; from the district of Adana; and
from all other parts of the Ottoman Empire which are not comprised
within the limits of Egypt, and within those of the Pachalic of Acre, as
above defined.
§ 2. If within the space of ten days, fixed as above, Mehemet Ali should
not accept the above-mentioned arrangement, the Sultan will then
withdraw the offer of the life administration of the Pachalic of Acre;
but His Highness will still consent to grant to Mehemet Ali, for himself
and for his descendants in the direct line, the administration of the
Pachalic of Egypt, provided such offer be accepted within the space of
ten days next following; that is to say, within a period of twenty days,
to be reckoned from the day on which the communication shall have been
made to him; and provided that in this case also, he places in the hands
of the Agent of the Sultan the necessary instructions to his military
and naval commanders, to withdraw immediately within the limits, and
into the ports of the Pachalic of Egypt.
§ 3. The annual tribute to be paid to the Sultan by Mehemet Ali, shall
be proportioned to the greater or less amount of territory of which the
latter may obtain the administration, according as he accepts the first
or the second alternative.
§ 4. It is, moreover, expressly understood, that, in the first as in the
second alternative, Mehemet Ali (before the expiration of the specified
period of ten or of twenty days), shall be bound to deliver up the
Turkish fleet, with the whole of its crews and equipments, into the
hands of the Turkish Agent who shall be charged to receive the same. The
Commanders of the Allied Squadrons shall be present at such delivery.
It is understood, that in no case can Mehemet Ali carry to account, or
deduct from the tribute to be paid to the Sultan, the expenses which he
has incurred in the maintenance of the Ottoman fleet during any part of
the time it shall have remained in the ports of Egypt.
§ 5. All the Treaties, and all the laws of the Ottoman Empire, shall be
applicable to Egypt, and to the Pachalic of Acre, such as it has been
above defined, in the same manner as to every other part of the Ottoman
Empire. But the Sultan consents, that on condition of the regular
payment of the tribute above-mentioned, Mehemet Ali and his descendants
shall collect, in the name of the Sultan, and as the delegate of His
Highness, within the provinces the administration of which shall be
confided to them, the taxes and imposts legally established. It is
moreover understood, that in consideration of the receipt of the
aforesaid taxes and imposts, Mehemet Ali and his descendants shall
defray all the expenses of the civil and military administration of the
said provinces.
§ 6. The military and naval forces which may be maintained by the Pacha
of Egypt and Acre, forming part of the forces of the Ottoman Empire,
shall always be considered as maintained for the service of the State.
§ 7. If, at the expiration of the period of twenty days after the
communication shall have been made to him (according to the stipulation
of § 2), Mehemet Ali shall not accede to the proposed arrangement, and
shall not accept the hereditary Pachalic of Egypt, the Sultan will
consider himself at liberty to withdraw that offer, and to follow, in
consequence, such ulterior course, as his own interests and the counsels
of his Allies may suggest to him.
§ 8. The present Separate Act shall have the same force and validity as
if it were inserted, word for word, in the Convention of this date. It
shall be ratified, and the ratifications thereof shall be exchanged at
London, at the same time as those of the said Convention.
In witness whereof the respective Plenipotentiaries have signed the
same, and have affixed thereto the seals of their arms.
Done at London, the fifteenth day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand Eight hundred and forty.
(L.S.) PALMERSTON. (L.S.) CHEKIB.
(L.S.) NEUMANN.
(L.S.) BULOW.
(L.S.) BRUNNOW.
PROTOCOL signed at London, on the 15th of July, 1840, by the
Plenipotentiaries of GREAT BRITAIN, AUSTRIA, PRUSSIA, RUSSIA, and
TURKEY.
In affixing his signature to the Convention of this date, the
Plenipotentiary of the Sublime Ottoman Porte declared:
That in recording by Article IV. of the said Convention the ancient rule
of the Ottoman Empire, by virtue of which it has been at all times
forbidden to foreign vessels of war to enter within the Straits of the
Dardanelles and of the Bosphorus, the Sublime Porte reserves to itself,
as heretofore, to deliver passes to light vessels under flag of war,
which may be employed according to custom, for the service of the
correspondence of the Legations of Friendly Powers.
The Plenipotentiaries of the Courts of Great Britain, Austria, Prussia,
and Russia, took note of the above Declaration, for the purpose of
communicating it to their respective Courts.
(Signed) PALMERSTON.
NEUMANN.
BULOW.
BRUNNOW.
CHEKIB.
RESERVED PROTOCOL signed at London on the 15th of July, 1840, by the
Plenipotentiaries of GREAT BRITAIN, AUSTRIA, PRUSSIA, RUSSIA, and
TURKEY.
The Plenipotentiaries of the Courts of Great Britain, Austria, Prussia,
Russia, and Turkey, having, in virtue, of their full powers, concluded
and signed this day a Convention between their respective Sovereigns,
for the pacification of the Levant;
Considering that, in consequence of the distances which separate the
Capitals of their respective Courts, a certain space of time must
necessarily elapse before the ratifications of the said Convention can
be exchanged, and before orders founded thereupon can be carried into
execution;
And the said Plenipotentiaries being deeply impressed with the
conviction, that by reason of the present state of things in Syria, the
interests of humanity, as well as the grave considerations of European
policy which constitute the object of the common solicitude of the
Contracting Parties to the Convention of this day, imperiously require
that, as far as possible, all delay should be avoided in the
accomplishment of the pacification which the said Convention is intended
to effect;
The said Plenipotentiaries, in virtue of their full powers, have agreed,
that the preliminary measures mentioned in Article II. of the said
Convention, shall be carried into execution at once, without waiting for
the exchange of the ratifications; the respective Plenipotentiaries
recording formally, by the present Instrument, the consent of their
Courts to the immediate execution of these measures.
It is moreover agreed between the said Plenipotentiaries, that His
Highness the Sultan will proceed immediately to address to Mehemet Ali,
the communication and offers specified in the Separate Act annexed to
the Convention of this day.
It is further agreed, that the Consular Agents of Great Britain,
Austria, Prussia, and Russia, at Alexandria, shall place themselves in
communication with the Agent whom His Highness may send thither to
communicate to Mehemet Ali the above-mentioned offers; that the said
Consuls shall afford to that Agent all the assistance and support in
their power; and shall use all their means of influence with Mehemet
Ali, in order to persuade him to accept the arrangement which will be
proposed to him by order of His Highness the Sultan.
The Admirals of the respective squadrons in the Mediterranean shall be
instructed to place themselves in communication with the said Consuls on
this subject.
(Signed) PALMERSTON.
NEUMANN.
BULOW.
BRUNNOW.
CHEKIB.
END OF THE FIRST VOLUME.
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Transcriber’s Note
The word 'reconnoissance' is also spelled 'reconnaissance', occurring in
both forms in the chapter summaries for Chapter V in the Table of
Contents and in the chapter heading itself. The former form is used
exclusively in the remainder of the text, and so these have been
corrected.
Errors deemed most likely to be the printer’s have been corrected, and
are noted here. The references are to the page and line in the original.
The following issues should be noted, along with the resolutions.
vi.16 Reconn[a/o]issance to Merouba Replaced.
xvii.28 a high idea of their indom[p/i]table Replaced.
intrepidity
xxi.14 he halted a short time to reorganize his Replaced.
army[,/.]>
xxxiv.2 he would recal[l] Ibrahim into Egypt Added.
36.20 throughout the Turkish territor[it]ies Removed.
50.7 Reconn[a/o]issance to Merouba Replaced.
63.22 About half-past 3[,] P.M. Removed.
87.6 [ /R.] M. O’Ferrall, Esq., Restored.
110.21 [“]Beyrout appears to have revived again Added.
153.7 his force was ass[e]mbled>. Added.
176.13 the court-yard of the ch[a/â]teau Replaced.
194.19 with a parcel of red [buntin] flags _sic_
209.5 notwithstand[i]ng the explosion Added.
228.17 The cool, steady, and beau[t]iful style Added.