Embarkation of the Egyptians—Mode in which it was 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. The season of the year was very unpropitious for embarking troops on the coast of Syria, nevertheless Mehemet Ali, who had no idea of difficulties or the risk he ran of losing his ships at Gaza, which is at the very bottom of the Mediterranean, and from whence there is no escape should the wind blow on the land, sent three transports, two steamers, two corvettes, and a brig of war, from Alexandria, with directions to carry the troops to Damietta. The surf is generally so high on the coast that six days out of seven embarking troops is attended with great danger. The Egyptian admiral and generals were indefatigable in their exertions; they seldom left the beach night or day, and Ibrahim himself, when he recovered, was frequent in his attendance. The poor Arabs, whether sick or well, were obliged to strip, take their clothes on their heads, and wade up Ibrahim Pacha remained to the last, and embarked on the 18th of February on board the Hadji Baba, and landed at Damietta; the same day a regiment of cavalry or of cuirassiers, and two corps of irregular horse, marched for El-Arish, and the town was shortly after taken possession of by a Turkish regiment of cavalry. As to the retreat of Souliman Pacha’s column I am not able to speak very particularly. Some documents that would have given the whole detail, had they arrived, have not reached me. I believe, however, that after parting from the main body at El-Mezereib on the 4th of January, the column reached Maan on the 13th, supplied themselves with provisions, and then pursued their route to Akaba, where the guns and stores were embarked and carried to Suez, to which port the troops repaired overland, and arrived there in tolerable condition and with very little loss, reaching Cairo about the middle of February. Had the Convention been adopted by Sir Robert The British Ambassador, I find, has not hesitated to take upon himself the responsibility of the attempts made by General Jochmus to destroy Ibrahim’s whole army. The following is his letter to Lord Palmerston, for he shall speak for himself:— “My Lord, “Therapia, February 23, 1841. “I transmit copy of one of General Jochmus’s despatches to Admiral Sir Robert Stopford “It is shown in the despatch, that had it not been for the perseverance of General Jochmus in taking measures against Ibrahim Pacha, it would have been easy for Ibrahim to remain with his army in Damascus until, the arrangement with Mehemet Ali having been completed, he might have retreated with a great unbroken force to Egypt, instead of having his army defeated and nearly destroyed, and wholly demoralized. “Had Ibrahim remained at Damascus, the military question would have been undecided, and it “If Ibrahim had taken back to Egypt his large army unharmed, Mehemet Ali would possess a force that might encourage him to resist, and might possibly make him stronger than ever. The energy of General Jochmus has rendered all doubt and delusion on the subject of the military question impossible, and has shown, that under able command the Turkish troops are more than a match for the Egyptian army and General; his energy has also taken from Mehemet Ali the best means he could have to support resistance, and therefore has afforded the best ground for hoping he will submit. “All this good is due to the energy of General Jochmus. The praises General Jochmus gives to those who have done good service, are proofs of his honourable and just feelings. “I have, &c., (Signed)“Ponsonby.” “Right Hon. Viscount Palmerston.” I have already mentioned the arrival of the Turkish Commissioners at Alexandria, and the formal delivery of the fleet “Commodore, “Alexandria, Jan. 30, 1841. “I have the honour of informing you that, according to the last despatches received from Gaza, almost all the Egyptian army is already assembled in that town; that it is believed there that Ibrahim Pacha will arrive to-day or to-morrow; that although the cavalry regiments are already on their way towards Egypt, the infantry being too much fatigued, it will be desirable on every account to transport it to Egypt by sea, and thus, according to the desire of both parties, to spare the loss of men; but that the English officers who are in authority at Gaza object to the Egyptian troops embarking with their arms, a circumstance which appears inexplicable, it being mentioned in the Convention concluded between you and the Egyptian Government, that the Egyptian troops should be transported to Egypt by sea with “Receive, Commodore, &c., “Boghos Joussouf.” “To Commodore Napier, &c., &c., &c.” In consequence of this application, I wrote the letters to the British and Turkish authorities in Syria already given |