416 THE PASCHA'S DIPLOMACY. seemed to have no idea of death. About three years and-a-half ago, when the subject was mentioned, Ibrahim and his father had some words. It was evident, however, that he then began to turn his attention to the matter. At one time, he named Said Ben Ali, his son, who was only nineteen years of age, as his presumptive heir; at another, he spoke of dividing his dominions between Ibrahim, and Abbas Pascha his grandson (Governor of Cairo), who was twenty-seven years of age. He objected to Ibrahim, on account of his impetuosity; and declared that he would have been lost long ago, had it not been for his own policy and stratagems,-spite of his bravery! There may be some truth in this, for Ibrahim is generous and noble; Mohammed Ali is deliberate and subtle, and has the power to captivate at a distance. All diplomatists, who have come in contact with him, have admired his wonderful sagacity, and I do not think one of them ever divined his real intentions. I believe him to be too vain and too suspicious, to think that any one of his family has talent enough to preserve an empire which cost him so much intriguing, and decisive energy to obtain. That "the money of the great is never lost,"-is a proverb which he has followed to the very letter. With him every thing is calculation. The enormous sums he squandered among the Turks and Arabs returned again to his coffers, after having produced considerable interest. More recently, Dr. Bowring came to Stamboul, to negociate the independence of Egypt with Lord Ponsonby and the Sultan, but he could make no impression on either; and Mohammed Ali's disappointment was considerable.* * The fact is, Dr. Bowring was deceived by the employés, and others, who being interested parties, allowed him to view only one side of the picture. PREPARATIONS FOR WAR-THE REDIF. 417 He has since had recourse to all the schemes that the most inventive genius could devise, without effect. He threatened to march on the capital, to create revolts, burn the fleet, and involve the whole of Europe in a war. He has had talent enough to maintain his ground much longer than was expected. He trusted to France, and fully calculated on her powerful aid. Although at times depressed, he redoubled his energies, took if possible more active measures,-sent re-inforcements to Syria, and with them an order to raise 10,000 additional conscripts there; and he extended his fortifications. Twenty regiments of national guards were ordered to be formed in Egypt, each to consist of 3,200 men ;-to exercise several hours weekly, and then to return to their labours. At Cairo, four regiments-at Alexandria, two-at Damietta, and Old Cairo, each one,-the rest in the Delta and the provinces. Arms and ammunition were prepared, tremendous stores accumulated, the conscription went forward with increased vigour: two colonels were chosen from the "Ulemah,”. -one named Ahmed Ghininé, the ex-Cadi of the city; the other, Mohammed Salami, a relative of the Mufti; and it was evident that a strong resistance was to be made, in case of attack. The new soldiers of high rank were pleased at the idea; the people alarmed. The officers of the Turkish squadron had their pay raised two-thirds above that formerly paid by the Sultan; and with such promises in prospectu, they expressed their willingness to fight against the Infidels, and the friends of their master! This was only a beginning; but every thing looked well, and the Pascha thought himself secure in his strong-hold. CHAPTER XV. ENGLISH MOHAMMED ALI'S FACTS CONNECTED WITH THE DETENTION AND SUB- 66 MOHAMMED ALI had been stimulated to the bold reply alluded to at the close of the last chapter,-partly by the assiduities of the French, who for a long period had great influence over him, and tried to please him; but chiefly by a continued series of successful advenThe destruction of the Mamlûks was but the prelude to his fortunes;-the army under the command of Ibrahim Pascha returned in triumph from the conquest of the Whahabees, in 1819, and was immediately despatched to the interior, headed by Ismael tures. MOHAMMED ALI'S NEW CONQUESTS. 419 Pascha, his third son,-who, however, did not live to return, being assassinated in his tent by a Nubian chief. The rage of the troops on this occasion knew no bounds; they were not to be restrained; it is said, they satiated their revenge by the slaughter of not less than 30,000 people! They returned to Cairo without their leader, but crowned with laurels, having reduced the kingdoms of Sennaar and Cordofan, and the entire districts of Nubia, the Cataracts, and Upper Egypt. The death of Ismael was a severe blow to the Viceroy, who had already lost his other son, Toussoun Pascha, in 1816; and his hopes now rested solely on Ibrahim, whose impetuosity of temper he feared would one day draw him into some fatal scrape, and thus deprive him of the prospect of a male heir and successor,—a circumstance on which the happiness of his life seemed to depend. Whilst these things were acting in Egypt, revolts were proceeding in Turkey; and in 1822, the head of Ali Pascha of Janina, was exposed within the Seraglio gates at Constantinople. Ibrahim Pascha was then sent by his father to the Morea, in aid of the Sultan's cause, which, after many sanguinary contests, was virtually determined by the Battle of Navarino, on the 20th of October 1827. Mohammed Ali was cunningly "biding his time;" and on the return of his son, he made the losses he had sustained in Greece, together with the advantages likely to accrue to the Sultan from his campaigns against the Whahabees and the Nubians, a pretext for strong claims upon the Porte. In short, he demanded the Paschalics of Acria and Damascus. Candia was offered him instead; but this being in a state bordering on insurrection, and altogether inadequate to his expectations, he 420 THE CAMPAIGNS IN TURKEY AND GREECE. pretended to take umbrage, and subsequently withheld his aid when most needed, allowing the Emperor Mahmoud to fight his own battles against the Russians, who, after besieging Silistria, and Varna, crossed the Balkân, and compelled the Moslems to capitulate. It was clear that His Highness had done wrong by entrusting so much to his already too powerful vassal. The treaty of Adrianople, in September 1829, established the independence of the Greek States; and soon after, Otho of Bavaria was placed on the throne by the five powers. Mohammed Ali was not idle all this time. He watched the proceedings of the Sultan with the eye of a lynx, and secretly fomented discord in the Turkish provinces. He had now become sufficiently acquainted with Europeans, to desire their services, and invite them to his dominions; but he was rash; he deceived others, and was deceived himself:-tempted by the piastres, all sorts of characters flocked around him; now and then, he met with clever men, but seldom with talent, experience, and principle united. He was very desirous of extending his marine. He passed a great deal of his time at the arsenal at Alexandria, and caused four frigates and several smaller vessels to be built in rapid succession, under the superintendence of Monsieur Cerisier, a French engineer, whom he appointed to the head of the dock-yard. Two ships of the line were then laid down, and his first three-decker of 110 guns, was launched on the 3rd of January 1831. About the same time, he purchased a large frigate of the English, which, fortunately for him, was sent out under the command of Captain Prissick, R. N. who, with the energy which distinguished him on all occasions, preferring activity to a life of ease, allowed himself |