The Minister speedily made answer, in these terms:
“Commodore,
“Alexandria, Nov. 24, 1840.
“I have laid before the Viceroy, my master, the letter which you have this day done me the honour to address to me.
“The Druse chieftains who were residing at Cairo have departed for Syria by land, as I have already had the honour to state to you. It is not, therefore, in his Highnesses power to avail himself of the means of transport which you place at their disposal to accelerate their return to their country.
“The copy of the letter from Lord Palmerston to Lord Ponsonby was not, as you state, inclosed in your despatch.
“I believe, however, Commodore, that I am aware of the contents of that letter, and it is upon them that I rely in considering as a fact not to be doubted, the consent of his Highness to restore the Ottoman fleet and to evacuate Syria; and I can assure you in the name of the Viceroy, that the fleet shall be restored and Syria evacuated as soon as his Highness shall have received the official and positive guarantee of the advantages which are promised him in return for these concessions.
“On another hand, you are not ignorant, Commodore, that the despatches received from France by the last steam-boat have apprised us that the French Government, having entered into negotiation with the Four Powers at the request of the Viceroy, a definitive arrangement was expected to take place in a few days. In this posture of affairs do not you think, Commodore, that it would be fitting not to anticipate the decision which the Great Powers, acting in concert with the Sublime Porte, are about to take? a decision which the Viceroy engages in the most formal manner to submit to without delay.
“You seem to fear that the sending of a body of troops upon the frontiers of Syria might be considered at Constantinople as a proof of the intention of his Highness to prolong hostilities in that country; it is in order to put you completely at ease upon this point that I repeat to you the positive assurance, that the column which has recently been sent towards El-Arish has no other object, no other destination, than to secure the means of communication.
“I repeat, &c.,