The Southern Literary Messenger, Vol. II., No. 9, August, 1836 — John Shaqi
The Southern Literary Messenger, Vol. II., No. 9, August, 1836Various
History
The Southern Literary Messenger, Vol. II., No. 9, August, 1836
Various
American literature -- 19th century -- Periodicals
As soon as the insurrection in the Messeah broke out, the neighboring
Arab tribes came in crowds to join the rebels, and Emhammed, having
succeeded in making his escape from the city, was proclaimed by them
Pasha of Tripoli. The Bey Ali immediately assembled his adherents, and
on the 27th of July 1832, a battle was fought on the sea shore between
them and the insurgents. Emhammed's party was successful; the Bey's
troops were driven back into the city, and the insurgents, receiving
daily accessions to their forces, were soon able to close effectually
all the communications of the place on the land side; a battery was
also established by them at the entrance of the harbor on its eastern
shore, in order to prevent the entrance of vessels. In a few days the
city was completely invested by the besiegers, who began to bombard
it; and the supply of provisions from the country being thus cut off,
the inhabitants were threatened with the horrors of famine. The
Consuls were however informed by Emhammed, that they might be
furnished with necessaries for their families, by means of boats sent
under the flag of a Christian nation to his batteries.
In the meantime, the British Consul had struck his flag, and the
besiegers were in hopes that an attack would be made on the place by
the squadron. These expectations were however disappointed by the
sudden departure of the ships, in consequence it was supposed of an
order from Malta, to which island Colonel Warrington shortly after
sailed with his family in an Austrian brig.
Things continued in this state of uncertainty until the 12th of
August, when the Consuls were informed by Yusuf, at a public audience,
in the presence of his Divan and the principal persons of the place,
that he had abdicated the throne in favor of his son Ali, whom he
requested them to consider as Pasha of Tripoli. Letters were at the
same time delivered to the Consuls addressed to the heads of their
respective Governments, formally communicating the same intelligence,
and soliciting from each the speedy recognition of the new sovereign.
The means by which the old man was thus induced to transfer his powers
to his son are not known; there is reason to believe however that he
was impelled to it by the threats of Ali, and the promises and
representations of the French Consul, both of whom had cause to
apprehend that an admission of Emhammed's claims to the succession
might otherwise be extorted from him by Warrington on his return from
Malta. Ali immediately assumed the authority and title of Pasha,
appointing as Prime Minister his brother-in-law Mohammed d'Ghies, (the
younger, the old minister of that name died in 1831) who has been
already mentioned in connection with the affair of Major Laing's
papers.
STANZAS.
BY W. GILMORE SIMMS.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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