The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-11-03

pensation for the use of the land. The Com
mander is now proceeding rapidly with his
work, although several holders of Egyptian
bonds have threatened to sequester the obelisk
ridicule the idea that the obelsk can be seized
by anybody.
EGYPTIANS SUDDENLY TOOK AN INTEREST IN
THEIR ANCIENT WORKS OF ART-wHAT THE
KHEDIvE THINKS.
CAIRO. Oct. 6. 1879.
The arrival of Lieutenant Commander Gorringe.
of the United States Navy. is awaited here with
some interest Lieutenant Commander Gorrnee is
the bearer of letter from Secretary Evarts au-
thorizing him to take possession Of and transport
America the famous Cleopatra Needle The United
States Consulate here directed to render every pos
sible assistance Lieutenant Commander Gorringe,
and acting in accordance with express instructions
from Secretary Evarts, the acting Consul General
has already formally demanded Of the Egyptian
government that the same privileges be accorded to
the United States were accorded to England when
two years ago Mr. Dixon took away the other obelsk
from Alexandra to London. These privileges in
clude the exemption from Custom House duties of
such machinery and material may be brought to
Egypt the purpose of removing the obelisk. and
will probably be at once granted by the Khedive.
Lieutenant Commander Gorringe's assistant has been
in Alexandria some ten days making inquiries to
the cost of embarking the obelisk and taking mea-
surements, &c.
THE OF THE OPPOSITION.
1t is to be hoped that the removal of the obelisk
will take place at as early period possible. for
there already exists considerable opposition to tho
project and this opposition. owing to the various
articles which have lately appeared in the Arabic
newspapers, is rapidly increasing. translate the
following paragraph from the Young Egypt a very
influential and respectable newspaper published at
Alexandria In Arabic ana French:-
America is making preparations to take away from
the sole obclisk of Cleopatra which we now pos
sess This news astonishes us, and we cannot be-
lleve that it is true. This monument belongs to
the country and no one can dispose Of 1t without
the authorization of tho nation.
II this be allowed we may find some day that the
Pyramids transformed into stone Quarries aud
used for building houses.
The time has come whensmore attention should
be given to the preservation of artistic wealth
and more respect accorded to the vestiges OF the
past, which once made Egypt glorious.
CONVERSATION WITH MRHEMEr ALI BEY.
The tone of several of tho more local papers is
much more violent had the following conversa-
ton on the subject with Mehemet Ali Bey, son of
a former Minister of War and an influential member
of the "young Egyptian" party. who 80 in for all
sorts of reforms. and who exert considerable infu-
once in the present government. Mehemet Ali Bey
is rather favorite of the Khedive. and constant
access to his presence
'why do you mako sucn a fuss about the United
States taking away this obesk." inquired. ''when.
to say nothing about the half dozen obelisks scat
tered about Europe only two years ago there was
no opposition to England's carrying of tho twin
obelisk to this one to London?"
The Boy replied 1.-Two years ago Ismail Pacha
running the country right and left and no
Egyptian dared say word. no matter what he did,
Besides the obel.sk now in London was given to
England by Mehemet Ali Pacha fifty years ago. and
was lying two-thirds buried in the sand where no
body could see 1t. But this obelisk is standing
firmly ON its pedestal in the same position which it
has occupied for over eighteen hundred years"
Isuggested that 1t too late to make any
opposition about the removal of the obelisk because
the mischief. rs they called it. had already been
done. Isman Pacha. when Khedive. had offered tho
obesk to the United States. which had accepted the
offer and acted upon IL. A contract had thus been
established which. according to the well established
usage between nations. irrevocablo by any sub.
sequent ruler; SO that even If the present Khedive
should be inclined to annul lis fathers gift he
would DO powerless to do so.
rEwFIK's OPPOSITION.
The hey ut once said :--"I know exactly what the
Khedive thinks about it. Ho is very much opposed
to the idea having this obesk or any other OF the
val liable monuments OF Egypt leaving the country
And moreover there is at this moment q strong
pressure put upon the Khedve to induce him to re-
fuse to permit the obelisks leaving Alexandra"
Iasked:--"Do you know of any othor parties be-
sides Egyptians who urge the Khedive TO refuse2"
Eyes. Many OF the Europeans about the Khe-
dive tafter pause,--"particularly the English"
'Do the Europeans you speak of think that the
Khcdivo has the right to rcfusey'
Eyes. They say that tho offer to give the obelisk
to the United states was merely of the rash and
lightly made promises of Ismail Pacha. A promise
without legal consideration to give away what he
deemed to be his private property. and viewed in
this light II is urged that Isail Pachas successor
could with propriety refuse 70 carry out its terms
WILL THE RnEpIvE REFUSE?
'Do you think that tho Khcdive will refuse 10 give
up possession OF the obelisky"
III scarcely think no will refuse. because the mat
tor has gone so far already and His IIighncss has
thus far shown a disposition to carry out strictly all
such engarcments entered into by his father"
apo you believe that there will DO any manifesto
tions of public i'll feeling at Alexandria when tho
obelisk is embarkedY'
eyes. l think there will be. We Egyptians are
Just beginning to appreciate our precious monu.
mcnts relies. and think it great pity that many
of the most valuable ones have already been taken
away from U.S..
The views expressed by Mehemct Ali Bey in the
above conversation those universally held by the
now numerous class of educated Egyptians. This
influence. together with the grape counsels Of
various prominent Europeans now here. could not