Read Ebook: The War in Syria Volume 2 (of 2) by Napier Charles

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OF THE SECOND VOLUME.

PAGE

Gale on the Egyptian and Syrian Coasts--The Author's return 1 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

Captain Fanshawe's proceedings at Alexandria--Letter from 20 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

Captain Fanshawe's Arrival at Constantinople--Interview with 33 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

Disinclination of the Porte to confer the Hereditary 41 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

The Author ordered to Alexandria to carry the Convention 61 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 Author visits Cairo--The Mahmoudieh Canal--Fire on board 76 the Steamer--Voyage up the Nile--Appearance of the Country--Condition of the People--Arrival at Cairo--Visit to Abbas Pacha--Palace of Schoubrah--Establishments of the Pacha--Industry of the Arabs--Visit to the Pyramids--Quit Cairo

Letter from Captain Stewart--Apprehended Treachery of the 89 Turkish Authorities--Question of the Syrian Troops--Double dealing of Mehemet Ali--The Author's Letters to the chief British and Turkish Officers--Letter to the Admiral

Affairs in Syria--Letters of Sir Charles Smith to Lord 97 Palmerston--Course that ought to have been pursued after the Battle of Boharsof--Ignorance as to Ibrahim's Movements and Intentions--General Michell to Lord Palmerston--M. Steindl's Report respecting the Advance upon Gaza--Captain Stewart to the Admiral--General Michell's and Captain Stewart's Opinion as to Lord Ponsonby's Orders--Correspondence between Captain Stewart and General Jochmus

Examination of the Conduct of General Jochmus regarding 119 Ibrahim Pacha's Retreat--Sir Robert Stopford styled by him Commander-in-Chief of the Allied Forces--The General's Reports to Sir Robert Stopford--Unwillingness of the Admiral to prolong the War--Reported Destruction of the Egyptian Army--Advance upon Gaza--Colonel Alderson's Narrative of the Skirmish of Medjdel

General Jochmus's farther Reports to Sir Robert 134 Stopford--Destruction of the Magazines at Maan--Ignorance as to Ibrahim's movements--Ibrahim crosses the Jordan to Jericho, and menaces Jerusalem, while supposed to be wandering in the Desert--General Jochmus's Account of the Movements of Ibrahim--Reported Destruction of his Infantry--Ibrahim did not intend to enter Palestine--His Statement to Colonel Napier

Fruitless Journey of the Envoys sent in quest of Ibrahim 141 Pacha--Arrival of part of the Egyptian Army at Gaza--Promised Neutrality of the Turks--The Egyptians informed of the Cessation of Hostilities by the English Officers--Terms recommended by Mr. Wood to be imposed upon Ibrahim Pacha--Colonel Napier's Narrative of the Retreat of Ibrahim Pacha

Conduct of Mr. Wood--His Letter to the Seraskier examined--His 157 Advice disregarded by the British Officers--Mission of Colonel Alderson to Gaza--Colonel Rose's Account of the State of Ibrahim's Army--Colonel Alderson's Character of Ibrahim Pacha--Death of General Michell

Detail of the Retreat of the Egyptians--Treacherous 172 Intentions of the Turkish Authorities--Decided Conduct of the British Officers--Guarantees exchanged--Fright of Rechid Pacha--Letter from Ibrahim to the Seraskier--The Author's Letters to Lords Minto and Palmerston

Contradictory Statements as to the Numbers of the Egyptian Army--Reason for abiding by the Reports of the British Officers--Colonel Alderson's Detail of the 182 Retreat--General Jochmus's Statement--Lieut. Loring's Mission

Embarkation of the Egyptians--Mode in which it was 191 conducted--Departure of Ibrahim Pacha--Retreat of Souliman's Division--Complete Evacuation of Syria--Letter of Lord Ponsonby--Delivery of the Turkish Fleet--Anxiety of Mehemet Ali for the safety of his Army--Letter from Boghos Bey to the Author on the subject

Examination of the Conduct of the Allied Ministers at 199 Constantinople--Lord Ponsonby's Propositions regarding the Hereditary Government of Egypt--Approved by the other Allied Ministers, but on consideration rejected by them--Lord Palmerston's Conversation with the Turkish Minister--Note of the Four Powers in favour of the Hereditary Tenure

Determination of the Allied Courts to secure the Hereditary 214 Pachalic for Mehemet Ali--Correspondence between Baron Stunner and Lord Ponsonby--Decisive Instructions from Lord Palmerston to Lord Ponsonby--Conference of the Allied Ministers with Rechid Pacha--Project for settling the Egyptian Question--Lord Ponsonby's Observations at the Conference--The Firmans decided on--Refusal of Lord Ponsonby to allow the English Consul-General to return to Egypt--Lord Ponsonby's Letter to Rechid Pacha

Delay in forwarding the Firmans to Mehemet Ali--Instructions 226 to the Commissioner--The Author's Visit to the Egyptian Flag-ship--Substance of the Firmans--Objections of the Pacha--The Author's Advice--Letter to Lord Palmerston--The Author's last Interview with Mehemet Ali--Return to Malta--Correspondence with Sir Robert Stopford--Return to England

Meeting of the Foreign Ministers in London--Protocol of the 244 5th March--Note of Chekib Effendi--Note of the 13th of March--Lord Palmerston's explanation of the Views of the Allies regarding the Hereditary Tenure--Conference of the 16th March--Protocol--Endeavour to include France in a Convention for closing the Straits of the Dardanelles and Bosphorus--False Position of the Porte--Views of Lord Ponsonby and of the other Ambassadors--Instructions of the Austrian and British Governments--Opinions of M. Guizot--Turkish Plan of Settlement--Note of the 10th May

Colonel Napier's Account of his Missions to Egypt--Seizure of 259 the Maronite and Druse Emirs and Sheikhs--Their Condition in Egypt--Their Return to Syria--False Assertions of the French--Mission for the Liberation of the Syrian Soldiers--Difficulty of ascertaining their Number--Bad Faith of the Pacha--Infamous Proposal of a Turkish Officer--Sudden termination of the Negotiation--Suspicious conduct of the Egyptians--Liberation of the Syrians

Prince Metternich's Orders to the Internuncio--Lord 267 Ponsonby's Correspondence with Baron St?rmer--Hesitation of the Porte--Message from Lord Ponsonby to Rifat Pacha--The new Firman granted--Accepted by Mehemet Ali--Termination of the Eastern Question

Review of the Turco-Egyptian Question--Mehemet Ali not the 275 Aggressor--Hostile Preparations of the Porte--Representations of the Allied Powers--What Interests affected by the Independence of Mehemet Ali--Views of France--Designs of Russia

Errors of the Pacha--His proper Course of 285 Action--Mismanagement of Ibrahim Pacha in Syria--Gain or Loss of Turkey by the acquisition of Syria--Conduct of the Turks in Lebanon--Quarrels of the Mountaineers--Ill treatment of the Prince--Consequent hatred of Turkish rule--Conclusion

Letter addressed by the Inhabitants of Mount Lebanon to his 306 Excellency the British Ambassador

Letter addressed by the Inhabitants of Mount Lebanon to his 308 Excellency the French Ambassador

ERRATA.

THE WAR IN SYRIA.

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.

"Princess Charlotte, St. George's Bay, Beyrout, December 2, 1840.

"Sir,

"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."

"H.M.S. Powerful, Marmorice Bay, December 14, 1840.

"Sir,

"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."

"Head Quarters, Beyrout, 30th November, 1840.

"Sir,

"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."

"H.M.S. Powerful, Marmorice, January 6, 1841.

"Sir,

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