ADDENDA.

No. I.

THE following note is so perfectly characteristic of Mohammed Ali, and evinces such a consciousness of the knowledge of the value of his friendship to certain European powers, that it will be read with interest by such as have not had an opportunity of judging of the Viceroy of Egypt's diplomatic calibre.

I make no scruple in giving publicity to this document, which, though certainly not intended to meet the public eye, has been given at length in a recent French work.

The harsh expressions it contains, with reference to Russia, have doubtless been long since explained away, leaving the two powers much in the state of a couple of dogs with a bone in expectancy—each wagging his tail with most amicable demonstration, but, at the same, shifting his ground, so as to secure the best possible position for falling upon the prey the moment it should be dropped.

This Mohammedan protocol (written under the Viceroy's own dictation) was addressed to the diplomatic agents of Great Britain and France, pending the mediation to arrest the march of Ibrahim Pasha on Constantinople after the victory of Konieh, and thereby to deprive Russia of all pretext for interference.

"I have fully penetrated the spirit of your instructions, and understood how the Ottoman empire is an object of your deep solicitude and interest. As, on my part, I have no other desire, and meditate nothing more than to withdraw that empire from the controlling power of the Russians, who rule it in the character of masters, and of rescuing my unhappy nation from the disgrace which oppresses it; those benevolent intentions of the English and French governments, in accordance as they are with my own sentiments, claim the expression of my unreserved gratitude. Nevertheless, as we do not all agree in the means of rendering that empire strong and powerful, I must now declare, as a zealous patriot, my inward convictions on this point, in order that, if they should receive from both governments that attention of which their wonted justice and impartiality assure me, the interest they possess towards my country may produce the happy results we may expect from them.

"1st. His Excellency M. Roussin, ambassador from France at the Porte, being desirous of removing every ground for the detention at Constantinople of the Russian vessels which have arrived there, has written a pressing letter, urging me to accelerate the conclusion of peace between the Porte and Egypt, and proposing

that I should be content to accept of the four districts composing the government of Saïda. By the adoption of this course he has, in reality, departed from the system of benevolent protection, adopted as the principal object to be attained; for such a proposal too well harmonizes with the views of Russia, who aims at weakening the Ottoman empire.

“2nd. Russia, on account of her proximity to Turkey, and her subsisting intercourse with Constantinople, is fully sensible of the inertness of the Porte, and of the steady progress made by Egypt, when she pledges herself that the mere province of Saïda shall be annexed to Egypt, and that the other provinces occupied by the Egyptian forces shall remain under the power of the Grand Signor in their former state of destitution; her object is to retain the superiority she has acquired, and to destroy the Ottoman empire at any moment she may think proper. This proposal being thus at variance with the policy of England and France, it should naturally be rejected.

3rd. The provinces which Egypt has demanded of the Porte, through the channel of Halil Pacha, have been so demanded, like the governments usually granted to other viziers, under the title of a revocable nomination, and not in absolute property. Susceptible as those provinces are of cultivation and improvement, and of shortly becoming so-witness the rapid prosperity of Egypt—it is evident that the advantages to be derived from them would accrue to the Porte, and that England, France, and the other powers of Europe would, owing to the

VOL. II.

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intercourse which would result from their position, reap every benefit from them. In the contrary case, of those countries still continuing under the authority of the Porte, they would, owing to her improvidence and neglect, remain wild, uncultivated deserts; so far from affording the means of strengthening her power, they would be wholly unable to assist her. Let them be, therefore, united to Egypt, and they will soon be found well cultivated, teeming with population, and supplying all the resources of which they are susceptible. The Porte would thus become strong and powerful, and be naturally relieved from the oppression of Russia. Should the interest so kindly taken by England and France in the welfare of Turkey manifest itself by such results, they will assuredly have rendered the Ottoman Porte a signal service, and my own most fervent wishes will have been crowned with success.

"4th. My whole nation, without distinction of ranks, is fully sensible that such has been my exclusive object in devoting myself, as I have done, and in exposing my fortune, my family, and my worthiest servants. Throughout Arabia, in Anatolia, on the very shores of the Black Sea, that is to say, in Daghestan and Lazistan, in Bosnia and Roumelia, at Constantinople itself, the greater part of the ministers, ulemas, and inhabitants, have addressed themselves to me. They have successively transmitted supplications and despatches, both openly and in private, purporting that the whole Mussulman nation, revolted at the unworthy conduct of Sultan Mahmoud, behold him with repugnance, and that, having failed to obtain from

him, by persuasive means, the organization of his dominions, they are compelled to resort to the influence of a powerful personage; that, failing to discover any other than myself on the face of the earth, they earnestly implore my aid and support.

"Let the countries which, at the instigation of so many suffrages and prayers, I have demanded of my government, be granted to me; and I trust that, thanks to the good-will of England and France, I shall soon succeed in augmenting my revenue, increasing my army, completely organizing every branch of the service, and ever faithful, as a vassal, to my government, be found prepared, at the first bidding, to wage war against the Russians.

"Should they attempt to manifest their perfidious designs against Turkey, uniting myself with the whole of Persia and of Lesguistan, I should proceed to encounter and inflict such severe losses upon them, that my unhappy nation would, at last, be rescued from their relentless tyranny. These considerations, so easy of apprehension, are still more evident to Russia, contiguous as she is to Turkey; she, accordingly, strains every nerve to prevent my receiving the grant of the desired territory. This concession would militate too much against her policy, not to make her endeavour to obstruct it. England and France, on the other hand, will assuredly not favour the wishes of Russia to the detriment of their own policy, and in opposition to the interest they manifest towards the Ottoman empire. Now that her projects, which had hitherto been disguised, have been laid open to view, it behoves the honour and dignity of both go