Egypt -- History -- Mohammed Ali, 1805-1849; Syria -- History; Turkey -- History -- 1829-1878
In the second paragraph he says that it is “understood that Ibrahim must
re-enter Egypt by the Desert, or by El Arish, which is the direct road,
and the easiest; and by leaving the road free, we act in conformity with
the desire of Mazloum Bey and of the Commodore, to offer every facility
for his retreat without compromising our military position.”
Mazloum Bey, in his letter to the Seraskier, read before the council,
according to Mr. Wood, says the impression at Constantinople was that
the Egyptian army was disorganized; but that Commodore Napier undeceived
him, and pretended that it was in a situation to resist the Imperial
army, and that he did not venture to insist on Mehemet Ali giving up the
Syrian conscripts, and his arms, guns, and military stores, agreeably to
the orders of the Porte; but as they were on the spot, they must be the
best judges whether or no they ought to insist on these two conditions.
I do Mazloum Bey the justice of saying that he was much wiser than the
Divan, for had he proposed those terms, Mehemet Ali would not have given
up one ship.
Mr. Wood then goes on to advise, that in consequence of the complete
disorganization of the Egyptian army, the want of provisions, and the
small number of men capable of resistance, the destruction of Maan, the
passage over the Desert of Souliman, and the retrograde movement of
Ibrahim Pacha with a handful of men without artillery, and as there was
now nothing to fear from their antagonist, he should be obliged to ask
permission to come to Gaza, which should only be granted on condition of
giving up the Syrian troops, his guns, stores, and arms.
According to Mr. Wood’s reasoning, this would be, affording him “the
facilities required by Mazloum Bey and Commodore Napier;” and “if he
persisted in coming to Gaza without those conditions, he would be the
aggressor, and must trust to the consequences.”
He finishes by saying, this is his humble opinion, founded on mature
reflection; and he cannot conceal from himself the danger of Ibrahim
coming to Gaza, where he might recruit his army, and allow his father to
negotiate more advantageously. “Even now,” he adds, “his General at Gaza
has instructions not to attack us, but to deliver up Gaza only with his
life. From such facts, your Excellency may judge of the bad faith of the
vassal who refuses to surrender his arms on the demand of his Sovereign,
which renders his submission incomplete, and even doubtful.” Really, Mr.
Wood is a true disciple of the Ambassador’s school; he does not perceive
that not the Egyptians, but the Turks, were guilty of bad faith from
beginning to end; and that, if the officer at Gaza had delivered it up,
Ibrahim’s army would have been compromised.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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