The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-11-10
WHOLE NO. 4O5.

He does not love servie couriiers and fatterers
" In the frs, rank, among his moral qualities,
shall place his prodigious activity. He is very
intelligent, and distinguished for his love OF or
der, economy and strict discipline. Accustomed
to every kind of fatigue, he despises, too much.
proper care and precaution. He sleeps often,
lying upon the ground, like common soldier, in
spite OF the cold, the rain, or the snow, and he
has thus contracted the rheumatism. He is ado
red by his troops; and exerts over them that ma
gical fascination which the Emperor Napoleon
exercised over his soldiers.
Besides his military qualities, Ibrahim pos
sesses another capital one in prince destined to
govern Egypt; that is love of agriculture. In his
intervals Of repose from war, he is always occu-
pied with il from choice, and is its enlightened
protector.
"The last triumph Of Ibrahim was the great
victory of Nezib This established defnitivey
in the race of Mehemit Ali the vice-royalty of
Egypt and Syria"
Mr.. Clot-Bey gives also in his book interesting
particulars respecting the Egyptian army. 1t is
remarkable that while war is often means of
retarding civilization, while il stops the progress
Of the arts and the cultivation Of the sciences in
other countries. the formation Of regular army
has been an immense benefit to Egypt, and the,
bloody struggles which Mehemit Ali maintained
in Greece and elsewhere, have served to elevate
the moral and political condition Of his people
Thus does God bring good out of evil.
1t is by French and Italian officers, who lost
their rank after the fall of Napoleon, that the
army of Mehemit Ali was formed. Among the
most distinguished is Mr. SIEVE, former abide
name of Soliman Pashaw. This trained and
indefatigable soldier soon gained the entire con
fidence of the viceroy He began by organizing
battalion Of Mamelukes, composed of thou
sand young men, belonging to the first families of
the country. These Mamelukes refused al first
to adopt the military habits Of Europe, and they
were particularly mortified by having to obey a
Christian commander. But Mr. SIEVE overcame
their opposition by his patience and courage.
When these young men were well trained to
arms, Mehemet Ali gave them the rank Of Off
GERS and placed them in the armies he had raised,
and thus he began to form regular troops.
But this undertaking was far from being
finished. The Turks and Albanians, who com
posed great part of the v.ceroy's troops, revolt
ed against the new order he wished to establish
among them. Mehemet Ali brought from Sen
naar aad Cordofan thirty thousand negroes to be
disciplined; hut these unhappy creatures, trans
planted from their native soil, and little accus-
toned to the fatigues of military service, perish
ed by thousands. 1t was necessary to recruit
the soldiers among the Egyptians. The attempt
was hazardous, and the inhabitants were greatly
irritated. Several partial instructions broke out
but when the tellahs saw that they were better
fed and better clothed in the camp than in their
own hoosea, they acquiesced in their new con-
| dition.
The regular army brought order into this coun-
try which was before in almost constant anarchy,
and which was oppressed by turbulent soldie-
ry. 1t introduced unity and strength of govern
ment, and hierarchy. 1t elevated the Arab
population by giving them more confidence in
themselves, feeling necessary to an independ-
ent people. But this new military discipline
produced other benefits to the East.
| To organize the army, master instructors were
wanted, and recourse was necessarily had to
Christians who alone were capable of filling
these offices. In this way, Mehometans learned
to respect men whom they had before termed
infdel dogs, and to obey them. Besides, there
must be Egyptian officers, which requires that
they should study mathematics, geography, and
the art Of war; &c. Bnt this is not all. A reou-
lar army must have artillery officers, and as
there are no scientific establishments in Egypt,
Mehemet Ali has sent some young men into Eu-
rope, TO Paris, Vienna, and London. These
young men, having during several years asso-
ciated with Christians, perceive the superiority
of our manners, our laws, and arts, and when
they return to their country, they bring sound
and correct views of the men and things they
before de pissed. Lastly, after the army was or
ganlzed it must be supported. Arms clothing,
barracks to lodge in, medicines to heal the sick
must be provided. Arsenals, workshops, schools
are therefore erected, and soon Egypt will have
hospitals.
You see how many institutions are connected
with the formation OF regular army. Gradually
all that belongs to European civilization must
follow as effect follows cause Mehemet Ali has
now 100000 regular troops commanded mostly
by Christians. The discipline is precisely like
that in the armies of Europe; the French militia
nv code has been adopted, and the Arabs have
become very good soldiers.
Before closing my letter, will say few
words upon the tenure of property in Egypt
Among Christians, the right of property exists
in the individual as well as in the head of the
nation, hut in Egypt the pashaw or viceroy is
proprietor Of all the soil the inhabitants are only
his tenants. Mahomet says in his law: "The
earth belongs to God, and to the sovereign who
is his representative" Agreeahly to this princi-
pie, Mehemet ALI owns all the territory Of Egypt,
and he has il cultivated by men who keep por-
ton of the produce as the reward of their labor
The viceroy also has the monopoly of cotton,
rice, gum, opium, &c. He is the great farmer,
the great merchant of his country All the bust
ness Of exchange is done by him and for him
This IS very bad organization, and would be
intoerable in a civilized Christian community
But it has the advantage of giving to Mehemet
Ali immense pecuniary resources TO defend him
self against the Ottoman empire. If European
opinions make progress and take root in Egypt,
the right Of property will doubtless be establish
ed there on another footing; but Mr.. Clot-Bey
thinks that the present mode of organization is
the best to compel the Arabs TO cultivate the
ground When the viceroy shall no longer be
threatened by powerful enemies, he can reform
abuses, and introduce into his dominons greater
Improvements.
WILL OF PAGANINI-"The will of Paganini
has been opened at Genoa, F." says letter from
that place in the Debats, " and the following