“His Highness is, no doubt, aware of the willingness of the Allies to secure to Mehemet Ali the hereditary government of Egypt.
“Will his Highness permit an old sailor to suggest to him an easy means of reconciliation to the Sultan and the other Great Powers of Europe?
“Let his Highness frankly, freely, and unconditionally deliver up the Ottoman fleet and withdraw his troops from Syria; the miseries of war would then cease, and his Highness, in his latter years, would have ample and satisfactory occupation in cultivating the arts of peace, and probably laying a foundation for the restoration of the throne of the Ptolemies.
“By what has taken place in Syria, his Highness must be aware what can be accomplished in a country where the inhabitants are disaffected to the Government. In one month 6000 Turks and a handful of marines took Sidon, Beyrout; defeated the Egyptian troops in three actions; possessed themselves of 10,000 prisoners and deserters; and caused the evacuation of all the seaports, the passes of the Taurus and Mount Lebanon; and this in the face of an army of more than 30,000 men; and in three weeks more, Acre, the key of Syria, fell to the combined fleets, after a bombardment of three hours. Should his Highness persist in hostilities, will he permit me to ask if he is safe in Egypt? I am a great admirer of his Highness, and would much rather be his friend than enemy.
“In the capacity of the former, I take the liberty of pointing out to his Highness, the little hope he can have of ever preserving Egypt, should he refuse to be reconciled to the Sultan.
“Experience has shown that the Egyptian army in Syria are disaffected, and the whole of the country are in arms against them; and if Ibrahim Pacha is attacked by a larger and increasing Turkish force, he will probably be forced to lay down his arms. Let his Highness look to Egypt: the Turkish seamen are all disaffected; the Vice-Admiral and several of his officers abandoned him a few days ago, and are now in the squadron; the Syrian troops in Egypt wish to return to their country; the Egyptians are in arrears of pay, and are sighing for their homes. From 12,000 to 15,000 Egyptian soldiers, now at Constantinople, are being clothed, paid, and organized, under the eyes of the Sultan; let his Highness reflect on his danger, should they be thrown into Egypt, with a promise of being disbanded, together with the rest of the army, on the overthrow of his Highness.
“He may rely upon it, Egypt is not invulnerable; he may rely upon it, Alexandria itself may be made to share the fate of Acre; and his Highness, who has now an opportunity of founding a dynasty, may sink into a simple Pacha.
“I am, &c.,
(Signed) “Charles Napier, Commodore.”
“His Excellency Boghos Bey.”