| (Signed) | (L.S.) | Prince Faris Shehab. |
| (L.S.) | Emir Haidar. | |
| (L.S.) | Sheik Faris Habeish, &c. | |
| The Maronite Nation. | ||
| The Druse Nation. | ||
| The Mutualis. |
Letter addressed by the Inhabitants of Mount Lebanon to his Excellency the French Ambassador.
(Literal Translation from the Arabic.)
After the usual Compliments,
The painful news that have reached us by the newspapers, have struck a terrible blow to Syria,—they have torn the hearts of men, women, and children, now menaced to be exterminated by Mehemet Ali, to whom France has deigned to grant her powerful protection. Can she be possibly ignorant of the evils this man has made us suffer since fortune has made him master of Syria? They are innumerable. Suffice it to say, that the most distressing vexations, and the most cruel oppression, have driven us to despair, and have renewed in us the ardent desire of returning to the paternal government of our august Sovereign, Abdul Medjid. Is not this a legitimate desire from a loyal people? France, a nation so great, so magnanimous, that has extended liberty everywhere, that has for ages spilt so much blood to establish it in her own Government, refuses us to-day her powerful influence to obtain the enjoyment of the same good!
The French press says, “that France will not admit of any arrangement that has for basis the restitution of Syria to its legitimate Sovereign.” Can it be so? the Syrians cannot believe it! The French nation, so generous, so civilized, cannot desire to see us crushed by a systematic oppression which alone distinguishes the Egyptian Government from others.
We wish but to be allowed to return to the protection of our legitimate Sovereign, whom we have not ceased to obey for the last four hundred years. We demand but to participate in the privileges and rights of the Hatti-Sheriff which our gracious Sovereign has granted to all his faithful subjects, without exception, without distinction. We appeal to the French Government—we supplicate the French nation at large, to assist us to obtain our demand. The most atrocious tyranny has compelled us to take up arms for the defence of our lives and the honour of our families, from the brutality of the Egyptian soldiery, or to bury ourselves in the ruins of our country. Our cause is a just one; and as such, we sincerely trust that the French Government will not abandon us in a moment so dangerous.
It is with this hope we submit to your Excellency this, our prayer, begging that you will be pleased to lay it at the feet of the throne of your august Master, the Ally of our gracious Sovereign, Abdul Medjid.
| (Signed) | (L.S.) | Prince Faris Shehab. | ||
| (L.S.) | Prince Yousuf Shehab. | |||
| (L.S.) | Emir Haidar, &c., &c. | |||
| The Maronite | } | |||
| The Druse | } | Nations. | ||
| The Mutuali | } | |||