34

FIRST SLAUGHTER OF THE MAMLUKES.

their favourable disposition, whereby we might retain an effective hold on the country. According to his design, the Capitan Pacha invited the leader of the beys, with his principal officers, to the camp at Aboukir. These soldiers, dreading no treachery, repaired into the Admiral's presence, and were received with every demonstration of esteem. Pleasure and amusements were lavished on them, but unaccompanied by any expression of the host's object. The restless soldiers began to grow impatient, complained to General Hutchinson, and threatened to leave the camp. That officer, however, assured them of the Capitan Pacha's friendly intentions, and of their own safety. But the unsuspicious Englishman was himself deceived. When General Hutchinson was about to yield his command to Lord Cavan, and quit the country, the beys were invited by Hassan, the Capitan, to a sumptuous entertainment, and at his importunate request they afterwards embarked on board some pleasure boats. When they had proceeded a little to sea, they were followed by a fast running skiff, observing which, the Admiral declared his purpose to speak with the persons in it, apprehending that it might be the bearer of despatches, just arrived from Constantinople. The skiff came alongside, and what appeared to be ample despatches were handed to the Turk, who, on the pretence of reading them more at his leisure, stepped into the skiff, and it fell back to a considerable

distance behind the festive guests. The Mamlukes proceeded on their course, but no sooner had they entered Aboukir-lake, than they saw, a-head, some large vessels filled with soldiers, and ready for action. Their anticipations were short, and their worst fears realised; for discharges of musketry and artillery hurled destruction on the greater part of the Mamlukes. The survivors were taken prisoners, and forced to swear on the Koran, that they would not reclaim the protection of the English. But these were indignant at the abominable instance of Mussleman treachery: the prisoners were liberated, and the bodies of the butchered chiefs buried with all the honours of

war.

When Hassan, the Capitan, departed, Mahomed Kusrouf was established Pacha of Cairo. By birth a Georgian, by fortune the Admiral's slave, and by caprice his favourite, this man had been appointed to his dignity against the representations of the Grand Vizier, who had his own creature to serve and elevate. Like the generality of the minions of fortune, Kusrouf was weak, incapacitated for command, intolerant, and a tyrant. But he was the fittest tool for the effectuation of his master's intentions,-the eradicating the pestilent Mamlukes. Osman Bey Hassan, one of their number, and in disposition similar to Ibrahim, was invited to Cairo, where he fixed his residence.

The other leaders were ordered to follow his example; and on their peremptory refusal, Taher Pacha was directed against them. But the Mamlukes descended from the Sayd, into Lower Egypt, leaving with their footsteps the fatal traces of that ruin and havoc which have ever been characteristic of eastern warfare. In this juncture Mahomed Ali was appointed General, and despatched against them, accompanied by Osman Bey Hassan. They treated with the refractory beys, and offered them all the land lying from Esne, to the confines of Upper Egypt. But the leaders required also the cession of Djerge. This, however, the Viceroy was little disposed to accord, and consequently fresh troops were ordered to the service, under Youssef Bey, his Kiaya, while Taher Pacha added his troops, by way of reinforcement. Hassan, however, being loath to fight against the order of which he boasted himself a member, retired into the desert.

Affairs were thus circumstanced when Colonel Sebastiani arrived in the country, for the purpose of seeing the stipulation in the treaty of Amiens, with respect to the evacuation of Alexandria by the English, carried into effect. This officer had received instructions to communicate with the beys, and encourage them in their hostile operations against the Porte, and, consequently, against the English. He endeavoured to effect this latter purpose,

though without success. The Viceroy's troops under Youssef Bey, marched to Damanhour, against Osman Bey, and a body of eight hundred Mamlukes. The Turkish army, altogether, counted upwards of seven thousand men. It was miserably defeated, and more than five thousand were killed and taken prisoners, whilst its adversary sustained the unimportant loss of only sixty men. Notwithstanding this success, the Mamlukes cast away the entire profits of their victory. Youssef, the Turkish leader, escaped unhurt, and accused Mahomed Ali of defalcation in his duty. The intention to harm this officer was unsuccessful.

The English, meanwhile, delivered up the forts and towns which they had been retaining, and embarked for home, bringing with them one of the beys, Mahomed Elfy, by name.

The history of Mahomed Ali, the most extraordinary political character which the east has in modern times produced, is, perhaps, wholly unknown in England; and before entering into the statistics of his Pachalic, it will, perhaps, be doing our countrymen an important service, if the principal points in his history are stated. Even in France he is little known, though an academy is there established, with the consent of the government, for the education of young Egyptians of the most considerable families, and destined to fill the most important offices of state. In Italy, and Sicily, and Malta, he is wholly un

38 EGYPTIAN ACADEMY AT PARIS-MAHOMED ALI.

known. In Germany, Dr. Ehrenberg* may make mention of a name, which, in reality, deserves an European celebrity. Alas! that ambition should work to so little purpose, in its eagerness to gratify the cravings of earthly fame! What a narrow circle circumscribes the name of this Pacha of Egypt! Yet in the regeneration of his countrymen, a monument will be raised to his everlasting memory. In every despotic country the way to amelioration is through tyranny, a tyranny that shall curb the hot steed of subordinate licentiousness, as in the body corporate of man, when suffering from a mortifying member, a cruel amputation alone will impede the progress of fast spreading disease. Desperate disorders require desperate remedies. Mahomed is a despot it is true, but a despot of the right nature and quality, for the impetuous children of the sun, in this land. To practice here the equanimity and the justice of a good king Alfred, would be like sowing precious seed upon a rocky soil: the toil would be unproductive of any benefit. To lord it over a herd of beasts, you must have a beast, a lion if you will: such a leader may have the generosity of that royal brute, but he must also be gifted with its fangs, to tear and

Mr. Webster evidently, here, labours under a mistake. Messrs. Calliaud, Mengin, Pacho, &c. &c. have given some information respecting this celebrated personage, though their accounts are partial. See, for an account of Dr. Ehrenburg's Book, No. IV. of the Foreign Review, published by Black, Young and Young. In that article, the first mention is made of the death of Mr. Webster.-ED.