Star. — London, England, 1803-11-25 00:00:00

'~'''l 1 11 J I i~~ FReLVCE. STATE OF EGYPT. TRUISM OCT. 24.—We have received tolerably circumflantisl details refpeCiing Egypt. That un hay country is expofed at the fame time to all the honors of civil war, to the foreign invafion of an European Power, and to that of a multitude of bar batians. The Vizier, upon his retiring from Egypt, had left there in the feveral garrifons from to soo Arnauts, under the command of Tacher Bache.— The Mamelukes, according to their late conventions with the Turkilh Government, ftipulated through the mediation of the Englifls, who inhabited Upper Egypt. They had, however, upon the departure of the Englifh army, fent Essi BEY to the Britith Government, to reeracil that it would obtain for them the pretedion of the Porte. They reckoned bpnn obtaining, by °Hris means, conditions which Mould approach fomething nearer to the political fituation which they enjoyed in Egypt before the en trance of the French army. Mahamed Bacha, a creature of Captain Bacha, a courageous and enter prifing man, but without prudence in adminiftration, was viceroy in Egypt. Koureid Ahmed, a man of great goOd-fenfe and experience, and of lefs dillimu lation than thofe of his nation generally are, fond of the French, and difpofed to conciliate in their favour aU perfons of confederation. governed the province of Alexandria. By an extraordinary mea. lure for the indolence and the economy of the Tnrkilh government, all the revenues of the cur toms of Alexaadria were attached, fcr the purprfe of defraying the neceffary expences of the works for the filling up the cut between the lake Mareotiz and the fea, and for the repairs of the canal. The Swe difh Colonel Rodey, the fame perfon to whom the Him! of Conftantinople is indebted for its build ing. was charged with the direCtion of thefe works. —They worked upon them with very great aCti "lcy, and the inhabitants of Alexandria hoped, at the next overflowing of the Nile, to fee their cifterns filled with its whOlefome waters. Cairo law its caravans from Mecca, an immenfe fource of riches tirr Egypt, refume their old courfes. The ports of Alexandria began to be frequented by foreign vef fels, which, by bringing to it the produce of the era and manufa&ures of Europe. tended to ex cite the agricultural induftry of the inhabitants of that fertile country. In fine, all Egypt, enjoying the peace and tranquillity, of which, from the cha rafter of its various inhabitants, and its political con flitution, it was fufceptible, began to forget the diCafters of a long, national, and foreign war ; and was labouring to repair the immenfe loffes which it had fuftained. Such was nearly its fituation, when, either from a fingular died of the avarice of the heads of government, or in confequence of force po litical management, of which we have not yet been able to form any idea, this country yaw a revolution break out in its capital, which plunged it again in all the horrors of a civil war. In the latter end of laft April, Mohamed Bacha ordered all the Albanefe troops, forming . the feveral garrifons of Egypt, to be dilmifed, enjoining them at the fame time to fe• parate, and each foldier to retire home. Thefe troops had feveral months arrears of pay due to them. The garrifon of Cairo, commanded by Ta cher Bacha in perfon, demanded payment by their chiefs. bfahamed Bacha lent them back to Tefter- Dar, who refufed payment under pretence that he had no money. The troops then interpofed the au thority of their Cuperior commander, Tacher Bacha, who tried every means of conciliation to procure fe tid:nion from Mahamed, at lean in part of the jug claims of his corps. Mahamed perfifted in his refufal, alledging the impoffibility. Tacher renewed his ap plication with more vehemence. Violent words en tired, which proceeded to menaces on the part of Mahamed. Tacher Bacha, extremely diffatisfied with Mahamed's reception of him, retired to his troops, meditating vengeance, organifed the revolt which took place on the gbh Floreal (sgth of April), and introduced into the eagle a number of his Ar menia difguifed as Ofmanlifts. On the morning of the gth. feveral officers of the Amami*, deemed by a large body of foldiers, again prefented themfelves to Mahamed, to demand their pay. They were not only ill-received. but rudely treated. Mahamed's guards, attempting to difperfe the Arnauts, who tumultuoufly crowded at the en trance and round the palace of Mahamed, wounded tome. This was the fignal of revolt. The Arnauts were Coon meters of the caftle, and of feveral fmall forts, from which they cannonaded the city, and made !twat (allies into it. They repeatedly attacked the palace of Mahamed Bache, but were conftantly re pude& On the 12th, Tacher-Bacha attacked Mahamed with the whole of his forces, and drove him from bis palace, and from Cairo. Tacher, however, exe cuted his retreat in a very mallerly manner, chiefly owing to the valour of about forty Frenchmen, a remnant of the army of the Eel', who had entered his fervice. He even Caved the whole of his creatures, and his harem, and took fhelter in Manfora. There be remained twenty days, railing confiderable con tributions ; and affembled troops and recruited his army ,among the Fellahs and Arabs; but having learnt that a large body of Arnauts were on the march againft him, he thought it prudent to retire to Damietta, where he endeavoured to avail Itirrailt of all the advantages of the fituation, refolvel firm ly to wait for the enemy, and throw obfiacles in the way of their conquells. _ . _ While there things paired at Cairn, the Bathaw of Alexandria took the moll prucknt meafures to difband and difmil, the Arnauts, without giving them caufe of offence. He lia,l recourfe even to loans among the eonfuls and merchants of the different European na tions, to pay his troops, whom he afterwards em. backed, without difficulty, for their different noun tr;er. By this prudent and jun aelion, he preferved the province of Alexandria to his Government., and maintained the tranquillity, and protetted the pro perty of the inhabitants. The Arnauts, now abfolute mailers of Cairn, ez ercifed in that city the moft terrible relations, par ticularly againfl the °Cattails. More than :pc women roan children were inafracred, after having •adored the molt dreadful tre 'anent from the loweft e.t the peorgete Am uts. Tacher Becha levied enormous contributions z the toldiers, quartered on private honks to levy contributions, committing. net ftecics of worm . The fury of the Arnants, which at firft appeared to be direCted merely againfk the Ofmanlifts, then :timed againft the Chriltians, two of the richeft of hole merchants were beheaded, and confequently heir whole property confifcated. The Jews were not !pa, ed on this occafion. Tacher-Bacha, having afrumed the reins of Go. vernment, concluded that he could not better fecure the fruits of his conquell than by attaching the Ma melukes to his intereft, on whom he reckoned the more certainly, becanfe he knew they were difcon tented with the firuateon to which they were re duced. He invited them to enter Cairo. Ibrahim Bey, their chief, whether it was that he could not place any confidence in the fincerity of the Arnauts, or that he would not partake openly in the revolution, and thus withed to cultivate the means of concilia tion with the Porte, merely thanked Tacher-Bacha for his obliging offers, while he refufed to enter Cairo. He removed his head-quarters, however, to Fise. Achmet Bache, at that time appointed to the go. vernment of Gedda, was then at Cairo. By fecret meafures, be affembled round him a confiderable number of Janiffaries, who had remained difguifed or concealed at Cairo and the neighbourhood ; a chofen band of whom penetrated to the prefenee of Tacher Bache and affaffinated him. After which, Achmet endeavoured to affume the reins of govern ment, and difpatched a meffenger to recall Mahamed Bacha to Cairo. But, whether for want of fufficient forces,or that he did?not know how to avail himfelf of the favourable circumftances of the moment, be did not make himfelf mailer of the cafkle and forts ; and Mahamed Ali, one of the chiefs of the Arnauts, took I the command of thefe, and eflabliffied himfelf in them. He then marched againft Achmet, and having driven him from the city, compelled him to take re fuge in Fort Sulkoufki. In this place he was at tacked feveral times by the Arnauts ; but he repulfed them till they were reinforced, and, it is faid, di reeted in their operations by the Mamelukes, when they compelled him to furrender. Achmet was con dueled before Ibrahim Bey, who received him with confiderable refpeet, only reproaching him for the affaffination of Tacher ; and he refufeu to deliver him up to Mahamed Ali, who claimed him, that he might avenge the death of ? Tacher. Mahamed Ali was no fooner mailer of Cairo, than he renewed the fame offers to the Mamelukes which had been made by his predeceffor. Ibrahim Bey did not immediately accede to his invitation; and con tented to enter Cairo only on condition that Maha med Ali would place in his hands feveral principal chiefs of the Arnauts as hoftages ; and even then he declared that he was induced to march his troops into the city, in order to re-eftablith the public order and tranquillity. Accordingly, the entrance of a detach. ment, which he fent under the command of Ofman Bey-Bardiffi, was followed by a proclamation, invit ing the inhabitants to refume without fear their com merce and ordinary labour • as the Mamelukes came merely to protee their per fons and property. It is laid, that thefe orders were faithfully executed, and that Cairo has fence remained in perfeEt tranquillity. Ibrahim Bey, being thus fecure of the alliance, or rather the dependence, of the Arnauts, admitted Mahamed Ali to the rank of Bey. It is alfo laid that he gave him his daughter in marriage. From thefe public acts of Ibrahim Bey, it was feen that any further fuccefs would engage him to &elate againit the Porte ; and this he has fince done. . The operations of the new allies commenced by the expedition againft Damietta. Mahamed Bache had affembled at that place about 3ooc men, and had endeavoured to put himfelf in a date of defence. In feveral aeions he had fome fuccefs ; and he even repulfed the Mamelukes, taking two pieces of cannon and a number of prifoners. But Ofman Bey, ad- vancing in perfon with large reinforcements againil Damietta, attacked the fmaU army of Mahamed, completely routed them, and Damietta fell into his hands on the Toth Mcffidor (July 2). The condi& was terrible ; each fide fought with exceffive fury. They even (truck with their hands and feet, and tore each other with their teeth. Mahamed Bacha, being engaged with a private foldier, did not furrender till his labre was broken to pieces. He was made prifoner, however, without having received any dangerous wounds. Being con. eluded before Ofman Bey Bardiffi, he treated the Bey as a rebel, and even fpit on his perfon. In return, he received gentle, and even refpeCtful treatment. Damietta was delivered lip to cruel and univerfal pillage. The houfe of the French Agent, Bayile Falk, was not fparcd. It is, indeed, Rated, that be was partly the caufe of that hintfelf, not having hoisted the French national flag, till his life was in danger. In fail, the flag was tin fooner hoifled, than Ofman Bey battened in perron, to order re Pelt to be paid to it, and put an end to all outrages committed againft him. While Ofman Bcy madq hitnfelf matter of Da mietta, Soliman Aga, formerly Thaftwdar of Mou rad Bey, occupied Rofetta, compelling Ibrahim Ef fendi to take refuge in Fort Julian. The Mamelukes and Arnants having met with little refinance at Rofetta, committed few outrages in that place. The Francs were proteCted and well treated. The Agents of the different European na tions fuccel:lolly employed their mediation to pre vent the infults at fire offered to the people of the country. The taking of Rofetta juflly excited the apprehen fions of the Bacha of Alexandria. He took every palible precaution to fecure that city, both by land and by fea. He difpatched a frigate and corvette to Aboukir, to watch the movements of the enemy by fea. He repaired fome fortifications towards Mara boucle, and placed an embargo on veffels laden with provifions, deflined for exportation • but he had no more than from 600 to goo men in t he garrifon. He daily expeEted, however, the until* which he had re ceived advice had failed from Conttantinople, under 1 , the command of Ali Bacha. Affairs were in this fituation on the tgth tieflidor (Bth of July), the dry on which Ali Dacha, with his brother amid Ali, entered the port of Alexandria, with tsoo mcn,• in the perform of his retinae. Ali Bacha, who is reported to be brave, enterprifin;, and ambitious of power and fame, is the fame, it is laid, who, about twelle years fine, without any authority from the Porte, and with the aid only of fmne troops is his pay, whom he embarked in five or fie enTftirs, icized nu the Government of Tripoli, driving nut the Beys, who were its !Awful pole ors. He afterwards invaded and lacked Gerbi, under prc tence that this city was ao years in arrears of tribute to the Grand Seignior, although it had duly paid tri bute to the Bey of Tunis, its Sovereign. Having been driven, in'his turn, from Gerbi and Tripoli, by the Bey of Algiers and Tanis, he failed to die ifland of Candia ; and learning there, that the Porte had given orders to arreft him, he fled to Egypt, and took re fuge among the Beys, carrying with him ism:genre treafures which he had amalfed at Tripoli and Gerbi. From that time, he lived among the Mamelukes, till the whole of Egypt was in the power of the French, when he took Dreher in the army of the Vizier, whofe confidence he acqnired ; and thus he was rellored to the favour of the Grand Seignior. From thefe circumftances of his political life, which exhibit him as the confidant of the Mamelukes, and the creature of the Vizier, and eonfequently the enemy of the Capitan Bache, may eafily be traced the reafons of all that has pallid here, as well as the re ports which have been circulated, fince his arrival. Among there remarkable faits, it was particularly obferved, that very little reps& was paid to him by the Capitan Bey. Neither the Admiral, nor any other (hip of war, faluted Ali Bache, on his arrival in the port, or on his landing. There were at Alexandria tome troops that had efcaped from the unfortunate affair of Damietta ; and thefe were ordered, under the pain of the le vereft pnnithment, to repair on board a veffel, to be conveyed elfewhere. It was thence concluded, that Ali Bacha bad been fent to Egypt in oppo fition to the advice of the Capitan Bache; which was more evident, it was Paid, from the circuits fiance of his not being on board a fhip of war, as his rank demanded, but in a merchant veal, followed by others with troops. It was added, that the Capi tan Bache would himfelf fail to Egypt, with a ftrong force, to drive Ali Bache thence, and afurwards carry on the war againft the Mamelukes. As Ali Bacha has lived a long time among the Mamelukes, it is agreed that he has been fent rather to treat amicably with the Beys than to make, war upon them ; and it is even Paid, that he is authorifed to propofe the placing affairs in Egypt on the Aim quo before the arrival of the French. It is difficult, and almoft impoffible, to forms an opinion among thefe various reports and conjedtures ; it is certain , - however, that Ali Bache fent fevers' couriers to the commanding officers of the Mamehakes at Rofetta; that after Ali's arrival, three or four rads with troops entered the port, which reinforced his troops to goon; it is alto true. that Cheid Ali, brother to the Bacha of Rofetta. or Ibrahim Effendi, had reftored the affairs of the Port; at Rofetta, in confequence of the fudden departure of Soliman A a, who, without any apparent motive, retired witt4 's , troops, in the night of the a 2 d MefEdor, ( s r th of July . II Some pretend that he abandoned Rofetta in con - einem of a report that Ali Bache, in perfon. was preparing to attack him, with all his forces, whole numberslad been greatly exanerated ; and. think ing it imprudent to wait for Ali Bache, with the few troops under his command, he had retreated to !Ma manic, expo ling reinforcements from Ofman Bey, intending to return afterwards to Rofetta. Others affert, bat without any appearance of truth, that both he and Ofman Bey are recalled to Cairo, where Ibra him Bey is concentrating his forces to march againft Abdeloubab, who is Paid to be only a few days dif. tance from that city. Finally, it is fair), that this movement was occafioned by Tome difpntes, that had arifen between the Mamelukes and Arnauts. It ap pears that the conjeilt:se of the firft of thefe is the better founded ; for the Mamelukes, fince the leffons they have received from the French. have begun to pi play confiderable military talents.--Dforsirear. PARIS. NOVEMBER 9. Twenty men are alternately taken from each com pany of the regiments encamped at Boulogne. and embarked on board the flat bottomed boats, for the purpofe of learning to row and work the guns, a duty which they acquit themfelves of with great (pi nt and precifion. The following has been given out in general or ders at Havre, dated November 7...... LAC SSSSS , RIAR*ADMIRAL AND NARITISIR T Of Tilt SICOND DISTRICT. TO ALL TNt OVIIICRIS, NAVAL AND MIO &START. SOLOS'S/ AND SAILORS OF TYE SAMS. In the orders tratemitted to the flotilla, of the 30th ult. the fptedy arrival of the PUB Conful at Boulogne is announced to me He anticipates our willies. and every thing concurs at this mo- ment to the completion of his Intentions. Soldiers and Sailors ! the infant which brings the Firft Centel to our emits, is that In which we are molt forcibly impelled with the important nature Of our duties. The flotilla, and thofe by wise= it is manned, alone occupy his attention at this moment. To alt la its organization, to ex pedite its jondion, to batten its departure, and to follow the hero who has been created by victory to avenge human nature; fueh are the motives of zeal and devotion with which the meafures preferihed by his genius Scold be contemplated. and which null accord with his deigns, in quickening their execution. Let an onion the molt active and devoted, let the maleration of your labours, let even your very eziftence be doubled, toconviace your fellow citizens that his love for France has been trandufed into year hearts; that yoo have received the infplution of hh genius —and that, at you rum to battle, you rre artinsated foiely by a pd. floe for the !reprice(' of mankind. Oaten, folders, and fallen, and you of every defeription who are employed in conftruding our ports, or preparing our fleets, let your efforts and your zeal be redoubled ; let our &rituals, oar docks, and our armed verde, give proof* of your ardour, and let the (mond dittrid prefect to his view a Isidore of an enloftaftn the molt obedient; let our ex ertions ri nse d the general Ira and concert to infect vlaory, mrnift perjury. and aumpe the world. Your country requires it u a duty from you. A blind &Taloa. activity, and perfeve ranee in the execution of your new orders, wM Wye to every one of you a Sore in Chafe lowdown*, of gratitude, ferret retool pence, which France, through the medium of its Chief, decrees to Its brave dd'enders. Nov. to.—Jeanne Andette, a Negrefs, died on the lath of Ana at the Hofpital of Incurables. The National Convention, year a, allowed her a pention of 365 livres, in conflagration of her great age. She was then Paid to be ala years old. If that were true, the has died in her :24.th year. Nov. t I.—Accounts have been received from St. Domingo. dated the Jodi of July. The Colonial Prefelt. Msoarrov, had arrived there on the agth. The Brigands had been driven from the Plain of the Cape and Moines Pale and Lecurienz. In their re treat they had to pats through all the ambufcades of the Congo Negroes, who killed a great number of them. General ROCMAMIIAU writes, that be will anfwer for the prefervation of the Colony. Two thoufand artificers dell defcriptions have ar rived at Boulogne from Flu&ins, to be employed in the ferries of the navy. We learn by letters from St. Stab of the 6th ilia. 1 that the Milner of Marine arrived there the preced ing night in ,t 5 hours from Paris. An order was immediately given for the failing of that part of t!te flotilla which was Rationed there. Citizen Dscass, after two hours ileep, went to vifit the workihops of the national navy. All the workmen attended, al though it was Sunday, and confequently a holiday. , The wind had changed from call, at which it has been for Come time, to fouth &tit. EMS the very elements operate in our favour. The M.wtvr, and feveral of the Paris Journals contain a long feries of refleEtions on the projefteck defcent upon England, copied from the Aciatrva, a Crtllllllll Journal, by M. AICHENHOLTE. Hecb. ferret. the En lint gill appear unterrified, and to depend upon their fleets for repulfing the enemy.-- The opinion of Lord ST. VINCENT as then quoted as giving confidence to the whole nation. This Ad miral once obferved, " That he did not know how the French were to arrive in England, but he was well allured it would never be by fin." No perfon,, the writer obferves, can doubt of the fer ions intention of the FIRST CONSUL to make the defcent, efpeciallr as lance he has taken pofTefliun of Hanover, he has no other means of continuing the war. The French remaining paflive after a war of fo many years as the Lift, he obferves, would be fubmitting to any contE tions that England might chufe to ditlate ; and, he adds, it is only a fuccefsfal defcent in England, and not in Ireland, that can 'bring the war to a fpeedy conclufion. RefpeEting the maritime power of France, it is obferved, that shough England unde niably poffeffes a great number of goad fea officers, France has alto a few of them : to prove this 137. quotes Vice-Admira t l ,La TpucHe, whom he repre fents.as having glortoufly repulfe Lord NELSON at Boulogne about three yearafince. He then defcants upon the circumftances of calms., fogs, long nights, favourable winds, and other advantages the French poffefs in the Channel. Beficles he obferves, it is cal culated that twenty gun boats are more than a match for an Englifh fhip of 89 . or, too guns, if properly managed, that is, if the gun boats approach fuels veffels with towage and addrefs, in order to evade their guns, which, being (bort, do not carry fo far as It-pounders, field pieces. In fine, the pafrage of the Channel being but Ihort, if the French once gain a footing upon the inand, he contends that any mea flirts of defence will' be of little importance, and h: undertakes to prove his politioris from ;he va,ricty of interefts and parties in England. Faom THE Mont rave or Nov. B.—Some people hwire attempted to compare the levy en matte of the in habitants of London and of come other counties with the levy en ssaji cif the French people in 1789. The men whom the alarm and apprehenfions of the Bri tills Government drive every day from their territory, and all impartial travellers who have given their opi nion, dilcover no refemblance but in terms only. That which in I 790 over-ran our populous depart ments met every where I not force bodies and profef fions of men only rallied round the banners of their country, but whole cities railed at the fignal of the country's being in danger, and making the air re• found-with their patriotic fc-ags and hymns in cele bration of liberty. The man whom his zeal, and foinetimei his modeny placed in the ranks, where age, talent, and merit mingled promircuoufly, knew well that it was not to defend the military trappings of his Captain • that he abandoned his wife and chat. drcn, that he expired his life and flied his blood.— Another motive, perhaps, gill more forcible, called them to arms.—The neceffity of emerging from that infignificance into which a degenerate race had plung ed all France, and of difputing with infolent and he • reditary privileged orders, that weight and impor tapee which flight to belong to merit only. This is the grand principle which railed by one movement the great nation a this is what recruited for a long time an army, which at firn confining of above a million - of men, was uniformly and eafily preferred in a nate able to meet the dangers and neceffities of the country. To infpire the foldiers with the ardour of liberty, it was not neceffary to have recourfe to abfurd and foolifk caricatures of the enemies of their country. It. was fufficient to tell them, that the revolution which made them free men was threatened by an impious coalition. There was no necegity for roofing their compaffion in favour of an order of things which guaranteed to the majority only their ignominy and their wretchednefs. Betides, France alto was the land of Cadmus, rough with pikes, and covered with men armed m its defence. The anxiety which they difcovered in England to ridicule our levy en mei, ferved only to prove the poverty and fmallnefs of the means in their power. A vain glorious gafconade of the Englith Government has refilled to accept any more volunteers who offer themfelves, it feems, in :‘ it is , i IT be in' fea M , 12( crowds ; but to form a proper eftimate of this roes. fore it is necerfary to know the motives that lead to it. The truth is. that the government, much more frightened than flattered by the eagernefs of thole who demanded arms, have no other means of check. ing their zeal, of which they entertain even more than fufpicion. Betides, by becoming a volunteer was one means of avoiding enrolment for the militia —and it is certain that many of the volunteers at this moment have no other motive. All this heroifm bas had a tendency to prevent thecompletion of the regular army, which is fill deficient by more than ten thoufand men, notwithtlanding the seal with which the Englilh recruiting parties forward to their employers the fcum and dregs of Holilein and Upper Saxony, in order to proteel the glory and intereftb of John Bull and his country. D off 1 •ery p:rfo PAY, eve( We will not at the•fame time pretend to fay. that the deGre of preferving (nine great and abfurd privi lege. may not be capable of exciting tome momentary and fleeting energy. We will grant, if they pleafe, that the ihop keepers of Wel!mintier have a very pretty appearance under their red uniform ; but Ibould the Legions of Cedar make their appearance. there is tome danger that their pretty gentlemen would provide for their perform' fafety. • The principle which at this moment satiates the privileged than of the Farhat Dation is a keret to nobody. The obie. width the handed men, the Jaunting, and the Government n fdt bedlam!, ardent to the anxious longitude of the men wham they call to their &Mance, Is the prefervation of their ma itre. which they fey are threatened by the Sans Culottes of Franc,. ;t is obvious at Grft ffight, that the Sans Culotta of England luve nothing to life, sad that cooleigucntly it malt be difficult to inEas them with h •Rility againft the French, who even, according ut thr gustation of the &bah Government, convey no kosiments 01 danger to them. The difference of the motives e. plain (official' f ti datums a the darts which the different rank. Ia hogblld an id/ ~ u' !SIC et lerted ou t 0 t fedi N nut C t.fitran .14 C Fa% ti M;ler' 4.s r