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

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 perfons 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 the 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.