  Letter from Captain Stewart—Apprehended Treachery of the 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. Halfway down the river I met Colonel Napier, with the following letter from Captain Stewart, who had come to Gaza to prevent, if possible, a collision between the Turks and the Egyptians.
“I arrived here with Colonel Rose and Rechid Pacha about an hour ago, in the Hecate. “We have been induced to come, from the suspicions and jealousies entertained by the Turks, * * * of the intentions of Ibrahim Pacha, in concentrating such a formidable force in this place. “The Turks have advanced all their forces on Jerusalem, Hebron, and Medjdel, and we become somewhat anxious that * * would bring on a collision. “They assure us here, that the retirement shall be commenced to-morrow morning, by two regiments “But the point of the Syrian conscripts being allowed to remain in their own country, is one of great difficulty and great importance, inasmuch as the Turks have received positive and late instructions to insist upon it. Achmet Pacha, (who commands here,) says, he will restore them the moment he receives the order. Meantime a list of those who may be in the first retiring regiments is to be given to me, and so soon as leave for the Syrians to remain arrives, every one of them shall be returned. “Rechid Pacha assures us that Mehemet Ali gave his word of honour to the Turkish Commissioners at Alexandria, that they should all be permitted to leave the Egyptian ranks previous to passing the frontiers; and it is to obtain this order, without a moment’s loss of time, that I send off the steamers. I beg of you to return the authority by the quickest possible ****** “I have now no fears but all will go well. Ibrahim Pacha is expected here to-morrow, and I shall wait here to see him, and, indeed, until I hear from Alexandria. ******
“To Commodore Sir Charles Napier, K.C.B.” The Turks, not aware of the strength of the Egyptians, seemed to await a good excuse to attack them, and this I feared would be afforded them, by the fact that many of the Syrians had accompanied the Egyptian army; the Turks had orders to demand them, and it was stoutly refused by the Egyptians, who had no orders on the subject. I had before spoken to Mehemet Ali about these people, and he objected, under the plea that it would disorganize Ibrahim’s army even more than the retreat, and if they were allowed to join the Turks they might be turned against him. This was much more than probable, and I in consequence consented that they should be delivered up at Gaza. Mehemet Ali in this case did not keep his word. On my return to Alexandria I brought the subject of the Syrian troops before the Pacha, who expressed a great unwillingness to leave them behind; and as there was no way of obliging Ibrahim to do this but by violence, and as it is more than probable the Turks would have had the worst of it, I thought it much better, under all circumstances, not to proceed to this extremity, and I wrote as follows to Captain Stewart, and General Jochmus, inclosing a copy of the Convention, in order that the Turks might have no pretext whatever to use force; which I have
“I beg to inclose you the copy of a Convention entered into by myself and the Egyptian Government, which Convention has been approved of by the British Government and the Allies, and I have been sent by Sir Robert Stopford to carry it into execution. “I have authorized his Highness the Pacha to send frigates and transports to Gaza, to embark any part of the Egyptian army he thinks fit, and it is my direction that you afford them every facility in your power to accomplish this, as well as to facilitate their retreat by land. “You will call upon the Turkish authorities to support you in this, and should you find any impediment thrown in the way, you will, in the name of the Allied Powers, protest against it in the most solemn manner, as contrary to the existing treaties, as contrary to the custom of civilized nations, as “The Syrian troops are not to be embarked against their own free will, but if you have any suspicion that General Jochmus will use them against the Egyptians they had better be disarmed, or even be allowed to go into Egypt; in fact, do any thing to avoid a collision.
“P.S. I have written this to avoid any misunderstanding, though my letter of the 11th, delivered to you by Lieut. Loring, appears sufficiently explicit. The Stromboli is to be sent back immediately.” “Captain Houston Stewart, C.B., H.M.S. Benbow, Or, the Senior Naval Officer, Gaza.”
“I have the honour of inclosing you the copy of a Convention entered into by myself and the Egyptian Government, which has been approved of by the Allies, and I have been directed to see it carried into execution. “I send you this Convention, because I understand the Turkish authorities, (notwithstanding my letter to you on the 11th of January, sent by Lieut. Loring,) have put difficulties in the way of carrying “I have authorized Mehemet Ali to send frigates or transports to Gaza to embark any portion of the Egyptian army he sees fit, and I have directed Captain Stewart to give them every facility; and I call upon your Excellency, in the name of the Allied Powers, to desist from any hostile measure. “Relative to the question of the Syrians, I have directed Captain Stewart not to embark them against their will. “Should the Turkish authorities, (at the head of which I believe you are,) impede in any way the retreat of the Egyptian army, I have directed Captain Stewart to protest against it in the most solemn manner, in the name of the Allies, as contrary to the existing treaties, as contrary to the custom of civilized nations, as contrary to the laws of humanity, and contrary even to the interests of the Porte.
“His Excellency Jochmus Pacha, Commander-in-Chief, Forces, Syria.” I wrote a short letter to the same purport to Colonel Bridgeman, and also communicated the state of affairs to the Admiral, then at Malta:—
“In my letter to you of the 23rd of January I informed you of the arrival of Ibrahim Pacha at Gaza, which I find was a mistake; he marched with the rear-guard, and arrived at Gaza on the 31st. “I received a private letter from Captain Stewart, dated the 23rd January, informing me he was very apprehensive that the Turkish authorities would seize any opportunity to bring on a collision between the Turks and Egyptians, and in fact the former had advanced, and skirmished with the outposts, and then made rather a precipitate retreat. “I inclose copies of letters I wrote to Captain Stewart, General Jochmus, and Colonel Bridgeman. “Yesterday I again heard from Captain Stewart, announcing the arrival of Ibrahim Pacha at Gaza, and his intention of immediately retiring again into Egypt; he had collected at Gaza 25,000 men, including about 6000 cavalry, in good order; this formidable force will, I have no doubt, keep the Turks quiet.
“The Hon. Sir Robert Stopford, &c., Malta.” |
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