Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-07-14
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mixture Of Europe, Asia and Africa.
The Greek jostles in the streets against
the lIneal descendant Of the people
who lived In the land away back in the
time ofthe Pharaohs; the Armenian
and the Arab move along shoulder TO
shoulder with the Partisan, Londoner
or New Yorker; sun burned Maltese
aud Italians sit at their shop doors
smoking their cigars and bidding for
the custom of the homogeneous crowd
that slowly sweeps along, and the
Egyptian or Turkish dragoman is
everywhere volubly attempting to get
the unwary stranger to enlist his SER
vices. Alexandria, indeed, is a Mosaic
of the Old World east and west,
which fate has placed together and
whimsically set down by the side of
the Lake Mareetis and the western
arm OF the Nile delta.
When approached from the Medi-
terraneanth h city wears an insignificant
enough appearance. The land lies so
low that Alexandra Dumas, speaking
CONTEMPORARY ofthe Fort Bonaparte,
affirmed that all the French engineers
had to do was to throw together a few
spadesful of earth. surmount the small
heap with a battery, and prestol the
city had to surrender at discretion. At
6rst the traveller describes Pompey's
Pillar, a thin black line drawn across
the warm saffron sky, then as he rounds
the long arm which terminates in the
breakwater which stretches from Point
Eunostus, and finds himself we'll inside
the western or old harbor, he sees the
Khediye's palace cleaning white on
the waters edge on bis left, aud on his
right arow Of 1at-roofed, dingy houses,
relieved here aud there by a elump of
lofty palms. The arsenal. which lies
between the Khedive's palace and the
principal portion Of Alexandria, is a
large but not imposing building, and
attached to it there is a commodious
wet dock for the convenience of ships
needing repairs. Following the east
ern curve ofthe harborthe eye catches,
beyond a thin strip Of sand, the Laza.
retto, the customhouse, and here aud
there a ietty for the landing of goods
that are taken from vessels in the
stream. The Peninsular and Oriental
1 Company possess excellent private
%jettieS for the convenience of their
own passengers.
Up to a few weeks ago the buildings
here enumerated were the only prom.
inent objects on tho harbor line. The
palace at a distance looks pretty, to-
gether with the adjoining building
called the harem, which stands among
terraced gardens that command an
enchanting view of Alexandra and
the blue waters Of the Mediterranean;
but a closer inspection destroys much
of the enchantment, and, to a certain
extent, justifes Dumas ~ill-natured
criticism to the effect that it is a
miserable white edi6ce, erected by
Italian builders" Within the last
few weeks, however, the outline Of
Alexandra harbor has undergone a
marked alteration. The palace, the
harem and the arsenal buildings are
no longer the only prominent points
that catch the eye. Numerous forts
and esrthworks have come into
prominence. and now the harbor is
almost encircled by grim buildings,
the ~embrasures in which make it i'm
possible to mistake their purpose.
There are eight Of these forts, which
are formidable, and all are placed in
such a position that men-of-war fairly
inside the harbor would be exposed to
a cross fire at shert range. From a
position beyond the new breakwater,
which guards the northwestern side
of the harbor, a hostile squadron could
shell Alexandra and be exposed to
the direct returning fire only of
the batteries on the south and
east Of the harbor, and it is to avoid
the dangers Of a cross FIRE that the
English squadron has moved out to
positions beyond the breakwater. At
the lighthouse, heal Eunostus Point,
there is a strong fort which, a short
time. ago, was known to contain
t~wenty-one smooth bore and three
rihed guns, but which at the present
moment is believed to be strengthened
by several more powerful guns, Sc
eretly sent there by Arab Pasha.
About midway between this fort and
the Khediye's palace there is a new
earthwork thrown up. and troops have
been seen taking guns and munitions
of wal to il at night time. Alta short
distance beyond the palace there is
another new earthwork, similarly
supplied with guns and war material
within the last few days. Elaborate
preparations TO resist an attack have
been made by the Egyptians in the
vicinity Of the palace, and it is well
known that Arab Bey intends ia
make a stubborn resistance at Ras-el.
Ten ("the peninsula of 6gs'') and on
the strongly intrenehed ground which
adjoins the palace itself To the
southeast of the Arsenal Fort Kafare
lies and protects the neck of land
which separates the new port from the
old port, while at the same time il
commands the Frankish or Chris.
tian portion Of the city. Beyond
this fort, which the Egypt
ians have carefully armed with
riHed guns Of heavy caliber, a chain Of
Notifications and earthworks stretches
alSng the entire southern line Of the
harbor. One fort a short time age
was known to possess two guns, an
other twelve, and three others five,
two and seven guns respectively. AS
these forts occupy a very important
} position in the bombardment, and
will be the first which the British
will attempt to silence fror the Med
%iterranean; all these forts have recent
ly been strengthened, so that in all
! probability the figures just given as to
} the number Of their guns fall far short