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THE
WAR IN SYRIA.

BY

COMMODORE SIR CHARLES NAPIER, K.C.B.,

&c., &c., &c.

IN TWO VOLUMES.

VOL. II.

LONDON:

JOHN W. PARKER, WEST STRAND.

M.DCCC.XLII.

London:

Harrison and Co., Printers,

St. Martin’s Lane.

CONTENTS OF THE SECOND VOLUME.

ERRATA.

Vol. I., p. 88, line 16, for southward, close to the castle, read northward, close to the castle.

Vol. II., p. 41, line 3, for 22nd November, read 11th December.

” p. 199, line 4, for Opposed, read Approved.

THE WAR IN SYRIA.

CHAPTER I.

Gale on the Egyptian and Syrian Coasts—The Author’s return to Marmorice Bay—Letters from the Admiral, the General and the Ambassador regarding the Convention—The Author’s Replies—Letter of the Admiral to Mehemet Ali—Commotion occasioned by the Convention—Admiral’s Letter to the Admiralty—Instruction of the 14th November—Captain Fanshawe dispatched to Alexandria—Instruction to the Admiral.

Among the reasons that induced me to enter into negotiation with the Pacha of Egypt, it will be recollected that I have mentioned the uncertain state of the weather, which rendered it possible that the British squadron might at any minute be blown off the coast; and I found that I had concluded my arrangements only just in time. For I had hardly got the Prometheus away, on the 28th of November, 1840, when it began to blow, which freshened to a gale in the night; the morning brought more moderate weather, but towards dusk it came on with great violence, and lasted thirty-six hours. The Powerful was struck by a heavy sea, which started her fore-channels and endangered the fore-mast; the new rigging of the Rodney and Cambridge had given out so much, that their masts became insecure, and seeing no further necessity for keeping the squadron at sea, I proceeded to Marmorice Bay, where I anchored on the 8th of December, and was much gratified to be received by the squadron with three cheers, and the rigging manned, with the same enthusiasm I had before experienced on joining the squadron off Alexandria.

Captain Henderson, of the Gorgon, first communicated to me that my Convention had been rejected by the Admiral, which I have reason to believe he approved of in the first instance, but was overruled by the authorities in Syria. Next morning the Princess Charlotte and Bellerophon arrived from Beyrout. They had experienced the same gale we did off Alexandria, and rode it out in St. George’s Bay; the Bellerophon, driven from the anchorage at Beyrout, was obliged to cut her cable and make sail, and after scraping the land as far down the coast as Latakia, was saved by a miraculous shift of wind; great credit is due to Captain Austin, and the officers and crew of the Bellerophon, for saving the ship. The Pique was obliged to cut away her masts to prevent her going on shore at Caiffa; and the Zebra parted and was thrown on the beach, with the loss of two men only. The Austrian squadron quitted the coast of Syria with the English, and the French vessels of war remained.

On the Admiral’s arrival at Marmorice, letters from himself, Sir Charles Smith, and Lord Ponsonby, were put into my hand. I insert them here, together with the replies.

“Sir,

“Princess Charlotte, St. George’s Bay,

Beyrout, December 2, 1840.

“I have received, by the Prometheus, your letter and the Convention which you have entered into with Boghos Bey, for the evacuation of Syria.

“I am sorry to say that I cannot ratify, or approve of this measure: setting aside the unauthorized manner and the unnecessary haste with which so important a document was executed, with the Commander-in-Chief within two days’ sail of you, the articles of that Convention, if carried into execution, in the present state of affairs in Syria, would be productive of much more evil than good, and occasion much embarrassment. You will immediately stop the Egyptian transports from coming to this coast; and should any arrive, I have given orders that they should return to Alexandria.

“Commodore Napier, C. B., H.M.S. Powerful,

Senior Officer off Alexandria.”

“Sir,

“H.M.S. Powerful, Marmorice Bay,

December 14, 1840.

“I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 2nd of December, disapproving of the Convention I had entered into with the Egyptian Government for the evacuation of Syria and the surrender of the fleet. I have only to regret, that what I did with the best intentions, and believed to be in accordance with the views of the Allies, should not have met your approbation.

“I beg to assure you that, it was not from any want of respect to you that I did not communicate with you before signing it, but it was under the impression that it was of the utmost importance to seize the opportunity, when the Pacha was highly incensed against France, to bring him, without loss of time, to terms without the mediation of that power.

“I have also to acknowledge the receipt of the copy of a letter you have sent me from Lord Ponsonby, the original of which, I presume, is gone to Alexandria, and I beg to inclose you a copy of my reply.

“The Hon. Sir R. Stopford,

Commander-in-Chief, &c., &c., &c.”

“Sir,

“Head Quarters, Beyrout,

30th November, 1840.

“Had you fortunately abstained from honouring me with your letter of the 27th instant, I should have been spared the pain of replying to it. I am not aware that you have been invested with special powers or authority to treat with Mehemet Ali as to the evacuation of Syria by the Egyptian troops; and if you have such special powers and authority, you have not taken the trouble of acquainting me therewith.

“The Convention into which you have entered has been, as relates to the advanced stage of military events in Syria, more than attained by the retreat of Ibrahim Pacha. If therefore, you have unknown to me, had authority to treat, I must decline to be a party to recommending the ratification of the said Convention; and if unauthorised to treat, such Convention is invalid, and is, by me, protested against as being highly prejudicial to the Sultan’s cause, in as far as it has, or may have, relation to the operations of the army under my command. It is needless for me to add that a copy of this protest shall be forwarded to Her Majesty’s Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.

“Commodore Napier, C.B.,

H.M.S. Powerful.”

“Sir,

“H.M.S. Powerful, Marmorice,

January 6, 1841.

“Had I unfortunately abstained from writing to you, and the Admiral had quited the coast, you would have had just cause to have complained of my want of courtesy.

“When I left Beyrout, Sir Robert Stopford was Commander-in-Chief of the allied forces by sea and land, it was therefore unnecessary for me to communicate to you what my powers were, as on him alone devolved the duty of approving or disapproving of my Convention. He disapproved of it, and Ibrahim Pacha returned to Damascus. I quite disagree with you that the Convention was prejudicial to the interests of the Porte, and I am happy to say it has been approved of (with the exception of the guarantee) by Her Majesty’s Government, and I am now going to Alexandria to see it carried into execution.

“To Sir Charles Smith, &c., &c.,

Gibraltar.”

“Sir,

“Therapia, December 7, 1840.

“I had the honour last night to receive your communication of a Convention, dated Medea steamer, Alexandria, 27th November, 1840, signed Charles Napier, Commodore, and Boghos Bey.

“I immediately laid that Convention before the Sublime Porte, and acquainted my colleagues, the Austrian Internuncio, the Prussian Envoy, and the Russian Chargé d’Affaires, with it. It is my duty to acquaint you that the Sublime Porte has made a formal protest against your acts, declaring you have no power or authority whatever to justify what you have done, and that the Convention is null and void.

“My colleagues above-mentioned, and myself, entirely concur with the Sublime Porte, and declare that we are ignorant of your having the least right to assume the powers you have exercised; and that we consider the Convention null and void, ab initio.

“It is my duty to call upon you to abstain from every attempt to carry your Convention into execution, in any degree whatever, and to state that you are bound by your duty to Her Majesty, to continue to act with the ships under your command, as you did act before you assumed the right to make the aforesaid Convention, and as you would have acted in conformity with your orders, if that Convention had never been made by you.

“I have sent a copy of this dispatch to Admiral the Hon. Sir Robert Stopford, and also to Her Majesty’s Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.

“To Commodore Napier.”

“My Lord,

“H.M.S. Powerful, Marmorice Bay,

Dec. 14, 1840.

“The Commander-in-Chief has sent me a copy of a letter addressed to me by your Lordship, the original of which I presume has been sent to Alexandria; this letter states that the Porte has made a formal protest against my acts, and that the Convention is null and void, in which your Lordship and your colleagues entirely concur, and you call upon me to abstain from carrying it into execution.

“In reply to which I beg leave to acquaint your Lordship that I never had the least idea that the Convention could be carried into execution without the authority of the Porte and the Commander-in-Chief, to whom the whole correspondence was addressed; therefore I cannot see the necessity of the formal protest of the Porte against my acts. The Convention simply tied down Mehemet Ali to abandon Syria immediately, and give up the Turkish fleet when the Porte acknowledged his hereditary title to govern Egypt; and on these conditions I agreed to suspend hostilities.

“I was led to believe from Lord Palmerston’s letter to your Lordship that I had followed up the views of the Allied Powers; I was led to believe, from letters I have received from different members of the Government, that they were most anxious to settle the Eastern Question speedily; I was led to believe, from your Lordship’s correspondence, * * * * * that Lord Palmerston was anxious to finish everything; that he had not good information about Egypt; but that your Lordship thought if I was at liberty to act, Alexandria would not long be in the possession of Mehemet Ali; and this opinion your Lordship risked, though you had never seen the place, and confessed yourself entirely ignorant of the art of war. I saw clearly that your Lordship had an erroneous impression about Alexandria, and I was convinced that nothing could be done against it without a military force, and at a proper season, and my being driven off the coast has confirmed that opinion.

“I further knew that the French Consul-General, and other French agents at Alexandria, were doing all they could to prevent Mehemet Ali from submitting, still holding out hopes of assistance from France.

“Under all these circumstances I thought I was serving my country, and the cause of the Sultan, in tying down Mehemet Ali to immediately evacuate Syria, and give up the Turkish fleet when acknowledged, and I knew perfectly well that the Convention did not tie down the Sultan; and I firmly believe that if Thiers’ ministry had not fallen, all I have done would have been approved, and I think it still will be approved. I have thought it necessary to make these explanations to your Lordship, and I beg at the same time to observe, that it appears to me that your Lordship has assumed a tone, in the latter part of your letter, that you are by no means authorized to do. I know my duty to Her Majesty full as well as your Lordship, and I have always done it, and it is the Commander-in-Chief alone who has the right to point out to me how I am to act, and I trust, should your Lordship have any further occasion to address me, it will be done in a different style.

“I have sent a copy of this to Admiral Sir Robert Stopford, and I trust your Lordship will send a copy to Her Majesty’s Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.

“The Right Hon. Lord Ponsonby.”

I also insert the Admiral’s letter to Mehemet Ali, acquainting him that he had disapproved the Convention, couched in no very measured terms. An admiral may disapprove of the acts of a junior officer, even with severity if he pleases, but I believe it is not usual in addressing a foreign prince, to convey to him the opinion he has formed of his second in command.

“Highness,

“Princess Charlotte, St. George’s Bay, Beyrout,

December 2, 1840.

“I am sorry to find that Commodore Napier should have entered into a Convention with your Highness for the evacuation of Syria by the Egyptian troops, which he had no authority to do, and which I cannot approve of, or ratify.

“Your Highness’s Envoy, Abdel Amen Bey, has consulted with the General, commanding the troops, as to his best manner of proceeding to Ibrahim Pacha. The General having good reason to suppose that Ibrahim Pacha had left Damascus, (a great part of his army having left it a few days since going to the southward, upon the Mecca road,) could not guarantee a safe conduct for your Highness’s Envoy further than Damascus. He therefore returns to Alexandria, having done all in his power to execute your Highness’s instructions.

“I hope this letter will reach your Highness in time to stop the transports which Commodore Napier writes me are coming to the coast of Syria for the purpose of embarking part of the Egyptian army. Should any of them arrive here, they will be ordered to return to Alexandria.

“I hope this hasty and unauthorized Convention will not occasion any embarrassment to your Highness. It was no doubt done from an amicable motive, though under a limited view of the state of affairs in Syria; but it will not lessen my earnest desire most readily to adopt any measure which may tend to a renewal of that amity and good feeling which I trust hereafter may subsist between England and your Highness, the terms of which I am happy to hear are now in a state of progress with the Allied Powers.

“Robert Stopford, Admiral.”

“To his Highness Mehemet Ali Pacha.”

The Ambassador wrote also to the Admiral and to the different authorities in Syria and Egypt, calling upon them to repudiate my Convention, and in fact no means were neglected by him to prevent the settlement of the Eastern Question, and do as much mischief to Mehemet Ali as possible.

The reader will allow this was tremendous odds against me: the Commander-in-Chief of the Allied Forces, the General commanding in Syria, Lord Ponsonby, and the four Ambassadors, the Sultan and all the Divan, against an Old Commodore. The whole corps diplomatique, (for on this point even the French minister agreed,) were up in arms—they thought their trade was gone—nevertheless I was not dismayed. I felt satisfied at Alexandria I was right, and I felt still more satisfied at Marmorice, when I found our squadron, with the exception of the steamers, had abandoned the coast, and left Ibrahim to himself. Why he did not take advantage of it is not my affair—he ought to have done it. In the fleet we had conventionalists and non-conventionalists: the Captains who were off Alexandria were satisfied I was right; those who were not, with few exceptions, were satisfied I was wrong. For my part I had only to wait patiently the first arrival from England, to announce either that I was a blockhead, or that I had taken a more correct view of the affairs of the East, than either Admirals, Generals, Ambassadors, Sultans, or Divans.

The letter of Sir Robert Stopford to the Admiralty, acquainting their Lordships that he had rejected my Convention, clearly shows that he was not aware of Ibrahim’s movements. The Admiral writes under date of the 1st of December, from Beyrout.

“Sir,

“I beg to transmit for their Lordships’ information the copy of a Convention which Commodore Napier has entered into with Mehemet Ali, the correspondence leading thereto having been transmitted by him from Alexandria.

I beg you will further acquaint their Lordships that I do not feel myself authorized to enter into this Convention; and the Egyptian troops being already on their retreat by the Mecca road to Egypt, I cannot consider this as a concession from Mehemet, but the consequence of their late discomfitures, and the inimical state of the country towards them.

“R. More O’Ferrall, Esq.”

Now, it is well known that Ibrahim did not finally leave Damascus till the 29th of December; so that it appears by the Admiral’s letter, that nothing was known at Beyrout of Ibrahim’s movements; and, after the squadron left the coast, there was nothing to hinder him falling upon Beyrout; I know that there were strong fears there that he would do so, and General Michell, as will hereafter appear, requested the Admiral would send some ships of war back.

Before the Admiral arrived at Marmorice, he fell in with the Megæra, bringing the Instruction of the 14th of November, which was given to satisfy Austrian etiquette, Prince Metternich not entirely approving of the instruction of the 15th of October, his reasons for which he afterwards explained.

“Foreign Office, Nov. 14, 1840.

“The instruction addressed to Lord Ponsonby on the 15th of October last, in consequence of a deliberation which had taken place between the Plenipotentiaries of Austria, Great Britain, Prussia, and Russia, recorded the propriety of the Representatives of the Four Courts at Constantinople being authorized to announce to the Sublime Porte, ‘that their respective Governments, in conformity with the stipulations of the seventh paragraph of the Separate Act annexed to the Convention of July 15, deem it their duty strongly to recommend to the Government of his Highness, that, in case Mehemet Ali should submit without delay, and should consent to restore the Ottoman fleet, to withdraw his troops from the whole of Syria, from Adana, Candia, Arabia, and the Holy Cities, his Highness should be pleased not only to reinstate Mehemet Ali in his functions as Pacha of Egypt, but at the same time to grant him the hereditary investiture of the said pachalic, according to the conditions laid down in the Convention of July 15, it being well understood that this hereditary title should be liable to revocation, if Mehemet Ali, or one of his successors, should infringe the aforesaid conditions.’

“The advantage of addressing the Sublime Porte a communication couched in the sense above-mentioned, was unanimously admitted by the Four Courts.

“Nevertheless, in order to make still more apparent the just respect which is due to the rights of his Highness, the Cabinet of Vienna was of opinion that the advice which the Representatives of the Four Powers should be called upon to address to the Divan, relative to the reinstatement of Mehemet Ali in the pachalic of Egypt, ought not to be put forth at Constantinople, until after Mehemet Ali should have taken the preliminary step of applying to his Sovereign for pardon, submitting himself to the determination of his Highness.

“Taking into consideration that this opinion of the Cabinet of Vienna serves as a fresh proof of the respect which the Courts, parties to the Convention of July 15, entertain for the inviolability of the Sultan’s rights of sovereignty and independence; considering, moreover, the necessity of speedily bringing the existing crisis in the Levant to a pacific solution, in conformity with the true interests, as likewise with the dignity of the Porte; the Plenipotentiaries of the said Courts have unanimously resolved to adopt the course above pointed out, in order that Mehemet Air’s application for pardon and his submission should precede the friendly measures which the Allied Representatives will be instructed to adopt, in order to incline the Porte to grant its pardon to Mehemet Ali.

“With this view, the Plenipotentiaries of the Four Powers being desirous of hastening as much as possible the moment when it will be possible for those measures to take place at Constantinople, have judged it fitting to cause to be pointed out without the least delay to Mehemet Ali, the way which is still open to him to regain the pardon of his Sovereign, and to obtain his reinstatement in the pachalic of Egypt, notwithstanding the decisive events which have declared themselves against him.

“In consequence it was further agreed to communicate to the Ambassador of the Sublime Porte, Chekib Effendi, the present Memorandum, as likewise the instruction thereunto annexed.

Upon the receipt of this document, and a special instruction of the same date, the Admiral immediately dispatched Captain Fanshawe, with the following letter, to communicate with the Pacha. His orders were, to proceed to Alexandria and demand an interview with Mehemet Ali, in the presence of Boghos Bey, and communicate the instructions of Her Majesty’s Government. He was not to refuse Mehemet Ali’s answer even if he expressed a desire to obtain the hereditary government of Egypt.

“Highness,

“Princess Charlotte, at Sea, off Cyprus,

December 6, 1840.

“I have now the honour to transmit to your Highness, by Captain Fanshawe, the Captain of my flag-ship, the official authority from the British Government, in the name of the four Allied Powers, to maintain your Highness in the pachalic of Egypt, upon condition, that within three days after the communication made to you by Captain Fanshawe, you agree to restore the Turkish fleet to the Sultan, and finally evacuate Syria.

“Let me beseech your Highness to take these terms into your serious consideration; and I implore the Almighty God to impress upon your mind the benefit you will bestow on a distracted country by an early compliance with the decision of the four Allied Powers.

“Captain Fanshawe is fully authorized to receive your Highness’s final decision.

“To his Highness Mehemet Ali Pacha.”

The further conduct of the Admiral was to be guided by the following instruction, of November 14, from Lord Palmerston to the Admiralty.

“With further reference to my letters of this day, I am to signify to your Lordships the Queen’s commands that Admiral Sir Robert Stopford should be informed that he is not in any degree to suspend his operations, or to relax his efforts, on account of the communication which he is instructed to make to Mehemet Ali; but, on the contrary, he should continue to push on with vigour his operations for the purpose of expelling the Egyptians from the whole of Syria, and he should not slacken in his exertions, till he learns from Constantinople that an arrangement has been made with Mehemet Ali.”

The reader must bear in mind that, at the date of these instructions, the capture of Acre was not known at the Foreign Office, nor was my Convention signed.

CHAPTER II.

Captain Fanshawe’s proceedings at Alexandria—Letter from Mehemet Ali to the Admiral—Official Report of Captain Fanshawe—Letter of Mehemet Ali to the Grand Vizier—English Ships again ordered to the Coast of Syria—Part of the Convention carried into effect by the Admiral.

The mode in which this new negotiation of points which he naturally considered as already settled, was received by the Pacha, will best appear from his own letter, and Captain Fanshawe’s report.

“Most Honourable Admiral Sir Robert Stopford,

“I have received the two letters which you addressed to me, the first by the channel of Hamid Bey, who had been entrusted with a despatch for my son Ibrahim Pacha, and the second by Captain Fanshawe, of your flag-ship. I am delighted with the friendship which you evince towards me, and I hasten to act in the sense which you point out in your official dispatch. I consequently address a petition to the Sublime Porte under flying seal, and in order that the contents thereof may be known to you, I add a French translation to it. I hope that my compliance will be appreciated by the Allied Powers, and in asking a continuance of your friendship, I flatter myself that your good offices will ensure me their good will.

(Signed) “Mehemet Ali.”

“Sir,

“H.M. Steam-vessel Megæra, at Sea,

December 12, 1840.

“I have the honour to report to you my proceedings in the service on which you ordered me.

“I arrived off Alexandria in this vessel early on the morning of the 8th, and finding no English man-of-war off the place, proceeded into the port, and sent for Mr. Larking, Her Majesty’s Consul, whom I requested to inform Mehemet Ali that I was charged by you to make a communication to him from Her Majesty’s Government, and for which purpose I demanded an interview with him in the presence of Boghos Bey.

“At noon I went to the palace with Mr. Larking, and had an audience with Mehemet Ali: after delivering your letter to him and passing a few compliments, I read to him my extract from Lord Palmerston’s instructions, which was interpreted to him by his Dragoman, and then presented to him, expressing my hope that his compliance with what it required, would restore a good understanding between the Sultan and himself. He alluded to the recent Convention, and said he had promised all this before to Commodore Napier, if Egypt was guaranteed to him, and that he never departed from his word.

“I replied, I had no guarantee to offer; but he would perceive that, though you had not been able to ratify that Convention, you had lost no time in communicating the instructions received from your Government, and in expressing your own disposition to conciliate; and that I hoped he would merit the wish which I knew you had expressed, and take some immediate steps for the restitution of the Turkish fleet, which I regretted to observe was making no preparation for sea; that the words in my note with reference to the fleet were ‘immediate,’ and ‘without delay;’ and I was sure his giving directions for that part of it which could be most expeditiously equipped proceeding to you at Marmorice, would be regarded in a favourable light, both at London and at Constantinople.

“Mehemet Ali said earnestly, he had always wished to give the fleet up to his master; that I might pledge myself that it should be ready to deliver to me, or to any officer that might be sent by the Porte to take charge of it, and that he would send his own officers and men to assist in navigating it, if he was reinstated in Egypt; adding, ‘If I give up the fleet, what security have I, having already given orders for the evacuation of all the places referred to?’

“I told him he must look for his security in the good faith and friendly disposition of the English Government, and in the influence it might have with the Sultan and the Allied Powers. He seemed rather disposed to yield on this point, but gave no positive answer. I then stated that my time was limited; he said he had no wish for delay; the documents which I had given him should be forthwith translated, and brought again under his consideration, and that I should have his answer in French to take to you as soon as possible. I replied, I was authorized to take his final answer to Constantinople, and that I must be furnished with his written engagement to convey thither; and as I concluded it would be written in Turkish, I must have a translation of it also, that I might be satisfied it contained all that was required. This was immediately assented to, Mehemet Ali saying, he was always ready to make his submission to the Sultan, and that he would promise all that was asked, if he was allowed to remain quiet in Egypt. This ended the conference.

“In the evening, Mr. Larking and myself had an interview by appointment with Boghos Bey, who said it was Mehemet Ali’s desire to meet the views of the Allied Powers, and that he was pleased with the English mediation, but that he considered that he had already the promise of the hereditary government of Egypt, and he was afraid there would be difficulties raised at Constantinople, and that there was one Power (Russia) not so well disposed to see such a termination to the question. I told Boghos Bey, that he must be aware the Allied Powers could not regard Mehemet Ali since his deposition by the Sultan in the same light as before, and that he must make his submission; and that I was sure, if he would without delay send such part of the Turkish fleet as could be got ready to Marmorice, it must tend to conciliate all parties, and be a proof of the entire sincerity of his intentions.

“I then called his attention to the limit of my stay at Alexandria, and to the necessity that the written engagement I was to receive should be so worded that I could not hesitate to convey it. Boghos assured me he would use his influence to prevent any obstacle; that he was to attend a Council with Mehemet Ali directly, at which the translated copies would be discussed and the answer decided upon, which he thought would be quite satisfactory. This Council, however, I learnt was not so harmonious as Boghos Bey expected, and nothing was then decided. On the following morning (Wednesday) Mr. Larking received a summons, and had an interview with Mehemet Ali and Boghos Bey, which was more favourable; and I was informed I might expect a translation of the engagement early on the following day, and that it would contain all that was asked; but Mr. Larking did not find Mehemet Ali disposed to let any part of the fleet go first,—a point which I had requested him to urge again,—saying, they all came, and should all go together. I did not, however, receive the translations of the letters to the Vizier and yourself, which I now inclose, until ten o’clock yesterday morning, but then accompanied by a notice that Mehemet Ali was ready to receive me. On perusing the letter to the Vizier, it appeared to me to be so complete an engagement, in all points required, without any especial stipulation about Egypt, and that though the terms of submission might be somewhat equivocal, it came within the view of Lord Palmerston’s instructions, and that I could not hesitate to be the bearer of it. I therefore repaired to the palace with Mr. Larking, and had, I consider, a satisfactory interview with Mehemet Ali. I pointed out to him that I did not feel that the expressions in his letter to the Vizier, relating to the fleet, came up to the promise which he had made me the other day, and that I saw no appearance yet of preparation, and that I or some one else might return very soon to claim the fulfilment of that pledge. Mehemet Ali said he had given orders already on the subject, and repeated earnestly that the fleet should be ready to quit the port, as far as he was concerned, five days after the arrival of the officer to whom the Sultan wished it to be delivered.

“I then remarked that on the subject of Candia there might be some delay, as I understood the Pacha there had not submitted to the Sultan; and as I thought it probable the Porte might be prepared to send troops immediately to take possession of that island, I proposed that I should be the bearer of a letter to the Pacha of Candia, directing him to yield it to the Turkish authorities; to which Mehemet Ali immediately assented, and ordered one to be written. I hope these points, therefore, may be taken as an earnest of his sincerity, though I am quite of opinion, that unless the Sultan gives him the hereditary pashalic of Egypt, he will be very much disposed to fight for it—or, at any rate, to give further trouble. This letter to the Pacha of Candia being ready, I received it with those to the Vizier and yourself (all which I herewith transmit), all under flying seals, from Mehemet Ali’s hands, and took my leave of him. Boghos Bey then requested to speak with me on one or two subjects, by Mehemet Ali’s desire, which were—1st. His wish to be allowed to send some of his steam-vessels to Gaza or El-Arish to receive the sick, wounded, women and children, of Ibrahim Pacha’s army who might be entering Egypt by that route, and who would be thus spared a painful and tedious march, saying that Commodore Napier’s Treaty embraced that subject. I replied, that though you had not been able to confirm the Commodore’s Convention, you would, I was sure, for the cause of humanity, be now ready to meet Mehemet Ali’s wish, and that I would communicate with the senior officer of our ships off the port on the subject, who would allow vessels, going strictly for that purpose, to pass freely. 2ndly. That in case of any of our ships of war coming to the port, the commanders should be desired to conform rigidly to the quarantine regulations. I told him they always had, and always would do so, and reminded him of the quarantine you had passed yourself in August, and said that whatever our Consul told the captains was required by the regulations of the port would be abided by; for Mr. Larking had an idea that they might contemplate some new regulations which might affect the ships or officers to be sent down for the Turkish fleet.

“At 1 P.M. yesterday we sailed from Alexandria, and off the port communicated with Her Majesty’s ship Carysfort, and I delivered to Captain Martin two letters (copies of which I inclose) which I had thought it right to address to the senior officer of Her Majesty’s ships off Alexandria, and of which I hope you will approve; we are now proceeding to join your flag at Marmorice.

“I cannot close this report, without expressing how much I benefited by Mr. Larking’s ready and cordial assistance, and by the information I was able to obtain from him, and also from the zeal and attention of Mr. John Chumarian, the Dragoman.

“P.S.—We left the Ambuscade, small French frigate, a corvette, and steam-vessel at Alexandria; the latter, I understand, was to start for France to-day; the Bourgainville, brig, sailed for Beyrout, the day of our arrival.”

“The Hon. Sir R. Stopford, G.C.B.”

On the 13th of December Captain Fanshawe returned from Alexandria, and after delivering the Pacha’s reply to the Admiral, proceeded to Constantinople with his answer to the Vizier, which, like a clever diplomatist, he had taken care to base on the Convention, and it does appear to me quite astonishing that so determined a man as the Pacha certainly is, and as he had shown himself, should have listened at all to the Instruction of the 14th of November, which had the material difference from that of the 15th of October, of not containing the hereditary title; the very fact of our appearing to have changed our mind in so short a period, ought to have awakened his suspicion, because he could not know that that change originated with Austria, who however, as will presently be seen, got alarmed at the rejection of the Convention, and distinctly stated that Mehemet Ali should be confirmed, and that she would have nothing to do with any attack that might be meditated on Alexandria.

“After the usual Titles.

“17 Chewal, 1256.

(Dec. 11, 1840.)

“Commodore Napier, of the British fleet, informed me by a despatch dated from before Alexandria, the 22nd of November, N.S., that the Great Allied Powers have requested the Sublime Porte to grant me the hereditary Government of Egypt, on the conditions laid down by them; that is, that I shall give up the Imperial fleet which is in the Port of Alexandria, and that the Egyptian troops shall retire from Syria, and re-enter Egypt.

“The Commodore required that diligence should be used in preparing the fleet, in order to its being delivered up, and in withdrawing the troops from Syria.

“After some correspondence and some discussions with the Commodore on this matter, these conditions were accepted, and an authentic Act, manifesting that it is expected that the favour of him who is the shadow of God should be granted, and serving as a document to both parties, was concluded and signed.

“In consequence, I wrote to my son, Ibrahim Pacha, your servant, to come immediately to Egypt with the Egyptian troops concentrated at Damascus, and with the persons in his employment, and others, and I even sent to him a person expressly for this purpose, whom I despatched in a steam-vessel procured by the Commodore.

“I have just received from Ibrahim Pacha, overland, a despatch dated the 1st of Ramazan, (October 27,) according to which, he was to set out, with all his people, from Damascus, the 3rd or 4th of Chewal (the 28th or 29th of November). Thus, it may be looked upon as certain that he commenced his march at the specified time.

“And now, in the meanwhile, I receive from the Admiral of the British fleet, his Excellency Sir Robert Stopford, an official despatch written off Cyprus, on the 6th of December, and couched in the sense mentioned below. The Admiral sent to me, at the same time, a copy of the instructions which he had received from his Excellency Lord Palmerston. I see by this communication, that it has been stipulated that I must renew my submission to the Sublime Porte, restoring the Imperial fleet, and causing Syria, Adana, Candia, the Hedjaz, and the two Holy Cities, to be evacuated by the Egyptian troops.

“I perceive that the obtaining my pardon, that my re-admission into the good graces of my Sovereign and master, to whose service I take this opportunity of dedicating my fortune and my life, and the gracious acceptance by His Imperial Majesty of my most humble submission, are the effects of the noble efforts of the high Allied Powers; and thoroughly grateful for all this, I have taken measures for restoring the Imperial fleet. People are actively employed in putting the vessels into a good state; and on the receipt of a firman, making known in what manner it shall have pleased His Imperial Majesty that the fleet shall be delivered up and despatched, I will hasten to conform myself to the sovereign will by carrying the said firman into execution.

“In like manner, as I am ready to withdraw all the Egyptian authorities who are in the Island of Candia, in the Hedjaz, and in the two Holy Cities, on the arrival of His Imperial Majesty’s firman in that respect, the above-mentioned places shall be evacuated without delay by the Egyptian authorities.

“Thus, then, when your Excellency shall, if it please God, have taken cognizance of my prompt submission, carried into effect as above, you will be pleased to lay it at the feet of the clemency of my most august and most powerful Sovereign and Master, of whom I am so proud to be the faithful and submissive servant, and to employ your good offices, in order to cause a man advanced in age, and faithful, who has grown old in his service, to experience without ceasing the effects of his sovereign clemency.

“He who can ordain, will ordain.

(L.S.) “Mehemet Ali.”

The Admiral in the mean time, in consequence of an application from General Michell, who now commanded the English force in Syria, (Sir Charles Smith having returned to England,) sent Captain Stewart, in the Benbow, and several small ships, to Beyrout, with instructions to suspend hostilities until the result of Mehemet Ali’s submission was known; and also authorized the Pacha to send steamers to Caiffa to bring away the sick and wounded; thus putting into execution a part of the rejected Convention.

CHAPTER III.

Captain Fanshawe’s Arrival at Constantinople—Interview with the Grand Vizier—Conference of Ambassadors and Rechid Pacha—Conduct of Lord Ponsonby; his Letter to Lord Palmerston—The Porte accepts the submission of Mehemet Ali—Letter of Rechid Pacha to the Ambassador and of the Vizier to Mehemet Ali—Captain Fanshawe returns to Marmorice.

It has already been shown, that notwithstanding the rejection of the Convention communicated to Mehemet Ali by Captain Fanshawe, he, on the 11th of December, in a letter to the Grand Vizier, sent his unconditional submission; that letter reached Constantinople on the 16th of the same month. Captain Fanshawe, on his arrival, gave in a report of his proceedings to the Ambassador, couched in much the same terms as that to the Admiral already given, and on the 18th he had an audience of the Grand Vizier.[^[1]] The Captain was accompanied by Mr. Pisani, and by Captain Codrington and Captain Williams, and he informed the Vizier that he had been ordered by the Admiral to convey to Alexandria a summons to Mehemet Ali to make his submission; this submission he now conveyed to him in an open letter, which he begged to deliver. The Grand Vizier, after having read Mehemet Ali’s letter, said, “The Porte is already aware of these conditions, as is known; but I can tell you nothing upon this great question which the Sublime Porte is treating with the Allied Courts, and which consequently has become a question of foreign policy, belonging entirely to the department of Foreign Affairs, which is acquainted with all the circumstances relating to it better than I am. The Porte will take this question into consideration with the representatives of the Allied Courts, and his Excellency the Minister for Foreign Affairs will make known the intentions of the Porte to the Allies; I beg you, M. le Capitaine, in the mean time, not to consider my acceptance of this letter from you as an acceptance of its contents.” Captain Fanshawe replied that he also was in nowise authorized to enter into the details of this affair, and that he would learn the result from Lord Ponsonby. The Captain said that Mehemet Ali had given him his word that he would deliver over the Turkish fleet to whatever officer the Porte shall direct to conduct it hither. The Vizier replied, “The fleet is ours; Alexandria is our country; we are perfectly sure of having the fleet sooner or later.” The Captain took the opportunity of speaking of peace between the Sultan and Mehemet Ali. The Grand Vizier replied, “Peace is made between two governments, and not between a sovereign and one of his rebel subjects.”

The letters given clearly show that Mehemet Ali could do no more. He promised to deliver up the fleet, Candia, Syria, and the Holy Cities. The Grand Vizier replied, as has been shown: “The fleet is ours; Alexandria is ours;” and when Captain Fanshawe talks to him about peace, he said, “Peace is made between two Governments; and not between a sovereign and one of his rebel subjects.” This indeed was talking big; the Grand Vizier forgot that Mehemet Ali had twice nearly knocked at the gates of Constantinople, and had he not been interfered with, would have dethroned his Master.

What does the Ambassador do? Though he was quite aware that every hour the Eastern Question remained unsettled, a European war was imminent—though he knew that France had intimated that we were not to touch Egypt—though he knew the British fleet had left the coast of Syria and Egypt in consequence of bad weather—yet the Ambassador, acting on his own responsibility, to gratify his dislike of Mehemet Ali, did all he could to keep the question open, though he must have known the Allies were anxious to bring it to a close; and if he had had the power, I know, would have risked the whole British fleet to ensure the Pacha’s destruction. Annexed is his letter to Lord Palmerston, furnishing an account of the Conference which the arrival of Mehemet Ali’s letter gave rise to.

“My Lord,

“Therapia, December 28, 1840.

“I received this afternoon the Protocol of the conference held at the house of the Minister for Foreign Affairs, on the 20th instant, at which were present Rechid Pacha, and the Representatives of the Four Allies, and the dragomans of Austria and England, and M. Francheschi, who made the Protocol which I have now the honour to inclose[^[2]].

“I have little need to explain to your Lordship the grounds upon which I acted; submission is the first mentioned of the conditions, upon which I am ordered to give advice to the Sublime Porte, and it is also the most important, the others being insignificant, as things have turned out. My duty is to see that submission has been made by Mehemet Ali—real submission, and there are many things to make it very doubtful if Mehemet Ali has submitted, and has not taken this matter as concessions forced upon the Sultan by the Allies for the purpose of establishing him in Egypt with indefinite power. Your Lordship’s instructions would not authorize me to say that such a submission is the submission contemplated by Her Majesty’s Government, and as I do not think it proper for me, under the circumstances in which I am placed, to declare that it is not a submission, I have declined giving any opinion at all on the point, and said I would await the decision of it by the Sublime Porte, having stated what counsel I shall have to offer in the name of my Government, if the Sublime Porte accept the submission.

“Your Lordship has always declared that the Sultan is the sole judge and arbiter of his own interests; and you will see, in the Protocol, that the Representatives united cordially in disavowing intentions to act upon the Sultan except by counsel alone. I saw this with satisfaction, because endeavours have not been wanting to inspire the Ottoman Ministers with some jealousy of the prepotency of the Four Powers.

“It will appear, I think, in the Protocol, that I am not alone in thinking the submission may be subject to doubt, for the Internuncio says that Mehemet Ali has made a commencement of submission. This may be so, for the interest of Mehemet Ali is to accept the boon offered him, as he gives nothing for it in return; but my orders from my Government are not subject to be modified by me, and I cannot take upon myself the responsibility of acting without the most positive authority in a question like the present.

“I will send a messenger to acquaint your Lordship with the determination of the Sublime Porte whenever I am informed of it.

“I send the copy of the Protocol which was sent to me by his Excellency the Internuncio.

“The Protocol is substantially correct in statement of what passed, but there are errors in its report of expressions.

The reader will observe, without my pointing it out, from his own letter, and still more from the Protocol, with what diplomatic art the British Ambassador, in opposition to the opinion of the other Ministers, endeavours to gain time. Had he been instructed so to do, he would have shown himself a good diplomatist; but the contrary was the case. Rechid Pasha writes from Constantinople, under date of the 26th of November, to Chekib Effendi at Paris, “That Lord Palmerston was favourable to the reinstatement of Mehemet Ali, and that instructions had been sent to the Ambassador at Constantinople on the subject.” Besides that, he knew of the instructions that Captain Fanshawe had communicated to Mehemet Ali, and which he accepted.

And no Minister of Foreign Affairs could have shown his want of confidence in his Ambassador more distinctly than Lord Palmerston did, by sending his instruction of the 14th of November direct to Sir Robert Stopford, thus completely throwing the Ambassador overboard. And well he did; for he decidedly would have found some means of putting it aside, as he did my Convention. In fact, his Lordship was the cleverest of Ambassadors for evading orders, and, indeed, managed to transfer Downing-street to Constantinople.

The Sultan, however, appeared to be satisfied with Mehemet Ali’s submission; and the Minister of Foreign Affairs wrote to Lord Ponsonby, thus:

“Monsieur l’Ambassador,

“The Sublime Porte,

December 27, 1840.

“I have lost no time in laying before the Sultan the Protocol of the Conference of the 20th of this month; and I am commanded to acquaint your Excellency, that His Imperial Majesty, wishing to prove by a fresh act the moderation of his sentiments, is disposed to accept[accept] the submission of Mehemet Ali, and only awaits the fulfilment of the conditions imposed upon him by the Memorandum of the 14th of November, to consider that submission as complete, and to confirm Mehemet Ali in the Pachalic of Egypt.

“With the view of hastening that fulfilment, and of thus proving more clearly his desire to lend himself, as far as is in his power, to the views of his august Allies, the Sultan has decided that Yaver Pacha (Admiral Walker) and Mazloum Bey shall proceed immediately to Egypt as his Commissioners to receive the Ottoman fleet, and to ascertain that the places described in the Memorandum of the 14th of November are evacuated by the troops of Mehemet Ali.

“I am commanded at the same time to request your Excellency will have the goodness to instruct Her Britannic Majesty’s Admiral to assist according to the 4th paragraph of the Separate Act of the Convention of the 15th of July, at the restoration of the fleet to the said Commissioners.

The Vizier, too, at the same time, wrote as follows to Mehemet Ali:

“I have taken cognizance of the contents of the good despatch which you addressed to me dated the 17th Chewal, (the 11th of December[11th of December],) and which has also been laid before His Imperial Majesty.

“It appears, from your Highness’s communication, that you intend really to make your submission to his Highness, and that in proof of this you have decided immediately to restore the Imperial fleet, and to surrender, without delay, certain places situated out of Egypt.

“The intentions and good disposition which you have thus evinced, being a happy omen that the good system and the good proceedings which are desired, will be adopted and carried into execution, his Highness has duly appreciated them.

“In all its affairs, in all its proceedings, the Sublime Porte, guided by feelings of justice, makes it a rule never to exceed the bounds of moderation.

“On this account his Highness is disposed to accept your submission with favour, and to grant your Highness his full pardon.

“As soon then as, in conformity with your engagements, the Imperial fleet shall have left the harbour of Alexandria, and shall be despatched with all its officers and crews, some well-known persons excepted, and with all its equipments and stores, and the places already known shall have been made over without delay to the Commissioners of the Sublime Porte, and when these acts shall be accomplished, that is to say, when positive intelligence of this shall have arrived here, it is decidedly resolved that then his Imperial Majesty will deign to reinstate your Highness in the Government of Egypt. These views of his Highness, and the pacific and benevolent opinions of the Great Powers, being quite in accordance upon this point, this resolution has been officially made known to the representatives of the Allied Courts.

“His Excellency Mazloum Bey, one of the principal servants of the Sublime Porte, Member of the Council of Justice, and formerly Mousteshar of the Admiralty, is charged with the execution of the necessary instructions; and the Ferik of the Imperial navy, the most distinguished Yaver Pacha, is charged to receive the Imperial fleet and bring it here.

“We leave to your wisdom to do what is necessary.”

On the 30th of December Captain Fanshawe wrote as follows to the Admiral from on board the Stromboli, off Tenedos, and soon after joined him at Marmorice.

“Sir,

“With reference to your orders to me to proceed to Constantinople, and to my letter to you of the 18th instant, I have now the honour to acquaint you that I had no communication from his Excellency Lord Ponsonby from that date until the 27th, when I received a letter from him, relative to the conveyance of Turkish Commissioners in this vessel to Alexandria; and I beg to inclose you copies of the correspondence that in consequence passed between his Lordship and myself, through Mr. Doyle, on the subject; and also to state, that, in pursuance of the intimation from his Lordship, that he was ‘not aware of anything within his competency’ which could be the cause of my detention at Constantinople, and having yesterday afternoon received the accompanying despatch from him for you, I quitted the Golden Horn in the Stromboli, at 9 P.M. yesterday, and am proceeding in her to rejoin you at Marmorice.

The despatch referred to inclosed a copy of the official note from the Porte[^[3]], announcing the appointment of the Commissioners, and requesting the assistance of the British ships to bring home the Ottoman fleet from Alexandria.

CHAPTER IV.

Disinclination of the Porte to confer the Hereditary Pachalic on Mehemet Ali—Departure of the Turkish Commissioners—Their orders—Opposition of the Austrian, Prussian, and Russian Ministers to the views of Lord Ponsonby—Lord Palmerston’s opinion of his conduct—Rewards conferred on the Officers of the Squadron at Acre—News from England—Approval of the Convention—Instruction of the 15th of December—Lord Palmerston’s Letter to Lord Ponsonby—Prince Metternich and Count Nesselrode, in approval of the Convention.

Though the Porte accepted the submission of Mehemet Ali, it was in no hurry to act, and when it did get in motion, it was far from doing what, I presume, three out of the four Representatives wished and expected.

The Commissioners did not leave Constantinople till the 6th of January, and they had no power to confer the hereditary pachalic on Mehemet Ali; and instead of carrying orders to General Jochmus to suspend hostilities, they brought orders to demand the arms and guns of Ibrahim’s army; which demand was supported by Mr. Wood, the emissary of the Ambassador, and also by General Jochmus[^[4]].

The Austrian Internuncio saw through this intrigue; and on the 7th of January, in an interview with Rechid Pacha, announced to him that the four Powers had decided on applying for the hereditary succession for Mehemet Ali. This produced a correspondence—far too long for me to give here, but which may be seen in the Government volume of Levant Papers.

From this correspondence it appears that the Austrian, Russian, and Prussian Ministers decided to act without Lord Ponsonby, in consequence of directions from the Ministers in London, based upon the Convention they had previously rejected. The English Ambassador does not appear to have received his instructions till the 10th of January, though they were dated the 17th of December. I should like to see the reply Lord Palmerston made to the Ambassador on learning that he had rejected the Convention; why it is suppressed, is easily accounted for. It ought to be explained how, on the 7th of January, the Internuncio received his dispatches which must have passed through the hands of Prince Metternich at Vienna, whilst the English Ambassador only received his on the 10th. The delay might have caused great embarrassment, and indeed at such a critical moment it was not desirable that a disagreement even for three days should have existed between Lord Ponsonby and the other Ministers.

The Governments of Austria, Russia, and Prussia, as well as their Ambassadors at Constantinople, saw how things were going on in the East. They wrote peremptorily to those personages to settle the question; and Prince Metternich requested Lord Beauvale to state to Lord Palmerston that, in case the Porte should hesitate to accede to the recommendation of the Allied Powers to confer the hereditary government on Mehemet Ali, his court could not be compromised by such hesitation[^[5]].

Lord Beauvale also wrote to Lord Palmerston on the 17th of January[^[6]], that the Turkish Commissioners going to Alexandria were not empowered to grant the hereditary pachalic, and in consequence, Austria would withdraw her support from the Sultan, and would disavow any attack on Ibrahim Pacha.

Lord Palmerston, in a letter to the Ambassador, of the 26th of January[^[7]], does not exactly find fault with his Excellency for not taking Mehemet Ali’s offer as a complete submission, but he tells him the advice in his Lordship’s instructions of the 15th of October[^[8]] might have been given. This appears a pretty broad hint, and I suppose diplomatic etiquette did not admit of any thing stronger.

On the 17th of December despatches were received in Marmorice Bay from England. The Commander-in-Chief was appointed Governor of Greenwich Hospital; I was directed to hoist a red broad pennant, and was made a Commander of the Bath; the Captains commanding ships at Acre were made Companions; and a large promotion went through all classes of officers who were fortunately present at the bombardment. On the 27th a new Pacha arrived from Constantinople on his way to Syria, with orders to send to Adrianople Izzet Pacha, who had created so much discontent throughout the country, and to report on the state and condition of Ibrahim’s army. This Pacha was the bearer of letters of thanks to the Admiral and others employed in Syria, with the exception of myself, who have never received any acknowledgment from the Turkish Government up to the present day. The Admiral strongly recommended this new Pacha to suspend hostilities, and I also advised him to control General Jochmus, who was a young man ambitious of military glory, and more likely to make war than peace.

On the 5th of January, 1841, the Megæra arrived from England. I was aware she must either bring my sentence of acquittal or condemnation, and having been already denounced by the wise men of the East, I felt it was not impossible that their opinion might have influenced the judgment of the Ministers of the West, if unfortunately their protests had arrived in London before my despatches from Alexandria. I had, however, taken precautions to prevent this, which fortunately succeeded, and they were left to their own calm judgment, which decided in my favour.

I had a party dining with me that day, when numerous letters, public and private, were put into my hand by the officer of the watch. I laid them on the table, determined not to run the risk of spoiling my dinner by bad news, and not requiring good to give me an appetite. After the inward man had been well fortified, I ventured to open a letter from Lord Minto, which, to my great satisfaction, announced to me that the Government were satisfied with what I had done, with the exception of the Guarantee. I received also letters from various members of the Government, and an official one from the Admiral, inclosing an instruction from Lord Palmerston to the Admiralty, bearing date Dec. 15, 1840, some extracts from which I subjoin[^[9]]:

“I have to request your Lordships to convey to Commodore Napier the approval of Her Majesty’s Government of the steps taken by him on this occasion, though without any instructions to that effect, and upon his own responsibility, to carry into execution the arrangements contemplated by the Treaty of the 15th of July, and to put an end to the contest in the Levant.

“But the instruction given by your Lordships to Sir Robert Stopford in pursuance of my letter of the 14th of November[^[10]], will have reached Sir Robert Stopford a few days after he received from Commodore Napier a report of the result of his negociation at Alexandria; and it is uncertain whether Sir Robert Stopford will have considered the instruction of the 14th of November as superseding Commodore Napier’s arrangement, or whether he will have looked upon Commodore Napier’s arrangement as superseding that instruction.

“In this state of things, Her Majesty’s Government must postpone a final communication with respect to the arrangement made by Commodore Napier, till they learn, as they probably will in a few days’ time, what course Sir Robert Stopford took upon the receipt of the instruction of the 14th of November. But there is one part of the Articles signed by Commodore Napier and Boghos Bey, upon which it is necessary that an instruction should immediately be sent to Sir Robert Stopford.

“In the first Article, Boghos Bey, on the part of Mehemet Ali, takes two engagements: the one is to order the Egyptian troops to evacuate Syria; the other is to restore the Turkish fleet. The first engagement was to be fulfilled immediately, and was to be conditional only upon the promise of Commodore Napier that he would, in his capacity of commander of the British fleet before Alexandria, suspend hostilities against Alexandria, and every other part of the Egyptian territory. The other engagement was eventual, and was to be fulfilled as soon as Mehemet Ali should have received an official notification that the Porte grants him the hereditary government of Egypt, and that this concession is, and shall continue to be, under the guarantee of the Four Powers. Now it is necessary that Sir Robert Stopford should lose no time in making known to Mehemet Ali that this last demand of his, that the Four Powers should guarantee to him the grant of the hereditary government of Egypt, if that grant should be made to him by the Sultan, cannot be complied with.

“That which the Four Powers will do, is to recommend to the Porte to make the concessions specified in the communication which Sir Robert Stopford has been instructed to convey to Mehemet Ali.”

A despatch of the same tendency was addressed (Dec. 17) by Viscount Palmerston to the Ambassador[^[11]], in which he remarks,—

“A doubt may have been felt by your Excellency and your colleagues what steps you should take in pursuance of the instructions contained in my despatch of the 15th of October, and in the corresponding instructions sent from Vienna, Petersburgh, and Berlin; because those instructions, modified by the subsequent letter to the Admiralty of November 14, contemplated the unconditional submission of Mehemet Ali to the Sultan, as a preliminary to the advice to be given to the Porte to reinstate Mehemet Ali in the Government of Egypt; and, on the contrary, Mehemet Ali, in the demands which he sets forth in the first Article of the Agreement, signed on the 27th of November, engages to restore the fleet only on two conditions,—the one being, that the Sultan should grant him hereditary tenure in the Government of Egypt,—and the other being, that such grant on the part of the Sultan should be placed under the guarantee of the Four Powers.

“It appears to Her Majesty’s Government that the fact that Mehemet Ali attached the first of these conditions to his restoration of the fleet, need not prevent the Porte from making to him that concession. For, in fact, those Articles of Agreement were substantially a complete surrender on the part of Mehemet Ali; and he was led to suppose, that in asking for hereditary tenure, he was only asking that which the Porte was willing to give. But the second condition, namely, the guarantee of the Four Powers, is one which cannot be complied with; and your Excellency should, on this point, give to the Porte the same explanations which Sir Robert Stopford has been instructed, in pursuance of my letter to the Admiralty of the 15th instant, to give to Mehemet Ali.

“It has been reported, but upon what authority is not known, that the Porte was, towards the end of November, but before it had heard of the submission of Mehemet Ali, disinclined to revoke the decree which had deprived him of the Government of Egypt. It is not unnatural that such a feeling should have existed at that time in the mind of the Turkish Government, but Her Majesty’s Government hope that subsequent events, and the unanimous advice of the Four Powers, will have removed these objections on the part of the Porte, and will have led the Porte to accept the settlement effected by Commodore Napier’s arrangement, or by the subsequent more ample submission of Mehemet Ali.”

Lord Palmerston’s letter to Lord Ponsonby, acknowledging the receipt of the Ambassador’s letter announcing the rejection of the Convention, as I have before said, has never been published; it would be a curious document, and I dare say will come to light some day or other; but Lord Palmerston’s despatch to Lord Ponsonby after receiving my despatches, is clear enough; he tells the Ambassador plainly, that it does not signify whether Sir Robert Stopford adopted my Convention or his subsequent instruction of the 14th of November; that the articles of agreement were substantially a complete surrender on the part of Mehemet Ali; and he was led to suppose, on asking for the hereditary tenure, he was only asking that which the Porte was willing to give; but that the guarantee could not be complied with.

Prince Metternich also agreed with Lord Palmerston, and directed the Internuncio to co-operate with Lord Ponsonby in carrying out the instructions of the 17th; and moreover tells Lord Beauvale very plainly that in case the Porte hesitates to confer the hereditary Pachalic on Mehemet Ali, his Court will not admit that the Allies could be compromised by such hesitation. Count Nesselrode also states to Lord Clanricarde, that it is unfortunate that the Sultan had not been disposed, or advised, to concede the hereditary government to Mehemet Ali.

Shortly before this (December 22,) Count Nesselrode wrote to Baron Brunnow at London, in terms that show his full approval of the Convention, except the guarantee[^[12]].

“I hasten to reply to the despatch which your Excellency has done me the honour to address to me under date of the 27th November (9th Dec.), and the arrival of which was almost immediately preceded by that of the reports which you entrusted to the Marquis of Clanricarde. Before entering further into detail upon the principal subject of that despatch, my first desire, M. le Baron, is to communicate to you the lively satisfaction with which the Emperor received the happy intelligence of the submission of Mehemet Ali. The Treaty of London has at last been executed in spite of all opposition. It has been so to its fullest extent, and that without having cost the Powers who were parties to it any compromise, or any concession to be regretted. There is nothing, even including the armed demonstration with which the British squadron accompanied its summons at Alexandria, which has not stamped its result with a character still more favourable to the consideration of the alliance. Have the goodness, M. le Baron, to offer our sincere congratulations to Lord Palmerston upon this result, which we consider as a common triumph of his and of our policy.

“The Eastern Question thus settled, it now remains to record and confirm the solution thereof by a final transaction in which France should concur. You have already, in anticipation of this event, been put in possession of the views and intentions which our august Master entertains upon this subject. Much more will the Emperor be disposed to accede to the plan which Lord Palmerston has proposed to you, because it simplifies still further the transaction which is to be concluded. His Majesty, then, could not but approve the motive which leads Lord Palmerston to desire that the details of the special arrangement, by virtue of which the Sultan shall grant to Mehemet Ali the investiture of Egypt, should not be embodied in the text of the agreement. Accordingly, M. le Baron, if the bases of the proposed agreement should be such as have been stated to you by the Principal Secretary of State, and if the French Government should decide upon accepting it, the Emperor would authorize you to concur in it.”

The Count also wrote as follows, under date of 4th January, 1841, to M. Titow, at Constantinople[^[13]]:—

“I lost no time in laying before the Emperor your despatch of the 28th of November, in which you reported to us the late events which have taken place at Alexandria, as well as the determination of the Porte to refuse its sanction to the arrangement concluded by Commodore Napier.

“It certainly belongs to his Highness alone to determine finally the extent of the sacrifices which it is expedient for him to make, in order to secure the pacification of his empire, and that Sovereign ought not to doubt that the Emperor desires sincerely that that pacification may be effected upon conditions as little unfavourable as possible to the Porte.

“But, the more our august Master has at heart the defence of the interests of the Sultan, the more would His Imperial Majesty consider himself as failing in the friendship which he bears to his Highness, if he did not seriously recommend him, at this decisive moment, to consider with calmness and moderation the present posture of affairs, and to be on his guard against illusions and hopes which in the end may never be realized.

“But a few months since, even at the period of the signature of the Convention of July 15, the Porte could not have hoped in so short a time to have reduced Mehemet Ali to the powerless state to which he is now reduced; and it is hardly to be doubted, that it would a little while ago have granted to him the hereditary succession, if it had been possible for it by that means to hasten a definitive arrangement, in the interests of general peace.

“The military operations of the Allies in Syria have, since, been crowned with the most decided success. Nevertheless, when the Porte in a moment of irritation, determined to pronounce the deprivation of Mehemet Ali, the Powers did not hesitate to declare their opinion upon the subject, and to make known the conditions upon which it appeared to them that the Sultan should not hesitate to reinstate the Pacha in the hereditary administration of Egypt.

“It is certainly true that the Porte has never hitherto received an official communication of the advice which the Allied Powers thought it their duty to tender to it, but the Porte is perfectly aware of the nature and tendency of the instructions of the 15th of October, which have acquired European publicity; it is equally acquainted with the measures determined upon on the 14th of November in London, and with the step which Sir Robert Stopford was instructed to take, and the only object of which was to secure the execution of the preceding instructions.

“It would now be impossible for the Four Allied Powers to retract their former declarations. Already the British Cabinet has not hesitated an instant to declare itself in favour of the advantages which result from the cessation of hostilities between the Porte and Mehemet Ali; but while it fully appreciates the object which Commodore Napier had in view, in undertaking upon his own responsibility to hasten the submission of the Pacha; while it fully approves of all the conditions which that officer has imposed upon him; the Cabinet of London has not thought fit to take upon itself a formal guarantee with respect to the right of hereditary succession which the Sultan might confer upon Mehemet Ali.

“We are firmly convinced that the other Powers will readily adhere to this opinion of England; not one of them will, in fact, take upon itself a guarantee, which would become as burdensome for those Powers, as it would be incompatible with His Highness’s rights of Sovereignty.

“The Cabinet of London appears to be more than ever impressed with the necessity of furthering, by all possible means, the pacification of the East, and of putting an end to the doubts which the Divan appears to entertain with respect to the real intentions of the Allies. Have the goodness then, Sir, to unite with Lord Ponsonby, in holding to the Ministers of the Porte the language which Lord Palmerston has lately prescribed to the English Ambassador, and which, we have no doubt, will be equally supported by the Representatives of Austria and Prussia.”

Nothing could be more gratifying to me than that my first essay at diplomacy should have received the sanction of the great powers of Europe, and I presume such a sanction was not very palatable to the gentlemen who took a different view of Eastern affairs.

CHAPTER V.

The Author ordered to Alexandria to carry the Convention into effect—Interviews with the Pacha and Boghos Bey—Letter from Boghos Bey explaining the Pacha’s Intentions—Lieut. Loring dispatched to see the Evacuation of Syria carried into effect; his Instructions—Letters to the Chief Officers in Syria—Arrival of the Turkish Commissioners at Alexandria—Surrender of the Turkish Fleet—Bad Faith of the Turks—Correspondence between the Author and Boghos Bey respecting the Cotton Crop—The Commercial Treaty.

The day after the arrival of the Megæra, I waited on the Commander-in-Chief, who directed me to proceed to Alexandria, and see the Convention carried out. I arrived there in the Stromboli on the 8th January, when the Pacha sent one of his officers to compliment me, and invite me to the Palace.

Between seven and eight in the evening I waited on Boghos Bey, and delivered the Admiral’s and Rechid Pacha’s letters[^[14]], and an extract of Lord Palmerston’s instruction, dated the 15th of December, beginning with the words, “Now it is necessary that Sir Robert Stopford[^[15]].” Boghos Bey did not seem much disappointed at the refusal of the Allies to give a guarantee, but expressed his dissatisfaction at the word “hereditary” not appearing in the letter of Rechid Pacha to the British Ambassador, and expressed his fears that there would be some difficulty with the Pacha, who fully expected on his submission, the hereditary Pachalic of Egypt would be conferred on him.

I was now introduced to the Pacha, who was far from being in good humour, and evidently disappointed at the communication Boghos Bey had previously made to him; he nevertheless invited me to sit on the divan beside him, and gave me a pipe.

I acquainted his Highness that I was authorized to allow vessels to proceed to Caiffa, to embark the sick, wounded, women, children, and any part of the Egyptian army, and that I should send a British officer with the person to whom he entrusted his instructions to Ibrahim to evacuate Syria. I also told him that I should give every assistance to fit out the Turkish fleet, which I was sorry to observe was in the same state I had left them.

He replied it was not his fault; that after the agreement I had made with him the officer had been sent back from Syria, and the agreement disallowed.

I remarked that that difficulty was now obviated, that the Convention had been approved of in London, with the exception of the guarantee.

To this he observed that he did not care so much about the guarantee, but that the word “hereditary” had been left out, whereas in Lord Palmerston’s dispatch to Lord Ponsonby, dated the 15th of October, and which had been made public, it was distinctly stated that the Porte would be strongly recommended to confer on him the hereditary Pachalic, and that in M. Guizot’s speech to the French Chambers he had declared that the Allies would recommend it; and finally, that the agreement signed by Boghos Bey and myself stipulated that the fleet should be delivered up on receiving the official account that the Sublime Porte would confer on him the hereditary government of Egypt; that notwithstanding this, in Lord Palmerston’s instructions of the 14th of November, communicated to him by Captain Fanshawe, the word “hereditary” had been left out; but nevertheless he had entirely submitted himself to the will of the Sultan, and asked for no terms, being convinced he would be confirmed in the fullest sense.

There was so much truth in these observations that I did not endeavour to controvert them, and soon after took my leave, promising to call on Boghos Bey next morning, when the papers were translated.

In my next interview with Boghos Bey he again spoke of the disappointment and dissatisfaction of the Pacha. He said he had done everything to gain the good will of England; that the interests of Great Britain and Egypt were identified; that at one time England had encouraged him, and even permitted Egyptians to enter her dockyards and ships to gain instruction, and that now she wanted to put him down altogether. All this he very naturally attributed to Lord Ponsonby, and Mehemet Ali often said, he was not at war with either Turkey or England, but with the English Ambassador.

I told him I was not without hopes that the British Government would still use their influence with the Porte to obtain that point, and that I should do everything in my power to forward the Pacha’s wishes, and I had reason to believe they would be complied with.

He requested me to read the part of Lord Palmerston’s letter, approving of the Convention[^[16]], which I consented to do, but he must consider it a private communication; he listened to this with much satisfaction, and said, if I would communicate it to the Pacha, it would go a great way to tranquillize his mind.

In the morning I waited on the old man, and read to him the other part of Lord Palmerston’s instructions, which had some effect in putting him in good humour; he talked a good deal about the difficulty of quitting Syria till the spring without a great loss of life and stores, and was anxious that the women, children, and sick should be allowed to embark at Beyrout, Sidon, or the most convenient place, should the army be still at Damascus.

There is no doubt whatever that he had sent orders to Ibrahim to withdraw, but was probably afraid that he would not obey them when he heard of his fathers submission without being certain of the hereditary pachalic being conferred, and he was anxious, in the event of his staying at Damascus, to free him of his incumbrances.

I observed that the weather was now better than when the Convention was signed, and was improving every day; that I had no authority to allow any embarkation either at Beyrout or Sidon, but that I should write to the officer in command to give every facility in his power, and that I felt satisfied the best way to insure the British Government pressing the point of the hereditary pachalic was, by throwing no difficulties in the way; that, whether or no, his son must succeed him, and as to a guarantee, he had shown it was more necessary to guarantee the Porte against him, than him against the Porte. The old man was tickled at this observation, and consented to all I asked, and next morning Boghos gave it me in writing, as follows:

“Commodore,

“Alexandria, Jan. 10, 1841.

“The object of the letter which I have the honour to address to you, is to recapitulate, according to the desire which you have expressed to me, the words which you heard from the mouth of the Viceroy, my master, himself, in your conversation yesterday evening.

“The delay which has occurred in the evacuation of Syria is not dependent on the will of his Highness. In consequence of the Convention concluded with you on the 27th of November last, Hamid Bey was sent to Syria, to carry the Viceroy’s orders to Ibrahim Pacha. You know, Commodore, the reasons which hindered that superior officer from fulfilling his mission, and you are acquainted with the nature of the obstacles which prevented the despatches of his Highness from reaching their destination.

“The Viceroy, always desirous to give you a fresh proof of his readiness to fulfil his engagements, proposes to dispatch a steam-vessel this very day to take back to Syria Hamid Bey, who will be charged, in conjunction with the English officer appointed by you, to deliver the orders to the General-in-Chief of Egyptian army. As soon as Ibrahim Pacha shall be made acquainted with them, he will immediately effect the evacuation of Syria, despatching, if it is in his power to do so, the women, children, and sick, towards Caiffa, and marching himself towards Egypt, should he not be already in motion with his army to effect his retreat in that direction. Immediately on our being made acquainted, by the return of Hamid Bey, with the measures taken by Ibrahim Pacha in execution of the orders of his Highness, and as soon as we shall have acquired the certainty that the sick, women, and children, belonging to the Egyptian army have been able to proceed to Caiffa, his Highness will send transports to that port to secure their return to Egypt.

“With respect to the Ottoman fleet, I can only confirm what I had formerly the honour of writing to you, Commodore; it is ready to put to sea.

“Such is the substance of the terms in which the Viceroy expressed himself to you, Commodore. His Highness, in thus giving you a fresh proof of his deference to the decisions of the Allied Powers, is convinced that they will hasten the execution of the Treaty of the 15th of July, by obtaining in his favour the hereditary government of Egypt; and that they will show their intention of securing the pacification of the East, by placing it on an imperishable foundation.”

The Egyptian steamer Generoso started on the second day after my arrival, with one of the Pacha’s officers and Lieutenant Loring, to whom I gave the following instructions:—

“Sir,

“H.M.S. Carysfort,

January 10, 1841.

“Pursuant to directions from the Commander-in-Chief, you will accompany Hamid Bey in the Egyptian steam-boat Generoso, to the coast of Syria.

“You will recommend him first to proceed to Acre, and you will deliver the accompanying letter to the officer commanding the Allied troops.

“You will consult with him on the best way of proceeding to Ibrahim Pacha’s head-quarters, and you will demand a proper escort (if necessary) for your own protection and that of the Egyptian officer who accompanies you. The object of your mission is to see the evacuation of Syria carried into effect, and you will remain with Ibrahim Pacha as long as you think it necessary, and then return to Alexandria.

“Lieutenant Loring, H.M.S. Carysfort.”

I wrote also to the senior Naval and Military officers in Syria.

“Sir,

“H.M.S. Carysfort,

January 10, 1841.

“The bearer of this letter is charged by me, (agreeably to the orders of Sir Robert Stopford, in consequence of directions of Lord Palmerston, to carry my Convention into effect,) to proceed with Hamid Bey to Ibrahim Pacha’s head-quarters, and deliver to him the order of Mehemet Ali, for the immediate evacuation of Syria.

“It is Sir Robert Stopford’s directions that every facility is given for the embarkation of the sick, the wounded, the women and children, and others of the Egyptian army, at Caiffa.

“But it appears to me, (if there be no objection, of which I cannot be a judge,) they may be permitted to embark at any other place if more convenient.

“The officer charged with the despatches to Ibrahim Pacha, will necessarily concert with him and with you on this point, as will also do the officer charged to see the evacuation carried into effect.

“It is needless to observe, that as Mehemet Ali has made his submission to the Porte, and is reinstated in the Pachalic of Egypt, it is of the utmost importance that Ibrahim should not be disturbed in his evacuation, but should be protected and assisted in every manner, so as to cause as little loss of life as possible.

“To the Officer commanding the

Allied Forces in Syria.”

“Sir,

“I have the honour to inform you that I am directed by the Commander-in-Chief to permit the women, children, sick, wounded, and others of the Egyptian army, to embark at Caiffa, and that Lieut. Loring is charged to see the evacuation of Syria carried into effect, and is accompanied by Hamid Bey, who is the bearer of orders to Ibrahim Pacha to evacuate Syria forthwith.

“It is possible there may be other places on the coast of Syria more convenient for the embarkation than Caiffa, (of which I cannot be a judge, not knowing the position of Ibrahim’s army;) in that case you will concert with the officer commanding the Allied army, and act accordingly.

“As soon as it is ascertained where the embarkation will take place, the steamer will return here, and transports will be sent to receive them.

“I need not observe, that as Mehemet Ali has sent his submission to the Porte, which has been accepted, and is now reinstated in the Pachalic of Egypt, every facility should be given to Ibrahim Pacha to evacuate Syria, in order that it may be done with as little loss of life as possible.

“To the Senior Naval Officer

at Acre or Ascalon.”

The Turkish Commissioners, Yaver Pacha (Admiral Walker,) and Mazloum Bey, arrived at Alexandria on the 10th January, and were graciously received by Mehemet Ali, who gave directions that the fleet should be immediately given up, and Admiral Walker hoisted his flag on the 11th at noon, under a salute from the batteries at Alexandria, and the Egyptian men-of-war and steamers were put at their disposal, and they were ordered to be entertained at the Pacha’s expense. My friend, Admiral Walker, took up his residence with me, and in the morning of the 13th I visited him on board the Mahomedie, and afterwards waited on all the Turkish and Egyptian Admirals, when as much powder was burnt as would have fought a good action.

I dispatched the Stromboli with the important intelligence of the delivery of the Turkish fleet, to Sir Robert Stopford, at Marmorice Bay, on the 11th of January, supposing that the Eastern Question was brought to a close, but the sequel will show that it was not yet over.

I shall here make a comparison between the conduct of Sir Robert Stopford and Lord Ponsonby. Both rejected my Convention, and I believe it was the first time they ever agreed. When Captain Fanshawe returned from Alexandria, the Admiral, I think, saw his error, because he wrote to Syria to order a suspension of hostilities, and permitted the embarkation of the sick and wounded. Lord Ponsonby, on the other hand, did every thing he possibly could to gain time, and more than that, the British Ambassador wrote to General Jochmus, a Turkish officer, and desired him not to suspend hostilities, as is positively stated in General Michell’s letter to Lord Palmerston, dated December 31, 1840, and as we shall shortly see, he gave the same directions to his emissary, Mr. Wood; and the very steamer that brought the Commissioners to Alexandria, as I shall show hereafter, was the bearer of orders to, if possible, destroy Ibrahim’s army: so much for the good faith of the Turks[^[17]]. Admiral Walker was quite ignorant of this as well as myself, and thinking every thing was settled with Turkey, I very naturally turned my attention to English interests at Alexandria.

Boghos Bey had announced his intention of selling the crop of cotton on the 20th of February, and continuing the sale the first of every succeeding month. The British merchants complained of the difficulty they had in becoming purchasers under this arrangement; they alleged that if they imported cash to purchase the cotton, it might be put up at such a price that they would either be obliged to take it at a loss, or re-export their specie, and they requested I would use my influence with Boghos Bey to get him to put it up at public sale. I thought their request so reasonable, that I immediately went to Boghos Bey, and suggested to him, that the cotton in question should be put up at public sale, when it is sure to fetch its real value, and the merchants would then have a fair chance of becoming purchasers; that this system was invariably followed by the East India Company, and they found it to answer their purpose and satisfy the public.