Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-09-05
LETTER FROM SMYRNA.
An Inside View of the Egyptian Sit
uations
Personnel of Arab Pasha, ths
Inspired MOhammedan, Etc.

The following private letter from an
educated gentleman, who speaks and.
writes several languages, and IS quite
conversant with politics in America,
Europe and the unfortunate country
in which he ncwIresides temporarily,
is kindly placed at the disposal of the
LEDGER. The letter is accompanied
by a well drawn map of Alexandria
and environs from the facile hand of
the writer, but we are not prepared
to reproduce it without delay:
SMYRNA, August s, 1882.
DEAREST FRIEND: Since my last
to you, events in Egypt have multiplied
with a rapidity which would do credit
to past ages, when war succeeded upon
war before soldiers had time to catch
breath. The bombardment of Alex
andria by the English, and subsequent
plunderiDg and burning of the city by
the native troops, who, after the
barbarous act, retreated inland, carry
ing with them loads of ILL gotten
booty; the landing OF English troops
at Alexandria-the entrenchment of
Arab at Kafr-el -dwar and Daman-
hour; the dispatch of fresh English
troops to the spot; the atrocities at
Danta, Michala-Kibhir, Zagazic,
Mansourah, etc., where several
hundreds of peaceable citizens were
put to the sword by the fierce Arabs;
the resumption of the conference at
ConstantinOple, with a view to compel
the reluctant s. Porte to send troops
to Egypt to corroborate with the
English; the occupation of the Suez
canal by the English, through per-
mission of the Khedive; the change of
French policy at Egypt, brought
about by the fall of the Freycinet
Ministry, which, by the way, leaves
England isolated in her undertakings
against Egypt-these are some of the
chief chronicles unfolded in the
Egyptian drama within the short
period of a few weeks. As the tele-
graph has no doubt made you
acquainted with each OF these
movements in detail, l aeed dwell no
further on them.
Although Arab commands a con-
siderable force, the condition of his
warriors is so deplorable as to give no
serious apprehensioDs to England,
who is, nevertheless, amassing all her
~disposable forces, in order to bear
them down with crushing effect against
the refractory Arab.
In order to conciliate English
intervention in Egypt, the
Sublime Porte, after long
negotiations, has been prevailed
upon by England to send a body Of
troops to Egypt, as above stated, but
upon what particular conditions it is
not clearly understood, though it is
admitted that they will be placed
under English commandment. 1t is
also an open question whether Europe
has so far sanctioned the proceedings
of England in Egypt, and whether the
withdrawal Of the Russian plenipo.
Tertiary from the conference at Con-
stantinOple and the inactivity of the
French feet in Egyptian waters have
not proceeded from a dissatisfaction
OF some Of the powers with the violent
course adopted by the English in the
Egyptian difficulty.
In the meantime Arab is assidu-
ously certifying himself in several
where he mean to fight it out
to the last.
Upon being informed that the Sui
tan was preparing at the instigation of
Europe to send troops against him, he
addressed his suZerain a letter In
which be expressed his intention to
resist Turkish troops, treating them
on the same footing as his foes, the
English. As it is generally the case
with Moslem heroes, he processes to
act by inspiration, declaring that he is
sent by Mohamed to deliver his land
from the influence of the infdels
(meaning the Europeans). With this
end in view he marched to Cairo. and
finding that the Khedive had gone to
Alexandria to meet Admiral Seymour
and cooperate with him in restoring
order, took hold of the city and issued
proclamations, deposing the Khedive
aud styling himself the supreme dicta-
tor and deliverer of Egypt. BY such
satanic means and the promise Of rich
spOils he is trying to revive the cour-
age Of his followers and has so far
contrived TO gather under his banner
a motley forge o ftroOps, which. though
not dangerous to a well organized and
perfectly equipped and disciplined
army as the English are-yet render
the situation more dithcult by Tetard.
ing the work Of ~paci6easion.
So far no serious battle has yet
been fought on either side, except an
engagement at Ramleh, where the van
guard Of Arab attacked three days
ago an English fortified position, but
now repulsed with heavy loss. The
English force now in Egypt is various
" estimated at from 100000 men.
This number, however, will shortly
increase by the addition Of troops
expected from East India, and 5000
more gone recently from England.
The gHDreme command of the English
troops in England has been entrusted
to Sir Garnet Wolseley, who, upon his
appointment to this command, has
left for Egypt, where he may arrive in 0
day or two. A decisive battle may be-,
therefore. shortly looked for.
Very truly, MARINo.
New IsOtheFmaI