No. VIII.

Letter from Boghos Bey to Sir Charles

Napier.

Commodore,

Alexandria, June 19, 1841.

I hasten to acknowledge the receipt of the letter, dated May 27, with which you have honoured me.[me.] Having placed it before His Highness the Viceroy, I am desired to express his grateful acknowledgements for the friendly expressions it contains.

On the two points, “of the return of some Syrian soldiers who are still here, and of the regulation of the monopoly,” which form the principal object of your letter, I believe that I cannot do better than transcribe, Commodore, the words which His Highness proffered in reply, as I have obtained authority to transmit them to you.

“I cannot see the motive why my friend Napier should be in any difficulty; he who has talked with me, who has seen all, and doubtless, with his penetration, understood all. No one is ignorant that since the signing of the Convention with him the difficulty of the question could not have been made smoother; the affair having been submitted to different conditions, has been prolonged by negotiations with the Envoy of the Sublime Porte; and whilst the conditions were under consideration, they could not be executed, neither could they consider my conduct strange, still less suppose that I was thereby breaking my word. Thank God, it is now arranged to the satisfaction of the parties; the Firman has arrived, and has been solemnly read in public with the usual ceremonies. I am now only under the necessity of submitting to the clemency of my Sovereign as to the quota of the tribute. I have already conferred on this subject with his Envoy here, who is on the point of setting out, and the matter is almost arranged. Now that the moment has arrived to put successively into execution the conditions contained in the above-mentioned Firman, my friend Napier will very soon learn that what I talked to him about, that what I said to him concerning the monopoly, will be effected in a manner to promote the interests of the country; and I hope that his friendship for me will be more than ever strengthened.”

In sending you, Commodore, on the part of His Highness, the preceding communication, I am desired also to present his friendly salutations, and I avail myself of this opportunity in my own person to reiterate the assurances of the high consideration with which I have the honour to be,

Commodore,
Your very humble and very obedient servant,
Boghos Joussouff.

THE END.


London:

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In Two Volumes, Post Octavo, with Plans, price 21s.,

AN ACCOUNT

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THE WAR IN PORTUGAL

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OPINIONS OF THE PRESS.

“The personal character of the Author is not only impressed upon almost every page, but the book contains a narrative of one, and to all appearance the most important of the leaves out of a hero’s life, written by himself. It is Cæsar’s Commentaries in the first person, wanting the classical eloquence of the Roman, but equally devoid of his concealed vanity, and his suspected partiality. Grander battles have been fought, more gallant never. It is rare to have a description of such a fight from its hero, even in a gazette; but it is still rarer to have an account of his feelings.”—Spectator.

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Footnotes:


[1]. See p. [22]. The report is given in the Levant Papers, Part III., p. 138.

[2]. See [Protocol] in the Appendix.

[3]. See page [39].

[4]. See Levant Papers, Part III., pp. 274, 276.

[5]. See Levant Papers, Part III., p. 151.

[6]. Ibid., p. 159.

[7]. Ibid., p. 159.

[8]. See Vol. I., p. [249].

[9]. See Levant Papers, Part III., p. 87.

[10]. See page [15].

[11]. See Levant Papers, Part III., p. 88.

[12]. See Levant Papers, Part III., p. 121.

[13]. See Levant Papers, Part III., p. 152.

[14]. See page [39].

[15]. See page [51].

[16]. See page [49].

[17]. See Chapters [XI]. and [XII].; and also Levant Papers, Part III., pp. 203, 268, 275.

[18].

Major-General Sir C. F. Smith to Viscount Palmerston.

My Lord,

Head-quarters, Beyrout, Nov. 24, 1840.

I have great satisfaction in acquainting your Lordship that a prudent adherence to my instructions from the Foreign Office has struck a heavier blow on the army of Ibrahim Pacha than a series of general actions could have achieved. Each succeeding victory could only have withdrawn us so much farther from our resources, without advancing, in any degree, the cause we have in hand. I take not merit to myself, unless it be for my forbearance. For the number and the nature of the troops under my command, and the extended line of coast I have to guard, compelled me to be strictly on the defensive in the towns already in our possession, whilst a forward movement would have been unmilitary and unmeaning.

Wearied in waiting for an opportunity of practising his well-disciplined cavalry and artillery upon a detachment of Turkish infantry, Ibrahim, on the 21st instant, broke up from Zachle and Malaka in full retreat on Damascus, where he now is with 30,000 men, including 7000 cavalry and artillery. He has pushed a corps of 3000 irregular cavalry to El Mezereib, on the road towards Mecca,—the only route now open to him for a final retreat into Egypt,—whither I calculate on his going the moment he receives from Alexandria the political news brought by the Oriental.

In as far as regards the sway of Mehemet Ali in Syria, I look upon the military part of the question as determined.

I have, &c.,
(Signed) C. F. Smith, Major-Gen. Commanding.

P.S. The Emir Effendi and other chiefs who left Ibrahim near Damascus, report his force to exceed 50,000, of whom 40,000 are said to be effective.

C.F.S.

[19]. See Levant Papers, Part III., p. 119.

[20]. See Levant Papers, Part III., p. 119.

[21]. See Levant Papers, Part III., p. 163.

[22]. Ibid., p. 164.

[23]. See Levant Papers, Part III., p. 202.

[24]. See Levant Papers, Part III., p. 204.

[25]. See Levant Papers, Part III., p. 265.

[26]. See p. 103.

[27]. See Levant Papers, Part III., p. 268.

[28]. Ibid., p. 268.

[29]. See Levant Papers, Part III., p. 288.

[30].

General Michell to Viscount Palmerston.

December 31, 1840.

Our situation will be very embarrassing until the negotiations are terminated, since any act of hostility on our part may be construed into a breach of faith, and may disturb arrangements half concluded. I am, therefore, anxiously expecting orders from Lord Ponsonby upon the subject. In the meantime his Excellency’s latest instructions to General Jochmus, and upon which he is prepared and resolved to act with energy, dictate a continuance of offensive operations.

[31]. Alluding to the probability of his retiring by D’Jenin.

[32]. He does not give the date.

[33]. Captain Stewart and General Michell do not confirm this.

[34].

General Jochmus to Admiral Stopford.

Sir, Head-quarters, Jaffa,
Jan. 17, 1841.

I have the honour to inform your Excellency, that on the 14th instant I directed a division of ten battalions of infantry, 1800 irregular and Tatar horse, 150 regular cavalry, and 14 pieces of artillery, to march from Ramla towards Gaza.

This latter village is abandoned by the enemy, who has a flying camp of 1200 regular and 1800 irregular horse, with eight pieces of horse artillery, at three-quarters of an hour’s march south of Gaza, whence he draws his forage and provisions: but ravages, at the same time, the country, carrying off cattle and mules to a great extent from most of the villages south of Ramla.

The object of my movement was the protection of these villages, but principally the destruction of the enemy’s provisions at Gaza, in case Ibrahim Pacha, distressed in the Desert, should have struck off south of the Dead Sea towards Gaza.

On the 14th of January the division encamped at Ashdod; on the 15th it could only make a march of three hours to El-Meshdel on account of the incessant heavy rain, which poured down ever since it left Ramla.

Towards the afternoon, a reconnoitring party of the enemy of 500 horse approached the camp; but the commanding officer making a very silly manœuvre was taken in flank and rear by about 400 or 500 of our cavalry, who pursued him for two hours, taking between forty and fifty prisoners, and killing and wounding as many. Our loss was about four killed and twelve wounded.

Hearing nothing positive about Ibrahim’s immediate approach, and the low country towards Gaza having become a complete marsh by the continued floods of rain up to the 16th in the evening, and the troops having been completely drenched day and night in the bivouacs, I suspended the movement, and sent the infantry and guns to Jaffa, advancing, at the same time, the cavalry detachments to the neighbourhood of Ascalon and some villages towards the river of that name, with their head-quarters at El-Mesde, intending to resume the operations the moment the ground had become practicable; but on my arrival here, informed officially of the complete submission of Mehemet Ali Pacha, and the consequent cessation of the state of rebellion of his army, our troops have been ordered to cease offensive hostilities. His Excellency the Seraskier Ahmed Zacharias Pacha commanded in person since we left Ramla.

I have, &c.,

(Signed) A. Jochmus, Lieut.-Gen.

[35]. “Very small kettle-drums, or basins, about six inches in diameter, covered with a parchment, and fixed on each side of the pommel of the saddle as holster-pieces are, and beat with pieces of leather straps. They make a monotonous noise, and always accompany Arab cavalry.”

[36]. See Levant Papers, Part III., p. 294.

[37]. See Levant Papers, Part III., p. 295.

[38]. See Levant Papers, Part III., p. 295.

[39]. See Levant Papers, Part III., p. 295. Tahir Bey reports that after Ibrahim re-crossed the Jordan, he lost all his infantry, and arrived at Kerek with his cavalry only.

[40]. See page [124].

[41]. See Levant Papers, Part III., p. 298.

[42]. See page [128].

[43]. See Levant Papers, Part III., p. 270.

[44]. Ibid., pp. 271, 272.

[45]. See Levant Papers, Part III., p. 272.

[46]. Ibid., p. 276.

[47]. “The latter,—by the bye,—being no pass at all, but an open place in the plains to the eastward of Gaza.”

[48]. Although these instructions from Sir Charles Smith were so termed,—and Colonel Napier has documents from his successor, General Michell, to prove that they were satisfactorily executed,—it appears strange that this mission of the Colonel’s should never have been publicly made known.

[49]. “Moïadjumah, literally meaning the ‘meeting of the waters.’”

[50]. “He had lately succeeded Sir Charles Smith.”

[51]. “Mr. Wood, in one of his official reports, gives General Jochmus the credit of this reconnoissance, whereas I am not aware that the latter was, at this period, ever across the Jordan.”

[52]. This title was conferred in consequence of a promise made by the Sultan, through Lord Ponsonby, that Colonel Napier should receive the nishan or order of that rank—which promise has as yet been kept with true “Turkish faith.”

[53]. See Levant Papers, Part III., pp. 203, 268.

[54]. Letter to the Seraskier and Hussein Pacha, dated January 21, 1841. Levant Papers, Part III., pp. 275, 276.

[55].

Memorandum for Colonel Alderson’s guidance.

Jaffa, January 22, 1841.

Accounts having been received by the Seraskier that a considerable number of Egyptian troops have advanced towards Gaza, his Excellency has requested that an English officer of rank and discretion should proceed to the quarters of the Egyptian officer commanding the troops in that neighbourhood, to act as Conservator of the Peace. In all probability the Egyptian Commandant will not feel himself authorized to order any of these troops to retire until he shall receive directions from Ibrahim Pacha; but you will point out to him the evident necessity that exists for the avoidance of any the smallest act of hostility or plunder, if he would not break the Convention and renew the war. So long as you are satisfied that he is acting in good faith, and doing everything possible to maintain order and peace towards the Turkish troops and inhabitants of the neighbourhood, you will remain with him, taking occasion at all times to point out and to urge upon him the propriety of hastening, by any means in his power, the evacuation of Syria, in the terms of Mehemet Ali Pacha’s order to his son Ibrahim Pacha. Should you have reason to object to any of his proceedings, you will at once remonstrate and protest: should he persist, you will formally take your leave, and immediately return to the British head-quarters, giving notice that you have done so to the officer commanding the nearest post of the Ottoman troops, and putting him on his guard. You will communicate with head-quarters as frequently as possible, and notify as exactly as you can the number and state of the Egyptian troops in that district.

You will have with you copies of the letters which have been forwarded to Ibrahim Pacha, and of Commodore Sir Charles Napier’s letters from Alexandria to General Michell and to Captain Stewart. The Seraskier Pacha has declared that he has no design to deprive the Egyptians of their arms, baggage, or guns; and that he wishes, by every fair and safe means, to facilitate the retirement from Syria of the Egyptian forces. Copies of the instructions given to the officers sent to Ibrahim Pacha, and to accompany General Jochmus, will also be furnished to you: and you will observe that the immediate evacuation of Syria is the principal object to which all others are to be considered as secondary.

By desire of General Michell,

(Signed) Houston Stewart.

[56]. See Levant Papers, Part III., p. 307.

[57]. See page [89].

[58]. See these documents in pages [176-178].

[59]. See Levant Papers, Part III., p. 329.

[60]. “Izzet Pacha.”

[61].

General Jochmus to the Seraskier.

Head-quarters, Jerusalem,
27 Zilkadé, 1257, (Jan. 22, 1841,) 11 A.M.

I have the honour to inform your Excellency that I arrived here yesterday evening. Lieutenant-General Hassan Pacha also returned here yesterday from Chalil-Rachman; and Selim Pacha, with the brigade of Chalid Pacha, will be here to-day, so that this evening a force of twenty-one battalions, and eighteen guns will be assembled at Jerusalem. The cavalry of Riza Pacha will this evening or to-morrow morning join that of the Murchardsou, who must have arrived yesterday evening at El-Chalil. The forces, in the central positions in which they are, ought to be more than sufficient to support our negotiations with Ibrahim, if they should have taken place; but as the latter must be, according to the statements of all the deserters, to the south of the Dead Sea, there is no longer any occasion for negotiation. His army is in complete disorder, for want of provisions, owing to the capture of Maan: and all the deserters state, that even before reaching the magazines (now burnt), the whole infantry subsisted for four or six days upon camel’s flesh. I found Baron Dumont here, who corroborates the complete defeat of the Egyptians. As he saw the three first columns pass within gun-shot, and as in the second where, according to all accounts, the artillery ought to have been, he only saw a great number of camels and mules, it is generally believed here that Ibrahim has buried his cannons in the Desert.

The third column only of his infantry was seen, reduced to 5000 men; a separate body at Jufila of 2000 men, who were some days since with Ibrahim Pacha near to Kerek: all these people were half dead with hunger. The losses of Ibrahim in men, in horses, and in beasts of burden, in passing the Jordan, were very great. Finally, his Excellency Hassan Pacha upon the news of peace, sent a safe conduct to Ahmed Menikli Pacha, commander of the Egyptian cavalry, and gave him to understand that he would not attack him in his retreat, provided that he did not come to plunder the villages near to Chalil. Ahmed Menikli Pacha, conducted by an officer of Hassan Pacha, then chose the road towards Gaza in his retreat upon Egypt. The cavalry, reduced to 2500 horses and 700 dismounted horsemen, was in the most miserable condition: and had it not been for the Convention, two battalions in the almost impracticable passes of the Wadi-el-Ghor, one day south of Chalil, would have been sufficient to stop that column. It appears to be very necessary for the troops coming towards Gaza to withdraw, in order that there may never be more than 3000 men at a time in this place. I request your Excellency to communicate this letter to General Michell.

I have, &c.,
(Signed) A. Jochmus, Lieut-General.

P.S. There is plenty of barley at El-Chalil, and there are other provisions there, but rice and butter must be sent there.

[62]. See Levant Papers, Part III., p. 315.

[63].

Guarantee by Menikli Pacha, and the other Chief Officers of

the Egyptian Army, at present encamped near Gaza.

Gaza, January 28, 1841.

We, the Undersigned, being assembled in council with Commodore Houston Stewart, Royal British Navy, and Lieutenant-Colonel Alderson, Royal Engineers, after the discussion which has taken place, have pledged ourselves, that his Highness Ibrahim Pacha will, on his arrival at Gaza, execute the orders of his Highness Mehemet Ali, the Viceroy of Egypt, for the evacuation of Syria, and that he will not make any movement whatever against those orders; for all of which we give our signatures and affix our seals.

(Signed) Ahmed Menikli, Gen. of Division; Kourchid, Gen. of Division; Selim, Gen. of Division; Ahmed Dramaly, Gen. of Division; Ishmael, Gen. of Brigade; Ibrahim, Gen. of Brigade; Mahmoud Bey, Capt. Navy.


Captain Houston Stewart and Lieutenant-Colonel Alderson to Menikli Ahmed Pacha and the other Chief Officers of the Egyptian Army at present encamped near Gaza.

Gaza, January 28, 1841.

In consequence of the written guarantee which you have now given us, making yourself responsible that his Excellency Ibrahim Pacha, as well as yourselves, will implicitly obey, and forthwith carry into effect with perfect good faith, the orders of his Excellency Mehemet Ali Pacha for the evacuation of Syria by the whole of the Egyptian army: We, Houston Stewart, Captain of Her Britannic Majesty’s ship Benbow, and Senior Naval Officer on the coast of Syria, and Lieutenant-Colonel Ralph Carr Alderson, Royal Engineers, representing here the united forces of Great Britain, do pledge ourselves that no molestation nor any obstacle be put in the way of such evacuation, and that you are perfectly safe in diminishing your forces here as fast as possible; and, further, that provided you continue to make that diminution to the satisfaction of the said Lieutenant-Colonel Alderson, we promise to insist with his Excellency the Seraskier, Zacharias Pacha, Commanding-in-Chief the Ottoman forces, that no advance shall be made by the Turkish troops now at Megdill, nor Governor be sent to Gaza, until Colonel Alderson shall have reported the evacuation complete; and we promise, that if the Turkish authorities refuse to ratify and accept any one of these conditions, we will immediately, and in perfect honourable faith, give you notice thereof.

(Signed) Houston Stewart.

R. C. Alderson.


Guarantee by the Seraskier, the Moustechar Effendi, and

Lieutenant-General Jochmus.

We, the Undersigned, upon the received declaration of his Excellency Menikli Ahmed Pacha and the other Egyptian Generals and Officers, to carry forthwith into execution the entire evacuation of Syria and the Desert, consent and promise faithfully to abstain from any hostile movement, according to the promise given by Commodore Stewart and Colonel Alderson, with the proviso that the forces at present near and at Gaza, march on El-Arish within seven days from this, embarking such men in transports as are sick, unfit for campaign, and unable to march according to Colonel Alderson’s judgment, and provided no movement is made by any Egyptian force at Gaza, east or northward.

Given under our hand and seal at the Imperial head-quarters of Jaffa, January 30, 1841.

(L.S.) Moustechar Effendi, Seraskier,

Jochmus, Lieutenant-General.

[64]. See Levant Papers, Part III., pp. 292, 301, 307, 366, 367.

[65]. See page [124].

[66]. See General Jochmus’s letter and accompanying statement, in Levant Papers, Part III., pp. 305-307.

[67]. See Levant Papers, Part III., pp. 282, 332.

[68]. Ibid., pp. 309, 310.

[69]. Ibid., p. 307.

[70]. “Does not this division of Ibrahim’s army at El-Mezereib at once convince any military man that he considered peace as concluded; and that a want of provisions was the only enemy he had to fear? he therefore divided his troops, so that one arm should not retard the other.

“Cavalry, by forced marches, were enabled to get on faster than the infantry, encumbered as they were by women, &c., and barley was no doubt very scarce.

“In a military point of view, either in advancing or retreating in an enemy’s country, it would be considered very injudicious to have infantry without cavalry on the route; that Ibrahim knew this well, his sending for the two regiments of cavalry of the guard, on finding at Rieha (Jericho) that the Turkish troops were in position to resist his march via Hebron, fully shows.”

[71]. “The number of the guns has been variously stated, but I believe they were between 150 and 200.”

[72]. See pp. [46], [54].

[73]. See Levant Papers, Part III., p. 305.

[74]. See page [151].

[75]. A private document furnished by him to me. His public report appears in the Levant Papers, Part III., p. 309.

[76]. See pages [175], [176].

[77]. See Levant Papers, Part III., pp. 164, 311.

[78]. Ibid., p. 288; and p. 119, et seq. of this volume.

[79]. See page [71].

[80]. See pp. [92], [95].

[81]. See Levant Papers, Part III., p. 221.

[82]. Ibid., p. 207.

[83]. See Levant Papers, Part III., p. 208.

[84]. I think there could not be much difficulty in proving that he did give such orders, when we consider the terms in which his Lordship speaks of General Jochmus’s conduct, in his letter to Viscount Palmerston, already given. See p. [195].

[85]. See Levant Papers, Part III., p. 226.

[86]. See Appendix, Vol. I.

[87]. See Levant Papers, Part III., p. 219.

[88]. See Levant Papers, Part III., p. 221.

[89]. Ibid., p. 222.

[90]. See Levant Papers, Part III., p. 224.

[91]. See Levant Papers, Part III., pp. 88, 89.

[92]. Ibid., p. 169.

[93]. See Levant Papers, Part III., p. 171.

[94]. See Levant Papers, Part III., p. 183.

[95]. See Levant Papers, Part III., p. 185.

[96]. See Levant Papers, Part III., p. 185, 192.

[97]. See Levant Papers, Part III., p. 197.

[98]. See Levant Papers, Part III., p. 229.

[99]. See Levant Papers, Part III., p. 229.

[100]. See these documents in the Levant Papers, Part III., pp. 247-252.

[101]. See Levant Papers, Part III., pp. 239, 240.

[102]. See Levant Papers, Part III., p. 325.

[103].

The Grand Vizier to Mazloum Bey.

19 Zilkadé, 1256. (12 January, 1841.)

In the letter which I wrote and sent by your Excellency to his Highness Mehemet Ali Pacha, there is nothing clear or precise relative to the hereditary succession to the Government of Egypt. It is said, in general terms, that he shall be reinstated in the Government of Egypt. It is then probable, it is to be presumed, that his Highness will conceive suspicions in this respect; and it is for this reason that it has been judged necessary to give the following explanations upon this point.

As the letter which Mehemet Ali Pacha sent to me, and by which he offered his submission to His Imperial Majesty, commenced by making mention of the Convention which had been concluded between him and Commodore Napier, and as the Sublime Porte had not accepted that Convention, which it regarded as null and of no effect, it was thought that if I had spoken in my letter of the hereditary succession, it would have been, in substance, to recognise the Convention, and that is the reason why it was omitted to speak of it.

Nevertheless, His Imperial Majesty, whose goodness and favours are shed over his servants truly submissive, entertaining with regard to Mehemet Ali Pacha the benevolent intentions which are in unison with the sentiments of moderation by which the High Allied Powers are animated, it is certain that as soon as he shall have proved by facts, as has been declared in my letter, the submission which he has offered, by immediately restoring the Ottoman fleet, and by making over, without delay, to the Commissioners of the Sublime Porte, the countries which are known to be in question, and which are situated out of Egypt, His Highness will be pleased to reinstate him in the government of Egypt, with right of hereditary succession.

The requisite conditions laid down by the Treaty of Alliance, and other points connected with those conditions, are about to be settled; and as all this will be arranged at the same time that the investiture of the hereditary succession shall take place, I abstain for the moment from entering into details upon this subject.

However, it is important that His Highness should know in a few words what is doing, and that he should be apprized beforehand, that if a single one of the conditions which shall have been laid down, is not observed, the hereditary succession will be abolished.

You will therefore formally ratify to Mehemet Ali, on the part of His Imperial Majesty, in case that, in conformity with what has been said above, his submission shall be a fact, the conditional hereditary succession aforesaid. And in order altogether to dispel the doubts which he might have in this respect, and to inspire him with entire confidence, you will even allow him, if necessary, to see my present official despatch.

Such are the orders of the Sultan, in conformity with which you will be careful to act, and it is for this purpose that I write to you the present despatch.

[104]. See Levant Papers, Part III., p. 242.

[105]. The firmans are given at length, as are also the instructions of the Turkish Envoy, and the official notifications connected with the affair, in the Levant Papers, Part III., pp. 241-254.

[106]. See Levant Papers, Part III., p. 235.

[107]. See Vol. I., p. [249]; Vol. II., p. [15].

[108]. See Levant Papers, Part III., p. 241.

[109]. Ibid., p. 263.

[110]. See Levant Papers, Part III., p. 326.

[111]. See Levant Papers, Part III., p. 321.

[112]. See these documents in the Levant Papers, Part III., pp. 341, 353.

[113]. See Levant Papers, Part III., p. 371.

[114]. See Levant Papers, Part III., p. 372.

[115]. Ibid., p. 374.

[116]. See Levant Papers, Part III., p. 378.

[117]. Ibid., p. 364.

[118]. See Levant Papers, Part III., p. 385.

[119]. Ibid., p. 382.

[120]. See Levant Papers, Part III., p. 389.

[121]. See pages [171], [244], [245].

[122]. See Levant Papers, Part III., p. 404.

[123]. See Vol. I., pp. [254]-278.

[124]. “Maronite Emirs or Princes.—1. Emir Hyder of Solymah. 2. Emir Faoul Shehab. 3. Emir Faris Shehab. 4. Emir Youssouf Shehab. 5. Emir Mahmoud Shehab. 6. Emir Abdallah Umrad. 7. Emir Ali Kaid Bey. 8. Emir Ali Faris.

Druse Scheiks or Chieftains.—9. Scheik Hamoud Naked. 10. Scheik Kassim. 11. Scheik Abbas. 12. Scheik Nickul el Cassim (a Christian).

“And about sixty followers.”

[125]. See the correspondence on this subject in Vol. I., pp. [254], [258], et seq.

[126]. “The Emir Youssouf, the son of the Emir Solyman Shehab, of El Haded, who died of fever in Upper Egypt.”

[127].

Viscount Palmerston to Lieutenant-Colonel Napier.

(Extract.)

Foreign Office, May 14, 1841.

I have to instruct you, immediately on the receipt of this despatch, to proceed to Alexandria to demand from Mehemet Ali the release of the Syrian soldiers, whom he promised Sir Charles Napier to dismiss; and you will accompany those soldiers back to Syria.

I have applied to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to provide you with a passage on board the steam-vessel which conveys the mail from Gibraltar to Malta; and the Admiral at Malta will be instructed to send you on to Alexandria, and also to make arrangements for conveying the Syrian soldiers, when released by Mehemet Ali, from Egypt to the coast of Syria.

You will report your proceedings in execution of this instruction directly to me, and also to Colonel Bridgeman, or the officer commanding the British detachments on shore in Syria, to whose orders you will be subject while employed on this service; and who will be instructed to direct you to return to your regiment when the service is completed.

I inclose a despatch to Colonel Hodges, directing him to join you in demanding from Mehemet Ali the release of these Syrians; and you will deliver the same to Colonel Hodges, if he should be at Alexandria, when you arrive there. But you will not delay making the demand, if Colonel Hodges should not have arrived.

[128]. See Levant Papers, Part III., p. 417.

[129]. See Levant Papers, Part III., p. 433.

[130]. Ibid., p. 435.

[131]. Ibid., p. 472.

[132]. See Levant Papers, Part I., p. 1.

[133]. See Levant Papers, Part I., p. 307.

[134]. See Levant Papers, Part I., p. 553.

[135]. Forwarded by Colonel Campbell to Lord Ponsonby, and published in the Levant Papers, Part I., pp. 362-365.

[136]. See Vol. I., pp. [62]-66.

[137]. John Chumarian.

[138]. See page [151].


Transcriber’s Note

Hyphenation has been retained as printed. Where a word is hyphenated on a line break, the hyphen is retained or removed depending on instances elsewhere in the text.

The printer provided a short list of [errata] for this volume. The changes indicated there have been incorporated into this text.

In the Table of Contents, the page indicated for Appendix I (p. 301) should be p. 299, and has been corrected.

The title of Appendix No. VI (Protocol) was misprinted as No. V.

The first footnote, on p. [33], has no anchor in the text. This has been added at an appropriate point.

Errors deemed most likely to be the printer’s have been corrected, and are noted here. The following issues should be noted, along with the resolutions. The references are to the page and line in the original.

[40.4]is disposed to acce[e]pt the submissionRemoved.
[41.3]the 17th Chewal, (the [22nd of November/11th of December,)Per Errata.
[90.21]the quickest possible co[u/n]veyanceInverted.
[114.6]after which you[ you] would attackRedundant.
[148.6]“[‘]Having arrived at Naplouse, I was to orderRemoved.
[185.17]who was [an-eye witness/an eye-witness]Misplaced.
[199.4][Opposed/Approved] by the other Allied MinistersPer Errata.
[222.5]for their consi[ed/de]rationTransposed.
[224.11]it was possible for Mehe[n/m]et AliReplaced.
[242.7]by incurring responsibi[li]tyInserted,
[242.22]I do not intend to[ ]enter into the political meritsInserted.
[262.6]showed no symptoms of fulfil[l]ingInserted.
[262.11]back to their country[,/.]Replaced.
[303.26]that you may[ be] pleased to turn your eyeInserted.
[318.1]No. V[I]. See Vol. II., page 36Added.
[332.6]with which you have honoured me[.]Added.