notre camp ou nos vaisseaux, étaient déjà venus chercher des armes et des munitions. De plus il y a en Syrie différens rites Catholiques indigènes; on trouve presque de partout sur le Liban des Maronites, des Melquites (Grecs unis), des Syriens, et des Arméniens Catholiques. Le clergé de ces différentes peuplades, quoique feignant une parfaite harmonie, nourrit une certaine jalousie réciproque qui se manifeste en de certaines occasions; mais les missionnaires étrangers ont éveillé la jalousie commune de tous les prêtres indigènes, quoique ceux-ci tâchent de la déguiser autant qu'ils peuvent; raison pour laquelle le Père Etienne n'aurait guère réussi à gagner le clergé et le Patriarche Maronite.

Aussi le Supérieur des Lazaristes ne fut pas sourd aux conseils du Père Préfet, qui, établi depuis plusieurs années dans ce pays, ne pouvait pas ignorer toutes ces circonstances; il repartit pour Alexandrie peu de jours après son arrivée, ne voulant pas perdre son temps et sa peine sans le moindre résultat, comme les autres Agens Français qui parcourent les montagnes et le littoral de la Syrie. Le bruit qui s'était répandu que d'autres Lazaristes devaient venir pour seconder leur Supérieur, est dénué de fondement.

Ne sachant pas si votre Excellence a été prévenue d'autre part du mouvement que se donnent les Emissaires Français en Syrie pour paralyser les efforts des Anglais et soutenir Méhémet Ali, je croirais manquer à mon devoir si je ne portais pas à sa connaissance ce que j'ai appris.

Ce sont les Consuls de France à Damas et à Beyrout, le Comte RattiMenton et M. Déméloise, qui dirigent les ménées de ces Agens, presque tous employés des Consulats de Beyrout et de Damas, Tripoli, Saïda, &c. M. Déméloise a même ordinairement un bateau-à-vapeur à sa disposition pour se rendre plus facilement d'un point de la côte à l'autre, et qu'il envoya à Alexandrie avec la nouvelle de la défection de l'Emir Béchir.

Votre Excellence m'ordonne de la tenir au courant de tout ce qui se passe ici, et surtout des mouvemens d'Ibrahim Pacha. J'ai tâché de le faire aussi bien que j'ai pu dans mon journal, dont j'ai l'honneur de lui soumettre ci-joint la quatrième continuation.

Ce Général parait avoir perdu tout espoir de pouvoir se tenir dans le Liban et garder les villes maritimes de la Syrie. Il parait même craindre d'y laisser des corps d'armée, qu'il finirait par perdre l'un après l'autre, comme cela lui est arrivé à Saïda, Beyrout, Tsour, et à d'autres différentes occasions. C'est pourquoi, après avoir été battu à Beit-hannis par le Commodore Napier, il prit le parti d'évacuer la montagne et les villes maritimes, et de former un corps d'armée plus considérable que ceux qui avaient été défaits aux différentes attaques, dans un camp retranché à Malaca près de Zahlé, dans la plaine qui sépare le Liban de l'Anti-Liban. Il y fit donc venir les débris des troupes battues, quelques régimens qui se trouvaient dans le voisinage, et les garnisons de Tripoli, Tortose, et Lataquié, tout en se bornant à se tenir sur la défensive. Sous peu de jours, et quand ces troupes l'auront rejoint, il se trouvera à la tête d'une armée de 10,000 à 12,000 hommes, dont 1,500 de Cavalerie, avec sept pièces de canon. Ses intentions ne sont pas connues. L'Amiral Stopford pense qu'il pourrait tâcher, voyant la Syrie perdue pour lui, ce qui met l'Egypte aussi en grand danger, de tenter un coup de tête, pour embrouiller les affaires en Europe. Sachant que la Russie enverrait des troupes en Turquie s'il avançait dans l'Asie Mineure, ce que, d'après les assertions de M. Pontois, serait considéré par la France comme une déclaration de guerre, Ibrahim, qui n'a plus beaucoup à perdre et tout à gagner, pourrait avancer en Anatolie, où il ne craint pas de rencontrer beaucoup d'obstacles, et où il compte sur la sympathie de la population Musulmane. L'Amiral Stopford ne put toutefois baser sur rien cette supposition.

Depuis l'entrée des troupes Turques et Anglaises à Beyrout, aussi depuis. que le Commodore Napier a cédé à Sir Charles Smith le commandement des troupes de terre, aucun mouvement ne s'est fait de notre côté; on n'a pas même songé ni à fortifier Beyrout, comme ont fait à Saïda le Capitaine Berkeley et le Colonel de Lebzeltern, ni même à envoyer à l'Emir Béchir Kasim, qui se trouve avec 5,000 ou 6,000 montagnards, dont beaucoup manquent d'armes, les fusils, munitions, et vivres, qu'il réclame journellement; raison pour laquelle aussi cet Emir ne peut s'éloigner de Stammana, où il se trouve depuis une dixaine de jours sans rien faire.

Izzet Pacha joue de son mieux le rôle passif qui lui est assigné, sans

pourtant pouvoir déguiser entièrement son dépit, et tout aussi peu son caractère prépotent et féroce, qui lui a attiré la haine de ceux qui furent placés sous ses ordres. Les Anglais ne l'aiment pas malgré sa politesse outrée envers eux, et les Turcs, malheureux de l'avoir pour Général-en-Chef, le détestent tous, quoiqu'il tâche, pour ne point se compromettre vis-à-vis des Européens, de les traiter de son mieux et de cacher cette cruauté dont bien de personnes sont devenues les victimes. Parfois pourtant son caractère se trahit, surtout depuis qu'il s'est blessé à la jambe. Il est parfois d'une brutalité envers ses subordonnés qui s'en plaignent ouvertement: l'autre jour il avait ordonné, en contravention avec le Hatti-Chérif, de donner 500 coups de bâton à son cuisinier pour avoir mis trop de sel dans la soupe; un Dragoman de l'Amiral Stopford, qui, par bonheur pour cet infortuné, se trouvait présent, intercéda pour lui, et obtint sa grâce.

Le vieux Emir Béchir n'est pas encore parti pour Malte; il se trouve toujours à Saïda pour embarquer sa famille. Je pense que le Consul-Général, ainsi que M. l'Amiral Bandeira, auront informé votre Excellence de tout ce qui regarde ce vieillard presqu' octogénaire, qui a puissamment contribué dans ses dernières années au malheur de la nation dont il était le Prince.

(Translation.)

(Extract.)

Beyrout, October 21, 1840.

I ONLY received yesterday morning the instruction which your Excellency did me the honour to address to me on the 6th of this month, and by which you had the goodness to apprize me of the mission to Syria of the Père Etienne, General-Superior of the Lazarists, and of the object of it. I was informed of it by M. Laurin, the day on which he embarked in the steam-vessel at Alexandria; I was consequently apprehensive lest he should gain over the Patriarch of the Maronites, before I could manage to communicate with him.

But on my arrival before Djounie, I was informed the contrary. The Père Etienne had indeed arrived off Saïda a few days before me, on board a French steam-vessel coming from Alexandria, in order to prevent the Catholic inhabitants of Mount Lebanon, by the influence of the Clergy, from embracing the cause of the Sultan and taking arms against Mehemet Ali. M. Laurin had taken advantage of the same steam-vessel to apprize Baron Bandeira of the fact.

Before the Père Etienne had time to land, the Père Leroi, Prefect of the Convent of the Lazarists at Antaura on the Lebanon, two hours' distance from Djounie, and a relation of the Père Etienne, visited the latter, having first obtained the consent of Admiral Stopford, which was necessary to him, as the Convent of Antaura was within our advanced posts. This permission was granted to him by the English Admiral, because the latter was not ignorant that the only advice which the Père Leroi could give to the GeneralSuperior, in the state in which the inhabitants of the mountain, and especially the clergy, already were, was to return forthwith without putting his foot on shore. In fact, all the mountaineers who had been able to place themselves in communication with our camp or our vessels, had already come for arms and ammunition. Moreover, there are in Syria different native Catholic sects; all over the Lebanon there are Maronites, Melchites, (United Greeks,) Syrian and Armenian Catholics. The clergy of these different people, although feigning entire harmony, cherish a certain reciprocal jealousy which shows itself on certain occasions; but the foreign missionaries have roused the common jealousy of all the native priests, although the latter endeavour to disguise it as much as they can; for which reason the Père Etienne would scarcely have succeeded in gaining over the clergy and the Maronite Patriarch.

Accordingly, the Superior of the Lazarists was not deaf to the advice of the Père Prefect, who, being settled for several years in this country, could not be ignorant of all these circumstances; he set out again for Alexandria a few days after his arrival, being unwilling to lose his time and his trouble without the least result, as the other French Agents who traverse the mountains and the sea-coast of Syria. The report which was spread that 'other Lazarists were to come to support their Superior, is destitute of foundation.

Being ignorant whether your Excellency has, on the other hand, been made acquainted with the movements of the French emissaries in Syria, in order to paralyze the efforts of the English, and support Mehemet Ali, I should think myself wanting in my duty if I did not bring to your knowledge what I have learnt.

The French Consuls at Damascus and at Beyrout, the Count Ratti-Menton and M. Déméloise, direct the proceedings of these Agents, who are almost all employed in the Consulates of Beyrout, Damascus, Tripoli, and Saida, &c. M. Déméloise likewise has generally a steam-vessel at his disposal, in order that he may go with greater facility from one point of the coast to the other, and which he sent to Alexandria with the news of the defection of the Emir Bechir.

Your Excellency directs me to keep you informed of all that passes in this quarter, and especially of the movements of Ibrahim Pasha. I have endeavoured to do so as well as I could in my journal, the fourth part of which I have the honour to submit to you herewith.

That General appears to have lost all hope of being able to maintain himself in the Lebanon and to keep the maritime towns of Syria. He appears even to be fearful of leaving there the divisions of the army, which he would end by losing one after the other, as happened to him at Saida, Beyrout, Tsour, and on various other occasions. It is for this reason that, after having been defeated by Commodore Napier at Beit-Hannis, he took the course of evacuating the mountain and the maritime towns, and of concentrating a more considerable force than those which had been defeated in the different attacks, in an entrenched camp at Malaca near Zahlé, in the plain which separates the Lebanon from the Anti-Lebanon. He moved upon that point the remains of the defeated troops, some regiments which were in the neighbourhood, and the garrisons of Tripoli, Tortosa, and Latakia, at the same time that he confined himself to the defensive. In a few days, and when these troops shall have joined him, he will be at the head of an army of from 10 to 12,000 men, of whom 1,500 will be cavalry, with seven guns. His intentions are not known. Admiral Stopford thinks that he might attempt, seeing that Syria is lost to him, whereby Egypt also is placed in great danger, to undertake a desperate deed, in order to embroil the affairs of Europe. Knowing that Russia would send troops into Turkey if he advanced into Asia Minor, which, according to the assertions of M. de Pontois, would be considered by France as a declaration of war, Ibrahim, who has no longer much to lose and everything to gain, might advance into Anatolia, where he is not apprehensive of meeting with many obstacles, and where he reckons upon the sympathy of the Mussulman population. Admiral Stopford, has, however, no foundation for this supposition.

.

Since the entrance of the Turkish and English troops into Beyrout, since also Commodore Napier has given up to Sir Charles Smith the command of the land forces, no movement has been made on our side; they have not even thought of fortifying Beyrout, as Captain Berkeley and Colonel de Lebzeltern have done at Saida, or even of sending to the Emir Bechir Kasim, who has with him 5,000, or 6,000 mountaineers, many of whom are in want of arms, the muskets, ammunitions, and provisions which he daily applies for; for which reason likewise that Emir also cannot remove from Stammana, where he has been for the last ten days doing nothing.

Izzet Pasha plays to the best of his ability the passive part assigned to him, without, however, being entirely able to conceal his disgust, and as little his overbearing and savage character, which has brought down upon him the hatred of those who were placed under his orders. The English do not like him, notwithstanding his excessive politeness towards them, and the Turks, unhappy at having him for their Chief, all detest him, although he endeavours, in order not to compromise himself with regard to the Europeans, to treat them as he best can, and to conceal that cruelty of which many persons have been the victims. At times, however, his character betrays itself, especially since he was wounded in the leg. He acts at times brutally towards his subordinates, who openly complain of it: the other day he had ordered, in violation of the Hatti Sheriff, 500 blows to be given his cook for having put too much salt

H

into the soup; one of Admiral Stopford's interpreters, who, fortunately for the wretch, was present, interceded for him, and obtained his pardon.

The old Emir Bechir has not yet set out for Malta; he is still at Saida in order to embark his family. I suppose that the Consul-General, as well as Admiral Bandeira, will have informed your Excellency of all that relates to this old man, now nearly eighty, who has powerfully contributed in his latter years to the misfortunes of the nation of which he was the Prince.

No. 56.

Viscount Ponsonby to Viscount Palmerston.-(Received November 29.)
Therapia, November 8, 1840.

(Extract.)

I HAVE this evening received the inclosed Report from Mr. Wood.

P.S.-I likewise inclose a Report I received from Sir Charles Smith as an inclosure in one of his letters, which your Lordship may think worth reading.

My Lord,

Inclosure 1 in No. 56.

Mr. Wood to Viscount Ponsonby.

Beyrout, October 29, 1840. THE evacuation of Tripoli, on the 18th instant, has been followed by that of Tortosa, Latakia, and Antioch; the same is reported of Beilan and Scanderoun, and Kourk-Kolak.

The Governor of Tripoli has joined the Sultan's standard, and Mohammed Bey, the commanding officer of the garrison, has been seized by the mountaineers of Akkar. They have also made a great number of prisoners, and have dispersed the remainder of his troops. Many of the troops that evacuated Latakia have deserted and returned to the

Sultan.

Ibrahim Pasha is withdrawing his forces rapidly from the frontiers of Asia Minor, according to the report of the Emir Bechir.

Though not anything positive is known with regard to Aleppo, yet it is rumoured that the people have shut the gates of the town against the Egyptian troops, and occupy it in the name of the Sultan.

Sheik Said of Beled Safet to the south has come to me to Beyrout, and I presented him to his Excellency Izzet Pasha, who gave him a Boyourouldi to return to his district, and collect the Sheiks of Beshara, Souf, Gebel Nablous, Gebel el Kods, and endeavour to cut off the communication between Ibrahim Pasha's camp and Acre, which has been done. I could not procure for Sheik Said more than 800 muskets, but the moment arms arrive, either from Malta or Constantinople, he is to be furnished with a sufficient number to enable him to close on the left flank of Ibrahim's army, assisted by the Druses of Hasbeya and Raskeya, who had unanimously declared in favour of the Sultan previous even to their being provided with arms.

Some time since I addressed a circular letter to the Sheiks of the Haouran and el Ledjea, and on the 25th instant twenty-seven of them, accompanied by 200 horsemen, came personally to make their submission.

They were well received; robes of honour were given to them, and they have left yesterday for their homes with instructions to harass the rear of the Egyptians.

The people of the Haouran have already intercepted two convoys, and are carrying on their operations to within a short distance of Damascus.

The mountaineers of Akkar and Sappita to the north of Tripoli, with the Emir Hangiar, will take possession of the road and bridge of Homs and Hamah, and so separate the army of the north from that of the south, the moment we can provide them with 4,000 stand of arms.

I hope, therefore, that in a few days they will have the means of annoying and occupying the right flank of Ibrahim, by which he will be completely hemmed in and surrounded.

I feel confident that the moment Sir C. Smith thinks fit to advance on his front with the Emir Bechir, the natives who are on his rear and flanks will be encouraged to fall or close upon him, when, if the Turkish troops display the same firmness they have shown hitherto, he must either capitulate with his whole army, or be cut to pieces.

If advantage be taken of the enthusiastic feeling of the natives at this moment, and of the panic of the Egyptians, the campaign in Syria ought to terminate in a fortnight hence; if not, the winter may materially change and retard our chances of success.

The French are indefatigable in their intrigues, and endeavour to persuade the Syrians that they are going to war with us in the spring.

Though I hear nothing more of the proposal to Mehemet Ali for their occupation of Acre, yet I am told positively that the last French steamer disembarked at that place four French engineer officers.

To prevent similar occurrences, as also the constant communication of French steamers of war with the coast, coming from Alexandria, I have proposed re-establishing the quarantine, which suggestion having been acceded to, all vessels and passengers coming from Egypt will have to perform ten days' quarantine at Beyrout.

An "Ordre du Jour" will be also published to-morrow based on the one issued by Solyman Pasha, to which the French, I believe, did not then object, condemning to death all who encourage the Sultan's subjects to continue in their disobedience in any manner whatever. I hope it will have the effect of deterring the French emissaries from persevering in their machinations.

The Maronite patriarch has invited Mr. Steindl and myself to go to him to-morrow to receive the documents relative to the rights of the Maronite clergy and nation.

I have, &c., (Signed) RICHARD WOOD.

Inclosure 2 in No. 56.

LE bateau-à-vapeur Français qui est arrivé hier, à son départ de la France est allé à Constantinople, de là il est allé à Alexandrie, et de cette dernière ville il a pris des dépêches, et il est arrivé à St. Jean d'Acre. Après son arrivée on a destitué et mis en prison le Gouverneur Heuman Bey, et il a été remplacé par Mahmoud Bey, ex-Gouverneur de Beyrout. Ensuite le bateau est allé à Jaffa, d'où le Commandant du bateau est allé à Jerusalem, et le Gouverneur de cette place a été destitué également et mis en prison. Après cela le bateau est parti de Jaffa, et il a touché à Sidon et Beyrout, d'où il s'est dirigé à Tripoli, et à son retour il doit toucher de nouveau à Beyrout, et après cela il doit se rendre à Acre, d'où il prendra des dépêches, et il ira à Alexandrie, et de là il partira pour France. Ce bateau à son départ de la France avait à son bord le nommé Monfor, lequel, après avoir fait tout le susdit trajet avec le même bateau, a été débarqué à Beyrout.

Le nommé Nicolas Portalis, habitant de Beyrout, est un agent d'Ibrahim Pacha; celui-ci, ayant une fabrique de soie dans le village nommé Bétère, qui est à cinq lieues d'ici, il y va toujours avec le prétexte de sa fabrique, d'où il correspond avec Ibrahim Pacha, et il sert de canal pour la correspondance d'Ibrahim Pacha avec Alexandrie.

D'après les apparences, les Français ont l'intention d'occuper une place sur la côte de Syrie, et probablement cela sera St. Jean d'Acre, et ils débarqueront des troupes avec le consentement de Méhémet Ali.

Octobre 24, 1840.