>sft m6 21, Mr. Wood's report explanatory of affairs in Syria 9 8 ?j 21, Settlement of Syrian affairs . . 23 9 To Lord Ponsonby July 15, Lebanon taxation and Beyrout losses. 27 10 )) 20, Approving what has been done re- specting the affairs of Syria 28 11 Lord Ponsonby . . 13, No good to be expected in Syria while Nejib Pasha remains there. 28 12 To Lord Ponsonby Aug. 9, Copy of Note to Chekib Effendi re- specting refusal of Christian evi- dence 28 13 >» 9, Copy of note to Chekib Effendi re- specting treatment of Christians in Syria 29 14 Lord Ponsonby . . July 18, Orders sent to Nejib Pasha to behave better 30 15 ■ )) t - . 27, Reasons for delaying Mr. Wood's de- s parture for Syria . . . ' 30 16 S) 28, M. Pisani's report of Rifaat Pasha's reply respecting promises of Porte to Syrians . . 31 * ■ 1.7 JJ 31, Porte will carry into effect promises to Syrians. 31 18 s» Aug. 3, Despatch from Grand Vizier to Def- terdar of Acre respecting promises to the Syrians 32 19 To Lord Ponsonby 26, Satisfaction at orders sent by the Grand Vizier to Syria 34 20 Lord Ponsonby . . 11, Measures decided upon for Syria . . 34 21 j» Sept. 15, Proceedings of Mr. Wood on his return to Syria 36 22 To Sir Stratford Canning Oct. 30, Instructions as to affairs of Syria . . 37 23 Mr. Bankhead . . 11, Note from Lord Ponsonby to the Porte on state of affairs of Syria . 37 24 >j 13, Consul Wood's report respecting colUsion between Druses and Chris- tians in Lebanon . . 38 25 To Sir Stratford Canning Nov. 25, Objections to return of Ex-Emir Be- shir to Syria 39 26 >j 27, No objection to Emir Emin being put in place of present Emir Be- shir 39 27 Mr. Bankhead . . 16, Disturbed state of Syria. Complaints against Nejib Pasha. 40 TABLE OF CONTENTS. HI No. 28 •29 30 31 32 33 34 35 30 37 38 39 40 41 42 43- 44 45 4G 47 4S 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 To Sir Stratford Cannin"; Mr. Bankhcad To Sir Stratford Canning Sir Stratford Canning . . To Sir Stratford Canning Sir Stratford Canning . . To Sir Stratford Canning Sir Stratford Canning To Sir Stratford Canning- Sir Stratford Canning . . To Sir Stratford Cannin"- Sir Stratford Canning To Sir Stratford Canning Sir Stratford Canning- . . Dec. 22, 1841 1, 17, 17, 24, 29. Jan., 22, 1S42 24. Feb. 24. 9, 11, IG, 16, Mar. It), Feb. 23, 2G, :Mar. 24. April G, Mar. IG, 17, ■K) Apr. 23, 7, 13, 20, Measures which slionld be taken by tlie Porte for restoration of tran- iliiillity in Syria . . Yaconli I'aslia will bo sent to Syria to examine into tlie state of the country Nejib I'asha is su])posed to have en- couraged the late attack on the Christians . . Seraskier .Mustapha Pasha appointed Commissioner to Syria in place of Yacoub Pasha . . Question of the nomination of the Emir Emin to the government of the l^ebanon End of disturbances in Syria. Im- proved state of feeling in Damascus towards the Ifayahs Supposed dissatisfaction of the Porte with Colonel Rose . Arrival of Emir IJeshir-cl-Kassim. Appointment of Omar Pasha to the government of Mount Lebanon . . Observations with reference to re- moval of Emir Beshir-el-Kassim from government of tlie Lebanon. Intention to communicate with the Porte respecting cliange of govern- ment in Syria Reply of the Porte respecting Syria . Despatch of Sir S.C-'anning to Colonel Rose on afl'airs of .Mount Lebanon Letter from Emir 13eshir-cl-Kas- sim, and memorial to (jrand Vizier respecting his deposition . . Approving conmuniications made to the Porte respecting alteration in government of the Lebanon. Opin- ion of British Government respect- ing the Emir Emin. Course pursued by him in reference to reported com])laints of Porte against Colonel Rose Turkish Governor of the Lebanon attempts to get up petitions in favour of the new order of things. Proceedings in consequence Language to be held to Porte on Syrian affairs. Property of the Emir Beshir's wife Albanian troops to be sent Syria . . Language to be held to Porte with reference to reported intention to send Albanian troops into Syria . . Conduct of the Porte. Albanian troops Answer of Porte about Syria. Se- lini Bey to be sent there as Com- missioner . . Emir Beshir-el-Kassim. Commu- nications with him Abstract of principal incidents com- raimicatod by Colonel Rose on Syrian affairs Reply to his despatch of March 29. . Removal of Xcjib from Damascus to Bagdad. Ali Pasha succeeds him Accounts received by Porte from Syria. Selim Bey still at Constan- tinople Departure of Selim Bey. Commu- nications with Sarin) Ivffcndi. Al- banians Has communicated to tlie Porte in- structions respecting Albanian troops Page 40 42 43 43 44 44 45 4G 48 52 56 58 60 62 66 G7 67 C7 GS 70 /2 72 73 73 IV TABLE OF CONTENTS, No. 5G j7 59 60 Gl 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 7S 79 80 81 Sir Stratford Canning 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 To Sir Stratford Canning Sir Stratford Canning To Sir Stratford Canning Sir Stratford Canning To Sir Stratford Canning Sir Stratford Canning To Sir Stratford Canning Sir Stratford Canning . . May 18, 1842 24, June 9, 9, 17, 30, 27, July 21, 17, Aug. 16, 26, 30, To Sir Stratford Canning Sir Stratford Canning . . Sept 16, 27, 30, Oct. 24, 24, 31, 17, 28, Nov. 17, Dec. 19, Nov. Jan. 26, 26, 28, 6, 1843 Dec. 7, 17, 17, 17, 1842 Jan. 20, 1843 Dec Jan. 31, 17, 1842 1843 Pa^e Petition of inhabitants of Mount Lebanon. Proposed Conference witii the Turkish Ministers . . 74 Delay of Conference on affairs of Syria Protocol of Conference of May 27, and papers communicated to Re- presentatives by Reis Eifendi . . 76 Observations on the present state of the Syrian Question . . . . 93 Petitions from Lebanon in favour of Shchab family . . . . . . 94 Conference with Sarim Effendi on Syrian affairs . . . . 94 Difficulties in the way of a settlement of the Syrian Question . . . . 95 Views as to the government of Syria, and the employment of Albanian troops . . " 98 Communications with Turkish Minis- ters respecting the Lebanon . . 101 Receipts of instructions of July 21. Albanians in Syria . . . . 101 Course to be adopted by the Repre- sentatives of Five Powers. In- structions to M. Pisani .. .. 102 Language of Reis Effendi on receipt of copy of Instructions respecting Lebanon . . . . . . 105 Conference with Turkish Ministers. . 106 Decision of the Porte respecting future government of the Lebanon. 108 Instruction to M. Pisani. Sarim Effendi's reply .. .. .. 112 British Government abide by their demand respecting government of the Lebanon . . . . . . 115 To make inquiries respecting Emir Beshir El-Kassim's property . . 116 Approval of the course taken with reference to the note from the Porte, of September 27 .. .-. 116 Respecting propertv alleged to have been restored to the Maronitcs . . 117 No satisfactory account can be ob- tained on the subject of the last despatch . . . . . . . . 1 20 Conference with Sarim Effendi on affairs of Syria .. .. .. 120 Confiscation by Omar Pasha of property of Sheik Djinblat's. Rc- preseniations to be made as to pro- perty of Sheik Ishmael .. .. 121 State of affairs in Syria .. .. 122 Instruction to Colonel Rose .. 123 Emir Beshir El-Kassim's claims . . 124 AH Effendi has communicated acqui- escence of the Porte in views of Allied Courts 124 Arrangement of affairs in Svria .. 124 Note to Porte. Instructions to Colonel Rose ] 26 Further communications with Sarim Eff'endi 132 Sarim Effendi's answer respecting the employment of Albanian troops. 133 Approval of his conduct in Syrian afi"airs . . . . . . . . 133 Emir El-Kassim's claims .. .. 134 Language of Sarim Effendi respecting property of Sheik Ishmael and Emir El-Kassim . . . . . . 134 PART I. CORRESPONDENCE WITH HER MAJESTY'S EMBASSY AT CONSTANTINOPLE, RESPECTING THE AFFAIRS OF SYRIA. No. 1. Viscount Ponsonhy to Viscount Palmerston. — {Received June 12.) (Extract . ) Therapia, May 23, 1 84 1 . I HAVE this evening, (and fortunately in time for the messenger,) extremely bad news from Syria. I must be as brief as possible. Rechid Pasha sent as Governor to Damascus Hadji Nejib Pasha, a man who had been during many years Kapou Kiaja to Mehemet AH (Pasha of Egypt). He has ordered the Christians not to enter Damascus on horseback, and prohibited the wearing any coloured clothes of a light and gay colour, and to dress in black as in former days. He has appointed Sheik Abdul Hadi Governor of Gaza and Muhassil of the surrounding districts. Abdul Hadi is the man who first assisted Ibrahim to take St. Jean d'Acre, and lately, as Mudir, or Supreme Superintendent of the fortress, defended it against the Sultan. He is known to be a traitor and a friend to Mehemet Ali. This appointment made by Nejib gives Abdul Hadi the opportunity of delivering up Gaza to Mehemet Ali, and aiding in restoring Syria to him. Nejib is attacking some of the Emirs of Mount Lebanon because they have refused to tax the inhabitants above their means to pay. Thus Nejib is betraying the Sultan. I write solely to request that you will send for Chekib Effendi, and desire him to write to the Porte and insist upon the punishment of Nejib; his degradation is not enough. An example is absolutely necessary, and one too of great severity. I entreat you to speak in the strongest terms to Chekib, for it is too bad that Nejib should be permitted to insult the Cliristians to whom his Sovereign is indebted for Syria, and be the cause of undoing all that we have done with so much trouble, for assuredly Syria will revolt if these men are allowed to act so as to irritate the whole Syrian nation. I will here speak in the strongest terms to the Porte, and I dare say I shall succeed, but I shall want the assistance of your declaration to Chekib, and pray remember to tell him that you inform me of all you have said to him. I will give you other details of the ill conduct of the men sent to Syria. B 2 No. 2. Viscount Palmerston to Viscount Ponsonly. My Lord, Foreign Office, June 15, 1841. I HAVE received your Excellency's letter of the 23rd of May, written as the messenger was about to be despatched from Therapia, containing accounts of the unsatisfactory state of things in Syria, in consequence of the injudicious appointments made by the Turkish Government and its subordi- nate authorities, and I have in consequence addressed to Chekib EfFendi, the Turkish Ambassador at this Court, a note of which 1 inclose a copy for your Excellency's information. I am, &,c., (Signed) PALMERSTON. Inclosure in No. 2. Viscount Palmerston to Chekib Effendif Foreign Office, June 15, 1841. THE Undersigned, &c., has the honour to inform Chekib Effendi, Sec, that Her Majesty s Government have just received with great concern the following inibrmation, which, as it bears upon the stability of the dominion of the Sultan in Syria, the Undersigned hastens to communicate to Chekib EfFendi. It appears that Hadji Nejib Pasha has been appointed by the Porte to be Governor of Damascus, although he had been many years in the service of Mehemet Ali, Pasha of Egypt, and was on that account not the fittest person to command in an important city in Syria ; and Her Majesty's Govern- ment have been informed that Nejib Pasha has begun his administration by edicts offensive to the Christians, whom he has ordered not to appear in the streets of Damascus on horseback, and not to wear clothes of any light or gay colour, but to dress themselves entirely in black. Hadji Nejib Pasha has, moreover, appointed Sheik Abdul Hadi to be the Governor of Gaza and the Muhassil of the neighbouring districts ; and this Sheik Abdul is stated to be the individual who first assisted Ibrahim Pasha to take the fortress of Acre, and who lately, as Mudir, or Supreme Superintendent, defended that fortress against the arms of the Sultan ; he is also considered to be still attached to Mehemet Ali. Abdul Hadi, by the situation which he holds, has the power of delivering up Gaza to Mehemet Ali whenever he pleases, and of thus assisting to restore Syria to the Pasha of Egypt. Hadji Nejib is further accused of oppressing some of the Emirs of Mount Lebanon, because those Emirs have refused to tax the inhabitants of their districts beyond their means of payment. If these allegations be true, and there is good reason to believe them to be so, there can be no doubt that Hadji Nejib is employing the influence which he derives from his situation as Governor of Damascus, to undermine the Sultan's authority in Syria ; and the Undersigned cannot too urgently press Chekib Effendi to advise his Government, not only to dismiss Hadji Nejib from his office, but also to submit his conduct to legal inquiry, in order that he may be duly punished, if it should be proved that he has transgressed the law or violated his duty towards the Sultan. Her Majesty's Government feel especially called upon to address the Turkish Government on this matter, because of the oppressions which Hadji Nejib is stated to practise upon the Christians. For England having, in con- junction with other Christian Powers, succeeded in restoring Syria to the Sultan, she is entitled to expect that the Sultan, in return for such assistance, should secure his Christian subjects from oppression. The Undersigned, moreover, need scarcely point out to Chekib Eftendi, that if a system of oppression is practised against the Christians in Syria, the consequence will be that the people will revolt against the authority of the Sultan ; and such a revolt would be an encouragement to the discontented of all classes to rebel. And how could the Sultan expect the countenance or support of the Christian Powers in maintaining his authority, if the opposition to his autho- rity was provoked by severities and cruelties inflicted on his Christian subjects ? The Undersigned earnestly requests Chekib Effendi to call the serious attention of his Government to these matters without delay ; and he has the honour to inform Chekib Effendi that a messenger will be despatched to-morrow evening to Constantinople, by whom any communication which Chekib Effendi may think proper to make to his Government on these matters might be conveyed. The Undersigned, &c., (Signed) PALMERSTON. No. 3. Viscount Ponsonby to Viscount Palmerston. — (^Received June 26.) (Extract.) Therapia, June 8, 1841_ ON the 4th instant I had an interview at Pera with the Internuncio and Monsieur de Titow, to concert the measures to be adopted with regard to Syria. Mr. Wood and Monsieur Laurin were present. It was agreed to advise the Porte : — 1. To remit all illegal taxes, in accordance with the promises made to the Syrians. 2. To appoint a Governor of Jerusalem for the special purpose of afford- ing protection to Christians, and of adjusting the disputes that might arise between the different sects. 3. To issue positive orders to all Ottoman functionaries in Syria, to abstain from opposing any impediment whatever to the free exercise by Chris- tians of the rites of their religion. 4. To allow the Emir Beshir to have a Kapou Kiaja at Constantino- ple, in order to establish a direct communication between him as Governor of Lebanon and the Ottoman Ministers. 5. To procure from the Sublime Porte acknowledgments of the services rendered by various Syrians in the late war, and rewards. It was agreed between us that our object should be to obtain from the Porte security for every right enjoyed by the Syrians, and to endeavour to establish as far as possible something like justice in the administration of the affairs of Syria, by the Pashas and other officers of the Porte. It was agreed that each of us should take his own measures with the Porte in furtherance of the general principles above stated, and on the 5th in the morning, Mr. Wood carried to the Minister for Foreign Affairs a report I had caused him to make upon the subject. The Internuncio has also acted in perfect concurrence with these principles, and the result is that the Minis- ter has agreed to our propositions, with the exception of one point, that relating to the Kapou Kiaja of the Emir Beshir, namely, the Minister declines permitting the Emir to appoint his Kiaja, and insists upon the nomination of a Turk by the Porte to occupy that post. It is impossible to give details of these affairs with any accuracy until they have been finally settled, but I inclose for your Lordship's information copy of a letter, dated this day, from Mr. Wood. Your Lordship will be so good as to bear in mind that Mr. Wood had no idea his letter would be made known to you, and he is to be excused, therefore, for expressing his opinion with a freedom tome which I authorize and encourage in all whom I have to employ ia the public service. B 2 I reo^ret to say that the reports I receive of the state of affairs in Syria are very unpleasant. Nejib Pasha, Governor of Damascus, has reimposed upon the Cluistians many of the restraints upon their actions by which the old Government of the Turks was rendered odious to them. He has ordered that the Christians shall not enter Damascus on horseback, nor wear clothes of any lio-ht and lively colour, and that they shall observe some particular modes of salutation expressive of inferiority, when any Turkish functionary is in ques- tion ; but these vexatious follies are light in comparison with the demand he has caused the Defterdar to make upon the mountaineers for a large sum of money as an impost; a sum, which the Emir Beshir has refused to ask the mountaineers to pay, saying, that the power of the Seraskier and his own united is not sufficient to force them to submit to the exaction. The moment 1 heard of this conduct I apphed to Rifaat Pasha for his interference to put an end to it, but I regret that I found little disposition to take the necessary steps, and I have been obliged to repeat several times and in very strong language, a demand that Syria should not be thrown into rebel- lion for the sake of pleasing Nejib Pasha. At last I learn that Rifaat has got the Sublime Porte to write to Nejib saying that strong complaints have been made against his conduct, and ordering him in the most peremptory manner to conduct himself towards every description of subjects with the greatest kindness. I have desired to be furnished with a copy of the letter. I beg your Lordship will tell Chekib Effendi that you demand the recal of NejiblPasha. It is necessary that the British Government should take a very high tone with the Porte, or Syria will be lost by the timidity of the Ottoman Ministers, who are afraid of giving offence to individuals like Nejib, or his protectors, and the loss of Syria will be the consequence. I think things of minor importance had best not be asked for and that details should not be dic- tated, but assuredly England has the right to insist that Syria — the restoration of which to the dominion of the Sultan is the work of England — should not be thrown away to gratify the will of a Pasha, and that the Syrians who acted upon the faith of Englishmen's declarations, should not be defrauded or robbed of their rights to gratify the avarice of a few Turkish agents. Inclosure in No. 3. Mr. Wood to Viscount Ponsonby. (Extract.) Per a, June 8, 1841. AFTER I had the honour of writing yesterday to your Lordship, the Baron de Stiirmer desired to see me; and in order to convince him that the propositions made to the Porte were in accordance with what was agreed at his house to be done, I took with me the Turkish memorandum I gave Rifaat Pasha. 1 remained with him an hour, and gave him all the information he desired. He appeared perfectly satisfied with my explanations, for he gave his dragoman orders before me to assure Rifaat Pasha that he perfectly embraced your Lordship's propositions and views, which were also his own. Immediately after I repaired to the Porte, to ascertain the Council's reply to the propositions, and was told by Rifaat Pasha that it had adopted all, except the one relating to the Emir and the Patriarch's Kapou Kiajas. MM. Pisani and Testa were with me, and we positively remained four hours with Rifaat Pasha arguing the point. The Porte objects to their having a Kapou Kiaja at Constantinople, and proposes that they should have each one with the Defterdar in Syria. I told them that I felt certain that neither the Emir nor the Patriarch would consent to it, as their object was to have an agent at the Porte to communicate the misconduct of the Defterdar and of the Pasha, if necessary. Every argu- ment was used to convince them of the erroneous view they had taken of it ; and it was agreed finally that another Council should be held on Wednesday to reconsider the matter under certain modifications : which are, that in the event the Porte consents to the Emir's having a Kapou Kiaja at Constanti- nople, he shall be appointed by the Porte, and shall be moreover a Turk. M. Testa said he could not oppose this, thongh his original inslructions were that the Kapou Kiaja should be elected by the Emir. I replied that my instructions were the same, and that I would not consent to the modifications before I communicated with your Lordship. The Kapou Kiiijas of the Pashas are appointed by the Porte and of course Turks. The Emir ought not to expect to enjoy any right the other Pashas do not enjoy ; the object would be attained equally as well, and the Porte would make fewer objections to it; but 1 am very anxious to have your Lordship's directions thereon. Rifaat Pasha declared again that only the Princes of Servia, Wallachia, and Molda- via, and Samos, had the right of selecting and appointing their own Kapou Kiajas, and that the Porte would never consent to place the Emir in the same independent condition, which affected the independence of the Turkish Government. I shall see the Grand Vizier to-day respecting the Kapou Kiaja of the Patriarch. 1 expect to meet with less opposition in procuring the consent of the Porte ; but in the event it refuses its assent, and proposes that he should have one with the Defterdar in Syria, what does your Lordship direct me to do in that case? for M. Testa and myself are determined, if possible, to get these affairs settled before the departure of the next steamer. No. 4. Viscount Palmerston to Viscount Ponsonby. My Lord, Foreign Office, July 3, 184L I INCLOSE, for your Excellency's information, a copy of a further note which I have addressed to Chekib Effendi, in consequence of what is stated in your Excellency's despatch of the 8th of June, respecting the exactions of Nejib Pasha in Syria. I am, &c., (Signed) PALMERSTON. Inclosure in No. 4. Viscount Palmerston to Chekib Effendi. Foreign Office, July 2, 1841. THE Undersigned, &c., has the honour to state to Chekib Effendi, &c., that since the date of the note which he addressed to his Excellency on the L5thofJune, Her Majesty's Government have received further information, by which it appears that Nejib Pasha, of Damascus, not content with inflict- ing many intolerable vexations upon the Christian population of Damascus and its neighbourhood, has called upon the inhabitants of Mount Lebanon to pay large sums of money, far exceeding what they are able to pay, and not- withstanding that Selim Pasha, the commander of the Sultan's forces in Syria, had, as the people of Lebanon allege, promised, at the commencement of the struggle with the Egyptian forces, that the district of Lebanon should be free from taxes for three years, if the people should cordially and eiiectively assist the Sultan in expelling the troops and authorities of Mehemet Ali. The Undersigned earnestly requests Chekib Effendi to represent to the Porte that such exactions must alienate the minds of the Syrian people from the Sultan, and must necessarily incline them to listen to designing men who seek to overthrow the authority which the Sultan, by the assistance of his Allies, has re-established in Syria. The Undersigned, &c., (Signed) PALMERSTON. G No. 5. Viscount Ponsonby to Viscount Palmerston. — {Received July 9.) My Lord, Thcrapiu, June 15, 1841. I INCLOSE copy of a despatch from the Grand Vizier to Nejib Pasha, Governor of Damascus, written in consequence of representations made to the Sublime Poite of the misconduct of that Pasha. It will appear that the tdespatch is wanting in precision in stating the orders of the Porte peremp- orily, but I am assured that this has been done designedly, to save oti'ering an indignity to a high officer, in a document that is necessarily public, and that secret orders have been sent to Nejib, and the other Pashas, much more precise and much more rigorous. I have, &c., (Signed) PONSONBY. Inclosure in No. 5. Tlie Grand Vizier to Nejib Pasha. (Traduction.) NOUS nous occupons des reponses qu'il sera necessaire de donner a plusieurs depeches de votre Excellence. Dans une de vos depeches que nous venons de recevoir, il est dit que, considerant que ne pas accepter les chevaux donnes par quelques Slieiks a votre Excellence, ainsi qu'au Defterdar Envery Effendi, ce serait etablir un usao^e, ce qui ne serait pas convenable, vous les avez reyus en donnant une compensation. Mais dans une lettre que je vous ai ecrite dernierement,je vous ai parle lono-uement et dans une mani^re particulifere du bruit qui court que vos gens et ceux du Defterdar se font donner de I'argent (comme moyen de corrup- tion) pour faire aller certaines affaires. Je vous ai dit en meme temps, que nous ne croyons pas que votre Excellence fasse une chose pareille, mais que cependant si vos gens ou ceux du Defterdar se trouvent avoir pris quelque argent comme ci-dessus, il fallait que cet argent fftt rendu sur le champ a ceux qui I'avaient donnd, en prenant soin que des choses pareilles n'arrivent plus ; choses contraires k notre attente. La bonne opinion et la confiance que nous avons en vous, ne nous per^ mettent pas de croire que, sous les auspices de Sa Hautesse, votre Excellence daio-nera faire des choses qui sont contraires a la volonte de la Sublime Porte ; et il est clair que dans toutes les occasions vous aurez soin de donner des preuves de desinteressement et d'honnetete. Mais on vient de nous faire savoir de nouveau, que vos gens et ceux du Defterdar prennent actuellement encore de I'argent, (present servant a corrompre,) et que c'est par ce moyen la que I'on a donne des places k Suliman Abdul Hadi, a Mohammed El Hadi, a Abdul Fetah, et au Sheik Said ; que Ton maltraite les hommes qui ont des affaires a representer ; qu'on traite les Chretiens avec niepris, — on les moleste par rapport a leur habillement, et on les empeche de monter a cheval ; qu'il y a d'autres abus semblables; que toutes les affaires sont dans les mains de vos gens ; et que vous avez pris des environs de Damas jusqu'a 160 chevaux. Les v^ritables intentions de Sa Majeste Imperiale et de tous les Ministres de '.a Sublime Porte, sont que toutes les classes de sujets, — sans exception, soient eoalement proteges contre toute injustice et a I'abri de toute vexation ; et particuliferement que dans ces pays la, on observe tous les principes de justice, et Ton tienne les procedes les plus doux, les plus bienveillans, afin de ne pas donner lieu a la moinOre plainte. Enfin, nous tenons beaucoup a ce que la meilleure administration soit exercee, et que les rayas soient proteges. Votre Excellence est un homme sage et ^claird ; un des plus illustres Vizirs de I'Empire. Ella ne souffrira done pas que dans les temps delicats ou nous nous trouvons, il arrive des choses contraires a la volonte souveraine ; et votre sagacite nous est garantc que dans chaque occasion vous vous con- formerez aux circonstances et mettrez vos soins h repandrc les bienfaits de la protection et de la justice. Suppose, par exemple, que des hommes a votre service prennent de I'argent comme prix de corruption, vous les leur d(5fen- drez, vous les chasserez, vous les en punirez. Et aprts tout, puisqu'on parle de ces choses 1^, il se pent bien qu'elles ne soient point tout-fi-fait denuees de fondement. L'acceptation, d'ailleurs, des chevaux dont il a et6 parle plus haut, corrobore les faits dont on parle. Si vos gens, ou ceu.x du Deftcrdar, ont pris des cadeaux de corruption, il faut qu'ils soient restitu(!'s k ceux qui les ont donnes ; et nous avons donne au Defterdar d'Acre, Edhem Bey, les instructions necessaires a cet egard ; celle-ci etant une ali'aire de grande importance. II n'est pas possible que les communications faitcs par les agens de quelques Puissances amies soient destituees de fondement d'un bout il I'autre; or, quand une petite partie en serait vrai, croyez quel tort cela fait h. nos n tenets. Votre Excellence tachera de faire tout ce qu'il faut pour rendre aimable aux yeux des populations I'administration exercee par la Sublime Porte. Quoiqu'il en soit, considerant que les chevaux regus sont deja recus, et voulant conserver votre influence morale, on vous dispense de rendre des clie- vaux pris il y a deja quelque temps, et pour lesquels on a donne une compensa- tion. Mais on rendra sans delai les autres objets, en donnant tl chacun le sien. Vous arrangerez desormais chaque affaire suivant les regies de I'equite et comme elle merite de I'etre ; et vous aurez soin qu'il n'arrive plus des choses contraires a la volonte de la Sublime Porte. Desormais, ni votre Excellence, ni le Defter- dar, ni vos gens, ni les siens, ne recevrez ni des chevaux ni d'autres objets. Et comme alors aucune compensation ne sera necessaire, vous ne donnerez vien en retour ; votre Excellence ne negligera point les affaires de Tun et de I'autre : elle s'en occupera elle-m^me ; elle repandra les bienfaits de la justice, et en agissant de la sorte, elle fera b^nir, avec son administration particuliere, celle de la Sublime Porte. Votre Excellence aura soin de prendre des mesures energiques tendant a ce que les gens k son service particulier se comportent de mani^re a ne causer aucun prejudice k qui que ce soit; et surtout, a ce qu'ils ne recoivent point des cadeaux (faits pour gagner ceux a qui ils sont donnas), des cadeaux de cette nature etant une chose abominable, une chose nuisible et dans ce monde et dans I'autre. Et, de concert avec le Defterdar, vous vous efforcerez dans toutes les occasions, de faire en sorte a ne vous attirer dans les affaires que vous aurez a traiter, aucune responsabilite personnelle ; etant k ces fins que je vous 6cris cette lettre. (Translation.) WE are occupied with the answers which it will be necessary to give to several of your Excellency's despatches. In one of your despatches which we have just received, it is stated that, considering that not to accept the horses given by some Sheiks to your Excel- lency, as well as to the Defterdar Envery EfFendi, would be to establish a custom, which would not be proper, you have taken them, giving compen- sation for them. But in a letter which I lately wrote to you, I spoke at length and in a particular manner of the report which is current that your people and those of the Defterdar get money given to them (as a means of corruption) to make certain affairs proceed. I said to you at the same time, that we do not believe that your Excellency would do such a thing, but that, nevertheless, if your people, or those of the Defterdar, are found to have taken any money, as above stated, that money should be returned immediately to those who had given it, taking care that such things should not occur again ; things contrary to our expectation. 8 The good opinion and the confidence which we have in you, do not allow us to believe that, under the auspices of His Highness, your Excellency will condescend to do things which are contrary to the will of the Sublime Porte ; and it is evident that on all occasions you will take care to give proofs of dis- interestedness and honesty. But we have just been again informed, that your people and those of the Defterdar actually still take money, (presents serving to corrupt,) and that it is by such means that places have been given to Suliman Abdul Hadi, to Mohammed El Hadi, to Abdul Fetah, and to the Sheik Said; that persons are ill treated who have affairs to represent; that the Christians are treated with contempt, — are molested as to their dress, and are prevented from riding on horseback ; that other similar abuses exist ; that all affairs are in the hands of your people ; and that you have taken 160 horses from the neighbourhood of Damascus. The real intentions of His Imperial Majesty and of all the Ministers of the Sublime Porte are, that all classes of subjects, without exception, should be equally protected against all injustice and sheltered from all oppression ; and particularly that in those countries all the principles of justice should be observed, and that the mildest and kindest conduct should be pursued, in order that no cause might be given for the slightest complaint. In short, we are very anxious that the best Government should be carried on, and that the Rayahs should be protected. Your Excellency is a wise and enlightened man ; one of the most illus- trious Viziers of the Empire. You will not therefore suffer that in the critical times in which we find ourselves, circumstances should occur contrary to the sovereign will ; and your penetration is an assurance to us that on every occa- sion you will conform to circumstances, and will use your efforts to diflfuse the benefits of protection and justice. Suppose, for instance, that men in your service take money as the price of corruption, you will prohibit them from doing so; you will discharge them ; you will punish them for it. And, after all, as these things are spoken of, it is possible that they may not be quite destitute of foundation. Moreover, the acceptance of the horses above- mentioned corroborates the facts spoken of. If your people, or those of the Defterdar, have accepted presents of corruption, they must be restored to those who gave them; and we have given to the Defterdar of Acre, Edhem Bey, the necessary instructions in this respect ; this being an affair of great importance. It is not possible that the communications made by the agents of some friendly Powers should be destitute of foundation from beginning to end ; but, if a small part of them should be true, think what injury that does to our interests. Your Excellency will endeavour to do all that is necessary to render the Government carried on by the Sublime Porte agreeable in the eyes' of the people. However, considering that the horses are already accepted, and wishing to preserve your moral influence, you are excused from returning the horses taken some time since, and for which compensation has been given. But the other articles shall be restored without delay, every body being given his own. You will henceforward arrange every affair according to the rules of justice, and according to its merits; and you will take care that circumstances contrary to the will of the Sublime Porte do not again occur. Hence- forward, neither your Excellency, nor the Defterdar, nor your people, nor his, will accept either horses or other articles. And as in that case no compensa- tion will be necessary, you will give nothing in return ; your Excellency will not neglect the affairs of any body; you will yourself attend to them; you will diffuse the benefits of justice, and, acting in this manner, you will cause the Government of the Sublime Porte, as well as your particular Go- vernment, to be blessed. Your Excellency will be careful to take strong measures in order that the people in your private service may conduct themselves so as to cause no injury to any body whatever, and, above all, in order that they may not accept presents (made to gain over those to whom they are given), presents of that nature being an abomination, hurtful both in this and in the other world. And, in concert with tlie Defterdar, you will endeavour on all occa- sions, to act so as not to incur any personal responsibility in the affairs which you will have to deal with ; it being for these objects that I write this letLer to you. No. 6. Viscount Ponsonby to Viscount Palmerston. — (Received July 9.) My Lord, Therapia, June 16, 1841. I THINK the affairs of Syria are settled in a satisfactory manner. I will report to your Lordship on the subject next week. I have, Sec, (Signed) PONSONBY. No. 7. Viscount Ponsonby to Viscount Palmerston. — {Received July 8./ My Lord, TJierapia, June 21, 1841. I THINK it proper to lay before your Lordship materials for the better formation of a judgment of the arrangements made for Syria, and of the difficulties that have been encountered and overcome. These materials are some letters and reports by Mr. Wood, explanatory of affairs, and also of his execution of my instructions to him. I beg leave to say that whilst 1 assign to Mr. Wood the merit of these arrangements, for the most stringent and effective parts of them are due to him, I will not refuse the entire responsibility of what has been done, as every bit of it was carefully examined by me, and altera- tions made where I thought change necessary. I trust your Lordship will perceive and be contented with the ability and courage shown by Mr. Wood. I have, &c., (Signed) PONSONBY. Inclosure 1 in No. 7. Memorandum of Propositions agreed upon at a Conference at TJierapia, respecting Syria. AT a conference of their Excellencies the Viscount Ponsonby, Baron de Stiirmer and M. Titow, it was agreed upon that the following five proposi- tions should be made to the Sublime Porte : — L That the Turkish Government should execute faithfully the promises it made to the Syrians, of re-establishing their ancient rights and privileges, in the event that they returned to their allegiance, &:c. The Sublime Porte has declared formally its intention of doing so. Instructions and orders will be transmitted to its officers, to allow the Syrians, and particularly the Christians, to enjoy the rights and privileges tliey enjoyed during the Egyptian administration, with such modifications as the Turkish law requires. 2. That the Turkish Government should be persuaded to remit all illegal taxes in Syria, as well as all such taxes as were with justice obnoxious to the people. The Sublime Porte had already transmitted instructions to the above C 10 effect, but as it does not appear they were properly understood, a new Defterdar has been appointed, with extraordinary powers, to examine into the complaints of the Syrians, remit all illegal taxation, and report his opinion with regard to what ought further to be done to relieve them from unnecessary burdens, &c. 3. That as the Emir Beshir and the Maronite Patriarch requested each to have a Kapou Kiaja, the Sublime Porte should be prevailed upon to accede to their request. The Sublime Porte has complied with their demand, and eacli is to have his agent to communicate direct with the Ottoman Ministers. 4. That a "Ferik" should be appointed to the Government of Jerusalem, for the special protection of the Christians, Sec. The Sublime Porte has consented to make this special appointment for the tranquillity and happiness of its Rayah subjects, &c. 5. That tlie Sublime Porte should be induced to reward the Sheiks and other individuals who served faithfully during the war. The Sublime Porte has given a list of the individuals to be rewarded, to his Excellency the Defterdar, with strict orders to reward them on his arrival in Syria. Therapia, May 12, 1841. (Signed) RICHARD WOOD. Inclosure 2 in No. 7. Memorandum on Syrian Affairs. LETTERS from Syria that have reached to-day, contain the following particulars : — "Nejib Pasha has ordered that the Christians are not henceforward to enter Damascus on horseback. He has ordered them besides to wear black instead of white turbans, and never to appear in clothes of a light colour. '• He has appointed Sheik Mohamed Abdul Hadi, Governor of Gaza and Muhassil of the surrounding districts ; Sheik Mohamed Abdul Hadi assisted Ibrahim Pasha in 1831 to take Acre, and has, in the late campaign, defended that fortress personally against the allied forces. He is known to be a traitor, and a friend of Mehemet Ali. Nejib Pasha, therefore, by appointing him Governor of Gaza, which is on the borders of Egypt, has given him the facility of betraying Syria a second time into the hands of Ibrahim Pasha.'' Nejib Pasha is about to deprive Emir Said-el-Deen and Emir EfFendi of the command of their districts in Anti-Lebanon, because they refuse to tax the mountaineers beyond what they can pay. These two Emirs served most gallantly in the late campaign against the Egyptians, have a right to the command of their districts, and will not give them up without a struggle. The Musteshar Etlendi has asked the Emir Beshir to pay him a tribute of five thousand purses annually, but the Emir has refused to accede to the demand, stating that, were the attempt made to tax so heavily the mountaineers, they would revolt, in which case neither the Seraskier nor himself possessed the means of appeasing them. The Musteshar Effendi, however, persisted in his demand and the Emir oifered his resignation ; fortunately a third party interfered, and an arrangement was entered into. Should the Musteshar EfFendi force the Emir to resign his government of Mount Lebanon, a civil war will immediately ensue between the Christians and Druses. The discontent is growing general in Syria; the causes are too numerous to detail here ; but the information received from different parts of the country tends to show that a revolt is not far distant. Therapia, May 23, 1841. 11 Inclosuie 3 in No. 7. Mr. Wood to Rifaat Pasha. (Extrait.) Tlierapin, 23 Mai, 1841. JE m'empresse de repondre ;i la demaiule de votre Kxcellence dc sig- naler par ecrit quelques renseignerncns sur la Syrie, ainsi que sur la conduite de quelques uns des employes de la Sublime Porte. Le " Rishwet*' (subornation) n'a cte nullemcnt aboli, et les Syriens se plaignent fortement qu'ils nc pcuvent demandcr I'assistance de.s autorites locales pour leurs affaires sans qu'ils soient obliges de leur donner de I'argent en cadeau ; ce systcme est general, et quoiqu'il faut exceptor quelques uns des hauts fonctionnaires, cependant presijue la totalite de leurs employes sont susceptibles a etre corrompus. Le Divan Eff'endissy et le Kiaya d'Ali Pacha, Ex-Gouverneiir de Damas, se sont enrichis par ce moyen, et on dit que les employes d'Assaad Pacha, Gouverneur d'Alep, en font autant. Mais c'est de la vente des charges qu'on a le plus a. craindre, puisqu'il en resulte trois graves inconveniens : 1". Le peu dattention qu'on met dans le ciioix du nouveau employe. 2°. Ce dernier ayant achete sa charge, il emploie sa nouvelle autorite, sans aucune peur, pour s'embourser des t'rais qu'il a faits. 3°. Le mecontentement que ces vexations cause parmi le peuple. Outre que I'Armee en Syrie est extremement negligee, elle est depour- vue de tous les necessaires. Elle a cinq mois d'arrieres a recevoir et elle n'a presque pas de commissariat, qui est du reste tres mal organise. Or, I'appro- visionnement des troupes devient extremement difficile ; les paysans se trouvent forces de fournir des vivres, et ils se plaignent a haute voix qu'ils ont a recevoir deja 3,000 bourses que son Excellence le Moustechar Etfendi ne leur paie pas. lis pretendent, par consequent, que sur ce point ils sont tout autant vexes qu'ils I'etaient pendant I'administration Egyptienne. J'en ai fait plusieurs representations au Moustechar Effendi, mais il m'a r(^'pondu toujours qu'il n'avait pas d'argent; cependant je suis convaincu que son Excellence aurait pu faire des arrangemens qui auraient cree moins de mecontentement. Les officiers de la Sublime Porte en Syrie traitent avec trap de dedain les habitans, ils ne font aucun cas de leurs representations, et ils ne leur accordent pas I'assistance dans leurs affaires qu'ils ont le droit de reclamer. Cette conduite provenant des hauts fonctionnaires, a beaucoup aliene I'affec- tion des Syriens, et il est h craindre qu'il pourra bien finir par rendre leur dcvouement a la Sublime Porte moins sincere qu'il ne I'etait au commence- ment de la campagne. En outre, I'ignorance des Pachas de la langue, des mceurs et des usages du pays qu'ils sont appelcs a gouverner, accelere beau- coup le mal que je viens de signaler. L'indifforence qu'ils temoignent pour tout ce qui se passe autour d'eux, ain.si qu'aux besoins du peuple, ajoutera a son mecontentement, et donnera lieu a beaucoup de confusion et d'anarchie a I'avenir. Deja I'autorite Turque est moins respectee de ce qu'cUe I'etait il y a environ quatre mois. La Sublime Porte devrait instruire ses officiers et ses Pachas de montrer plus d'activite, de faire plus d'attention aux besoins des ,Syriens, et dc les gouverner avec plus de justice et de moderation, mais de deployer de I'energie et de la fermete quand il le faut; — car ce serait manquer a la confiance que la Sublime Porte a bien voulu me faire I'honneur de me temoigner, si je cachais a votre Excellence que le premier coup de fusil qui partirait en Syrie sera le signal d'une revolution generale, — et comme ce pays est forme de montagnes et de deserts, le Gouvernement Turc s'apercevra trop tard que ses moyens militaires et pecuniaires sont tout-a-fait insuffisans pour I'apaiser. Les Pachas et les autres employes devraient montrer plus de zele et de la bonne foi dans I'exercice des fonctions des charges qui leur ont etc confiees, et par \h acquerir la confiance et le respect du peuple au lieu de les perdre, et augmenter I'influence de leur Gouvernement. 02 12 Le montant du revenu de la Syrie s'elevait pendant I'administration Egyptienne il 3G2,O0O bourses ; c'est-a-dire : Miri 102,000 bourses. Ferde 60,000 Moubaaya 200,000 ;\ peu pvhs. 362,000 Bourses. Maintenant que le Moubaaya, le Ferde, et autres impots sont abolis par le " Tanzimati Haiiiye,'' le revenu sereduira t\ 72,000 bourses seulememt, tandis que le montant des depcnses et des frais du Gouvernement en Syrie, d'apr^s un calcul approximatif, s'el^ve h. 140,000 bourses par an, ce qui occasion- nera un deficit annuel de 68,000 bourses. Dans une entrevue que j'ai eu I'honneur d'avoir avec leurs Excellences Selim Pacha et le Moustechar Effendi, il a ete decide de ne point etablir le Tahrire Mai, ou Timpot de 10 pour cent sur la valeur des proprietes. La pleine conviction cjue la perception de cet inipot causerait de ;j,rands inconv, 1841. UNCLOSE, for your Excellency's inforniatian, a copy* of a despatch from Colonel Rose, Her Majesty's Consul-General in Syria, stating the inconveni- ence which would result from the late Emir Beshir being allowed to return to Syria. This Chief, as your E.xcellency is aware, was removed from his com- mand in the Lebanon, in the month of October, 1840, by virtue of a firman granted by the Sultan to the present Emir Beshir, whereupon the former gave himself up to Admiral Sir Robert Stopford, and was conveyed in a British ship-of-war to Malta, where he remained until the end of last September. Her Majesty's Government would much regret that tlie Sultan should be prevailed upon to rescind the prohibition against the late Emir returning to Syria. For Her Majesty's Government consider that the tendency of such relaxation on the part of the Sultan would be, if possible, to increase the disorganization which is unhappily prevalent in Syria at the present time, and to render the eventual settlement of that country a matter of the greatest difficulty. Her Majesty's Government are so fully sensible of the great importance for the Porte that tranquillity should be secured in Syria at the earliest possi- ble period, that they earnestly recommend to the Porte not to suffer itself to be induced by any promises on the part of the late Emir, to admit of his return to Syria on any terms whatsoever. Above all the Porte should not forget that the agent by whom the firman of investiture was transmitted to the present Emir Beshir, was a servant of the British Government ; and that Her Majesty's Government have a right to expect that the Porte will not wantonly deprive him of the authority so conveyed to him. No. 26. The Earl of Aberdeen to Sir Stratford Canning. Sir, Foreign Office, November 27, 1841. WITH reference to my despatch of the 25th of November respecting the late Emir Beshir, I have to state to your Excellency, that although Her Majesty's Government would deprecate the return of that person to Syria, Her Majesty's Government would not entertain the same objection to his son, the Emir Emin, who is with him at Constantinople, being appointed to the Govern- ment of Lebanon, if the Porte should desire to make a change in the Govern- ment of that district. From the accounts received from Her Majesty's servants in Syria, the capacity of the present Emir Beshir to administer the affairs of the Lebanon in the state of disorganization which unhappily prevails there, appears doubtful ; and from the character which is given of the Emir Emin, it seems to Her Majesty's Government not improbable that the Porte may look upon him as a person likely to be an efficient successor to the present Emir Beshir. If this should be the case it would not be necessary that your Excellency should offer any objection to the Emir Emin's nomination to the Government of the Lebanon. I am, &c., (Signed) ABERDEEN. * Part II, No. 36. 40 No. 27. Mr. Bankhead to the Earl of Aberdeen. — {Received December 8.) (Extract.) Peru, November 16, 1841. I REGRET very much to find that there exists in Syria a spirit of animosity between the Druses and the Christians which has already led to one or two sanguinary conflicts, and which may be productive of still greater mischief. Both Colonel Rose and Mr. Wood agree in condemning the con- duct of Nejib Pasha, Governor of Damascus. His open dislike to Christians, and the certainty of his connivance at the late attacks upon them, together with the state of terror which he has inspired throughout the Lebanon, in consequence of his taking such a decided part with the Druses, induced me to present the other day a strong recommendation to the Porte to deprive him of his present post. I urged all these topics upon Rifaat Pasha in a conver- sation I previously had v^fith his Excellency, who enjoined me to communicate some facts and suggestions in a memorandum to which he would give his appui in the Council, for from all sides the Government receive complaints against their Governor of Damascus. I have not heard what determination has been taken upon my remarks, but I learn from a good source, that the Government is satisfied at the manner in which I have presented them to their notice. P,S. — I yesterday evening had a conversation with the Internuncio on the above subject, and his Excellency promised to second my endeavours to pro- cure the dismissal of Nejib Pasha. No. 28. Tlie Earl of Aberdeen to Sir Stratford Canning. Sir, Foreign Office, December 22, 1841. I HAVE to state your Excellency, that the accounts which Her Majesty's Government continue to receive from Syria, occasion them much pain and uneasiness. The active part which England took last year in the operations which led to the restoration of that province to the immediate rule of the Sultan, while it causes Her Majesty's Government to feel a more than ordi- nary degree of interest in the welfare of its inhabitants, authorizes them to address to the Porte, through your Excellency, the strongest repesentations, with the view of inducing the Turkish Government to take immediate mea- sures for the restoration of order and tranquillity in Syria. The whole country south of Beyrout appears to be in a state of disorga- nization. There is no security for individuals, and the authority of the Sultan is merely nominal. But it is especially in Mount Lebanon that disorder has been allowed to proceed to excesses, which can only be put a stop to by prompt and vigorous measures on the part of the Porte. The enmity between the Druses and the Maronites of Mount Lebanon is of ancient date. A difference of religious belief, added to a struggle for poli- tical supremacy between two parties, the numerical superiority of one being- more than counterbalanced bv the warlike qualities of the other, has con- tinually produced contests between them. Of late years the oppressive rule of Mehemet Ali, acting nearly equally upon both, maintained peace between the rival parties; but their jealousies and animosities revived on the departure of the Egyptians, and have brought about the warfare which has desolated the Lebanon. It has been alleged that the recent outbreak was accelerated by foreign suggestion, acting upon minds too easily excited. But, be that as it is may, Her Majesty's Government have at least the satisfaction of knowing that no such accusation can be brought against any British agents, and that Her Majesty's servants in Syria have spared no pains, and have shrunk from no 41 risk, in endeavouring to prevent, and to put an end to, the disorders which have taken place. Whatever may have been the immediate cause of conflict, whether it arose from foreign instigation or from old internal feuds, and whichever party may be chargeable with having commenced hostilities, it is unfortunately too certain that, in the progress of the contest, both parties have vied with each other in committing every species of enormity. Men, women, and children, have, on both sides, been the victims; houses, churches, and entire villages have been destroyed ; and the outrages have only ceased on the expulsion oi the vanquished party from the scene of conflict. It might, indeed, have been expected that the authorities of the Sultan in the neighbouring districts would have taken effectual means to put a stop to such a state of things. But Her Majesty's Government regret to say that, as far as they can learn, those authorities not only did not exert themselves as they ought to have done to restore order, but actually supplied one of the contending parties with the means of carrying on hostilities. At all events it is notorious that a Chief, named Shibli-el-Arian, who was high in favour with the Pasha of Damascus, was actively engaged on the side of the Druses. This supineness on the part of the Turkish authorities, and the little regard which they paid to the representations of the British agents who pointed out to them the most eff'ectual means for separating the combatants, would almost justify the belief that the contest of the rival parties was a source of satisfaction to their common rulers. The known sentiments of the Pasha of Damascus render it probable that he at least would not refrain from any measures which might tend to the oppression of the Christians; and the insti- gation of a warlike sect to attack their Christian neighbours would off"er the readiest mode of giving effect to his own views with the least risk of compro- mising himself with his sovereign. Her Majesty's Government cannot believe that such are the sentiments of the Porte. They are satisfied that the Sultan has no desire to withhold from any class of his subjects, Mahometans, Christians, or Druses, the privi- leges which, in the Hatti-Sheriff'of Gulhane, he professed to confer equally upon all. They cannot but remember that one of the chief grounds alleged by the Porte, in justification of the resentment felt by the Sultan at the conduct of Mehemet Ali while ruler of Syria, was the oppression which he exercised towards the people of that province. But harsh as was the govern- ment of Mehemet Ali, he nevertheless maintained order in the country ; and the Porte must not conceal from itself that the inhabitants of Syria may look back with regret upon the government of Mehemet Ali, if the power of the Sultan is insufficient to secure them in the enjoyment of the privileges which he has declared that he would bestow upon them. The first point to which the Porte, under existing circumstances, should direct its attention, is to restore order in the Lebanon. That object will not be effected by fomenting the animosities of rival sects ; but it may be brought about by teaching both parties to look up to the Sultan as their common protector. It may be difficult at once to allay the angry feelings which have been displayed in the late contest ; but much may be accomplished, even in that respect, by compensating sufferers for losses which they may have sustained, and by reinstating them in the possessions from which they may have been ejected. Under any circumstances, however, it is indispensable that the Porte should place at the disposal of its authorities in Syria, a strong- reinforcement of regular troops, sufficient to overawe all parties, but especially that party which has been victorious in the struggle. The Porte should order its military commanders to repress, at the outset, the first indications of a disposition, in any quarter, to renew the contest; and should enjoin them to maintain, on all occasions, the lawful authority of the Sultan. It is impossi- ble to estimate at too high a value the importance to the Porte of the main- tenance of order in Syria. But it cannot be expected that order will be preserved in Syria, unless the authorities of the Porte, in that country, demean themselves in such a way as to conciliate the good will of the inha- bitants. Her Majesty's Government regret to say, that such has not hitherto been the case ; and they do not hesitate, on the information which has reached G 42 them, to pronounce that Nejib Pasha, the chief Turkish authority in Syria, is responsible for much of the evil which has occurred in that country. Her Majesty's Government have more than once had occasion to point out to the Porte the disastrous consequences which must inevitably result from the maintenance of Nejib Pasha in his post of Pasha of Damascus. They have abstained of late from renewing the subject, because they relied on the assurances given by Rifaat Pasha to your Excellency's predecessor, as reported in his despatch of the 18th of July, that if Nejib Pasha failed in any degree whatever in obeying the orders of the Porte to avoid giving any cause of dissatisfaction to the Syrians, he should instantly be removed from his post. But Nejib Pasha still rules in Syria, notwithstanding that in defiance of those orders, he continues to oppress the Christian subjects of the Sultan, to interfere arbitrarily with the inferior governors, and to maintain in places of trust and influence persons notorious for the cruelties M'hich have marked their conduct on former occasions, or known to be attached to the fortunes of Mehemet Ali. Her Majesty's Government, therefore, feel themselves now entitled to claim from Rifaat Pasha, the fulfilment of the promise which he made to Viscount Ponsonby in July last ; and they claim it with the greater earnest- ness at the present moment, because they are convinced that nothing but the most prudent and conciliatory conduct on the part of the Turkish authorities, can uphold the dominion of the Sultan in Syria, and that an example is required, to show those authorities that the Sultan is determined to keep the promises which he made to his people in the Hatti-SherifF of Gulhane, and to punish all those, however exalted may be their rank, who shall presume to thwart his gracious intentions in that respect. Your Excellency will communicate to the Turkish Government the observations contained in this despatch. I am, &c., (Signed) ABERDEEN. No. 29. Mr. Bankhead to the Earl of Aberdeen. — (^Received December 26.) My Lord, Pera, December 1, 1841. THE late troubles in Syria having been brought to the serious notice of the Sublime Porte, as well by their own agents as by Her Majesty's Embassy, and the other Missions at Constantinople, it has been at length resolved to send a person whose position and weight of character will be likely to pro- duce a satisfactory arrangement of the differences existing in that distracted province. I received the day before yesterday, in common with my colleagues of Austria, Prussia, Russia and France, a message from Rifaat Pasha, announc- ing this determination of the Porte ; and I have since learnt that the Sultan's choice has fallen upon Yacoub Pasha, at present Governor of Adrianople. He will be instructed to examine thoroughly the state of the country, the causes of the troubles that now agitate it, and to make a full report thereupon to the Sultan. Rifaat Pasha expressed great concern at the present deplorable state of Syria, and the determination of the Government to put an end to it, by obliging their officers to abide by those promises of reform and justice which were freely given on the restoration of that province to the Turkish authority. Yacoub Pasha will have a difficult task to perform, for he will find the country a prey not only to intestine dissensions, kept alive by active foreign partizans, but he will likewise be met by a disinclination on the part of the people to pay even such moderate contributions as were apportioned to them, upon a revisal of their finances here some months ago. I understand that the conduct of Yacoub Pasha during the late dis- 43 turbances in Rounielia, has given such satisfaction to the Porte as to induce the Turkish Ministers to appoint him on the present occasion, and much benefit, it is thought, will accrue to Syria from his character and discernment. I have, &c., (Signed) CHARLES BANKHEAD. No. 30. Mr. Bankhead to the Earl of Aberdeen. — {Received January 19, 1842.) (Extract.) Peru, December 17, 1841. I HAVE received despatches from Mr. Consul Wood, and from Colonel Rose, of the 22nd and 30th ultimo. The former describes the state of parties as still very unsatisfactory, and he urges again the necessity of Nejib Pasha's recall from the Pashalic of Damascus, as the first step towards a return to tranquillity. There seems to be no doubt that, through his emissaries, Nejib encouraged the Druses in their late attacks upon the Christians of Mount Lebanon, but his principal agent, a Druse chief, Shibli-el- Arian, having overstepped the cautious instruc- tions of the Pasha, ventured to attack the Maronites in the town of Zahl^, which they defended with spirit, and drove the assailants away. The conse- quence of success on that occasion, by the Druses, would have been hostilities between them and the Turkish forces, for Reshid Pasha marched to the neighbourhood of Zahl^, with a strong force, for the purpose of restoring order, and he would have been obliged to have arrested the progress of the Druses had they succeeded in defeating the inhabitants of that city. Hence the difficulty in which Nejib has since found himself. Colonel Rose's despatches are of a later date, and represent the Druses to have retired, and tranquillity to be for the time restored. No. 31. Mr. Bankhead to the Earl of Aberdeen. — {Received January 19, 1842.) My Lord, Pera, December 17, 1841. IN reference to my despatch of December 1, in which I mentioned to your Lordship the intention of the Porte to send Yacoub Pasha to Syria, as Commissioner to investigate into the various complaints of misgovernment existing in that country, I have the honour now to state, that at a Council of Ministers, held on Monday last, the Sultan decided upon revoking that appointment, and sending the Seraskier Mustapha Pasha instead. It is asserted, that His Imperial Majesty is influenced in this choice on account of the rank of the Seraskier being so much higher, and, as such, oflfering to the Syrians a greater proof of the interest His Majesty takes in the welfare of his subjects in that province. I understand, from good authority, that Mustapha Pasha will be furnished with authority to displace Nejib from the Pashalic of Damascus. I have all along been impressed with the necessity of this measure, and in obeying a request of Rifaat Pasha, to furnish him with the latest news from Syria, I availed myself of the opportunity of renewing to the Porte my opinions upon the subject. The Pasha sent me word that he approved of the memorandum thus furnished, and I know that it was to be read at the Council held on Monday last. It is decided that Tahir, the Capudan Pasha, is to be charged with the duties of the War Department during the Seraskier's absence. I believe there are other reasons than those ostensibly given for the appointment of Mustapha Pasha to Syria; complaints have been made of his want of activity (a failing ascribed to his present colleagues as well as to himself), and perhaps before the period of his return, circum- stances may arise which will cause a person of greater vigour to be put in his place. Mustapha Pasha is considered a man of good intentions ; he is a strict G2 44 Mussulman, althcogh not a bigot, but I doubt very much if his substitution for Yacoub Pasha may not turn out an unfortunate appointment, the latter being a man of very superior abilities to the Seraskier, and whose energy of character gave promise of some good being eftected by his presence in Syria. I have, &c., (Signed) CHARLES BANKHEAD. No. 32. Mr. Bankhead to the Earl of Aberdeen. — {Received January 15, 1842.) My Lord, Peru, December 24, 1841. SOME days before I had the honour of receiving your Lordship's des- patch of the 27th ultimo, addressed to Sir Stratford Canning, I thought it could do no harm to sound Rifaat Pasha as to the feelings of the Porte with regard to the Emir Emin, son of the ex-Emir Beshir. I was induced to take this step in consequence of suggestions made on more than one occasion by Colonel Rose, that the nomination of that person as Emir Beshir might be of service in allaying the animosities existing in the Lebanon ; and I was strengthened in my resolution in consequence of the character of the present Emir, who is acknowledged by all parties to be utterly unfit for his situation. I beg leave to observe, however, that the remark thus offered to the Minister for Foreign Affairs was understood as a consequence of the Porte desiring such a change in the Government of Lebanon, and was not intended in any way to counsel such a measure, however necessary I might have thought it to be to do so. The Pasha received ray remark in perfect good part, and I doubt not would have availed himself of it, had not his removal from office prevented any further communication upon the subject. While steadily following the instructions conveyed in your Lordship's despatch of November 25, respecting the ex-Emir Beshir, I shall not lose sight, at a proper moment, of expressing the opinion of Her Majesty's Government with regard to his son. I feel the absolute necessity for some alteration in the Government of Mount Lebanon, and I know of no one more likely to effect that desirable change than the person mentioned by your Lordship ; but if the Porte should determine upon his nomination, great care should be taken in the preparation of his instructions, and in prescribing the extent of his authority in that country. T navp &C (Signed) ' CHARLES BANKHEAD. No. 33. Mr. Bankhead to the Earl of Aberdeen. — {Received January 25.) My Lord, Pera, December 29, 1841 • I RECEIVED yesterday letters from Mr. Consul Wood, dated Damas- cus, 1 5th instant, and I am happy to say, that from his accounts, the disturb- ances of which Syria was lately the theatre, have for the time subsided ; and I trust that the presence of the Seraskier Mustapha Pasha, who is entrusted with full powers from the Sultan to examine and report upon the grievances of the Syrians, will insure a continuance of this truce. I have the honour to transmit to your Lordship the copy of a despatch from Mr. Wood, by which you will see that the fears entertained by him of acts of violence on the part of the Mussulman population of Damascus towards the Christians, have likewise much subsided since he addressed your Lordship onthe 20ih November last. I have, &c., (Signed) CHARLES BANKHEAD. 45 Inclosure in No. 33. Mr. Consul Wood to Mr. Banhhead. Sir, Damascus, December 15, 1841. I HAVE the honour to transmit hercwitli copies of my reports to Her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Att'airs, respecting the public insults ofl'ered to the Christians of Damascus, and the threats of the populace to massacre them indiscriminately. I am happy in being able to state now, that there is no cause at present to make me apprehend any danger to the Rayahs residing here from the fanaticism of the Mussulman populace. The Grandees of the city and the Ulemas have assured me that they would aflbrd them protection, in case the local Government was too weak to support them. I iiave, See, (Signed) R. WOOD. No. 34. The Earl of Aberdeen to Sir Strafford Canning. Sir, Foreign Office, January 22, 1842. I HAVE to state to your Excellency, that Her Majesty's Government have been much surprised at learning, within these few days, that the Porte entertains an unfavourable opinion of the conduct of Colonel Rose, Her Majesty's Consul-General in Syria. Her Majesty's Government are wholly at a loss to conceive what can have led to such an impression on the minds of the Turkish Ministers, and can have induced them to overlook the zeal and activity which Colonel Rose, from the first moment of his landing in Syria, has continually displayed for the service of the Sultan, and for the advancement of the true interests of the Turkish Government. The Porte surely cannot have forgotten the gallant manner in which Colonel Rose, in the early part of his residence in Syria, led on a party of the Sultan's forces to the attack of a superior force of Mehemet Ali's followers, on which occasion he was wounded. Neither can the Porte have forgotten that Colonel Rose, from the time that the command of the British detachments in Syria devolved upon him, has unremittingly devoted himself to the maintenance of the Sultan's authority in the dis- tricts round Beyrout, by affording to the officers of the Sultan his advice and co-operation on all occasions, by impressing upon the native Chiefs that it was their bounden duty, under all circumstances, to maintain their allegiance to the Sultan, and by endeavouring to mitigate the animosities of rival sects which threatened to disturb the peace of the countr) , and to render unavailing the benevolent intentions of the Sultan for the hap- piness of his Syrian subjects. The Porte cannot have forgotten how much was due to the exhortations of Colonel Rose, when the (piestion of the tribute to be raised in Mount Lebanon for the service of the Porte was in agitation ; how zealously he exerted himself to bring about an adjustment of that difficult question in a manner satisfactory to the Porte; and how steadily he discountenanced all j)roceedings which could bear the appearance of disrespect for the sovereign authority of the Sultan. Least of all, can the Porte have forgotten the exertions which, during the melancholy contest which has recently desolated the Lebanon, Colonel Rose made to rouse the Turkish authorities to uphold the supremacy of the Sultan indifferently over all the inhabitants of the Lebanon ; how earnestly he laboured to reconcile the contending parties ; and how gallantly he exposed his life in attempting to put a stop to the calamities of civil war. Whatever may be the opinion which the Ministers of the Sultan may have been led to entertain of Colonel Rose's conduct, the opinion of the 46 Turkish authorities on the scene of action, who have had the best oppor- tunities of judging what that conduct was, is conclusive in his favour. Amidst all the perplexing difficulties with which he has had to contend, the Seraskier Sclim Pasha has ever found in Colonel Rose a faithful coun- sellor and a zealous supporter, on all occasions when counsel and support were required by him for the maintenance of the Sultan's authority ; and it is no wonder that, under such circumstances, Colonel Rose has suc- ceeded in gaining- the good-will of that commander. The Porte cannot doubt that the British Government is anxious to promote the interests of the Sultan in all parts of his dominions; and the Porte cannot suppose that tlie British Government would have appointed Colonel Rose to the responsible situations of Commander of the British detachments, and afterwards of Consul-General, if it had not been con- vinced that Colonel Rose wovdd faithfully act up to the intentions of his Government, by taking advantage of every opportunity which presented itself, for consolidating the dominion of the Sultan in Syria, and for ren- dering the possession of that country of real benefit to the Porte. Your Excellency is aware that Her Majesty's Government entirely approve of Colonel Rose's conduct ; and the knowledge of that fact, if the Porte really entertains the opinion which it professes to hold of the dis- interested attachment felt for it by the British Government, should convince the Turkish Ministers that any reports which may have reached them to the prejudice of Colonel Rose, originate in the malevolence of individuals who seek, by calumnious insinuations, to discredit the accounts which may reach the Porte, through Colonel Rose, of their own careless indifference to the interests, and disobedience to the will of the Sultan. I have thought it right to apprize your Excellency, at the earliest period, of the feelings with which Her Majesty's Government would receive from the Porte any complaints against Colonel Rose's conduct up to the 7th of December last, the date of his last reports. Her Majesty's Govern- ment, approving, as they do, entirely of that conduct, would look upon any such communication as an evidence of distrust in the intentions of Great Britain towards Turkey. After all, however, it is possible that the information which has reached Her Majesty's Government, as to the feelings of the Porte with respect to Colonel Rose, is incorrect. Her Majesty's Government trust that they have been misinformed ; but, if the contrary should be the case, I have to instruct your Excellency to seek an interview with the Turkish Minister for Foreign Affairs, and to cause my present despatch to be translated to him in your presence, and to add such other observations as may occur to you as likely to produce a suitable impression on the minds of the Turkish Minister, and of his Colleagues. I am, &c., (Signed) ABERDEEN. No. 35. Sir Stratford Canning to the Earl of Aberdeen. — (Received February 19.) My Lord, Constantinople, January 24, 1842. A TURKISH steam-vessel arrived this morning from Beyrout with despatches from the Seraskier Mustapha Pasha, and also having on board the Emir Beshir El-Kassim, deposed and sent to Constantinople by that functionary. M. Pisani, whose attention I had directed to these circum- stances, writes to me in the following terms : — " After having ascertained the fact of the arrival of Emir Beshir El-Kassim, I saw Sarim Effendi, who gave me the following intelligence : ' Yes ; Emir Beshir is arrived ; he has been deposed by Mustapha Nouri Pasha in virtue of discretionary power, and in consequence of petition.s presented by the inhabitants of Mount Lebanon, both Christians and Druses, asking as a favour the deposition of Emir Beshir El-Kassim, and 47 the appointment, as Prince of IMount Lebanon, of a Pasha who should be neither a Maronite nor a Druse, but of the Turkish nation. One, Omar Pasha, who has been some time in those parts, aiul knows the language of the country, has been appointed instead of Emir Beshir.' " M. Pisani adds, that Omar Pasha is a General of Brigade in the Turkish regular army. I cannot, for the present, afford your Lordship any further information upon this subject, although it is not unreasonable to presume that the appointment of Omar Pasha may be connected with the deputation of Druses, who, it appears, arrived here about three weeks ago. Sarim Effendi, with whom I had some private unofficial conversation yesterday, told me that ]\Iustaplia Pasha was to send in his report to the Clovern- ment here, and that authority to act conclusively would then be given to him. He also spoke in high terms of Ncjib Pasha of Damascus, which leads me to apprehend tliat the execution of your Lorclshij)'s instructions respecting him will continue to meet with a degree of opposition not easy to be overcome. (Signed) ' STRATFORD CANNING. No. 36. The Earl of Aberdeen to Sir Stratford Canning. Sir, Foreign Office, February 24, 1842. I HAVE received your Excellency's despatch of the 24th of January, reporting the arrival at Constantinople of the Emir Beshir El-Kassim, and your conversation with Sarim Efiendi respecting the removal of the Emir from the Government of the Lebanon. Her Majesty's Government do not feel themselves entitled to call in question the propriety of the decision which the Porte has come to in this respect. The character of the Emir Beshir El-Kassim seems to be unsuited for the arduous task of governing the Lebanon in the present state of parties in that district. But Her Majesty's Government cannot forget the conduct of the Emir Beshir El-Kassim, at the period when their efforts were united with those of the Turkish Government for the restora- tion of Syria to the direct authority of the Sultan. The alacrity which the Emir Beshir El-Kassim displayed in joining the standard of the Sultan, the zeal and the courage with which he co-operated with the allied forces, while they obtained for him from his Sovereign the important trust of Governor of the Lebanon, impressed Her Majesty's Government with a high sense of his merits. The Porte cannot have forgotten how much the Sultan is indebted to the example set by the Emir Beshir El-Kassim, and to his faithful services, for the speedy re-establishment of the Sultan's power in Syria ; and Her Majesty's Government, therefore, feci conhdent that, although circumstances may have rendered necessary his removal from office, the Porte will secure to him an honourable asylum in any part of the Sultan's dominions in which he may choose to reside, and will take care that he has full enjoyment of his liberty and of his property. Your Excellency will have the goodness to bear in mind, on all occasions, that so long as the Emir Beshir El-Kassim acts as a faithful subject of the Sultan, you will be authorized to exert your good offices w ith the Porte in his behalf. I am, &c., (Signed) ABERDEEN 48 No. 37. Sir Stratford Canning to the Earl of Aberdeen. — {Received March 7.) (Extract.) Constantinople, February 9, 1842. THE present state of Syria is calculated to excite so deep an interest that, although 1 am not at liberty to enter completely into the merits of the question now, I am, nevertheless, unwilling to leave Her Majesty's Government in ignorance of what is passing here with I'espect to it. I therefore avail myself of the Vienna post to offer your Lordship a few words upon the subject, but rather in the way of statement than of remark. I have felt from the first, that whatever may be the demerits of the late Emir Bcshir El-Kassim, his sudden and arbitrary removal, accom- panied with the appointment of a Turkish Governor in his place, would, sooner or later, call for the int^erfcrence of some or all of the Allied Powers. I was reluctant, however, to put myself forward immediately on my arrival here, in a matter which would naturally place me in oppo- sition to the Turkish Government. No step which I could have taken when the Emir Beshir was brought into the port of Constantinople, pre- sented a chance of producing any immediate change, either in his position, or in that of the country from which he had been torn. It was evident that what had been done, had been done advisedly, and that any impres- sion of a counteracting character to be made upon the Turkish Govern- ment, was more likely to be made with effect after an interval of reflection, than in the first heat of success. I therefore determined to wait for further advices from Syria, and to abstain from committing myself towards any of the parties who are immediately interested in the affairs of Mount Lebanon, and some of whom were not slow in applying for my assistance. With respect to the Porte, I confined myself to making inquiries of the Reis Effendi in the first instance, and subsequently to submitting confidentially to him such objections to the plan adopted by Mustapha Pasha as might prepare his Excellency, after what I knew that he must have heard from the Austrian and French Legations upon the same sub- ject, for some official declaration of opinion, should it become necessary for me to anticipate your Lordship's instructions in so important a matter. Within the last three or four days I have found reasons to satisfy my judgment, that it would be neither safe nor creditable for Her Majesty's Embassy to remain in a state of apparent indifference to those interests which have been so deeply compromised by the late proceedings of Mus- tapha Pasha. But while I recognize the expediency, I might almost say the necessity, of taking some steps expressive of an opinion in support of the Christian privileges violated by the Seraskier, I am most anxious to manifest all due consideration for the sovereignty of the Porte, and to keep entire that cordial good understanding between Her Ministers and myself to which 1 naturally attach the highest importance. The present occasion, as I have already observed, does not admit of my entering into a full explanation of the views and reasons which have guided me to a decision upon this point. Among the circumstances, however, which have exercised a powerful influence over my mind, the promises made in Syria, both at the close as well as in the beginning of the late contest there ; the decided opinions of the Austrian and French Minis- ters ; the opinions not less decisive of our own agents on the spot, especially of Mr. Wood ; and the difficulty of longer postponing an answer to the applications of the deposed Emir and the Maronite Representa- tives, may be mentioned in general as taking a prominent place. The suggestion, by which I have endeavoured to meet the views of my Colleagues, as well as the exigencies of the case, without overlook- ing what is due to the Porte, is simply this, — to take the recent change of Government in Mount Lebanon as a mere provisional arrangement, warranted by the exasperation of the conflicting parties, but to be fol- 49 lowed without loss of time by a return to the old form of government ; and to endeavour to obtain an assurance to that effect from the Porte for the satisfaction of our respective Governments. In order to carry out this idea, it has been necessary for me to communicate not only with the Internuncio, but with the Russian, French, and Prussian Representatives. The Internuncio and myself being both confined by indisposition to our respective houses, this has been rather a difficult matter to accomplish, especially as I am aware it is not your Lordship's intention to authorize the establishment of a conference of Ambassadors here ; but the result of our communication is an understanding that we shall each send our interpreters to read to the Reis Effendi, and to the Grand Vizier respec- tively, an instruction, not similar in expression, but identical as to the purport which I have already had the honour to describe. This agreement will, I trust, be carried into effect in the course of to-morrow, and I inclose herewith, for your Lordship's further informa- tion, a copy of the instruction which I have myself drawn up for the guidance of M. Pisani. I have only to express, in conclusion, the earnest hope that the course which I have thus ventured to adopt, under difficult and unforeseen circumstances, may meet with the approbation of Her Majesty's Govern- ment, and that in taking the lead which I should probably soon have been compelled to follow, I have best consulted the interests of my position here, as well as those considerations which affect the credit of the British name, and the welfare of the Christians, to say nothing of the Druses themselves, in Syria. Inclosure in No. 37. Instructions from Sir Stratford Canning to M. Pisani. Monsieur, Constantinople, 9 Fevrier, 1842. JE vous invite de vous rendre a la Porte, et des qu'il vous sera permis de voir Ic Reis Effendi, vous ferez lecture a son Excellence de ce qui suit. La meme bienveillance envers la Porte Ottomane dont le Gouverne- ment Britannique a donne tant de preuves, surtout en ce qui regarde la Syrie, lui impose encore le devoir de veiller a ce que la tranquillity de cette province soit assise sur les bases profondes et solides qui ont ^ite convenues. Fidele a ce principe, I'Ambassadeur de Sa Majeste a appele iterativement I'attention de la Sublime Porte sur les troubles qui, non- obstant la conclusion de la paix, confirmee depuis par les Six Cabinets, ensanglantaient les flancs du Mont Liban, en menacant de nuire k leur oeuvre pacifique ; et la Cour de Londres devait apprendre avec plaisir renvoi a Beirout du Seraskir Mustafa Pacha, accompagn6 de troupes et muni des pouvoirs necessaires pour arreter le cours du mal. En effet, la presence de ce haut fonctionnaire a suffi pour maintenir la cessation d'hostilites qui avait a peine devanc6 son arriv6e sur les lieux. Mais d'autres evenemens y sont survenus. Nous avons vu destituer par une sentence soudaine et arbitraire I'Emir Bechir-el-Kassim, qui avait ete appele a gouverner les tribus de la Montague dans une 6poque ou la loyaute et la bravoure du prince et du peuple furent egalement mises d I'^preuve. Nous I'avons ensuite vu arriver a Constantinople non seule- ment destitue de sa charge, mais prive de sa decoration et de sa fortune, eioigne de ses foyers, de ses amis, de sa famille. En meme temps nous apprenons, qu'en depit des promesses faites avec beaucoup de solemnite, et en violation des privileges consacres par I'usage de plus d'un siecle, un Pacha Musulman nomm6 par le Seraskir, a succede au pouvoir dclegue des Emirs, et reside pour la premiere fois, comme gouverneur, a Deir-el- Kammar. On ne veut pas jeter une ombre de doute sur les bonnes intentions qui ont dil dieter ces divers actes de son Excellence le Seraskir. On aime a croire qu'ils etaient prescrits par I'urgence des circonstances, H 50 et qu'ils sont meme de nature a contribuer pour le moment au- maintien de la paix en Syrie. Les explications ofBcicuses dont le Reis EU'endi a bien voulu honorcr I'Ambassadeur a plus d'une reprise, font foi de I'exac- titude de ces impressions. Mais ce n'est pas assez d'(5tancher le sang, ou de tenir les passions en suspens par Tinterposition de quelque nouveaute faite plutot pour etonner que pour satisfaire les esprits a la longue. II faut quelque chose de plus solide, de plus durable. II faut consulter non seulement les conve- nances du moment, les haines d'un parti, ou I'interet de quelques chefs, mais les habitudes de la population, les besoins des lieux, les rapports naturels de I'ordre social, les sentimens intarissables du cceur humain, et les principes eternels de la justice ; par-dessus tout, faut-il prendre a tache de bien jug"er la proportion qui existe entre les moyens de main- tenir, et les motifs de renverser, une nouvelle autorit6, ebauchee a la hate, et opposee aux prejuges de la masse de tous les partis. L'avenir que I'etat actuel des choses offre a la vue, n'est guere riant. II est a peu pr^s certain, qu'apres quelques momens de pause, le mecon- tentement des tribus eclatera avec nouvelle force. La presente union, si toutefois elle est la suite de la nomination d'un gouverneur Musulman, doit finir par reagir centre lui. Le Pacha, attaque de tous cotes, sera force d'avoir recours a des actes de rigueur, qui ne feront qu'alimenter la fureur des montagnards. II est a concevolr que, pousse par les exigeances de sa position a des combats inegaux, il ne compromettra la dignite de son souverain, en meme temps que ses efforts embarrasses doivent ueces- sairement epuiser le tresor de I'Etat. C'est pour eviter ces malheurs et d'autres qui ne sont pas moins faciles a prevoir, que les veritables amis de la Porte croient devoir fixer son attention sur cette importante matiere. lis se sont faits une regie de ne pas critiquer le choix personnel que son Excellence le Seraskir a fait en nommant le pi-emier un Gouverneur Musulman au Mont Liban, malgre que les circonstauces les en auraient pleinement justifies. Mais ils espe- rent qu'ils ne portent pas trop loin leur confiance dans la sagesse et la justice de la Sublime Porte, quand ils declarent leur conviction que I'ar- rangement actuel est entierement provisoire, et que les mesures necessaires seront bientot prises, sous les ordres de la Sublime Porte, pour recon- struire le Gouverneinent local du Mont Liban d'une maniere permanente, conformement aux anciens privileges de ses peuples, et les engagemens contractes envers eux. ' En quittant le Reis Effendi, Monsieur, vous vous rendrez chez son Altesse le Grand Vizir, a qui aussi vous ferez lecture de cette instruction. A I'un comme a I'autre de ces Ministi-es vous aurez soin de mani- fester de ma part I'espoir que le Gouvernement de Sa Hautesse m'auto- risera a porter a la connaissance de ma Cour, une reponse conforme aux vceux que je viens de lui adresser par votre canal. tie suis &.C. (Signe) ' STRATFORD CANNING. (Translation.) Sir, Constantinople, February 9, 1S42. I REQUEST you to go to the Porte, and when you are permitted to see the Reis Effendi, you will read to his Excellency what follows :— The same good-will towards the Ottoman Porte of which the British Government have given so many proofs, above all in what concerns Syria, still imposes upon them the duty of seeing that the tranquillity of that province is settled upon the deep-rooted and solid bases Avhich have been agreed upon. True to that principle. Her Majesty's Ambassador has repeatedly called the attention of the Sublime Porte to the disturbances which, notwithstanding the conclusion of peace, since confirmed by the six Cabinets, have deluged Mount Lebanon with blood, threatening to destroy their pacific work ; and the Court of London must have learnt with pleasure that the Seraskier Mustapha Pasha had been sent to Beyrout, accompanied by troops, and furnished with the powers 51 necessary for arresting- the progress of the evil. In fact, the presence of that high functionary has been sufficient for the maintenance of the cessa- tion of hostilities which had but just taken place before his arrival on the spot. But other events have succeeded. We have seen the deposition, by a sudden and arbitrary sentence, of the Emir 13eshir-el-Kassim, who had been called upon to govern the tribes of the Mountain at a period when the loyalty and courage of the jjrincc and of the people were equally put to the test. We have seen him afterwards arrive at Constantinople, not only stripped of his office, but deprived of his decoration and of his for- tune, removed from his home, from his friends, and fiom his family. At the same time we learn that, in spite of the promises made with much solemnity, and in violation of the privileges rendered sacred by the cus- tom of more than a century, a Mussulman Pasha, nominated by the Seras- kier, his succeeded to the delegated power of the Emirs, and resides, for the first time, as Governor, at Deir-el-Kammar. It is not desired to throw a doubt upon the good intentions which must have dictated these different acts of his Excellency the Seraskicr. It is willingly believed that they were called for by the urgency of circum- stances, and that they are even calculated to contribute, for the moment, to the maintenance of peace in Syria. The informal explanations with which the Reis Effendi has more than once honoured the Ambassador, warrant the correctness of these impressions. But it is not sufficient to stanch blood, or to keep the passions in sus- pense by the introduction of some novelty, calculated rather to astonish than to satisfy the minds of people in the long run. Something more solid and more durable is necessary. It is necessary not only to consult the convenience of the moment, the hatred of a party, or the interest of some chiefs, but also the customs of the people, local necessities, the natural i-elations of society, the unquencliable feelings of the human heart, and the eternal principles of justice ; above all, it is necessary to endea- vour to judge well the proportion which exists between the means of maintaining, and the reasons for overthrowing, a new authority, hastily put forward, and opposed to the prejudices of the mass of all parties. The prospect which the present state of things presents is not very cheering. It is almost certain that, after a few moments' pause, the dis- content of the tribes will break out with fresh force. The present union, if, indeed, it is the result of the appointment of a Mussulman Governor, must end in a reaction against him. The Pasha, attacked on all sides, will be obliged to have recourse to acts of rigour, which will only nourish the anger of the Mountaineers. It is to be supposed that, driven by the exigencies of his position to an unequal contest, he w ill compromise the dignity of his Sovereign, while his embarrassed exertions must necessarily exhaust the treasury of the State. It is in order to avoid these misfortunes, and others AVhich it is not less easy to foresee, that the true friends of the Porte think it their duty to draw its attention to this important subject. They have made it a rule not to animadvert upon the choice which his Excellency the Seraskier has made of the person, on being the first to nominate a Mussulman Governor of Mount Lebanon, although the circumstances would have fully justified them in so doing. But they hope that they do not carry their confidence in the wisdom and justice of the Sublime Porte too far, when they declare their conviction that the present arrangement is entirely provisional, and that the necessary steps will soon be taken, under the orders of the Sublime Porte, for reconstructing the local government of Mount Lebanon in a lasting manner, in accordance with the ancient privileges of its people, and the engagements contracted towards them. On leaving the Reis Effendi, Sir, you will repair to his Highness the Grand Vizier, to whom also you will read this instruction. You will be careful to express to both of these Ministers my hope that his Highness's Government will authorize me to convey to my Court an ansvver in accordance with the wishes which I have expressed to them through you. I am, &.C., (Signed) STRATFORD CANNING. H2 52 No. 38. Sir Stratford Canning to the Earl of Aberdeen. — (Received March 7.) (Extract.) Constantinople, February 11, 1842. I INCLOSE, for the information of Her Majesty's Government, a copy of M. Pisani's report of what took place when he read my instruc- tion to the Reis Effendi, and subsequently to the Grand Vizier. It com- prizes the answer of those Ministers. The tone and temper of the present Turkish Administration are sufficiently apparent from its tenor. When the Grand Vizier, referring to the promises made to the chiefs and people of Mount Lebanon, confines his admission to those which were addressed to the old ex-Emir Beshir, he appears to have lost sight of the declaration made by Mr. Wood and Commodore Napier in the beginning of the Syrian operations, nor less so of those promises which Mr. Wood was authorized to renew to the Syrians in May of last year, as well by the Porte as by three at least of the Representatives of the Allies at Court, and of which I find the accompanying memorandum in the archives of the Embassy. With respect to what his Highness has advanced concerning the Patriarch of the Maronites, I can only say that it does not agree with the language of his agent, who has urged me by verbal and written repre- sentations to exert my influence for the restoration of the old form of Government in Mount Lebanon. As bearing upon this part of the sub- ject, I have made some extracts from a letter addressed by Colonel Rose to Mr. Bankhead on the 18th ultimo, and I beg leave to submit them to your Lordship's particular observation. Exclusive of the considerations involved in the substitution of a Turk- ish Pasha for a Christian Prince of the family of Shehab, the personal character of the present Turkish Governor, appointed by Mustapha Pasha, cannot be entirely overlooked. It is enough to state of Omar Pasha that, besides being a renegade, and in that respect an object of contempt to the Turks themselves, I am assured that he was tried for peculation in Syria while the Grand Vizier was there, and that his trial issued in a sentence of condemnation. Before this despatch can arrive in England your Lordship will pro- bably be in possession of Mr. Wood's despatch of the 27th of January, of which a copy is now upon my table, and to that gentleman's report I may safely refer your Lordship for as just an estimate as can be obtained of the views of the Turkish Government in the whole transaction effected by Mustapha Pasha, of the real feelings of the inhabitants of Mount Lebanon, and of the eventual consequences likely to result from the recent change. In justice to Mr. Wood, I must remark, that he alone appears to have had the sagacity to penetrate into the designs of the Porte respecting Syria, before any decisive step had been taken by the Seraskier. In a despatch of the 12th ultimo, addressed to Mr. Bankhead, he observes, that the Commissioners appointed to settle the differences between the Chris- tians and Druses, were taking " advantage of their dissensions to encroach upon their rights, and to establish a Turkish officer in Lebanon, in the room of a Christian Prince." He goes on to say, that the present Grand Vizier, when Seraskier in Syria, had entertained a similar project, and that Nejib Pasha, of Damascus, was also a firm advocate of the plan ; and he continues in the following words, which would seem to be worthy of particular atten- tion : " Besides the probability of the Druses and Christians uniting ultimately, to oppose this new encroachment on their old rights and usages, — a disposition which they have already betrayed, notwithstanding their late differences, — it would be unprofitable, in a financial point of view, since, to maintain the authority of the Turkish Governor in the Moun- tains, it would require from 6 to 8,000 troops, the expenses of which would surpass four times the revenue of Lebanon.'' 53 Upon the whole, my Lord, I cannot look forward without anxiety and apprehension, to the consequences of the new system adopted by the Porte in Syria, especially when 1 bear in mind the nature and spirit of Turkish authority, the ordinary character of its agents, and the very peculiar circumstances of the Mountain population, whose industry, poverty, and impatience of restraint are alike known to all Europe, and amongst whom the religion of Christ has found for ages a precarious, yet noble asylum, towards which the hopes of the good and the devout of more than one country, have of late been turned with peculiar zeal. Inclosure 1 in No. 38. M. Pisani to Sir Strafford Canning. Excellence, Pera, ce 10 Fevrier, 1842. J'AI I'honneur de faire savoir a votre Excellence, que j'ai, conforme- ment a ses ordres, vu Sarim Effendi, ainsi que son Altesse le Grand Vizir, et que je leur ai communique vos instructions en date d'aujourd'hui. Sarim Effendi, voyant de quoi il s'agissait, m'a dit qu'il n'avait pas le tems de m'entendre, et qu'il devait rentrer dans^ la chambre du conseil, d'oii il n'etait sorti que pour un instant. Mais ce n'^tait la qu'un pre- texte ; parceque je voyais bien, par certains mots qu'il laissait echapper, que le sujet des instructions lui faisait de la peine. Cependant, sur quelques observations que je lui ai faites convenable- ment, il a consenti a entendre la lecture en Turc des instructions de votre Excellence. J'ai su depuis de mes collegues, MM. les Drogmans d'Au- triche, de France, de Prusse, et de Russie, qu'ils ont essuye les memes difficultes de la part du Ministre des Afl'aires Etrangeres. Quoiqu'il en soit, Sarim Effendi a entendu la lecture de vos instruc- tions, mais il s'est borne a dire qu'il les a parfaitement comprises, et qu'il fera une reponse, apres avoir pris les ordres de son Gouvernement. Mais la promesse d'une reponse etait faite de maniere a ne laisser aucun doute qu'elle ne fut defavorable. A Tissue du Conseil des Ministres et des Pachas, je suis entre chez le Grand Vizir, a cote duquel j'ai trouve Sarim Effendi, qui n'a pas dit un seul mot pendant mon entrevue avec son Altesse. Le Grand Vizir apres avoir entendu avec attention les instructions de votre Excellence a pris la parole dans les termes suivans : — " Lorsque les troubles ont eclate en Syrie, nous avons ete conseilles par les Puissances, nos amies, de prendre des mesures propres ay retablir la tranquillite. C'est dans ce but que nous y avons envoye le Seraskir Pacha. Lorsque celui-ci arriva a Beirout, il y rassembla les notables des habitans des Montagues. Ceux-ci ont represente que I'Emir Bechir-el- Kassim 6tait un homme faible, incapable de gouverner ; que c'^tait ^ son incapacity qu'il fallait meme attribuer les troubles et les hostilites qui avaient afflige le pays ; ils ont declare que jamais la tranquillite ne pour- rait s'etablir solidement parmi les populations des Montagnes, tant que le Prince du Mont Liban serait choisi parmi les Montagnards ; ils ont de- mande la deposition de I'Emir Bechir-el-Kassim ; et ils ont supplie la Sub- lime Porte, et de vive voix et par petitions, de leur faire la faveur de nommer pour Gouverneur du Mont Liban un de ses propres employes. Or, comme il n'y a pas de moyens plus propres a etablir le bon ordre et la tranquillite parmi les populations que d'accorder les demandes qu'elles font elles-m^mes, un Pacha a ete nomme Gouverneur du Mont Liban. '' Vous me parlez des privileges ; les seuls dont j'ai connaissance sont ceux que I'Amiral Stopford et moi-meme avons accordes sous notre signature au ci-devant Emir Bechir-el-Ch(^hab, s'il se soumettait a I'auto- rit6 du Sultan dans un delai de douze jours. On lui assurait, dans ce cas, sa fortune, son poste de Prince du Mont Liban, et ses prerogatives. Mais cet Emir n'a pas fait sa soumission dans le delai donne ; malgr^ cela, je lui ai accords quatre jours de plus. Mais, contre mon avis, on s'est em- 54 presse de remettre il rEmir Bechir-el-Kassim le firman qui Ic nommait Prince. Celui-ci se trouve, dites-vous, prive de sa decoration et de sa fortune. Quant ii sa decoration, il a du en etre prive, car n'etant que la marque distinctive de son poste, il ne pouvait plus la conserver apres sa deposition ; et, pour sa fortune, si on la lui a enlevce, il n'a qu'a recourir, pour se faire rendre justice, a la Commission etablie a Deir-el-Kammar pour les reclamations rcciproques des deux partis. " L'etat actuel des choses n'exige aucun changement. Cependant, si par la suite, il devient necessaire d'operer un changement dans le Gouver- nement du Mont Liban, la Sublime Porte, ayant affaire a ses propres sujets. prendra a leur egard les mesures qui seront jugees les plus convenables pour operer un changement." J'ai demande au Grand Yizir si, par un changement, il entendait la nomination d'un Gouverneur pris parmi les tribus, eb il m'a repondu affirmativement. J'ai, &c., (Sign6) F.- PISANI. (Translation.) Excellency, Peru, February 10, 1842. I HAYE the honour to inform your Excellency that, conformably to your orders, I have seen Sarim Eff'endi, as well as his Highness the Gi-and Vizier, and that I have communicated to them your instructions dated to-day. Sarim Effendi, seeing what was the subject, told me that he had not time to listen to me, and that he must go into the council chamber, from whence he had come out only for an instant. But that was only a pretext ; since I clearly saw, by certain words whicli he let fall, that the subject of the instructions caused him pain. Nevertheless, on some suitable observations which I made to him, he consented to hear your Excellency's instructions read in Turkish. I have since learnt from my colleagues, the Dragomans of Austria, of France, of Prussia, and of Russia, that they encountered the same difficulties on the part of tlie Minister for Foreign Affairs. Be that as it may, Sarim Effendi heard your instructions read, but he confined himself to saying, that he perfectly understood them, and that he would give an answer, after having taken the orders of his Government. But the promise of an answer was made in a manner not to leave any doubt that it would be unfavourable. When the Ministers and Pashas came out from the council, I went in to the Grand Yizier, with vvdiom I found Sarim Eftendi, who did not say a single word during my interview with his Highness. The Grand Yizier, after having heard with attention the instructions of your Excellency, took up the conversation in the following terms : — "From the time that disturbances broke out in Syria, we have been advised bv j;he Powers, our friends, to take proper measures for establish- ing tranquillity there. It is for this object that we have sent there the Seraskier Pasha. When he arrived at Beyrout, he assembled the chiefs of the inhabitants of the JNIountains. These represented that the Emir Beshir-el-Kassim was a weak man, incapable of governing ; that it was to his incapacity that were to be attributed the troubles and hostilities which had afflicted the country ; they declared that tranquillity never could be established firmly among the people of the Mountain as long as the Prince of Mount Lebanon should be chosen among the Mountaineers ; tJiey demanded the deposition of the Emir Beshir-el-Kassim ; and they supplicated the Sublime Porte, both verbally and by petitions, to do them the favour to name as Governor of Mount Lebanon one of her own ser- vants. Now, as there are no better means for establishing good order and tranquillity among the people than to grant the demands which they themselves make, a Pasha has been named Governor of Mount Lebanon. "You talk to me of p'rivileges ; those only which I know anything about, 55 are those which Admiral Stopforcl and myself "ranted under our signature to the former Emir Ik'shir-el-Shehab, if he submitted to the authority of the Sultan within a period of twelve days. In this ease, his fortune, his jiost of Prince of Mount Lebanon, and his prerogatives were assured to iiim. But this Emir did not make his submission in the given period ; notwith- standing that, I gave him four days more. But, against my advice, the delivery to the Emir Beshir-el-Kassim of the firman which named him Prince, was hastened. He, you say, is deprived of his decoration and of his fortune. As for his decoration, he ought to be deprived of it, because, as it was only the distinctive mark of his post, he could not keep it after his deposition; and as for his fortune, if it has been taken from him, he has but to appeal, in order to have justice done to him, to the Commission , established at Deir-el-Kammar for the reciprocal claims of the two j)arties. The actual state of things does not require any change. Neverthe- less, if, hereafter, it becomes necessary to effect a change in the govern- ment of Mount Lebanon, the Sublime Porte, having to do with its own subjects, will take, with respect to them, the measures which shall be judged the most fit to effect a change. I asked the Grand Vizier il", by a change, he meant the nomination of a Governor taken from among the tribes, and he answered in the affirmative. I have, &c., (Signed) F. PISANL Inclosure 2 in No. 38. Memorandum of the Propositions made to the Sublime Porte respecting Syria. AT a Conference of their Excellencies the Viscount Ponsonby, Baron de Stiirmer, and M. Titow, it was agreed upon that the following five propositions should be made to the Sublime Porte. 1. That the Turkish Government should execute faithfully the pro- mises it made to the Syrians of re-establishing their ancient rights and privileges in the event that they returned to their allegiance, &c. The Sublime Porte has declared formally its intention of doing so. Instructions and orders will be transmitted to its officers to allow the Syrians, and particularly the Christians, to enjoy the rights and privileges they enjoyed during the Egyptian Administration, with such modifications as the Turkish law requires. 2. That the Turkish Government should be persuaded to remit all illegal taxes in Syria, as well as all such taxes as were with justice obnoxious to the people. The Sublime Porte had already transmitted instructions to the above effect ; but as it does not appear that they were properly understood, a new Defterdar has been appointed with extraordinary powers to examine into the complaints of the Syrians, rem.it all illegal taxation, and report his opinion with regard to what ought further to be done to relieve them from unnecessary burdens, &c. 3. That as the Emir Beshir and the Maronite Patriarch requested each to have a Kapou Kiaja, the Sublime Porte should be prevailed upon to accede to their request. The Sublime Porte has complied with their demand, and each is to have his agent to communicate direct with the Ottoman Ministers. 4. That a Ferik should be appointed to the government of Jerusalem, for the special protection of the Christians, &c. The Sublime Porte has consented to make this special appointment for the tranquillity and happiness of its Rayah subjects, &c. 5. That the Sublirne Porte should be induced to reward the Sheiks and other individuals who served faithfully during the war. The Sublime Porte has given a list of the individuals to be rewarded to his Excellency the Defterdar, with strict orders to reward them on his arrival in Syria. Therapia, May 12, 1841. (Signed) RICHARD WOOD. 56 Inclosure 3 in No. 38. Colonel Rose to Mr. Bankhead. (Extract.) January 10, 1842. THE Christians urged that the Sublime Porte had been pleased to promise them, that they should be governed by a Christian Prince. The difference of opinion between Mustapha Pasha and the Christians has become so great, that the Christians wished to avail themselves of the right allowed them by the Sublime Porte, to address an " Ardhil Mah- dar" to the sovereign on the subject of their governor, but Mustapha Pasha's representatives have informed them, that his Excellency is " Moostakill," Plenipotentiary, and that he will forward no such petition. Further attempts have been made to induce the Christians to sign a paper, requesting the Seraskier to name a governor over them, that is a Turkish one over the mountain ; and yesterday, a few of the Emirs here present did so, but only in terms which regarded themselves personally. I send you a copy of it. You will see how guarded it is. I understand that those same persons will sign a general petition of Christians for a Christian prince. Mustapha Pasha overcame the most strenuous opponents, the represen- tatives of the clergy, by placing them out of the list of persons qualified to act in worldly affairs. The Seraskier wrote, on the occasion of a report having been spread that he intended to make a prisoner of the Patriarch with two hundred horse, to his Eminence, to state that he had never intended so to act ; but, in the letter, he twice warned the Patriarch to abstain, for the future, from politics, and to obey Omar Pasha ; and he made the same intimations to Bishop Tubia and Father John, represen- tatives of the clergy now here. No. 39. -Sir Stratford Canning to the Earl of Aberdeen. — (Received March 15.) (Extract.) Constantinople, February 16, 1842. I THINK it advisable to submit to your Lordship a copy of the communication which I made upon the affairs of Mount Lebanon to Colonel Rose, immediately after I received the answer of the Grand Vizier to my message thereon. The Austrian and French Ministers, as well as the Russian Charge d' Affaires, wrote in a similar sense, though with some shades of difference in the expression, to their respective Consuls. [ also addressed a despatch of the same purport to Her Majesty's Consul at Damascus. The object of these communications, as your Lordship will perceive on a perusal of mine, was to obviate the possible effect of any exaggerated reports of our proceedings here upon the tranquillity of the population of Mount Lebanon ; and conceiving it, therefore, to be of importance that our statements should reach Syria without loss of time, I applied to Captain Stewart, of Her Majesty's ship " Benbow," to forward them direct to Bey- rout, by means of the steam-vessel lying at Suda, and, with this applica- cation, I trust that he has by this time complied. 57 Inclosure in No. 39. Sir Stratford Canning to Colonel Rose. Sir, Constantinojyle, February 11, 1842. J HAVE received the despatches wliich you addressed to Mr. Bank- head relative to the removal of the Emir Beshir-el-Kassini, and the appointment of Omar Pasha in his place, as Governor of the tribes of Mount Lebanon. Since his arrival here, I do not understand that the ex-Emir Beshir has experienced any further ill-treatment from the Porte ; and, although I am not surprised at his removal from the high station which he appears to have filled so inadequately, I cannot but take an interest in his fate, and feel disposed to render him any assistance in my power towards the recovery of his fortune, and his restox-ation as a private individual to the land of his birth and connexions. A greater interest than what relates to his person is, however, invested in the recent changes effected by Mustapha Pasha ; I am fully sensible of the importance of that transaction, and cannot, I confess, look forward without anxiety and apprehension to the probable, though, I trust, not immediate consequences of so rash and unexpected an event. So deep, indeed, are my impressions upon this subject, that, after mature deliberation, I have taken a step at the Porte expressive of my hope that the existing arrangement is not permanent, and that no length of time will elapse before the former system, founded as it was upon the practice of more than a century, and in harmony with the promises given to Syria, shall be substantially restored. A similar step has been taken at the same time, and upon a common understanding between us, though not in a collective form, by the Austrian, Russian, French, and Prussian Legations. The answer which we have received from the Grand Vizier, though far from satisfactory, is by no means such as to close the door against a more favourable view of the subject at some future period. Much will, of course, depend upon the decision that may be adopted by our respective courts when they shall have obtained an adequate knowledge of the facts of the case, and considered the probable consequences involved in them. In the mean time it would afford matter of deep regret and concern, if an exaggerated i-eport of our proceedings were to be conveyed to Syria, and to have the effect of agitating the minds and influencing the passions of a too excitable population. It cannot be necessary for me to request that you will employ your best exertions to observe, and, if the case should unfortunately arrive, to counteract any dangerous impressions of this kind, by a temperate and judicious statement of the truth, addressed with every possible degree of caution, to some persons of influence in the mountain, and strictly confined to an unostentatious and confidential form of communication. Whatever be the prevailing sentiments of the inhabitants of Mount Lebanon, whether Druses or Christians, it is not too much to expect that those who have either promoted or acquiesced in this plan of Mustapha Pasha should be content to wait, in tranquillity and with patience, until the allied Cabinets have time to take cognizance of their situation, and to adopt, should they choose to interfere, such resolu- tions upon the subject as their sense of duty and the general interest, under a due respect for the sovereignty of the Porte, may prescribe. I have reason to believe that my colleagues, the Representatives of Austria, France, and Russia, write in a similar sense to their respective Consuls at Beyrout, and we all trust that the same conviction of the importance of acting in these matters with unanimity and uniformity of conduct, which has prevailed among us, will also have its due effect upon you in Syria. I am, &c., (Signed) STRATFORD CANNING. 58 No. 40. Sir Stratford Canning to the Earl of Aberdeen. — {Received March 15.) My Lord, Constantinople, February 16, 1842. I SUBMIT to your Lordship's consideration the inclosed translation of a letter addressed to me by the ex-Emir Beshir-el-Kassim, and of his memorial to the Grand Vizier. It would appear from an expression in the latter, which I have underlined, that the order for El-Kassim's removal to Constantinople had emanated from the Porte. I have not thought it advisable to receive a visit from the Emir under the present circumstances, but I have seen his nephew, whom he sent to me for that purpose, and through him I have informed the Emir that, although I cannot interfere to effect his return to power, I should be happy to employ my good offices in hastening the period of his return to Syria, as a private individual, and in obtaining the assistance of the Turkish Government for the recovery of his fortune. This answer ap- peared to satisfy him, and I have, in consequence, directed M. Pisani to remind the Reis Effendi, and also the Grand Vizier, of the circumstances under which the Emir El-Kassim had been induced to take the Govern- ment of Mount Lebanon, and to express a hope that, in consideration of his loyal conduct and the part which Her Majesty's officers and agents had taken in putting him forward, justice and kindness would be exer- cised towards him on the present occasion. The Grand Vizier's answer was by no means favourable in the first instance. He spoke harshly of the Emir, described him as a bad man, and accused him of crimes. I directed M. Pisani to remind him that no such charges had been made by the Seraskier, and that they were not borne out by anything which had come to my knowledge. To this repre- sentation the Vizier replied with less asperity. He admitted that the Seraskier had not written to him in recommendation of the Emir ; he added that he had seen the latter, and had paid him the compliment of offering him a better house to reside in during his detention at Constanti- nople. There seems to be no disposition to allow of his returning home at present, and, perhaps, there are well-grounded objections to such a measure just now. With respect to his losses, he is referred to the Com- mission said to be appointed under the superintendence of Omar Pasha, for the settlement of all such questions arising out of the late disturbances in Mount Lebanon. The Reis Effendi asserts, that all property unjustly seized by the Druses will be restored; and, upon receiving a communication of the substance of your Lordship's instruction of December 22, upon the subject of Syria, his Excellency gave the most positive assurances of the benevolent intentions of the Porte towards all classes of its subjects, and defended his Government from the charge of having neglected the advice of Her Majesty's Agents in Syria ; but, together with these assurances stand the facts of Omar Pasha's appointment, and of Nejib Pasha's main- tenance in office, notwithstanding the numerous representations which have been made against him. I have, &,c.. (Signed) STRATFORD CANNING. Inclosure 1 in No. 40. The Ex-Emir Beshir-el-Kassim to Sir Stratford Canning. (Translation.) After Titles and Compliments. January 31, 1842. IN expressing an attachment to your exalted Government, we beg; to state to your Excellency that we have not ceased to perform our duties faithfully towards the British Government, according to the letter to us 59 of Commodore Napier and Mr. Wood herewith inclosed. We have pro- moted the service of tlie Ottoman Porte, and we have not ceased, during the last year and a half, to perform our duty faithfully towards it, as we were ordered. We inclose you a copy of our petition to the Grand Vizier on our grievances, for your Excellency's information, stating briefly what has happened to us, and there is no refuge for us, after God, but your Excellency. Therefore, we intreat your Excellency's good offices, for the performance of the promises to us for ^he restoration of our property, and we earnestly look to your Government for a recompense of our services. Trusting you will grant our request, &.c. (Signed) BESHIR SHEHAB. Inclosure 2 in No. 40. Petition presented by the Emir Beshir-el-Kassim to the Grand Vizier. (Translation.) WE humbly make known to your Highness, that we your servant, from tlie time we received the royal firman nominating us to honourable service, have acted according to tlie obligations of our allegiance, and with all obedience and due respect. We have done all in our power, according to the best of our ability, to act up to the wishes of the Sublime Porte, may the Lord of creatures protect and cherish it. With the assistance of the Most High God, and presence of your Highness, the Egyptian troops were without difficulty driven from Syria, and every success obtained, as is well known to your Highness. After this, I remained in the field for about five months, but returned to the mountains, upon your servant receiving an order to that effect. We there restrained the lawless spirit of the inhabitants, and prevented any one having communication with, or i-eceiving money (from the Egyptian Government). We established a free passage through the country, and secured the tranquillity of the inhabitants in conformity with the Imperial mandate, which was obeyed, and I have ever continued to act up to. When the Royal mandate was received, ordering that certain mea- sures should be taken for ameliorating the condition of the people and the country, the inhabitants of the mountains were assembled, and the Royal edict was read, and the Council resolved to act up to it. Afterwards their Excellencies Mahomed Reshid Pasha and Mustapha Pasha arrived, and assembled the Chiefs of the mountains, who (/. e. the Chiefs) came to the determination in their Excellencies' presence, not to pay to the Govern- ment any tribute, though they declared that, as servants of the Sublime Porte, they had the right of levying a tax upon the people, and that they could not accede to the orders (of the Sublime Porte), and to the regula- tions about paying tribute. Your servant then spoke, in the presence of their Excellencies, to the following effect, — that it was urgent upon them to act in all matters, in conformity with the Royal and just mandates, and that every one should pay according to his means as was required in the Supreme mandate : this, my counsel, not being listened to, w^e went together to Beyrout, and to the Divan of Saida, at which the Mushir presided. It was then deter- mined to pay 3,500 purses of tribute. After which decision, your servant was obliged to go to Deir-el-Kammar, to give orders about collecting this tax, and there, as soon as it became known to your servant, that the Chiefs of the mountains were disposed to conduct themselves in a rebel- lious manner, your servant petitioned the Mushir to send some troops from Beyrout and Saida to terrify the afore-mentioned rebels ; his Excel- lency promised to accede to my wishes, but did not keep his promise. After this the Mushir came to the palace of your servant in Deir-el- Kammar, and I again begged his Excellency, on many occasions, to rein- force us with a battalion of troops, to assist in collecting promptly the taxes and to prevent rebellion, — our counsels were not listened to, and I 2 60 from this negligence, the audacious Chiefs of the Druse nation assembled with their followers, and kindled the flame of war upon us, and upon our people. What followed of plunder, massacre, and destruction of pro- perty by fire, is well known to your Highness ; and your servant made again a supplication to the Mushir for succour, which, if he had given, tranquillity would have been restored, and the flame of war extinguished ; our petition was not listened to, and we were besieged and held our ground firm for four days ; afterwards arrived his Excellency Ayoob Pasha, on the part of the Mushir, to put down the war, — the Chiefs of the Druses having then satiated themselves with plunder, &.C., ceased from war, and his Excellency returned to Beyrout. We then again requested that a battalion of soldiers might be sent to protect our person and that of our followers, and to keep down the rebellion ; but after two days Said-Abd-el-Salat Hamedi of Beyrout, and Selim Bey, having in their hands an order from his Highness the Mushir, desired me to go to Beyrout. Not trusting to the rebels, I requested the aforesaid Bey and Muhas- sil to procure for me a pass from the chiefs of the Druses, Hamood and Nasif, to prevent our being molested. This pass was obtained, but they deceived us ; for on leaving our palace, we and our followers were plun- dered of all we possessed in arms, clothes, and money, to the amount of 500,000 piastres ; and this treachery took place in the presence of the Bey and the Muhassil. On our arrival at Beyrout, we thought that his Excellency the Mushir would have made some ai'rangement for our security, as being in the royal service, but this hope was not realized. Afterwards his Highness sent the Muhassil with some troops to Deir- el-Kammar ; but from this measure no benefit accrued. War and troubles increased, and I was ordered to remain at Beyrout, which his Highness, at the desire of the Druse chiefs, had assented to ; and they (the Druses) gained strength. And after that we were at Beyrout, it became convenient for the Muhassil, without cavise or necessity, to meet the wishes of the rebels, who formerly were in arms against the Sublime Porte, assisting the Egyp- tian Government ; and it has been made known to your Highness that, notwithstanding the succour we had petitioned for to the Slushir, our wishes were not hearkened to; which, if they had been, all these troubles would not have taken place, neither would your servant, as an agent of the Imperial Government been dishonoured by being plundered. I was the first to obey the Imperial mandate, even to the shedding of my blood, and have ever acted up to my duty ; but the Mushir notwith- standing, has taken from me the Nishan, and confined me in prison for four days ; and afterwards arrived the Imperial order that I should go to Stambool, and I have since remained here, awaiting the orders of your Highness ; and I beg you will regard me with favour, and that your Highness will do what you deem right for me, and restore to me what I have lost, as is the custom, in the clemency of the Sublime Porte towards their servants. No. 41. The Earl of Aberdeen to Sir Stratford Caiming. Sir, Foreign Office, March 16, 1842. I HAVE received your Excellency's despatches of the 9th and 11th of February, reporting the communications which your colleagues of Austria, France, Prussia, and Russia, at your instigation, and simul- taneously with you, had severally made to the Porte, respecting the late change of Government in Mount Lebanon ; and stating the reasons which had induced you to take the first step in that matter. I have the satisfaction to inform your Excellency that Her Majesty's Government entirely approve the course which you have taken ; and they 61 agree with you in considering that it was most advisable to treat the measure of the Porte as a temporary expedient, forced upon the Turkish Government by tlic absohite necessity of" a decided conduct on their part, in attemjiting to re-establish order in Mount Lebanon. It is impossible to deny that the sanguinary conflict which had recently been carried on in that district, and the violent animositv which had been displayed both by the Christians and the Druses, called for the powerful iiiter[)Osition of their common Sovereign. Whatever may be the amount of blame with which the Turkish authorities in Syria can be charged for their inditierence to the contest while actually in progress, it can scarcely be questioned that the immediate establishment of the supre- macy of one of the contending parties, before the passions which had actuated them had time to subside, would probably, at no distant day, have led to a renewal of the struggle. Viewing it, therefore, as a tempo- rary expedient, Her JMajesty's Government are not prepared to say that the Porte was not justified in assuming the direct rule over the whole of INIount Lebanon ; but Her Majesty's Government would very much lament that the Porte should make any permanent change in the Government of the Lebanon which should have the effect of depriving the family of Shehab of the prominent position in that Government which it has so long enjoyed. Her Majesty's Government are inclined to think that when the inca- pacity of the Emir Beshir-el-Kassim to govern the Lebanon had been made so evident, the Porte was not bound to maintain him in office, at the risk of rendering the re-establishment of order impossible ; although they can- not but be of opinion that the Porte, in consideration of the eminent services of the Emir, ought not to have effected his removal in the harsh and abrupt manner in which it was brought about. They trust, however, that the representations which, in my despatch of the 24th of February, I instructed your Excellency to make to the Turkish Government in his behalf, will have produced an improvement in his condition, and have led to his being reinstated in his property. Assuming, then, that the Porte may be willing, when peace is restored in the Lebanon, again to intrust the administration of affairs in that district to the family of Shehab, Her Majesty's Government conceive, from what they have heard of the character of the Emir Emin, that the selection of that person for the important office of Governor of the Leba- non would be a judicious act on the part of the Porte. I acquainted your Excellency in my despatch of the 25th of Novem- ber, that Her Majesty's Government strongly deprecated the rein- statement of the ex-Emir Beshir Shehab ; and in my despatch of the 27th of that month, I apprized you that Her Majesty's Government would not wish to offer any objection to the nomination of his son, the Emir Emin, if the Porte should think it necessary to remove the Emir Beshir-el-Kassim. Since the date of those despatches, accounts have been received of the Lebanon having been convulsed with civil war ; and there is no one, as far as Her Majesty's Government is informed, so well calcu- lated to remedy the mischiefs which have resulted from that calamity as the Emir Emin, who would appear in Syria with all the influence which his family connexion and wealth would enable him to exercise, and with all the advantages which the reputation he is said to enjoy for a con- ciliatory spirit and talents for administration, would confer upon him. But although Her ]\Iajesty's Government think the Porte would do wisely to appoint Emir Emin, they would not wish your Excellency to take a prominent part in recommending his nomination. Your Excellency is authorized strongly to urge upon the Porte the expediency and justice of conferring the Government of the Lebanon upon a Christian ruler of the family of Shehab ; but, with regard to the individual to be selected, they conceive that it would be better for the Porte itself, and more con- ducive to the tranquillity of the Lebanon, that the Governor, whoever he may be, should owe his nomination to the spontaneous act of the Sultan. Therefore, all that Her Majesty's Government wish that your Excellency should do in that respect would be, to offer an opinion that if the Porte should appoint the Emir Emin, it would be taking a course which, so far as your Government could judge, would hold out the greatest promise of advantage to all parties concerned. I am, &c. (Signed) ABERDEEN. No. 42. Sir Stratford Canning to the Earl of Aberdeen. — [Received March 21.) My Lord, Constantinople, February 23, 1842. NO complaints of the conduct of Lieutenant-Colonel Rose having been addressed to me, either officially or confidentially, by any one of the Turkish Ministers, and not having been aware that such complaints had been addressed to the Embassy before my arrival here, I made inquiry, after reading your Lordship's instruction of January 22, both of Mr. Bankhead and of M. Pisani, as to the nature and occasion of any repre- sentations bearing that character, which might have been made to them by the Porte, either in the time of Rifaat Pasha, or during the administra- tion of Sarim Pasha. The result of my inquiry is, that Colonel Rose's name, although it was specifically mentioned, was only mentioned in company with those of the other British officers in Syria, at a time when the Porte gave some intimation of their conduct being deemed rather more inquisitive and exacting than was found to be convenient, after the cessation of hostilities in Syria : and that when his exequatur was applied for, so far was he from being made an object of censure or complaint by the Turkish Government, much good-will and civility were shown by Rifaat Pasha in acceding to the application for that instrument. Under these circumstances, I have thought it advisable to avail my- self of the latitude opened towards the close of your Lordship's despatch, and to abstain from making any direct communication upon this delicate subject to the Reis Effendi. I have been the more inclined to take this course from having a fair opportunity of doing justice to Colonel Rose, and, in substance, attaining your Lordship's object, incidentally, and without the hazard of raising a question, which, if heretofore raised at all, has latterly at least subsided of itself. I allude to a passage in the instruction which I had occasion to address yesterday to M. Pisani on the subject of Syria. Your Lordship will find a copy of it inclosed with another of my despatches ; and in what I have there said of Colonel Rose, 1 trust that you will perceive the expression, though reduced to a smaller compass, of the principal ideas which your Lordship intended eventually to convey to the Reis Effendi respecting that merito- rious officer and zealous public servant. I have, &.C., (Signed^ STRATFORD CANNING. No. 43. Sir Stratford Canning to the Earl of Aberdeen. — (Received March 21.) Extract.) Constantinople, February 26, 1842. AT midnight, on the 19th instant, Her Majesty's steam-ship "PhcEnix" arrived here unexpectedly, from Beyrout, with several despatches addressed to me by Colonel Rose, who had retunied from Jerusalem a short time before. His object in despatching the " Phoenix" was to inform me of an attempt which had been made under the influence of Omar Pasha, the Turkish Governor of Mount Lebanon, to get up petitions by means of fraud and menace, with a view to the confirmatioa of the new order of things. 63 The " Phoenix" was also the bearer of despatches to the Internuncio from the Austrian Consul at Beyrout. His Excellency comnuinicated them to me. and I found that they corroborated the principal points of Colonel Rose's intelligence respecting the fraudulent petitions and rigo- rous treatment of the Christians. Conceiving- that 1 could not with propriety omit to bring the subject of Colonel Rose's complaints under the notice of the Porte, I availed myself of the opportunity to hazard a fresh experiment in support of the demand already made for a reconsideration of the late arrangements in Syria. 1 did not venture upon this step without the concin'rence of the Internuncio, who appeared to partici[)ate entirclj' and without reserve in my view of the subject. J have the honour to inclose a copy of my instruction to M. Pisani. With respect to the French and Russian Representatives, we agreed that it woidd be more advisable not to invite them to partake of our pro- ceeding. The " Phoenix" had come away without any despatches for them. I apprized them, however, in general terms, of the motives which had led Colonel Rose to despatch the " Phoenix" to Constantinople, and I have since imparted to them, confidentially, the contents of my instruc- tion to M. Pisani. Copies of Mr. Wood's despatches to your Lordship arrived in time to afford me some additional materials of intelligence respecting the dan- gerous state of affairs in Syria, and I have placed extracts of them also under the consideration of the Reis Effendi. A week has now elapsed, and the only answer I have received from his Excellency is, that the whole of my communication to him will be deli- berately examined by his colleagues before he can be authorized to give me an answer, and that he is convinced, in the mean time, by intelligence received at the Porte from Mustapha Pasha, that the accounts transmitted to me are altogether void of truth. Whatever may come of these endeavours to rescue the Porte from a false step, I trust your Lordship will be of opinion that I have not unne- cessarily committed Her Majesty's Government, or exceeded the limits marked out in my instructions. Inclosure 1 in No. 43. Sir Stratford Canning to M. Pisani. (Extract.) . Pera, February 21, 1842. I HAVE to direct you to wait upon the Reis Effendi at an early hour to-morrow morning, and to make to his Excellency the following communication. The Reis Effendi is aware of the arrival of a British steam-vessel express from Beyrout with intelligence of a very unsatisfactory nature. His Excellency needs not to be reminded either of the services rendered to the Sublime Porte in Syria by the united arms of England and Austria, or of the opinions lately conveyed to his Highness the Grand Vizier as well as to his Excellency, respecting the recent change of Government in Mount Lebanon, by the several Representatives of Russia, France, and Prussia, in addition to those of the above-mentioned Powers. The British Ambassador has now to state, in virtue of the despatches received from Syria, that the conduct of Omar Pasha is such as to expose the Sultan's authority and the peace of the country to fresh and imminent danger. Without securing the permanent attachment of the Druses, it is calculated to oppress and degrade the Christian population. The Ambas- sador would fail in his duty if he were to allow these dangers to gather to a head in silence. As the Representative of a Power most friendly to the Porte he is bound to call the attention of the Turkish Ministry, and if need be, of the Sultan himself, to the effects of a conduct so utterly at 64 variance with justice and sound policy. The discharge of this duty is the more indispensable, as the measures adopted by Omar Pasha have a direct tendency to alienate the Christian Powers. If the Porte be really anxious to I'epair the late calamities, to per- petuate the tranquillity of Mount Lebanon, and to establish her sovereignty on lasting ibundations, let those invested with her authority show some regard for long established privileges, confirmed by promise, let them deal equal justice to all parties, and respect the claims of humanity while they enforce obedience to the law. The conduct of Omar Pasha is the very reverse of this. By main violence he compels the Christians, who have given many proofs of their loyalty, to return, without protection or means of subsistence, to the ruins of their former houses ; he corrupts, without gaining, the Druses, by leaving them in possession of their plunder ; he obtains signatures by force and fraud to petitions at once deceptive and insulting ; nor is he deterred by any sentiments of gratitude or of duty from rendering one of these petitions the vehicle of an offensive calumny against the subjects and Government of Great Britain. In support of these allegations the accompanying extracts of des- patches received from Beyrout are submitted to the candid and serious consideration of the Reis Effendi. They are the testimonies of the British Consul-General in Syria ; of one, who, alike in battle and in council, has deserved the good opinion, the gratitude of the Porte ; who enjoys the full confidence of his own Government ; and who leaves no effort unmade to serve the interests of this empire in concert with the Turkish authority, and to strengthen the Sultan's hold upon the allegiance and affections of the mountain tribes in Syria. The Ambassador, no less than Colonel Rose himself, is ready to pay the utmost deference to the sovereign authority of the Sultan. He advances no pretension inconsistent with that principle. But he must be allowed, in common with the Representatives of other Powers in friend- ship with the Porte, to raise a warning voice against measures which are evidently undermining the best interests of the Porte. He cannot renounce his just claims to interpose amicably on behalf of those to whom the word of his Government has been pledged, and who fought so nobly for the recovery of their Sovereign's rights. The Ambassador trusts that these i-epresentations, wrung from him by a painful sense of duty, will not be made in vain, and that his Govern- ment will have the consolation of knowing that the Porte is seriously resolved to remedy the evils now pointed out, and to remove without delay so just a cause of complaint, and of deep dissatisfaction. Inclosure 2 in No. 43. Colonel Rose to Mr. Banhhead. (Extract.) Beyrout, February 6, 1842. NO people certainly had ever stronger reasons than most of the Druses have, for wishing to be well with their rulers, for, protected by them, they preserve their pei'sons and their plunder ; but the part which they have to play has already become irksome to them. It has been intimated to the Druses, that they must pull down their helwee, or sacred houses, and burn their books, both of which the Druses declined to do. About ten days ago, the son of Sheik Hamoud Abuneked, joint Druse Governor of Deir-el-Kammar, came here and requested Selim Pasha to send back immediately all the Christians who were here, and at Sidon, and who had fled from Deir-el-Kammar; to induce Selim Pasha to do so, he presented him with three fine horses. The Seraskier gave a peremptory order to the Christians to return to Deir-el-Kammar, or, in other words, to certain destruction or pillage. 65 The Druses are already beginning to show symptoms of mistrust of the Turks; Omar Pasha resides in the palace of the ex-Emir Boshir, at Ibtedeen, wliich, as the erovv Hies, is about half or three-quarters of a mile from, and commands l)eir-el-Kammar ; the g^rcater part of the Turkish force is with Omar Pasha, the remainder in Deir-el-Kammar; the cannon are in position at Ibtedeen. Five Christian women in Deir-el-Kammar, nearly starved and in despair, have embraced Mahometanism ; they were all immediately mar- ried according to Mussulman custom, one of them to a black slave. The acts and feeling of the Turks render daily the position of the Christians, in this country, more degraded. Inclosure 3 in No. 43. Colonel Rose to Mr. Bankhead. (Extract.) Beyrout, February 12, 1842. THE most convincing proof of the collusion and good understanding betwixt the Turkish authorities has been furnished by the appointment of the Emir Emin Raslan, a Druse, to the governorship of the Plain of Beyrout and of the surrounding country. He was the agent and channel of communication between the Druses and the Turkish authorities, and one of the fomenters and principal actors in the civil war. In the begin- ning of November last, he came into Beyrout, having been sent for by Selim Pasha to deceive the Christians (this occurred at the height of the disturbances). Selim Pasha and the Defterdar gave him a severe repri- mand in public for the part he had taken ; the same evening he was with Selim Pasha, he was accompanied out of town by his cavasses, and took out of Beyrout with him four mules loaded with ammunition for the Druses. Selim Pasha and the Turkish authorities have now created for him, the chief promoter of the civil war, an employment. They have made a new governorship for him, and given to him the command of the town, village, and pi-operty of the late Emir Beshir-el-Kassim ; thus, whilst they, the Turkish authorities, send this unfortunate personage, deprived by them of his high office, as a prisoner to Constantinople, asserting, at the same time, that they have no cause of complaint against him, they decorate with a sabre, a cashmere shawl and a fur pelisse, the rebellious Chief who led on his followers against his Prince, and invest him more- over with an extensive government, which comprises the house and lands of that very Prince. Emir Emin Raslan, availing himself of the authority and power which he derives from his office, has laid forcil)le hands on the lands anfl pi'operty of the wife of the unfortunate Emir Beshir, who was sent the other day to Constantinople. The Princess, wife of the Emir Beshir, has sent me a petition, detail- ing the conduct of the Emir Emin Raslan ; I gave it in person to Selim Pasha, and strongly supported its prayer ; he said that he would send an order to Omar Pasha respecting it, but I have had too much experience of that description of order and of promise. Besides, the first act of the Government of Omar Pasha was the appointment of the Emir Emin Raslan, and he will naturally support him to the extent of his ability. The determination with which the authorities still continue unduly to favour the Druses, is circumstantial evidence that the greater part of them have, as I stated, received large presents of money, part of the Christian plunder, from that people. P.S. Half of the Church of St. Anne, near Nazareth, tiie oldest Christian establishment in Syria, has been destroyed by the Turks. According to tradition it was founded by the mother of the Virgin. K '66 The Druses near Solyma have taken down the bells of the Capuchin Convent, and possessed themselves forcibly of land belonging to the convent. No. 44. Tlie Earl of Aberdeen to Sir Stratford Canning. (Extract.) Foreign Office, March 24, 1842. WITH regard to the general question of the ill-treatment of the Syrian Christians by Omar Pasha and the other Turkish authorities, your Excellency will warn the Porte against the supposition that the Christian Powers will tolerate a system of persecution directed against that class of the Sultan's subjects. The Porte is under an obligation to the Powers who signed the Treaty of the 15th of July, 1840, to fulfil the promises which it authorized the Representatives of those Powers to make, not as the Porte has alleged, to the Emir Beshir Shehab alone, but to all classes who obeyed the call of their Sovereign, and assisted in i-eestablishing his authority ; and the Porte cannot suppose that the Powers will be indif- ferent to the welfare of a people, whose fidelity and courage contributed so essentially to the successful termination of the contest in Syria. Her Majesty's Government regret to see that, instead of evincing a disposition to respect its own engagements, and to enable its allies to fulfil those which, relying on the good faith of the Porte, they made on its behalf, the Porte seeks to evade the performance of its promises, by broadly alleging that the complaints of the Foreign Agents in Syria against the conduct of the Turkish authorities, are wholly destitute of foundation. The Porte will not succeed in persuading the Powers that such is the case, when the concurrent testimony of all persons who are not in the service of the Porte, and are, therefore, not interested witnesses, denounces the conduct of the Turkish authorities in Syria as unjust and oppressive towards the Christians, and calculated to perpetuate the dissensions and the calamities which have so severely aflilicted the Lebanon districts. With regard to the particular case mentioned in Colonel Rose's des- patch to Mr. Bankhead, of the 12th of February, from which it appears that the lands and property of the wife of the Emir Beshir El-Kassim have been forcibly seized by a Druse Governor, on whom the Turkish authori- ties have conferred the administration of the Emir's property, your Excel- lency will state to the Turkish Government, that Her Majesty's Govern- ment confidentl)" expect that the Porte will send immediate orders to Syria for the reinstatement of that lady in her possessions. The Grand Vizier, as reported in your despatch of the 16th of February, did not pretend that the Emir Beshir El-Kassim had committed any crime which would authorize the confiscation of his property. On the contrary, it appears that he is allowed to present to the commission about to be assembled at Beyrout, his claim to compensation for the destruction of his property during the civil war. It is the height of injustice, therefore, that the pro- perty which escaped from the fury of his enemies, should now be wrested from him and his family by the arbitrary interference of a Turkish Governor ; and your Excellency will not disguise from the Porte, that this fresh act of violence and injustice committed against a person to whose loyalty the Sultan is so deeply indebted, is calculated to produce in this country a feeling of indignation, which it is certainly far from the interest of the Porte to allow to be entertained by the British nation or Government. 67 No. 45. Sir Stratford Canning to the Earl of Aberdeen. — {Received April 4.) ^^Extract.) Constantinople, March 0, 1842. I WAS under the necessity of allowing the " Pha^nix"' to return to Beyrout without any decisive declaration of the Turkish Government on the Syrian question. Your Lordship will have the goodness to excuse me if I reserve my explanations for a few days. 1 propose to write more at length by an express, which, as far as I can foresee, will set out on the 15th. The present opportunit) does not afford me sufficient time for the purpose. The Porte has issued orders for sending four or five thousand Alba- nians into Syria. This reinforcement may be necessary for the mainte- nance of her authority in that country, but there is much reason to fear that it will prove a cruel scourge to the inhabitants of the mountain. No. 46. The Earl of Aberdeen to Sir Stratford Canning. (Extract.) Foreign Office, April 6, 1812. HER Majesty's Government have seen with regret, in the concluding- passage of your Excellency's despatch of the 9th of March, that the Porte has issued orders for sending into Syria a large Albanian force. The excesses of which the troops of that description were guilty at the close of the Syrian campaign, and which gave occasion for strong remonstrances being made by the British agents in Syria to the Turkish authorities there, and by Viscount Ponsonby dii-ectly to the Turkish Government, fully justify the apprehensions expressed by your Excellency, that the presence of the Albanian reinforcements in Syria will prove a severe calamity to the inhabitants of that country. Her Majesty's Government of course do not assume to themselves the right of prescribing to the Porte what peculiar description of force it should employ in any part of the Turkish dominions, but they consider that your Excellency may, without impropriety, take an opportunity of reminding the Porte of the just complaints which the conduct of the Albanians jn Syria gave rise to a short time ago, and of expi'essing, un- officially, the hope of Her Majesty's Government, that measures will be taken for maintaining such a degree of discipline among the forces now about to be sent, as may secure the people of Syria from a repetition of the outrages which Albanian troops are in the habit of committing in the countries where they are employed. No. 47. Sir Stratford Canning to the Earl of Aberdeen. — {Received April 12.) My Lord, Constantinople, March 16, 1842. I HAVE still sufficient motives to abstain from entering at any length upon the affairs of Syria, which continue to be under discussion at the Porte, and respecting which no recent intelligence of interest has reached me from Beyrout or Damascus. It is the intention of the Porte to send down a person of confidence, in the character of Envoy or Com- missary, as a kind of assessor to Mustapha Pasha, with the view of obtaining fresh information, and reconsidering the whole question subse- quently at Constantinople. On being informed of this intention, I requested that it might be K 2 68 communicated to the Representatives of the Five Powers, and Sarim Effendi has promised to comply with this request. He has already, indeed, announced it verbally to the Internuncio and the French Minister, as well as to myself. I have earnestly and repeatedly endeavoured to prevail upon him to accompany the intended communication, which is to be in writing, with some satisfactory assurance as to the employment of the Albanian troops directed, to the amount of 4,000 or 5,000 men, upon Syria ; and also, as to the restoration of the ancient privileges of Mount Lebanon, on the occasion of a definitive settlement. The language of Sarim Effendi induces me to hope that these recommendations have not been urged in vain ; but I cannot venture to rely with confidence upon the impression which it is calculated to convey. The Porte has exhibited so much reluctance to pledge itself, in the slightest degree, to the restoration of the deposed family, and its anxiety to send fresh troops into Syria is so apparent, that unless the assurances which I have recommended, be given, it will be difficult for me to abandon the suspicion, that her only object in sending a confidential agent to Mustapha Pasha is to gain time, and, by acting upon the fears of the people, whether Christians or Druses, to establish that appearance of tranquillity which may justify the assertion that her measures have succeeded, and that there is no reason to insist upon a return to the old state of things. With respect to the Albanians, I have spared no pains to obtain, if not an entire change of their destination, at least such a distribution of their numbers along the coast of Syria, and principally at Acre, as might relieve the inhabitants of Mount Lebanon from any immediate danger of being brought into contact with them. I have reason to believe that the Internuncio has made very decided exertions for the same purpose, and the French Minister has also made similar representations to the Reis Effendi. I have, &,c., (Signed) STRATFORD CANNING. No. 48. Sir Stratford Canning to the Earl of Aberdeen. — {Received April 12.) My Lord, Constantinople, March 17, 1842. I AVAIL myself of an express despatched by the Internuncio to overtake the Vienna post which started this morning, in order to transmit to your Lordship the communication which the Porte had announced its intention of making to the Representatives of the Five Powers, respecting the affairs of Syria. I did not receive it till late in the evening. On the subject of the Albanians, the Porte has thought proper to keep a profound silence as far as this paper is concerned ; and with respect to the ancient privileges of Mount Lebanon, your Lordship will perceive that their eventual restoration is very faintly and imperfectly shadowed out. There is, nevertheless, enough to indicate the sense of a necessity, if not of an obligation, to keep them in view ; and, with the twofold advantage now obtained, of a deliberate reconsideration of the whole subject, and of a friendly communication with the Allied Powers thereon, it remains with the Powers themselves so to press that sense of necessity home to the conviction of the Turkish Government, as eventually to produce a rational and satisfactory result. Selim Bey" is the son of Veli, formerly Pasha of the Morea, and son of Ali Pasha of Yanina. M. Pisani informs me that he was formerly Muhassil of Smyrna, and was lately sent down to Bosnia with a com- mission similar to that which is now intrusted to him. I have, &c., (Signed) STRATFORD CANNING. 69 Inclosure in No. 48. Sarim Effcndi to Sir Stratford Canning. (Traduction.) LES Ministres de la Sublime Porte ne font pas difficulto d'entendre les communications sinceres laites de vive voix et par ecrit, et uniqucment en genre d'observation, par les Missions des Cinq Hautes Puissances amies et alli(5es de la Sublime Porte, relativement au Mont Liban. La Sublime Porte ne cesse un instant de songer aux mesures per- manentes et energiques propres a assurer la tranquillite de la Syrie, et le repos de ses habitans. Mais comme les notices que la Sublime Porte acquiert, soit directe- ment, soit par I'intermediaire des Missions, sur les affaires de la Syrie, ne s'accordent pas les unes avec lesautres, il a ete juge a propos de se pro- curer la-dessus de nouveaux renseignemcns, et son Excellence Veli Pacha- zade Selim Bev, un des grands personnages dc la Sublime Porte, a ete charge de cette mission spcciale. Le Bey doit se rendre aupres de son Altesse le Seraskir Pacha avec des connaissances suffisantes et les instructions necessaires, et retourner avec une connaissance parfaite de I'etat des affaires. Alors la Sublime Porte fera connaitre aux Missions des Cours amies et les renseignemcns obtenus, et les mesures a prendre en consequence ; et Ton adoptera un systeme arrets. Quant a Omar Pacha, on ne tient guere ii sa personne ; ce qui a ete fait dtait une mesure dictee par les circonstances, et adoptee par celui qui etait charge d'une mission. II est superflu de direqu'apres les renseignemcns positifs qu'on aura pris, de la meme maniere que Ton ne perd pas de vue les faveurs accordees a toutes les classes de sujets dans les bases de I'administration qui seront etablies conformement a I'iiidependance de la Sublime Porte, on ne refusera'^pas non plus au Mont Liban des faveurs propres a le contenter ; ce qui sera un effet de la souverainete et de sollicitude pour le bien-etre des Rayas. Le 5 Safar, 1258 (17 Mars, 1842). [N.B. Having referred the original paper to Mr. Alison, he gives the following version of the two last paragraphs, as being a more exact translation of the Turkish. " With regard to Omar Pasha, personally, the Sublime Porte attaches no importance to the question. His appointment was viewed by the Seraskier as a matter of expediency ; and His Highness the Sultan will, in like manner, graciously extend to the Lebanites the same favour and sentiments of duty, with regard to the form of administration to be hereafter established (consistently with the independence of the Sublime Porte), upon the intelligence received (by Selim Bey), as may prompt him to respect the Imperial concessions granted in favour of all classes of His Majesty's subjects.] (Translation.) THE Ministers of the Sublime Porte make no difficulty in listening to the sincere communications made verbally and in writing, and merely by the way of observation, by the Missions of the Five High Powers, friends and allies of the Sublime Porte, relative to Mount Lebanon. The Sublime Porte does not for an instant cease to meditate on the permanent and energetic measures calculated to insure the tranquillity of Syria, and the repose of its inhabitants. But as the advices which the Sublime Porte receives, whether directly or through the medium of the Missions, on the affairs of Syria, do not agree with each other, it has been deemed right to obtain 70 fresh information thereupon, and his Excellency Veli Pasha-zade Selim Bev, one of the great persons of the Sublime Porte, has been charged with this special mission. The Hey is to go to his Highness the Seraskier Pasha, with sufficient acquaintance with the matter and with the necessary instructions, and to return with a perfect knowledge of the state of affairs. Then the Sublime Porte will make known to the Missions of the friendly Courts both the information obtained, and the measures to be taken in conse- quence ; and a fixed plan will be adopted. As for Omar Pasha, no importance is attached to him personally ; that which has been done was a measure dictated by the circumstances, and adopted by the person who had a commission to execute. It is superfluous to say that, after positive information shall be obtained, in the same manner as the favours granted to all classes of subjects will not be lost sight of in the bases of the administration which shall be established consistently wdth the independence of the Sublime Porte, neither will favours calculated to satisfy it be refused to Mount Lebanon ; which will be an effect of the sovereignty and of the solicitude for the well-being of the Rayahs. The 5th Safar, 1258, (March 17, 1842). No. 49. Sir Stratford Canning to the Earl of Aberdeen. — {Received April 18.) My Lord, Constantinople, March 27, 1842. PRIOR to the receipt of your Lordship's instruction respecting the deposed Emir Beshir-el-Kassim, I had already replied in terms of sym- pathy and kindness to his applications for support. I had also directed M. Pisani, on several occasions, to express both to the Grand Vizier and to Sarim Effendi, the interest which I felt for the unfortunate Emir. I have since renewed my representations in his favour, on the part of Her Majesty's Government ; and having received a visit from the Emir himself, I availed myself of the occasion to assure him that my good offices were entirely at his disposal for the recovery of his property, and the acquisi- tion of any other object which he might have to solicit at the Porte, for his protection or comfort. I was careful, at the same time, to hold out no hope that Her Majesty's Government would be inclined to procure his reinstatement in the administration of Mount Lebanon, and, indeed, it was evident that he entertained no wish of the kind ; and I was not sorry to observe that he appeared himself to be aware of the inexpediency, on political grounds, of his returning to Deir-el-Kammar, in the present unsettled state of affairs. The Porte has required of him to name an agent for the verification of his claims before the tribunal appointed, or rather to be appointed, by Mustapha Pasha. He told me that the Porte had made him an offer of pecuniary assist- ance, though in some way that implied more responsibility than advantage, for he declined the offer, and informed me that, as he had the whole of his appointments due to him while Emir to claim, he thought it better, under his present circumstances, to take nothing on account. The Reis Effendi consented that he should be allowed to leave Con- stantinople, if he preferred to reside at Brussa for instance, but he purposes to remain for the present at Constantinople. I have, &c., (Signed; STRATFORD CANNING. 71 No. 50. Sir Stratford Canning to the Earl of Aberdeen. — (Received April 18.) My Lord, Constantinople, March 29, 1842. I FEAR there is but too much reason to ap[neh(>nd that the Porte is mainly seeking to gain time, by the appointment of Selim Bey for the investigation of the aH'airs of INIount Lebanon, lie is still here, and I have not heard that any day is fixed for his departure. In the mean time, our latest accounts from Syria arc as unsatisfactory as the preceding ones. Your Lordship will, no doubt, have received direct intelligence from that quarter, of the same dates as mine, before this despatch can i-each England. 1 inclose, nevertheless, herewith, an abstract of the principal incidents communicated by Colonel Rose. I have sent it in to the Reis Efiendi, and I have also made my colleagues acquainted with its contents, suggesting to tliem the expediency of making a similar communication to the Porte. Tlie Reis EfTendi, satisfied with the statements transmitted by Mus- tapha Pasha, makes light of ours, as if they were exaggerated. It may be so, but it is singular that my colleagues should receive accounts of the same piu'port as mine. Monsieur Basili particularly mentions the emigra- tion of nearly all of the Christian inhabitants from Deir-el-Kammar to Beyrout and Saida. Mr. Moore and Mr. Wood agree with Colonel Rose, and the other Consuls at Beyrout, in describing the revived fanaticism of the Turks, their mistrust and increasing hatred of everything Christian, and their secret preparations for defence against foreign aggression or internal commotion. I quite despair of being able to effect any further change in the counsels of the Porte until the receipt of instructions from Her Majesty's Government. I have, &c., (Signed) STRATFORD CANNING. Inclosure in No. 50. Substance of Colonel Rose's Despatches from Syria. SINCE the arrival of Mustapha Pasha, disorder in this country is on the increase. A most violent outrage has been committed by the Druses upon the Christians at Deir-el-Kammar, in which many of the Christians were severely wounded by clubs, and 300 of them have been obliged to save themselves by flight. Omar Pasha, although having an ample force at his disposal, looked on with the greatest indiflerence, and Mustapha Pasha himself showed no sympathy for the Christians, but treated tlie affair lightly. The Druses despise the authority of Omar Pasha, in defiance of which they have usurped the lands of Emir-el- Kassim, and of numerous other Christians. The state of the Christians is most deplorable : 15,000 of them are houseless, and 20,000 have been compelled to desert their villages : 4,000 have already petitioned the Consuls for the merciful interposition, on their behalf, of the foreign Representatives at Constantinople. The Albanians and the irregular cavalry maltreat and plunder them. They have pillaged one of their churches, and the Christians dare not even perform their devotions in them. Their petition for a Christian ruler, Mustapha Pasha has refused to forward to Constantinople. He excites the minds of the Turks against them by the most inflammatory language, and the greatest armed activity prevails among the Moslems, who are being organized for, it is said, the object of subduing the Christians entirely. In the mean time, several of their chief men have been confined by Omar Pasha as hostages, or for 72 purposes of intimidation ; they are subjected to forced labour for the repairs of Acre ; the Jesuit building has been stopped by Mustapha Pasha ; and intelligence from Egypt would appear to sanction the belief that the Porte meditates the entire expulsion of the Shehab family from Syria. Everything indicates a return to ancient fanaticism. Christians are not admitted into the local shouras. Police measures for raising- funds are enforced against them. Attempts have even been made to com- pel the European subjects to contribute to them ; and it is asserted that secret orders have been received from the Porte for withholding justice from foreigners, so as to induce them to abandon the country, and leave their fellow-Christians to their misery and degradation. No. 51. The Earl of Aberdeen to Sir Stratford Canning. Sir, Foreign Office, April 23, 1842. I HAVE received your Excellency's despatch of the 29th of March, inclosing an abstract of the reports which you have received from Colonel Rose, and stating that the accounts which the Ministers of the other Powers receive from their agents in Syria, agree with those which Colonel Rose has transmitted to your Excellency of the unsatisfactory state of affairs in that province.' As my despatches of the 16th and 24th of March, which your Excel- lency will have received by this time, contain full instructions for your conduct and language with regard to the affairs of Syria, I have only to refer you to those despatches, and to express my hope that the language which you are therein authorized to hold, may produce a salutary effect on the councils of the Porte. I am, &c., (Signed) ABERDEEN. No. 52. Sir Stratford Canning to the Earl of Aberdeen. — (Received April 27.) My Lord, Constantinople, April 7, 1842. I HAVE this moment received information upon which I can rely, that Nejib Pasha of Damascus is deposed, and most sincerely do I hope, though I cannot yet take upon myself to give the assurance, that it may pi-ove the prelude "to a wiser policy in the affairs of Syria, and particularly to a more satisfactory state of affairs at Damascus itself (Signed) ' STRATFORD CANNING. P. S. Nejib Pasha goes to Bagdad in place of Ali Riza Pasha, who takes the Pashalic of Damascus. The Reis Effendi affirms that there is no other change whatever in the matter. No. 53. Sir Stratford Canning to the Earl of Aberdeen. — {Received May 6.) (Extract.) Constantinople, April 13, 1842. ACCORDING to the latest accounts from Syria, the affairs of that country remain nearly in the same state as before. The Porte continues to profess its satisfaction at the statements transmitted by Mustapha 73 Pasha ; and not liaving myself received any intelligence by the last steamer from Beyront, I can only reply, that the information received by my colleagues is not in harmony with the impressions apparently derived from his despatclics. Selim Bey is still here, and it is still the intention of the Porte to send him to Syria for the purpose already stated to your Lordship. No. 54. Sir Stratford Canning to the Earl of Aberdeen. — {Received May 1.'^.) (Extract.) Constantinople, April 20, 1842. ON the 17th instant, the Turkish commissioner, Selim Bey, at length embarked in a Government steamer and proceeded to the coast of Syria. The Reis Effendi says that he expects him to return in less than a month. On the 14th I waited upon that Minister, in consequence of his invita- tion, and I availed myself of the opportunity, to read to his Excellency those parts of your Lordship's despatches which advert to the late change of Government in Syria, to the recall of Omar Pasha, and to the restitu- tion of the ex-Emir Beshir El-Kassim's property. I cannot affirm that, upon any one of these questions, I have met with decisive success. Upon the subject of the Shehab family, I am re- ferred to the memorandum presented by the Porte some weeks ago to the Representatives of the Five Powers. The Government of Mount Lebanon may be restored to a member of that family, but it is a question of time and circumstances which cannot be decided till after the return of Selim Bey. The removal of Omar Pasha is in like manner reserved for eventual consideration. The Porte attaches no importance to his continuance in office, but the Seraskier, who appointed him, is to decide upon his fate, or the question of his dismissal may be part of the final determination. With respect to the lands of which the ex-Emir Beshir El-Kassim's wife has been forcibly deprived, I am assured by the Reis Effendi, that orders have been sent to include them in the legal inquiry respecting the Emir's own property, with a view to their ultimate I'estitution. The distribution of the Albanian forces destined for Syria has again been the subject of some discussion between Sarim Effendi and myself. I understood him at one time to promise that they should be confined strictly to the fortresses on the coast, but he has since declared that, although they are to be quartered there in the first instance, they are to be placed at the Seraskier's disposal, and that he will employ them accord- ing to the exigencies of the service. Their arrival in Syria is expected with dread, but fortunately the difficulty of enlisting them, of finding transports, and of keeping them together, is so great, as to make it pro- bable that few of the intended number will ever reach the coast of Syria. A detachment of them was driven a few days ago by stress of weather into Tenedos, and, the garrison being weak, the Governor of that island was compelled to tolerate their irregularities, and to compromise his authority for the sake of avoiding their violence. No. 55. Sir Stratford Canning to the Earl of Aberdeen. — (Received May 18.) My Lord, Constantinople, April 27, 1842. ALTHOUGH, as your Lordship is aware, I have frequently urged the Porte either to abstain altogether from sending Albanian troops into Syria, or at least not to employ them in Mount Lebanon, I sent Mr. Alison this morning to communicate your Lordship's instruction of April 6, which L 74 reached me yesterday, to the Turkish Minister for Foreign Affairs. Nearly the whole of the despatch was read to Sarim Effendi ; but his Excellency was so delighted with the news of the seizure of the Druse Sheiks by Omar Pasha, without the assistance of any Albanians, that he was more inclined to boast of that feat, than to give any assurances of the nature desired by me, in addition to those which, on former occasions, I have wrung from him and reported in my correspondence with your Lordship. According to accounts from Prevesa and Salonica, I do not think that more than two thousand Albanians are already embarked, or indeed collected, for the service of Syria ; and it is to be hoped, that the opinion and advice of Her Majesty's Government, so frequently urged, and founded on views of the Porte's own interests, will not remain entirely without effect. I have, &.C., (Signed) STRATFORD CANNING. No. 56. Sir Stratford Canning to the Earl of Aberdeen. — (^Received June 6.) My Lord, Constantinople, May 18, 1842. THE latest advices from Syria, combined with the language of the Turkish Ministers, are not favourable to the hope of an early or satisfac- tory settlement of the affairs of Mount Lebanon. No fresh disturbances had taken place in the country, but, on the other hand, no real progress had been made towards the restitution of the plundered property, or the restoration of the deposed family. Selim Bey is described as being in dependence upon the Seraskier, and the latter as devoting his utmost efforts, not without success, to the corruption or intimidation of the Christian Chiefs. The principal result of his labour is a petition, numerously signed, in favour of Omar Pasha ; and since the receipt of this petition here, and of the despatches which, no doubt, accompanied it, the Porte has given indi- cations of an intention to persevere in the Grand Vizier's policy respecting Syria. It appears that some of the Christian Emirs have been induced to promise that they will even come up to Constantinople, if called upon to do so, and give evidence of the sincerity with which they have signed the above-mentioned petition. Colonel Rose informs me that promises and bribes have been freely employed to produce this demonstration in favour of the Porte. On the other hand, the people of the mountain — thus partly aban- doned by their leaders — have come forward to make a counter-declaration, which has also been transmitted to the capital, and of this paper I have now the honour to inclose a copy for your Lordship's information. In reference to these circumstances, I had some conversation with my colleagues yesterday, and I was anxious to ascertain their sentiments with regard to the expediency of inviting the Porte either to hasten the return of Selim Bey, or to afford such further explanation as might lead to an early settlement of the Syrian affair. An understanding upon this subject would seem to be the more desirable, as the Internuncio is going, in a few days, on account of his health, to the baths of Brussa, and his absence may extend to a period of six weeks. This morning, however, the Reis Effendi has himself thrown some light upon the question. He informed Mr. Alison of his intention to invite myself and the other Representatives, to a meeting at his house on the 20th instant, by which time an officer sent up to Constantinople by the Seraskier will be out of quarantine, for the purpose of conferring upon the affairs of Syria, and communicating thereupon with Selim Bey, previ- ous to the return of the latter from Beyrout, which, he said, was to take place as soon as the Porte's instructions should reach him. The proposed conference will, no doubt, enable me to judge more 75 clearly than I can pretend to do at present, of the real intentions enter- tained by the Porte; and the departure of the monthly raessenj^er will afford me an early and convenient opportunity of reporting the result to your Lordship. I have, &c., (Signed) STRATFORD CANNING. Inclosure in No. 56. Translation of a Petition in Arabic, addressed by the Christian inhabitants of the Lebanon to His Highness the Sultan. WE, Christians of the Lebanon, subjects of your Highness, prostrated at the feet of your throne, have the honour to represent, that our sub- mission and obedience to your Imperial orders are well known to your Imperial Court : — That our fidelity to your Highness cannot be called in question, for we fought with those who revolted against your legitimate crown, and have shed our blood to defend your rights, as we are ready to do evermore, and till our last breath. We have respected your supreme authority, and tolerated, till now, the Druses, our enemies ; and, instead of having recourse to force, for revenging the plunders, conflagrations, and great damages occasioned by that body, we have had recourse to the equity and justice of your Highness. Your Highness, according to your promises, has ordered the different Pashas to give us help on this occasion, and to restoi-e us to tranquillity. We infinitely thank your sovereign clemency, and we venture, through our Deputy, to make known to your Highness the pitiful state to which we are at present reduced. Scattered far from our habitations, we have not the least security nor tranquillity ; and all that has been seized and plundered by the Druses has not, as yet, been restored to us. Mustapha Pasha and Omar Pasha, not only do not provide for the urgency of our situation, but rather abuse the power that has been conferred on them. As soon as Omar Pasha was appointed Governor of the Lebanon, far from communicating to the Porte our petition, by which we implored your Highness that one of our Princes Shehabis should be appointed to the government of the Lebanon, he constrained our Chiefs, by terror menaces, and force, to sign another petition, which he caused to be written according to his wishes, and in their name, in which it was declared that the election made in his person was of the general accept- ance and satisfaction. Conscious, most glorious Sultan, of your benignity and humanity, the Princes and Chiefs of the Lebanon have represented by a petition, con- trary to that transmitted by Omar Pasha to the Sublime Porte, that the first was written against their will, and that the universal wish was, that the Lebanon should be governed by a Shehabian Prince. Mustapha Pasha, on his part, after his return from Jerusalem to Bey- rout, assembled some of the Chiefs of the Lebanon ; and, though he ordered Omar Pasha to arrest and send to Beyrout five of the Drusian Chiefs, which Omar Pasha did, in order to deceive the hopes of the population of the Lebanon, and to prevent that as little credit as possible might be given to their last petition, he wrote one according to his own views, in the name of our Chiefs and the Druses, in the following terms : — That both of them, submissive and obedient to the Sublime Porte, requested the exclusion from the Government of the Lebanon of the family of the Shehabis, and that, satisfied with the government of Omar Pasha, they desired that the same should be confirmed in this post ; that anything alleged against this declaration to the Representatives of the Allied Powers, or to others, is false ; and that the petition was signed, not by force, but voluntarily. Thus are we oppressed; our Chiefs were obliged by force and violence to sign petitions in favour of such Pashas, and against their will ; and L 2 76 these deliberations are brought to the notice of your Highness, instead of the real and voluntary ones. In this state of things, we servants and subjects of your Highness, of one accord, and with unanimous consent, men and women, old and young, high and low, by the means of our Deputy, supplicate, O Emperor, that you should be pleased to turn your merciful eyes upon us, and to deliver us from this oppression. Restore us to peace and tranquillity ; do not abandon us in the utmost of our wants and calamity ; be so gracious as to elect to the principality of the Lebanon the Emir Emin Shehab, who is now in your capital. We will be quiet and happy under this Governor. He is faithful to your Highness, and endowed with prudence and wisdom in governing ; his character is free from stain. He is impartial, known to all, and generous with the poor. He has acquired the love and good-will of everybody ; all the population incline to him. Chosen by his father to administrate justice in the Lebanon, he has been, on account of his good qualities, praised by every one. No one ever said the least thing against his pi-oceeding. He is, above all, capable to satisfy the Sublime Porte and the common wishes. If your Highness do not turn your eyes on us, and is not touched by our prayers, we shall be entirely ruined. Be moved for the sake of so many persons, and by the devotion and submis- sive conduct of the Lebanites. Raise, magnanimous Sovereign, that voice of mercy and clemency, in order that we should be happy under your empire. We shall pray God for your preservation, and for the prosperity of your State. (Signed in the original, by forty persons of the Deputies from the population of all the provinces of the Lebanon.) 16 Rebi-ul-evel, 1258 {April 27, 1842). No. 57. Sir Stratford Canning to the Earl of Aberdeen. — {Received June 12.) (Extract.) Constantinople, May 24, 1842. THE conference, to wtiich Sarim Effendi announced his intention of inviting the Representatives of the Five Powers with respect to the affairs of Syria, has not yet taken place. His Excellency informed Mr. Alison yesterday that he intended to propose it for the 27th instant. His inten- tion, I believe, is to communicate to us the petitions and reports sent up from Syria by Mustapha Pasha, and to ascertain the impression which they make upon our minds. Another reference to Syria, and, consequently, a fresh period of delay, is to precede the return of Selim Bey, and a defini- tive settlement of the affairs of Mount Lebanon. Deeply as I regret this continued procrastination, it is hardly possible to resist it effectually, without incurring the charge of pressing disrespect- fully upon the Porte. No. 58. Sir Stratford Canning to the Earl of Aberdeen. — (Received June 24.) (Extract.) Constantinople, June 9, 1842. THE want of a suitable conveyance, the incomplete nature of my communications with the Porte, and the pressui-e of daily business, have occasioned a certain degree of interruption in my correspondence with your Lordship. Nearly a fortnight has now elapsed since the conference took place, which I had previously announced to your Lordship. It was held at Sarim Eflfendi's house on the Bosphorus, in pursuance of his Excellency's 77 invitation. TheCapudan Pasha and the President of the Council were pre- sent in company with the Minister lor Foreign jVft'airs. The Ministers of the Five Powers were attended by their respective Dragomans, and I lament to add, that a severe attack of fever deprived me of the valuable services of Mr. Alison. For an account of what passed at the conference, I beg leave to refer your Lordship to the accompanying report, which was drawn up from memory by the interpreters, and revised, with a view to more complete correctness, by my colleagues and myself. It will be found to contain the principal statements and arguments produced on each side, and the result was such as v.ould naturally follow from a conflict between adverse im- pressions and irreconcileable testimony. The question at issue remains where it was ; the Sheliab family is as remote as ever from the Government of Mount Lebancni ; and the only assurance given by the Turkish Ministers was, that no conclusive decision should be taken before the return of Selim Bey, or without a fresh reference to the Representatives of the Five Powers. Copies of the papers presented to us by Sarim Effendi in the opening of the conference are inclosed herewith ; and 1 further submit to your Lordship the report derived from Colonel Rose, which I read out for the information of the Turkish Ministers, in the course of the discussion that ensued. Inclosure 1 in No. 58. Substance of a Conference held at the house of the Minister for Foreign Affairs, May 27, 1842. A UNE heure et demie, Arif Pacha, President du Conseil de Justice et Tahir Pacha, Grand Amiral, se trouvaient r:ard autour d'un centre commun. Mais, quoiqu'il en soit, le Gouvcrnement de Sa Majesty ne desire que le raaintien de l'autorit6 legitime du Sultan de maniere kgarantir au Mont Liban la jouissance d'une tranquillite permanente, et d'une bonne adniiuistratiun fondec dans ses anciens privileges. Ce desir lui est inspire moins par les sympathies de la religion et de I'humanite, que par le respect que tout Gouverncment doit a ses propres engagemens, et par Tinterut que reclame dc lui a juste titre un pays dont le sort actuel p6se en grando partie sur sa responsabilite. Malgre qu'on n'y a pas eu recours aux armes depuis quelqucs mois, le niecontcntement general qui regne dans la Montague a besoin d'etre appaise par d'autres moyens que la force. Quand meme on perdrait de vue les petitions qui se declarent de jour en jour plus franchemcnt centre I'etat actuel des clioses, serait-il possible de s'aveugler sur I'effet que doiveut necessairemeut produire les actes d'un arbitraire violent, dont il n'y a que trop d'evidences ? Corrompre ou intimider les notables, eloigner ou emprisonner les chefs, sembler acquiescer k la spoliation des biens, sont-ils Ik les vrais moyens de gagner les coeurs et de concilier les esprits? Pour fermer tant de blessures, pour calmer tant d'inquietudes, et faire oublier un passe desastreux, il faut que la justice reprennne sa vigueur ; que I'ordre soit etabli sur des bases solides, que Fautorite soit mise en harmonie avec les moeurs, les besoins et les traditions du pays ; quele peuple, eufin, detourne de I'influence etrangere, puisse reposer de bonne foi k I'ombre de la protection du Souverain. II s'agit done de trouver quelque combinaison propre a efFectuer ces divers objets, sans toutefois s'abuser sur les changemens necessites par une s^rie de circonstances, deplorables a la verite, mais qu'il est impossible mainte- nant d'efFaccr. Les eiemens d'une pareille combinaison se presentent a la vue. Deux peuples, pour la plupart separes, partagent le Mont Liban. L'autorite souveraine du pays appartient de droit au Sultan. Que cette autorite soit representee par un Vizir, surintendant de tout le pays, et revetu des pouvoirs necessaires pour en maintenir la paix. Que I'administration locale soit con- fiee a deux individus, nommes par l'autorite supreme, et appeies respective- nient a gerer les affaires de son district, un Druse pour les Druses, et un Chretien pour les Chretiens. Que chacun de ces chefs soit tenu a. resider au milieu de la population dont il doit etre responsable, tandis que le depositaire du pouvoir supreme sera etabli parmi ses correligionnaires dans le voisinage immediat de la Montagne. Par ce moyen la jouissance des anciennes fran- chises sera temperee par une surveillance salutaire, I'irritation mutuelle n'aura plus d'aliment, I'administration sera exercee sans gene, l'autorite se maiutiendra sans danger. II faut avouer que I'execution de ce plan pourrait bien rencontrer quel- ques difficultes de detail. II existe, par exemple, tel village ou les Druses et les Maronites se trouvent entremeles. C'est la peut-etre I'obstacle le plus s6rieux, qui, neanmoins, ne doit pas arrfiter I'adoption d'une mesure sous d'autres rapports satisfaisante. Les moyens de le surmonter ne manquent pas. Encore faut-il avouer que beaucoup depend du choix des individus. Pour les peuplades de la Montagne il importe que leurs Princes reunissent avec des qualites personnelles, le prestige qui derive du sang et d'un noni illustre par les traditions de famille. A celui qui doit representer plus imm^diatcment l'autorite de son Souverain, il faut une reputation pour la justice, la moderation et la fermete. Pour ce qui regarde egalement le Vizir et les Princes, il est essentiel que leurs antecedans ne rappellent ni les souffrances ni les crimes des troubles passes. Mais, par-dessus tout, il importe que le Conseil Ottoman se hate de manifester la bienveillance qui doit pr^sider k I'avenir du Mont Liban, par le prompt eloignement de la Syrie de ces bandes Albanaises qui n'ont que trop longtemps jete I'epouvante parmi les habitans paisibles de la Montagne, indi- gnes de leur presence, et degoutes par leurs exces. Le Gouverncment de Sa Majesty saura gre k la Sublime Porte de cc qu'ellc a dejk donne une 104 autre destination a la moitie tie ces troupes; mais il n'aura pas le sentiment d'avoir accompli son devoir, jusqu'a ce qu'un pareil fleau ne soit entiferement retire du pays. Les Puissances Chretiennes, malgre toute la consideration qu'ellesont vouee a la Porte, ne sauraient acquiescer h. un abus accompagne de tant de mal facile a ecarter. Voila, Monsieur, ce qui je vous invite a communiquer de ma part ;\ son Excellence le Ministre des Affaires Etrangeres, et je vous autorise a lui remettre une copie de cette instruction, en ajoutant que j'espere d'apprendre un moment plus tot la decision de la Porte. Je suis, &c., (Signe) STRATFORD CANNING. (Translation.) Sir, Bmjukder^, August 26, 1842. THE time which has elapsed since the 27th of May, the day of the Conference held between the Ministers of the Porte and the Represen- tatives of the Five Powers relative to the affairs of Syria, has not caused any diminution in the great interest which belongs to tliem. I have submitted to my Government the report of all that passed on that occasion. I made it my duty to do justice to the information and reason- ings of the Ottoman Ministers. I stated frankly the serious difficulties which surrounded and which still surround the question of Mount Lebanon. The consequence is, that Her Majesty's Government have directed their attention to the various points of this question with the knowledge of all that was necessary to form a definitive judgment thereupon. Hence it results, moreover, that the instructions with" which I have now been furnished, express the entire opinion of my Court, and merit, on this account, and on that of the wise benevolence which distinguishes them, the special consideration of the Ottoman Council. It belongs to the other Representatives to make known to his Excellency, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the opinion of their respective Courts, based, without doubt, on the same knowledge, as well as on the same desire to contribute to the well-being of this empire. It is to be presumed, that the Porte will recognize, in their communications, as in mine, the respect due to her independence, and the impression of a sincere conviction. It might be said, in fact, that all opinions unite in this respect around one common centre ; but, be that as it may, Her Majesty's Government only desire the maintenance of the legitimate authority of the Sultan, so as to guarantee to Mount Lebanon the enjoyment of permanent tranquillity, and of a good administration founded on its ancient privileges. It entertains this desire, less on account of the sympathies of religion and humanity, than on account of the respect which every Government owes to its own engagements, and the interest which a country, for whose actual condition it is in a great degree responsible, justly claims from it. Notwithstanding that recourse has not been had to arms for some months, the general discontent which reigns in the Mountain had need to be appeased by other means than force. Were even petitions to be lost sight of, which declare from day to day more frankly against the actual state of things, would it be possible to be blind to the effect which must necessarily be produced by acts of arbitrary violence, of which there are but too many proofs. To corrupt or intimidate the principal persons, to alienate or imprison the chiefs, to appear to acquiesce in the plunder of property, are these the true means to gain the hearts and to conciliate the minds of people ? In order to heal so many wounds, to calm so much anxiety, to consign to oblivion past disasters, it is necessary that justice should resume her vigour, that order should be established on solid bases, authority be put in unison with the manners, the wants and traditions of the country ; that the people, in short, diverted from foreign influence, should be able to repose, implicitly, under the shadow of the protection of the Sovereign. 105 The point, then, is to find sonic plan calculated to effect these different objects, without, at the same time, disret^arding- the changes rendered necessary by a series of circumstances, deplorable in truth, but which it is impossible now to efface. The elements of such a plan present them- selves. Two races, in most things separate, divide Mount Lebanon. The sovereign authority of the country belongs, of right, to the Sultan ; let this authority be represented by a Vizier governing the whole country, and furnished with the powers necessary for preserving the peace of it ; let the local administration be confided to two individuals, named by the superior authority, and appointed respectively to manage the affairs of his district, a Druse for the Druses, and a Christian for the Christians. Let each of these chiefs be bound to reside in the midst of the people for which he is to be responsible, whilst the depositary of supreme power shall be established among the people of his own creed in the immediate neighbourhood of the Mountain. By this means the enjoyment of the ancient liberties will be tempered by a salutary superintendence, the mutual irritation will have no further sustenance, the administration will be exercised without constraint, the authority will be maintained without danger. It must be admitted, that the execution of this place may probably encounter some difficulties of detail. There may exist for example, a village where Druses and Maronites are mixed. That is, perhaps, the most serious obstacle, which, nevertheless, ought not to prevent the adoption of a measure in all other respects satisfactory. Means will not be wanting for surmounting it. Again, it must be allowed, that much depends on the choice of individuals. For the inhabitants of the Mountain, it is requisite that their princes should unite with personal qualities the influence which is derived from birth, and from a name illustrious by family traditions. He who is to represent more immediately the authority of the Sovereign, should enjoy a reputation for justice, moderation, and firmness. As regards equally the Vizier and the Princes, it is essential that their previous history should not recall either the sufferings or the crimes of past troubles. But, above all, it is important that the Ottoman Council should hasten to manifest the benevolence which is to watch over the future condition of Mount Lebanon, by the prompt withdrawal from Syria of the Albanian bands which have for too long a time spread terror among the peaceable inhabitants of the Mountain, outraged by their presence, and disgusted by their excesses. Her Majesty's Government will be obliged to the Porte for having already given another destination to half of these troops ; but it will not feel that it has fulfilled its duty until such a scourge is entirely withdrawn from the country. The Christian Powers, notwithstanding all the consideration which they have observed towards the Porte, cannot acquiesce in an abuse attended with so much evil which is easy to be removed. Such, Sir, is what I request you to communicate from me to his Excellency the Minister for Foreign Affairs, and I authorize you to deliver to him a copy of this instruction, adding that I hope to learn at the earliest moment the decision of the Porte. I am, &.C., (Signed) STRATFORD CANNING. No. 67. Sir Stratford Canning to the Earl of Aberdeen. — (Received September 22.) (Extract.) Buyukdere, August 30, 1842. I HAVE the honour to inclose a copy of M. Fisani's report of the lan- guage held by the Reis Effendi on receiving a communication of my instruc- tion respecting the affairs of Mount Lebanon. P 106 I ara informed that Selim Bey, in private, holds a language in keeping with that of the Seraskier Mustapha Pasha, as if he was persuaded that the petitions forwarded by that Pasha declare the real wishes of the Maronite population. The accounts which I receive from Colonel Rose continue, on the contrary, to affirm that the great majority of signatures is in favour of a Christian administration in the Mountain. Inclosure in No. 67. M. Pisani to Sir Stratford Canning. Excellence, Pera, ce 29 Aout, 1842. CONFORMEMENT a vos ordres, j'ai communique a son Excellence le Ministre des Affaires Etrangferes les instructions que votre Excellence m'a fait rhonneur de m'adresser en date du 26 courant. Le Ministre des Affaires Etrangeres m'a fait la r6ponse suivante : " La Porte a envoye des instructions a Selim Bey en consequence de ce qui s'etait passe dans la conference du 27 Mai dernier. Selim Bey est de retour depuis hier ; mais nous n'avons pas encore lu ni les depeches dont il est porteur, ni son propre rapport. Apres que nous aurons pris connaissance de leur contenu, nous nous entendrons avec MM. les Representans des Cinq Puissances pour faire ce qui sera juge necessaire. Je vous prie de porter cette reponse a la connaissance de son Excellence Sir Stratford Canning, avec bien des complimens de ma part." J'ai rhonneur, &c., (Sign^) FRED. PISANL (Translation.) Excellency, Pera, August 29, 1842. AGREABLY to your orders, I communicated to his Excellency the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the instructions which your Excellency did me the honour to address to me, dated the 26th instant. The Minister for Foreign Affairs made me the following answer : — " The Porte has sent instructions to Selim Bey in consequence of what passed in the Conference of the 27th of May last. Selim Bey returned yesterday ; but we have not yet read either the despatches of which he is bearer, or his own report. When we shall have acquii-ed a knowledge of their contents, we will confer with the Representatives of the Five Powers, in order to do what shall be deemed necessary. I beg you to cari-y this answer to his Excellency Sir Stratford Canning, with many compliments from me." I have, &€., (Signed) FRED. PISANL No. 68. Sir Stratford Canning to the Earl of Aberdeen. — {Received October 8.) (Extract.) Buyuhdere', September 16, 1842. IN pursuance of an invitation from the Porte, and in company with the Representatives of Russia, France, Austria, and Prussia, I waited yesterday upon his Excellency the Minister for Foreign Affairs, with the view of again deliberating upon the affairs of Mount Lebanon. Sarim Effendi was not alone. The Captain Pasha, the President of the Council, and Riza Pasha,' 107 were also present, and each in his turn took part in the deliberation. No official protocol was taken on either side, and altlioiigii I was requested to express the sentiments of my colleagues, that circumstance did not prevent their taking part occasionally in the argument, and from the French Minister, in particular, I received an active and energetic support. As the discussion rested almost entirely upon the same grounds as before, it cannot be necessary to trouble your Lordship with its details. According to the Turkish Representatives, the tranquillity of Syria was the common object of both parties, and that object, now happily, as they said, effected by the measures of the Seraskier, would be secured in future by the appointment of a Vizier over the whole district from Acre to Tripoli, including the population of Mount Lebanon. In support of this view, it was asserted that Selim Bey, who was present, had ascertained, by local inquiry, that the inhabitants of the Mountain were very generally in favour of a Turkish Governor; that the petitions sent up by the Seraskier were fairly obtained, and really expressive of the popular inclination; and that whatever allegations of a contrary description had been made by the Consuls, they were, in fact, nothing but the interested statements of the Shehab family and their imme- diate adherents. It was further advanced on the same side, that the separation of the Maronites and Druses under different local Chiefs of the respective races, would prove a fresh element of disorder ; that, under the Maronite Emirs much occasional disturbance had taken place, and frequent cruelties had been committed ; that the Turkish Pasha, whether of Acre or elsewhere, who had always been understood to extend his authority over Mount Lebanon, had occasionally interfered by deposing the Emir, and that of the claims for plundered property, half of the ascertained amount had been liquidated, while the remaining half was in a course of judicial settlement. The Turkish Ministers went on to state, that while they saw no objection to place a Kaimacan or Lieutenant of the Superintending Vizier in the imme- diate government of each section of the Mountain, and to allow a Kiaja or Charge d'Affaires from each party to reside at the Vizier's court, they could not reconcile the appointment of a Druse and Christian Prince to those subor- dinate charges, with their view of what was necessary to secure the Sultan's interests and the tranquillity of the country. They further observed, that the local administration was sufficiently provided for by the Hadji Bashas or Village notables, to whom it was customary in Turkey to commit the manage- ment of local interests; and that since the Allied Powers did not mean to dictate, but simply to advise what they conceived to be most conducive to the tranquillity of Mount Lebanon, they would not accept that advice con- sistently with their own conviction, founded, as it was, on the statement of their accredited agents, the results of local inquiry, and the ascertained inclinations of the inhabitants themselves. The Representatives, on the other hand, repeated the arguments formerly adduced; they dwelt particularly upon those contained in your Lordship's instruction to me ; they contrasted the information derived from their respec- tive Consuls in Syria with the assertions of Selim Bey; they again complained of the corruption and intimidation which had been used in getting up the petitions for a Turkish Governor; and, feeling sirongly the inconvenience of engaging in a process of mutual recrimination, implored the Turkish Ministers to take a more statesmanlike view of the question, and, for the sake of establishing the present very doubtful tranquillity of Mount Lebanon on a permanent, wise, and benevolent footing, to adopt the whole of that combina- tion which the Christian Powers had recommended, as best adapted to all the circumstances of the case, and calculated to unite the authority of the Sultan with the wants and habits of a Christian people, whose attachment to their Sovereign would thenceforth derive additional strength from the concurrent opinion of Europe, and the removal of any just motive for looking to foreign interference. In reviewing all that passed, I have no doubt that the Porte is sincerely anxious to bring this question of Mount Lebanon to a close. It is, no doubt, for this purpose, that the progressive restitution of the plundered property has been announced to us. The complete withdrawal of the Albanian troops P2 108 from Syria, ■which was also promised by Riza Pasha, is, no doubt, intended to gratify the Allied Powers. The same may be said of the other less im- portant concessions. But the point of permanent importance remains behind; I mean, the appointments of chiefs selected from the Druses and Maronites. This is a point to which the Porte adheres with a degree of obstinacy, not altered by the removal of the Grand Vizier, and only to be explained by her reliance on the intentions of the Allies to abstain from taking any step of a coercive or intimidating character. The Turkish Representatives were not to be shaken even by a very explicit intimation, that little difficulty would be made to any reasonable suggestion advanced by them as a security against the eftects apprehended by the proposed appointment. Even the admission of a small military force, under the command of an officer, delegated by the Vizier and stationed at some convenient post between the Druses and the Maronites, would not, perhaps, have been rejected by us, if it had offered the means of reconciling them to our demand; but in spite of every effort and of every expedient on our part, we were surprised to find them prepared to cut the matter short by a positive, though not uncourteous, refusal ; nor was it without extreme difficulty that they were, at last, persuaded to suspend their decision, until the pleasure of the Sultan could be taken upon the report of our deliberations. In this suspended state the question remains at present ; and there is only a faint hope of the Porte announcing any change in her decision, when we are invited, according to the promise of the Turkish Ministers, to a fresh interchange of communications with them. I have endeavoured, however, to provide against the effects of any unfavourable reports transmitted to Syria, by informing Colonel Rose of what has occurred, and recommending him to persist in discouraging the inha- bitants of Mount Lebanon from resorting to any aggressive means of redress. P.S. — The removal of Omar Pasha from the government of the Moun- tain was again stated by the Turkish Minister as a measure to which the Porte had no objection. No. 69. Sir Stratford Canning to the Earl of Aberdeen. — (Received October 24.) My Lord, Buyukdere, September 27, 1842. THE Turkish Government, I state it with regret, persists in withholding its assent to the plan of settlement proposed by the Five Allied Cabinets for the future administration of Mount Lebanon. The postponement of a final decision, which was obtained with so much difficulty at the late Conference, has not produced any favourable change. I have made every practicable effort to obtain the result desired by your Lordship ; but, whatever may be effected at a later period, no reasonable hope remains, for the present, of removing or overcoming the objections of the Porte. This morning the paper, of wiiich a copy is herewith inclosed, was communicated to me on the part of Sarim Effendi ; a similar communication was subsequently made to the other Representatives of the Four Powers. It announces the deliberate opinion of the Government under the sanction of the Sultans name, and it may be fairly described as conceding every point but that particular one, which constitutes the principal, and, indeed, the essential feature of our proposals. The removal of the Albanians, the dismissal of Omar Pasha, the restitution of the plundered property, the sepa- ration of the Druses from the Christians, and the confirmation of the ancient privileges, as to religion, taxation, and justice, are clearly conceded ; but the appointment of a Druse and of a Christian chief over the respective districts of the Mountain continues to meet with unabated opposition. In reply to the Dragoman of the Porte, who waited upon me with the instruction addressed to him by Sarim Effendi, I observed, after reading it, that, with every sentiment of respect for a decision emanating from the Sultan, 109 I could not but express: my deep concern at the disinclination of the Porte to accept the advice deliberately offered to her, in so friendly a manner, by the Five Great Powers of Europe. I added, that, after communicating upon the subject with my colleagues, I should not fail to submit to Sarim Effendi, the remarks which we might deem it our duty to offer on a question of so much delicacy and interest. Whatever may be my own impression as to the inutility of any further attempt to dissuade the Turkish Ministers from their present course, without a fresh reference to the respective Cabinets, I shall be careful not to act upon itj without ascertaining that it is equally entertained by the other Repre- sentatives. Nor is this the only point which 1 am anxiuus to keep in view. The Porte, I conceive, must be discouraged by an expression of our joint opinion from taking any step for the immediate appointment of Turkish Lieutenant-Governors over the Druse and ]\Tarouitc districts of Mount Lebanon. Wc arc, perhaps, also bound to intimate that we are not war- ranted to hold out tiie prospect of any essential change in the terms of advice already given by the Five Powers with such perfect unanimity of sentiment and language. As to any reasonable modification or accessory arrangement calculated to reconcile t!ie Porte to what we are instructed to recommend as indispensable I'or the permanent tranquillity and good government of Syria, a sufficient door has already been opened by us; and I shall not consent to anything which may have the effect of closing it, and thereby increasing the difficulties which must necessarily attend upon a reconsideration of this com- plicated question. I have, Szc, (Signed) STRATFORD CANNING. Inclosure in No. 69. Instruction from Sarim Eff'endi to the Dragoman of the Porte. (Traduction.) 27 Septembre, 1842. DANS la conference qui eut lieu jeudi 10 Chaban, dans ma maison de campagne, avec Messieurs les Representans des Cinq Grandes Puissances, relativement a la question du Liban, et a laquelle ont pris part leurs Excel- lences le President du Conseil, Halil Pacha, le Grand Amiral, Riza Pacha, et le commissaire de la Porte, Selim Bey, il avait ete convenu que les discussions qui ont roule dans cette conference, seraient portees a la connaissance de Sa Hautesse, et que cette question serait encore I'objet de nouvelles communi- cations. Le rapport de cette conference a ete mis sous les yeux de Sa Hautesse, qui, apres quelque temps de meditation, aordonne, conformement a la decision prise au sein de cette conference, le renvoi de Beirout des troupes Albanaises en garnison de cette ville. L'assemblee a ete parfaitement d'accord sur la solution a donner a cette question ; ce qui seulement a ete I'objet de quelque hesitation ce fut le point de savoir, si les lieutenans que le Mouchir de Saida aurait a nommer pour les mettre a la tete des Druses et des Maronites, doivent etre pris parmi eux- memes, ou des hommes etrangers a ces nations ; hesitation qui n'est, au reste, que I'effet de la divergence qui existe entre les informations recueillies par la Sublime Porte et celles qui sont parvenues h MM. les Representans des Puissances. Quels que soient les moyens que Ton veuille employer, pour parvenir i\ dissiper cette hesitation, et concilier les opinions, la solution de cette question, si importante en elle-meme, etant le seul but c[ue Ton se propose d'atteindre, la Sublime Porte se livre a I'espoir, que la ligne de conduite suivie par elle ne manquera pas d'etre appreciee. La Sublime Porte, obligee de croire a la realite des informations recueil- lies par ses propres agens, et ne pouvant, en I'absence de preuves convain- cantes, se dire avoir ete mal renseign^e, evite autant qu'il est en elle, de donner no lieu a de nouveaux troubles par une conduite opposee, ce qui ne manquera pas de remettre en emoi les esprits en Europe ; et cette pensee preoccupe tellement son attention, qu'il est impossible de Texprimer. D'un autre cote, la Sublime Porte se montre constamment disposee h ocouter et apprecier les conseils aussi sinceres que bienveillans donnes par les Grandes Puissances ses amies et alliees, qui sont si dcsireuses du bien-etre de ses etats et de I'inde- pendance de son autorite ; et ce fait MM. les Representans eux-memes ne peuvent pas ne pas Pavouer. Dans cette conviction, la Sublime Porte ne saurait jamais s'iraaginer que les instructions collectivement presentees en dernier lieu au Minist^re Otto- man, eussent ete donnees dans I'intention d'user de contrainte h son egard ; et se croyant fondee dans son opinion qu'elles ont ete combinees d'apres les informations precedentes, basees sur I'idee de la tranquillite perpetuelle si unanimement d'esiree, elie s'empresse d'exprimer ci-apr6s les vues qui I'ani- ment dans I'int^ret de ses etats. La Sublime Porte se felicite de voir que le systeme suivie par elle a I'egard de I'administration du Mont Liban, ait pu etre si con forme a la justice et a I'equite ; ce qui le prouve c'est que la population du Liban, composee de six communautes differentes, n'est plus dans I'obligation de payer des impots immenses auxquels elle etait tenue de satisfaire sous I'ancien systeme. Ces populations ont cesse d'etre I'objet de vexations auxquelles elles ^taient autrefois en butte ; et personne ne les inquiete plus dans I'exercice de leurs devoirs religieux, qu'elles accomplissent en toute liberie. Independamment de tout cela, la tranquillite, qui forme I'objet surtout de la sollicitude de Sa Hautesse, s'est retablie, grace h Dieu, dans ces pro- vinces ; et comme il est indubitable que cette tranquillite continuera a y r6gner, et que le Mont Liban place comme il a ete a des epoques eloignees, sous la juridiction et la surveillance du Gouverneur de la Province de Saida, sera administre par ce dernier avec justice et droiture, la Sublime Porte n'hesite pas d'en assurer tons ceux d'eatre ses amis qui conservent des doutes k cet egard ; et elle desire par consequent le maintien de I'ordre des choses actuel dans la Montagne. La Sublime Porte se propose de destituer Omar Pacha, pour faire cesser tant de propos qui ont circule sur son compte, et de proceder a la nomination de deux personnes choisies parmi les employes du Gouvernement qui se recommandent par leur capacite et leur droiture, pour les envoyer au Liban en qualitede Ka'imacams, I'un pour les Druses, et I'autre pour les Maronites. Ces deux nations seront invitees b. choisir parmi elles deux deputes qui reste- ront a Beyrout aupres du gouverneur de cette ville. La Sublime Porte se propose egalement d'engager au meme gouverneur k proceder a la restitution de tons les biens enleves aux Maronites, independam- ment de ceux qui ont ete deja rendus a leurs proprietaires, et dont la valeur s'eleve au-dela de la somme de 20,000 bourses. Telles sont les dispositions qui serviront de base aux instructions que la Sublime Porte a I'intention d'envoyer au gouverneur sus-mentionne. La Sublime Porte aime a, se flatter que MM. les Representans des Grandes Puissances voudront bien apprecier ces dispositions de sa part, en meme terns qu'elle les invite a les transmettre a leurs Cours respectives. Je vous engage done. Monsieur^ de vous rendre personnellement, aupres de son Excellence Sir Stratford Canning, Ambassadeur de Sa Majeste Britan- nique, et lui communiquer les dispositions que la Sublime Porte a I'intention de prendre, conformement a la volonte imperiale de Sa Hautesse. Je vous engage egalement a, lui remettre la traduction Fran9aise de cette instruction, et a saisir cette occasion pour lui reiterer les assurances de ma consideration tr^s distintjuee. o' (Translation.) September 27, 1842. IN the Conference which took place on Thui-sday, the 10th Chaban, at my country house, with the Representatives of the Five Powers, relative to the question of Lebanon, and at which their Excellencies the President Ill of the Council, Halil Pasha, the Grand Admiral, Riza Pasha, and the Commissioner of the Porte, Selim Bey, took part, it was agreed that the discussions which occurred in that conference should be l)rought to the knowledge of His Highness, and that this question should again be the object of fresh communications. The report of that conference has been submitted to His Highness, who, after some deliberation, has ordered, in conformity with the decision taken at that conference, the withdrawal from Beyrout of the Albanian troops in garrison in that town. The meeting was jierfectly agreed as to the solution to be given to this question ; that which alone was the object of some hesitation was the point, whether the lieutenants whom the Mushir of Saida shoukl have to name to be put at the head of the Druses and the Maronites, ought to be taken from amongst themselves, or persons strangers to these nations ; an hesi- tation which is, moreover, only the result of the difference which exists between the information obtained by the Sublime Porte, and that which has reached the Representatives of the Powers. Whatever may be the means which it may be desii'ed to employ, to remove this hesitation, and to reconcile opinions, the solution of that question, so important in itself, being the only object which it is proposed to attain, the Sublime Porte hopes that the line of conduct followed by her will not fail to be appreciated. The Sublime Porte, obliged to believe in the truth of the information obtained by her own agents, and not being able, in the absence of con- vincing proofs, to say that she has been badly informed, avoids as much as possible to give occasion for further troubles by an opposite line of con- duct, which will not fail to put in motion the minds of men in Europe; and this thought occupies her attention so much that it is impossible to express it. On the other hand, the Sublime Porte shows herself constantly disposed to listen to and to appreciate the counsels, as sincere as they are kind, given by the Great Powers, her friends and allies, who are so desir- ous of the well-being of her dominions and the independence of her authority ; and this fact the Representatives themselves cannot but allow. In this conviction, the Sublime Porte could never imagine that the instructions collectively presented on a late occasion to the Ottoman Ministry, could have been given with the intention of employing compul- sion with respect to her ; and believing that she has grounds for her opi- nion that they were framed upon the information before referred to, based on the idea of the perpetual tranquillity so unanimously desired, she hastens to express, as follows, the views which animate her in the interest of her dominions. The Sublime Porte is happy to see that the system followed by her with respect to the Administration of Mount Lebanon, has admitted of being so much in conformity with justice and equity ; the proof whereof is that the people of Lebanon, composed of six different communities, are no longer obliged to pay the immense taxes which they were obliged to make good under the old system. These people have ceased to be the object of vexations to which they were formerly exposed : and no one any longer disturbs them in the exer- cise of their religious duties, which they freely pei-fozun. Independently of all that, tranquillity, which especially forms the object of the solicitude of His Highness, is established, thanks to God, in those provinces ; and since it is indubitable that this tranquillity will continue to prevail there, and that Mount Lebanon, placed as it has been from a remote period, under the jurisdiction and superintendence of the Governor of the Province of Saida, will be ruled by this latter with justice and uprightness, the Sublime Porte does not hesitate to give this assurance to all those among her friends who entertain doubts in this respect ; and she consequently desires the maintenance of the actual state of things in the Mountain. The Sublime Porte proposes to dismiss Omar Pasha, in order to put an end to all that has been said with respect to him, and to proceed to the nomination of two persons chosen among the servants of the Go- vernment who are recommended by their capacity and uprightness, in 112 order to send them to the Lebanon in the capacity of Kaimakam, one for the Druses, the other for the INIaronites. These two nations will be invited to choose among them two deputies who will remain at Beyrout with the Governor of that town. The Sublime Porte proposes in like maimer to direct the same Go- vernor to proceed to the restitution of all the property taken from the Maronites, independently of that which has ah-eady been restored to its proprietors, ancl of which the value amounts to about the sum of 20,000 purses. Such are the arrangements which will form the ground-work of the instructions which the Sublime Porte intends to send to the Governor above mentioned. The Sublime Porte flatters herself that the Representatives of the Great Powers will be pleased to appreciate these arrangements which she has made, at the same time that she invites them to transmit them to their respective Courts. I direct you, therefore, Sir, to proceed in person to his Excellency Sir Stratford Canning, Ambassador of Her Britannic Majesty, and to communicate to him the arrangements which the Sublime Porte intends to adopt agreably to the Imperial will of His Highness. I direct you likewise to deliver to him a French translation of this instruction, and to take this opportunity to repeat to him the assurances of my most distinguished consideration. No. 70. Sir Stratford Canning to the Earl of Aberdeen. — (^Received October 24.) My Lord, Buyukderi, September 30, 1842. AT a meeting which took place yesterday at my house, I entered into a full consideration with my colleagues, the Representatives of Austria, Russia, France, and Prussia, of the present very unsatisfactory stage of the Syrian affair. We agreed that nothing remained to be done by us, with any reason- able prospect of success, until the opinion of the Porte, as declared in Sarim Effendi's instruction to his Dragoman, should be brought under the notice of our respective Cabinets. The copy, inclosed herewith, of an instruction addressed by me to M. Pisani for communication to Sarim Effendi, will sufficiently explain to your Lordship the view which we concurred in taking of the question in its present state. It was agreed that each Representative should send in a paper of similar purport. M. Pisani's report of the Reis Effendi's reply, a copy of which is also inclosed herewith, completes what I have to communicate upon this subject. I ought, however, to add, that the title of Governor of Beyrout, adopted in Sarim Effendi's instruction, is not meant to designate a separate func- tionary, but only, under another form, the Pasha of Saida, Supermtendent of Mount Lebanon. We have agreed, in conclusion, to write to the respective Consuls at Beyrout, enjoining them to persevere in contributing, by their conduct and language, to the tranquillity of Mount Lebanon during the interval which must elapse before the final intentions of the Allied Cabinets can be made known to us. I have, Sec, (Signed) STRATFORD CANNING. 113 Inclosure 1 in No. 70. Sir Stratford Canning to M. Pisani. Monsieur, Buyukdere, le 29 Septembre, 1842. IL y a deux jours que le Drogman do la Porte me presenta la copie d'une instruction que son Excellence le Ministre des Affaires Etrang^res lui avait adressee en date de 21 du mois Chaban. Par cette communication Sarim EfFendi a bien voulu m'annoncer le resultat des deliberations du Conscil Ottoman, et surtout le jugement qu'a daigne porter Sa Hautessesur les divers points qui lui ont ete soumis a la suite de la derniere conference relative aux affaires du Mont Liban. Cette pi^ce, dont la redaction toute entiere, et la substance meme en grande partie, repondent h I'esprit amical qui a dicte I'avis des Cours Alli^^es, renfevme pourtant une opinion d'autant moins satisfaisante qu'elle repousse leurs conseils par rapport aux points essentiels de la question. La Porte s'engage a faire retirer les troupes Albanaises de la Syrie, i destituer Omar Pacha, a donner aux Druses et aux Maronites des Gouverneurs separes ; mais elle ne consent pas a ce que ces Gouverneurs soient choisis d'entre les nationaux de chaque communaute. Conformement au desir de la Porte, je me ferai un devoir de mettre I'in- struction de Sarim Effendi sous les yeux de mon Gouvernement, qui ne man- quera pas de rendre justice k ses motifs, et de peser toutes ses objections. Je dois avouer, neanmoins, avec la franchise d'une veritable amiti(^^, que les opinions enoncees par mes coUegues et moi a la conference, demeurent toujours les memes ; que j'apprends avec bien des regrets les opinions enoncees par la Porte ; et que si je consens a en referer de nouveau a ma Cour, c'est dans I'assurance que la Porte, en attendant une reponse de ma part, suspendra I'execution de son projet, en tant qu'il soit contraire aux sentimens et aux conseils des Cinq Cours, ses amies. Vous remettrez une copie de cette instruction a Sarim Effendi, en offrant a son Excellence I'assurance de ma parfaite consideration. (Signe) STRATFORD CANNING. (Translation.) Sir, Buyukdere, September 29, 1842. TWO days ago the Dragoman of the Porte pi-esented to me the copy of an instruction addressed to him by his Excellency the Minister for Foreign Affairs on the 21st of the month Chaban. By this communication Sarim Effendi has had the goodness to announce to me the result of the delibe- rations of the Ottoman Council, and especially the decision which his Highness has been pleased to pronounce on the different points which were submitted to him as the result of the last conference relative to the affairs of Mount Lebanon. This paper, the composition of which entirely, and even the substance in a great degree, correspond with the spirit of friendship by which the advice of the Allied Courts was dictated, contains, however, an opinion which is so much the less satisfactory, as it rejects their advice with respect to the essential points of the question. The Porte undertakes to withdraw the Albanian troops from Syria, to displace Omar Pasha, to give separate Governors to the Druses and to the Maronites ; but she does not consent that these Governors should be chosen from the members of each community. In conformity with the desire of the Porte I shall make it my duty to place the instruction of the Porte before my Government, who will not Q fail to do justice to its motives, and to weigh all its objections. I must confess, nevertheless, with the frankness of true friendship, that the opinions put forward by my colleagues and by myself at the Conference, continue still the same; that I learn with much regret the opinions expressed by the Porte ; and that if I consent to make a fresh reference thereupon to my Court, it is under the assurance that the Porte, while waiting my reply, will suspend the execution of her plan, so far as it is contrary to the sentiments and advice of the Five Powers, her friends. You will deliver a copy of this instruction to Sarim Effendi, at the same time that you offer to his Excellency the assurance of my perfect consideration. (Signed) STRATFORD CANNING. Inclosure 2 in No. 70. M. Pisani to Sir Stratford Canning. Excellence, Pera, ce 30 Septemhre, 1842- J'AI I'honneur de vous faire savoir que, conformement h vos ordres, j'ai remis a Sarim Effendi copie de I'instriiction de Votre Excellence, en date d'hier, sur les affaires du Mont Liban, apres I'avoir lue et expliquee en Turc k son Excellence. Sarim Effendi m'a fait la reponse suivante : " J'ai parfaitement compris cette instruction, qui est une reponse k la communication que j'ai faite der- nierement h MM. les Reprdsentans des Puissances amies. Naturellement, la Sublime Porte n'a rien a faire a present ; et le syst^me actuel au Mont Liban continuera jusqu'a ce que le temps sera venu de se concerter avec MM. les Repiesentans sur la mise h execution des mesures qui viennent de leur etre communiquees. Voila ma reponse, que vous transmettrez de ma part k son Excellence Sir Stratford Canning." J'ai I'honneur, &c., (SigneO FRED. PISANI. (Translation.) Excellency, Pera, September 30, 1842. I HAVE the honour to inform you that, in conformity with your directions, I delivered to Sarim Effendi a copy of your Excellency's instruction of yesterday on the affairs of Mount Lebanon, after having read it and explained it in Turkish to his Excellency. Sarim Effendi made me the following reply : '' I have fully under- stood this instruction, which is a reply to the communication which I recently made to the Representatives of the friendly Powers. Naturally, the Sublime Porte has nothing at present to do ; and the present system in Mount Lebanon will continue until the time shall arrive for concerting with the Representatives as to carrying into effect the measures which have now been communicated to them. This is my answer, which you Avill convey on my behalf to his Excellency Sir Stratford Canning." (Signed) ' FREDERICK PISANI. 115 No. 71. The Earl of Aberdeen to Sir Stratford Canning. Sir, * Foreign Office, October 24, 1842. I RECEIVED, on the 8th of this month, your Excellency's despatch of the 16th of September, giving an account of what passed in a con- ference held on the previous day by your Excellency and your colleagues with the Turkish Ministers, relative to the affairs of Syria; and I have since received from your Excellency, a copy of the paper delivered to you by the Dragoman of the Porte, on the 27th of September. As that paper contains the decision of the Porte on the several questions discussed in the Conference of the 15th of September, I do not consider it necessary to advert to your Excel- lency's despatch, further than to inform you that Her Majesty's Government entirely approve the manner in which you conducted the discussion with the Turkish Ministers, and endeavoured to prevail upon them to comply with the reasonable wishes of the Allies on the most important point under con- sideration. With regard, however, to the paper delivered to your Excellency by the Dragoman of the Porte on the 27th of September, I have to state to your Excellency that the contents of it are, to a certain extent, satisfactory. Her Majesty's Government accept with pleasure the engagement of the Porte, that the Albanian troops shall be immediately withdrawn from Bey- rout, and they trust that this measure will be immediately followed up by the removal of those troops from Syria altogether. Your Excellency will con- tinue to press this latter point on the Porte, in the strongest manner, and you will represent to the Turkish Government, that Her Majesty's Government insist upon it, not only with reference to the view^ they take of the interests of the Porte, but with reference to the engagements which they contracted in 1840, on the faith of the assurances given to the British Ambassador at Con- stantinople by the Porte, that the Syrians should not be oppressed. Her Majesty's Government accept also, with pleasure, the engagement of the Porte, that Omar Pasha shall be immediately dismissed from the office which he holds in Syria ; and that orders will be given to the Governor of the Province of Sidon, in whom the supreme direction of the affairs of Mount Lebanon is to be vested, to restore without further delay all the property of which the Maronites were deprived during the late troubles, independently of that portion thereof which has already been given back to the owners. Thus far, then, Her Majesty's Government accept with pleasure the engagements of the Porte ; and they are not disposed to question either the justice or the expediency of vesting in a Turkish authority, the Governor of Sidon, the superintendence of all the districts of Mount Lebanon. They only trust that, in the selection of a person for this important post, the Porte will bear in mind the serious difficulties which must inevitably result from the appointment of any one whose character will not be a sufficient guarantee for the exercise of his functions with justice, rectitude, and moderation. But Her Majesty's Government are constrained to say that they are much disap- pointment with the arrangement which the Porte proposes to make for the more immediate government of the Christian and Druse populations. The Porte has decided that the immediate Governors of those populations shall be Mahometans. Her Majesty's Government cannot be satisfied with this arrangement. The question has not, as stated by the Porte, turned upon the amount of credit to be given to the different reports received by the Turkish Government on the one hand, and by the Representatives of the Five Powers on the other, as to the state of affairs in Lebanon, and as to the inclinations of the several populations manifested in their addresses, whether feigned or sincere, to the Sultan's throne : but the demand of Her Majesty's Government has rested on the pledge given to the British Ambassador by the Porte, in the year 1840, that the ancient rights and privileges of the Syrians should be respected. Her Majesty's Government, relying upon the sincerity of the Porte, communicated, through its agents, that pledge to the people of Q2 116 Syria ; and they have therefore become morally responsible for its fulfiiment. And as it is one of the ancient rights and privileges of the Syrians of Mount Lebanon that they should be governed directly by rulers selected from among themselves, and not by Mahometan officers, Her Majesty's Government must continue to insist upon the Porte securing those populations in the enjoyment of this most essential privilege. Accordingly, your Excellency is instructed to state distinctly to the Porte, as 1 have also stated within these few days to the Turkish Ambassador in this country, that no arrangement of the affairs of Syria, which shall not include tliis indispensable provision, will be accepted by Her Majesty's Government as the fulfilment of the pledge given to them by the Porte, in favour of the Syrians, in the year 1840. I am, &c., (Signed) ABERDEEN. No. 72. The Earl of Aberdeen to Sir Stratford Canning. Sir, Foreign Office, October 24, 1842. I HAVE to request your Excellency to endeavour to ascertain, as nearly as possible, the nature and amount of the claims which the Emir Beshir El- Kassim has upon the Porte, for property plundered in Syria, or for money due to him by the Porte ; and also what proportion of them, if any, has been satisfied. I need scarcely repeat to your Excellency that Her Majesty's Government are very anxious that all the just claims of the Emir Beshir El- Kassim should be attended to by the Porte ; and that you will, therefore, advocate his interests in this respect on all occasions when the circumstances of the case admit of your so doing. I am, &c., (Signed) ABERDEEN. No. 73. TTte Earl of Aberdeen to Sir Stratford Canning. Sir, Foreign Office, October 3\, 1842. I HAVE to acquaint your Excellency, that Her Majesty's Government entirely approve of the course which you took, in common with your col- leagues, on receiving from the Dragoman of the Porte on the 27th ultimo, the answer of the Turkish Government to the representations of the Allied Powers on the affairs of Mount Lebanon. My despatch of the 24th instant, will enable your Excellency to acquaint the Turkish Ministers with the sentiments of Her Majesty's Go- vernment on the decision of the Porte respecting those afl^airs, as contained in the communication made to your Excellency on the 27th of September. I am, &c., (Signed) ABERDEEN. 117 No. 74. Sir Stratford Canning to the Earl of Aberdeen, — (Received November 8.) My Lord, Burjukdere, October 17, 1842. IN the last conference between the Ministers of the Porte and the Representatives of the Five Powers, Sarim Eft'endi informed us that property to the amount of 20,000 or of 25,000 purses had been restored to the Maro- nites, after a judicial inquiry, by Mustapha Pasiia, and thai receipts for that amount of property had been forwarded to him by the Seraskier. In my correspondence with Her Majesty's Consui-General at Beyrout, I stated the substance of this communication, and was greatly surprised to learn from Colonel Rose, that the statement thus solemnly made by Sarim Effendi was utterly destitute of foundation in fact. I lost no time in applying to Sarim Eftendi for an explanation of this astonishing contradiction ; and I have the honour to inclose, herewith, a copy of the instruction which I addressed to M. Pisani for that purpose, and also copies of the answers given to him by his Excellency the Effendi on two several occasions. . It does not appear that my colleagues, with some of vsiiom I have com- municated upon the subject, have received from their respective Consuls in Syria any information similar to that which I have received from Colonel Rose. It is but fair, however, to state, that one of the Maronite Agents, whom I saw at a late hour last night, so far corroborates the Consul's assertion as to state, that the receipts taken by Mustapha Pasha are not for property seized by the Druses, but for property abandoned subsequently by the Maronites, and either occupied by the Turkish authorities, or left for the time unoccupied by any one. I shall avail myself of the earliest opportunity to communicate further with Colonel Rose upon this embarrassing and delicate question ; nor shall I fail to ascertain from Sarim Effendi, whether he admits the interpretation of the Maronite Agent. I have, &c., (Signed) STRATFORD CANNING. Inclosure 1 in No. 74. Sir Stratford Canning to M. Pisani. (Extract.) BuyuMere, October 10, 1842. I HAVE to request that you will wait upon Sarim Effendi, and commu- nicate to his Excellency the accompanying extract ot a despatch and its inclosure, addressed to me by Her Majesty's Consui-General in .Syria. You will observe that Colonel Rose denies positively that any money whatever has been paid or settlement effected with any portion of the Maronites on account of the property taken from them by the Druses. As this assertion is in direct contradiction with the communication made by his Excellency the Minister for Foreign Affairs to the Representatives of' the Five Powers, at their last conference with the Ottoman Ministers, I am entitled to expect an explanation from his Excellency, fur the instruction of my Government and the regulation of my own conduct. You will have the goodness to state what precedes, with all due conside- ration, to Sarim Eftendi, and to report to me the exact terms of his Excel- lency's reply. (Signed) STRATFORD CANNING. 118 Inclosure 2 in No. 74. Colonel Rose to Sir Stratford Canning. (Extract.) Beyrout, September 27, 1842. IT causes me, I may venture to say, unmingled surprize, that Sarim EfFendi should have made to your Excellency and your colleagues the state- ments which your Excellency does me the honour to convey to me at the close of your despatch. I am pained to state they are devoid of all founda- tion, for the Christians have not even heard of the examination and judicial settlement of their losses, nor have they even heard of the appropriation of 25,000 purses to their liquidation. Inclosure 3 in No. 74. M. Pisani to Sir Stratford Canning. Excellence, Pe'ra, 10 Octobre, 1842. J'AI communique a Sarim EfFendi les instructions de votre Excellence en date d'aujourd'hui, ainsi que I'extrait de depeche y inclus. Son Excellence Sarim Etfendi, apr^s avoir entendu la lecture des pieces m'a fait la reponse suivante : — " II est certain que j'ai dit dans la conference k MM les R-epresentans des Cinq Puissances, et encore plus que cela, que je leur ai montre une depeche de son Excellence le Seraskir Pacha qui nous marquait que sur les proprietes enlevees par les Druses aux Maronites, il avait deja recouvre des biens pour la valeur d'environ 20,000 bourses, lesquels, apres avoir ete juridiquement prouves avoir appartenu au tel et au tel, ont ete restitu^s aux proprietaires, qui, les ayant pris, ont donne des recus. J'ai ajoute que son Excellence avait envoye a la Porte les re^us en original, au nombre de quatre-vingt-quatre, et j'ai meme montr6 ces re9us dans la conference. M. I'Ambassadeur avouera que, si par impossible, Mustapha Pacha n'a pas ecrit la verite, et nous a envoye des regus faux, il aura ainsi trompe, non pas moi seulement, mais les Ministres Ottomans presens a la conference, etle Sultan lui-m^me; ce qui est de toute impossibility de la part d'un personnage qui, durant toute sa carri^re, a donne de nombreuses preuves de sa fidelite et d'une droiture rare. Son Excellence Sir Stratford Canning a cru h la communication que j'ai faite ; il ne doit pas cesser de croire k la verite du rapport de Mustapha Pacha, en ajoutant foi aux avis contraires qu'il vient de recevoir. Comme Mustapha Pacha a envoye les reifus en original a Constantinople pour etre enregistres h la Porte et renvoyes en Syrie, ces re9us seront immediatement renvoyes a Mustapha Pacha, si j'apprends qu'on ne les lui a pas dejk renvoyes. Sir Stratford Canning n'a qu'k ecrire au Colonel Rose de demander a voir les reyus en original entre les mains de Mustapha Paclia. Ma reponse a cette partie des deux pieces que vous venez de me com- muniquer, qui est relative au m^me sujet, est la meme que celle que je viens de vous faire. MM. les Representans n'ont qu'k ecrire a leurs Consuls respec- tifs de demander a voir les regus en original. Quant aux moyens d'intimida- tion qu'on represente encore comme ayant ete employes par Selim Bey et par d'autres, tout ce que nous savons, c'est que de pareils moyens n'ont jamais ete employes; que Selim Bey s'est offert k etre juge et sev^rement puni s'il est convaincu d'avoir employe de pareils moyens pour extorquer des signatures ; et que Mustapha Pacha lui-meme a demande h. etre juge avec les Consuls. Telle a ete, M. I'Ambassadeur la reponse de son Excellence le Ministre des Affaires Etrangeres de la Sublime Porte, que je m'empresse de vous trans- mettre. J'ai I'honneur, &c., (Signe') FRED. PISANI. 119 (Translation.) Excellency, Per a, October 10, 1842. I HAVE communicated to Sarim Effendi your Excellency's instruc- tions of this day, as well as the extract of despatch therein inclosed. His Excellency Sarim Effendi, after having heard the papers read, made the following answer to me: — '' It is true that I said to the Representatives of the Five Powers at the Conference, and more than that, that I showed them a depatch from his Excellency the Seraskier Pasha which informed us, that of the property taken by the Druses from the Maronites, he had already recovered the amount of about 20,000 purses, which, after having been legally proved to have belonged to such and such persons, was restored to the owners, who, after having obtained it, gave receipts. I added, that his Excellency had sent to the Porte the original receipts, eighty-four in number, and I even showed these receipts at the Conference. The Ambassador will allow that, if by an impossibility, Mustapha Pasha has not written the truth, and has sent us false receipts, he has also deceived, not only myself, but the Ottoman Ministers present at the Conference, and the Sultan him- self; which would be quite an impossibility on the part of a person, who, throughout his whole career, has given numerous proofs of his fidelity and of uncommon integrity. His Excellency Sir Stratford Canning believed the communication which I made ; he cannot cease to believe in the truth of the report of Mustapha Pasha, by putting faith in the advices which he has received to the contrary. As Mustapha Pasha has sent the original receipts to Constantinople to be registered at the Porte and sent back to Syria, tliose receipts will be immediately sent back to Mustapha Pasha, if I learn that they have not already been sent back to him. Sir Stratford Canning has only to write to Colonel Rose to ask to see the original receipts in the hands of Mustapha Pasha. " My answer to that part of the two papers which you have just com- municated to me, which relates to the same subject, is the same as that which I have just made to you. The Representatives have only to write to their respective Consuls to ask to see the original receipts. As to the means of intimidation, which are still represented as having beeu employed by Selim Bey and by others, all that we know is, that such means have never been employed ; that Selim Bey has offered to be tried and severely punished if he is convicted of having employed such means to extort signatures ; and that Mustapha Pasha himself has asked to be tried with the Consuls." This was, M. I'Ambassadeur, the answer of his Excellency the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Sublime Porte, which I hasten to transmit to you. I have, &c,, (Signed) FRED. PISANl. Inclosure 4 in No. 74. M. Pisani to Sir Stratford Canning. (Extract.) Peru, 13 Octobre, 1842. SARIM EFFENDI a pris des informations au sujet des proprietes rendues aux Maronites ; ces proprietes consistent, dit-il, principalement en terras et en villages ; et puis il y a des chevaux, des mulets, des boeufs, diffd- rentes petites sommes d'argent, des arbres fruitiers, des maisons, &c. Parmi les f^signataires des re9us, il y a Abdullah Chehab qui a reprit le produit d'un village ; Emaun Chehab, un champ j Betros Nahous, un champ; Suliman Hamadi, procureur d'Emir Bechir Chehab, a pris deux villages pour son commettant. 120 (Translation.) Extract.) Pera, October 13, 1842. SARIM EFFENDI has obtained information on the subject of the property restored to the Maronites ; that property consists, he says, principally of lands and villages ; and there are also horses, mules, oxen, various small suras of money, fruit-trees, houses, &,c. Among- the parties who signed the receipts are Abdallah Shehab, who has recovered the produce of a village ; Emaun Shehab, a field ; Betros Nahous, a field; Suliman Hamadi, agent for Emir Beshir Shehab, took two villages for his principal. No. 75. Sir Stratford Canning to the Earl of Aberdeen. — {Received November 19.) (Extract.) Buyukdere, October 28, 1842- I CAN obtain no satisfactory information on the subject of the receipts exhibited by Sarim EfFendi, as evidence of property restored to the amount of 20,000 or 25,000 purses. No. 76. Sir Stratford Canning to the Earl of Aberdeen. — (Received December 6.) (Extract.) Buyukdere, November 17, 1842. REFERRING to your Lordship's despatches concerning the affairs of Syria, I have to state that I waited on Sarim Effendi yesterday for the express purpose of bringing the whole question once more under his imme- diate and serious consideration. I communicated, in substance, to his Excellency, the principal parts of your Lordship's instruction of October 24, apprizing him of the satisfaction with which Her Majesty's Government had learnt the decision of the Porte as to every point in discussion, excepting that which more particularly relates to the interna] administration of Mount Lebanon, and declaring that the opinion of Her Majesty's Government upon that one remaining point was still unshaken, and their expectation of its being finally conceded by the Sultan unabated. I found, in the outset, no difference in the language of Sarim Effendi from that which had been used on former occasions by himself and his colleagues in office. He repeated, that the Turkish Cabinet, which best knew its own interests, could not adopt the advice of the European Powers without prejudice to those interests; that there was no question of its refusing their proposal, but of simply adhering to its own well-founded view of the subject. In short, it was evident, that unless the Porte saw reason to appre- hend the displeasure of the Allied Powers, there was no better prospect than before, of her consenting to assign the local administration of Mount Lebanon to a Druse and a Christian Emir. To this consideration, therefore, I particularly addressed myself, and avoiding any expressions which might be taken as menacing or unfriendly, I made a full communication to Sarim Effendi of the closing paragraph of your Lordship's instruction, urging upon him the motives and the deter- mination so unequivocally declared therein, and expressing my unfeigned astonishment at the forgetfulness which the Porte had displayed of all that Her Majesty's friendship and Her Majesty's arms had effected in Syria, for the advantage of the Sultan and his Empire. I had the satisfaction to find that my frank and warm expostulation was not entirely thrown away upon Sarim Effendi. He said that the Porte was • 121 deeply sensible of the services rendered to her by Great Britain ; that he was desirous to know the real sentiments and wishes of the British Government ; that he was not empowered to come to any present conclusion with me upon the subject under discussion, but that his duty was confined for the moment to collecting the opinions of the several Cabinets, and that they would be taken into consideration after the return of Mustapha Pasha, who had arrived at Rhodes, and was expected from day to day at Constantinople. Under these circumstances^, I did not think it advisable to provoke a lengthened or angry discussion. It was better, I thought, to rest upon the declaration which I had already made, affirming, however, at the same time, that the opinions of the Five Cabinets were uniform and invariable upon the subject of the Syrian settlement, and appealing to the recent occurrences in Mount Lebanon for proofs of the soundness of their views with respect to the tranquillity of that district. Instead of tranquillity, I said, a fresh insurrec- tion had broken out ; the promised restitution of property had turned out to be a mere illusion ; and, so far from the existing state of things having been maintained, according to the assurances given by the Porte, an attempt to disarm the Druses, and other confiscations of their property, and the seizure of their Chiefs and strong places, had produced the effect of uniting all parties in resistance to the authority of the Sultan. Sarim Effendi could only reply, that the Porte had not yet received accounts of the military incidents, to which I referred ; that, in spite of appearances, an effectual resti- tution of property had taken place to a very considerable amount ; and that the coercive measures now complained of had been adopted before our last conference. Such, my Lord, are the principal features of my interview with Sarini Effendi on the subject of Syria. I am just informed that Mustapha Pasha is arrived at Constantinople. I shall take an early opportunity of communi- cuting with him, and proposing to my colleagues another concerted step to establish the uniformity of our instructions, and to overcome whatever may remain of the Porte's aversion to our proposals. Meanwhile, it is evident that the actual state of afl^airs in Syria affbrds the strongest motives for bringing the whole question to a speedy and defini- tive settlement. I am not, however, in possession of the most recent advices, a gentleman charged with Colonel Rose's despatches having reached the Dardanelles, but, from some unexplained cause, having neither brought or sent them on to Constantinople. I learn, however, from one of the Maronite Patriarch's agents, that a convention has really been made between the Druse and Christian Emirs, founded upon the restitution of property by the former, and the common intention of excluding the Turkish Authorities from the Mountain. I need not assure your Lordship that I am fully alive to the importance of continuing to dissuade the Chiefs of Mount Lebanon from resorting to hos- tilities ; and, under this impression, I shall avail myself of the steam-packet which sails for Beyrout the day after to-morrow, to inform Colonel Rose of the improving prospect here, and, by his means and those of his colleagues, to prevail upon the leaders of each party to rest their cause exclusively upon the exertions and sincerity of the Allies. No. n. The Earl of Aberdeen to Sir Stratford Canning. Sir, Foreign Office, December 19, 1842. IT appears from Colonel Rose's late despatches, that Omar Pasha has confiscated the whole of the property of Sheik Naaman Djinblat, and of his brothers Sheik Said and Sheik Ishmael. Her Majesty's Government are not sufficiently acquainted with the grounds on which Omar Pasha has acted, to be able to form any decided opinion whether in the case of Sheik.s Naaman and Said so harsh a measure was necessary. They may or may not have committed offences which called for such a degree of punishment ; and, in either case, Her Majesty's Government might hesitate to interfere R 122 in their behalf, lest by so doing they should lay themselves open to the impu tation of attempting to control the internal administration of Turkey. But the case is different with regard to Slieik Ishmael, whose youth and residence in En<^land preclude the possibility of his having committed any crimes a«Tainst the authority of the Sultan, which should justly lead to the confisca- tion of his property. Your Excellency will therefore have the goodness to call the attention of the Turkish Government to the manifest injustice of inflicting upon Sheik Ishmael the punishment to which his brothers have been subject. I am, &c., (Signed) ABERDEEN. No. 78. Sir Stratford Canning to the Earl of Aberdeen.~{Received, December 22) My Lord, Buyukdere, November 26, 1842. THE latest advices from Syria, which only come down to the end of October, have not entirely confirmed the intelligence which I had previously derived from other sources. It appears that although the Druses had attacked and repulsed with loss a small body of Turkish infantry, not far from Tripoli, and that others of that nation, in concert with some Greek Christians, had attacked with equal success a yet smaller body of the same troops, the Seras- kier had acted with so much unusual mildness as to allay in some manner the growing excitement, and to aflford no immediate necessity for its further dis- play. It also appears, that although the apprehension of a common danger had occasioned some friendly communications between the Druse and Chris- tian Chiefs, this return of good feeling between them had not ripened into a complete and formal agreement, nor was it more than conjectured that a general insurrection might eventually break out in the Mountain. Enough, however, remains of suspicion and apprehension as to the probable conse- quences of misrule on the one side, and of despair on the other, to give a deep interest to the course which is likely to be pursued by the Turkish Govern- ment, now that the Seraskier is returned to Constantinople, and that the expected instructions have been received by the Representatives of the Five Powers. I need not assure your Lordship of ray own anxiety to bring the long- pending question of Syria to an immediate as well as a satisfactory conclusion ; and I am happy to add, that my colleagues, acting under instructions similar to mine, are unanimous in directing their efforts to the same object. In several ways not one of us have omitted to inform the Turkish Ministry of the invariable opinion entertained by our respective Cabinets in favour of the re-establishment of a national administration in Mount Lebanon. Your Lordship is already made acquainted with the substance and the result of my oral communications to Sarim Effendi upon that subject. It remains for me to state that, in a meeting held at my house on the 23rd instant, it was agreed that a conference, similar to that of September the 15th, should be proposed to the Porte ; not, indeed, with the view of entering into a fresh discussion, but for the purpose of declaring in the most impressive manner that decision of the Five Cabinets, which we have already in confidence intimated to Sarim Effendi. Such a demonstration of perfect unanimity and perseverance in the same opinion was more particularly recommended to our adoption, in consequence of our discovering, on mutual explanation, that there was reason to suspect the Turkish Ministers of seeking to divide us. For the conference thus agreed iipon I have applied officially, at the request of my colleagues, to Sarim Effendi, and, judging from his Excellency's reply, no objection will be made to our proposal, though some few days may elapse before the time of meeting is actually appointed. It is our present intention to leave with the Turkish Ministers a short but decided statement of our joint opinion, together with the principal grounds upon which it rests. We agree in the conviction that such a form of proceeding affords the best chance of success; but I have declined the proposed honour of presenting a single statement in the name of all ; conceiving that our unanimity being 123 clearly established, a separate expression of our opinions will be most consist- ent with the principles upon which we have hitherto acted in the attairs of Syria. I have, &tc., CSigned) STRATFORD CANNING. No. 79. Sir Stratford Canning to the Earl of Aberdeen. — (Received December 22.) (Extract.) Buyukdere, November 26, 1842. I HAVE the honour to inclose herewith, for your Lordship's information, the copy of a despatch which I addressed on the 19th instant to Her Majesty's Consul-General in Syria. In the present very uncertain state of affairs both there and here, I can- not recommend any other course than that which I have pointed out to Colonel Rose. It appears to me that the greatest possible service to be ren- dered to the inhabitants of Mount Lebanon, at the present juncture, is to obtain an early settlement of its affairs at the Porte. To this permanent object the exertions of my colleagues and myself are now directed with an improved prospect of success. In the event of a fresh disappointment, I cannot conceal from myself that it will be desirable to consider the embarrassment to which the Consuls at Beyrout are exposed, and to agree as to some joint line of conduct which may be suited to the occasion, and calculated to place them more in harmony with the altered aspect of affairs, I have &c. (Signed) ' STRATFORD CANNING. Inclosure in No. 79. Sir Stratford Canning to Colonel Rose. Sir, Buyukdere, November 18, 1842. I LAMENT, although I am by no means surprized to hear, that an insurrectionary agreement has been concluded between a number of the Druses and Christian Emirs of Mount Lebanon, with the view of opposing an active resistance to the troops and authority of the Sultan. What I have learnt in part from you, has been confirmed to me with additional circumstances by other correspondents, as well as by the com- munications of some of my colleagues here, and also of the agent of the Maronite Patriarch. Your latest despatches have not reached me ; but I am informed that Mr. Bennet, to whom you had consigned them, arrived several days ago at the Dardanelles. The Seraskier arrived at Constantinople yesterday, and brought despatches from M. Basili to the Russian Envoy, but as you wrote by Mr. Bennet, I presume tliat you had nothing to forward to me by his Excellency. As it appears that the spirit of active resistance now manifested by many of the Druse and Maronite chiefs is, in part, attributable to their despair of obtaining redress by means of our negotiations here, I am anxious to inform you, with the least practicable delay, that the instructions recently received, as well by myself as by my several colleagues, are such as to afford strong reason to hope that we shall succeed, before long, in overcoming the obstinacy of the Turkish Government, and obtaining, for the inhabitants of the Mountain, that form of local administration to which they are so habitually attached. I trust that the knowledge of this circumstance, and of the hope which I found upon it, may have a considerable effect in tranquillizing the chiefs, and by their means the population, of Mount Lebanon ; and a discreet and coa- R2 124 fidential communication to that effect from you, in concert with your colleagues, or even by yourself, to the leading powers among them, can hardly fail of promoting a recurrence to that pacific course of conduct which you have so often and so zealously inculcated. I am, 8cc., (Signed) STRATFORD CANNING. No. 80. Sir Stratford Canning to the Earl of Aberdeen. — {Received December 22.) My Lord, Buyukdere', November 28, 1842. REFERRING to your Lordship's instruction of October 24, I may con- scientiously affirm, that I have made every reasonable exertion to obtain an equitable settlement of the Emir El-Kassim's claims. On several and fre- quent occasions, I have applied to Sarim Effendi for the restitution of his property, for the payment of his salary, for increase of his temporary allow- ance, for a better house, and for the transfer of his cause from Beyrout to Constantinople. In some cases my application has been attended with success, in others, it has only produced an illusive promise. My last application on his behalf, was to have the order for inquiry into his claim and restoring his property, executed here. The answer of Sarim Effendi was, that my demand was in opposition to a decree of the Mufti, and that the Sultan's firman must take its course at Beyrout. His claims are said to be exaggerated ; and the charge is probably not destitute of truth. In consequence of your Lordship's instruction, I have again applied to Sarim Effendi, and I have sent to El-Kassim himself for a statement of his claims and of the amount, if any, paid on account of them. As soon as I obtain his answer, and a more distinct one from Sarim Effendi, I will again address your Lordship upon the subject. I have, &c., (Signed) STRATFORD CANNING. No. 81. The Earl of Aberdeen to Sir Stratford Canning. (Extract.) Foreign Office, January 6, 1843. THE Turkish Ambassador in this country has communicated to me the substance of the note addressed to your Excellency by the Reis Effendi, on the 7th of December, announcing the acquiescence of the Porte in the wishes of the Allied Cabinets, respecting the future government of Syria ; and I conclude that I shall receive, in a few days, your Excellency's despatches through Malta, giving an account of what may have taken place previously to the consent of the Porte being thus signified to you. Meanwhile, I have only to say that Her Majesty's Government have received this intelligence with great satisfaction. No. 82. Sir Stratford Canning to the Earl of Aberdeen. — {Received January 9, 1843.) (Extract.) Buyukdere, December 7, 1842. I HAVE much satisfaction in stating to your Lordship that, in compli- ance with the advice of the Allied Powers and the urgent solicitations of their respective representatives, the Turkish Government has at length 125 announced its intention of restoring Mount Lebanon to the benefits of a local native administration. The accompanying copy of an official note, which I have this moment received from Sarim Etfendi, will inform your Lordship of the manner in which the Porte has expressed its decision. As the steam-packet destined for Malta is on the eve of departure, I have not time to make any observation upon its contents, which, in point of opinion, and in some respects of assertion also, arc greatly at variance with our latest advices from Syria. Still less is it in my power to have any explanations upon the subject, either with the Turkish Minister or with my colleagues. Your Lordship will perceive that the members of the Shehab family are expressly excluded from the number of those amongst whom the Kaimakams of Assaad Pasha, or the local Druse and Christian Governors, are to be selected. Considering the very critical state of affairs in IMount Lebanon, and the increasing danger which still threatens the tranquillity of that district, and the Sultan's authority there, I deem it of the highest importance to transmit the intelligence of the Porte's concession, without a moment's delay, to Colonel Rose, and I have only to regret that, in order to effect this object, I am compelled to send off my despatches without previously communicating with the other Representatives. As a regular opportunity of communicating with Beyrout, by steam, will occur in ten days, any inconvenience attached to so brief and hurried a notice, as that to which I am now limited will not be of long duration. Sarim Effendi's note is founded upon the application which, at the request of my colleagues, 1 had made to him for a conference, in their name as well as my own. Inclosure in No. 82. Sarim Effendi to Sir Stratford Canning. Sublime Porte, Monsieur I'Ambassadeur, Le 4 Zilkade, 1258, d'H. (7 Decembre, 1842.) J'AI lu avec attention la traduction de I'instruction donnee en date du 23 Novembre a M. Pisani, premier interprete de I'Ambassade Britannique, et dont la copie m'a ete remise par celui-ci. Votre Excellence m'exprime dans cette instruction le desir d'avoir une conference avec moi, conjointement avec Messieurs ses collogues, a I'effet de me faire connaitre, dans toute leur etendue, les dispositions des Grandes Puis- sances a I'egard de la question du Liban. Desireux moi-meme d'avoir une entrevue avec vous et de vous faire savoir, aussi promptement que possible, mon intention h ce sujet, je me suis empresse de donner communication au Minist^re de Sa Hautesse, des vues manifestees par les Grandes Puissances, a I'egard de la question precitee, et dont j'ai pris connaissance par les explications et les observations qui m'ont ete faites dans les conferences que j'ai eu I'honneur d'avoir preccdemment avec votre Excellence et Messieurs le Baron de Bourqueney et de Kletzl, ainsi que par la teneur des notes que j'ai re9ues a ce sujet de la part de son Excel- lence M. de Bouteneff et M. Wagner. Dans un Conseil Ministeriel, auquel a assiste le Seraskir Pacha, cette question ayant ete debattue, celui-ci s'est constamment tenu renferme dans les limites des communications et des observations que jusqu'u present il n'avait cesse de presenter a la Sublime Porte. Mustapha Pacha s'est declare etre pleinement convaincu, que la mesure de nomination par le Mouchir de Sa'ida de deux Kaimakams, I'un pour les Druses et I'autre pour les Maronites, precedemment arretee pour assurer la tranquillite si unaniniement d^siree de la Montagne,ne pourrait atteindre ce but, que lorsque ces Kaimakams seraient pris parmi les etrangers ; en meme temps qu'il a assure d'une mani^re formelle et positive, que cette tranquillity ne 126 pourrait 6tre obtenue dans le cas oii Ton voudrait, au contraire, s'arreter au parti de prendre les dits Kaimakams parmi les Druses et les Maronites eux-m^mes. Le Ministcre Ottoman 6prouve le plus vif regret de voir que ce point de cette question ait donnee lieu a tant de discussions et de pourparlers depuis uu an, et que, malgre la bonne administration qu'il est parvenue a retablirdans la Montagne, et les preuves convaincantes qu'il est k m6me de produire a I'appui de son assertion, les Hautes Puissances ses amies et alliees n'aient jamais change de vues ;\ cet egard. La Sublime Porte, mue n?anmoins par les sentimens de respect dont elle ne cesse pas un seul instant d'etre animee a I'egard des Cinq Grandes Puis- sances, ses plus chores amies et alliees, a prefere, pour arriver a la solution d'une question si delicate, et qui est en meme tems una de ses affaires inte- rieures, se conformer a leurs voeux, plutot que d'y opposer du refus. II est evident, toutefois, que la vue de la Sublime Porte et celle des Grandes Puissances, ne tendant I'une et I'autre qu'a un meme objet, — le retab- lissement du bon ordre dans la Montagne, — celui des systemes proposes par les deux parties qui eiit ete adopte, u'aurait du etre considere, en premier lieu, que comme un essai. Si ce resultat pent etre obtenu k I'aide de ce systeme, le voeu de la Sub- lime Porte en sera accompli, et elle ne pourra qu'en 6tre reconnaissante; mais si, comme elle a lieu de le craindre, d'apres les informations successivement recueillies jusqu'ici, la tranquiilite ne pouvait etre retablie en Syrie, dans ce cas-lk, la justesse des objections faites jusqu'a present par la Sublime Porte serait dvidemment reconnue, et le Gouvernement de Sa Hautesse se trouve- rait, de I'aveu de tout le monde, avoir ete dans son droit. En consequence, la Sublime Porte, dans son desir de se conformer aux conseils amicaux qui lui sont donnes par ses amis, a pris la resolution d'envoyer. a Essaad Pacha, I'ordre de proceder, quant a I'administration des differentes classes de sujets qui habitent le Mont Liban place sous sa juridiction, au choix et a la nomination de deux Kaimakams, I'un pour les Druses et I'autre pour les Maronites, pris parmi les indigenes autres que ceux appartenant a la famille Chehab, conformement a la mesure d6ja acceptee par les Grandes Puissances ; et de I'engager en meme tems a consacrer tons ses soins,au main- tien de la tranquillity en Syrie. Cette resolution de la part du Ministere Ottoman, ayant aussi obtenu la sanction Imperiale de Sa Hautesse, je crois de mon devoir d'annoncer k votre Excellence que cette question a recu sa solution sans avoir recours a de nouvelles conferences. En me felicitant d'etre I'organe des sentimens d'amitie et de respect dont Sa Hautesse mon Auguste Maitre et Souverain vient de donner, en cette occasion, une nouvelle preuve, a I'egard des Cinq Grandes Puissances, je vous prie. Monsieur I'Ambassadeur, de recevoir les assurances de ma consideration tres distinguee. Le Ministre des Af aires Etrangeres, (Signe') SARIM. (Translation.) Sublime Porte, M. I'Ambassadeur, 4 Zilkade, 1258, (December 7, 1842.; I HAVE read, with attention, the translation of the instruction given on the 23rd of November to M. Pisani, first interpreter of the British Embassy, and of which a copy was delivered to me by him. Your Excellency expresses to me, in this instruction, your desire to have a conference with me, conjointly with your colleagues, in order to make me understand, in their full extent, the wishes of the Great Powers with reference to the question of Mount Lebanon. Being myself desirous of an interview with you, and of letting you know as early as possible what my intention was on this subject, I hastened to communicate to the Government of His Highness, the views entertained by the Great Powers on the question above stated, views of 127 which I had become aware by means of the explanations and observations which were made to nic in the conferences which I iiad previously had the honour to have with your Excellency, the liaron dc Bourqucncy and M. de Kletzl, as well as from the tenor of the notes upon this subject which I received from his Excellency M. de Boutcneffand M. Wagner. This question having been debated in a ministerial council, at which the Seraskier Pasha was present, he still persisted in the communica- tions and observations, which, up to the present time, he had not ceased to offer to the Sublime Porte. Mustapha Pasha declared himself fully convinced, that the plan of the nomination by the Mushir of Saida of two kaimakams, one for the Druses and the other for the Maronites, which had previously been deter- mined upon with the hope of assuring the tranquillity of the Mountain, which is so unanimously desired, could not effect that object, unless these kaimakams where chosen from amongst strangers ; at the same time that he asserted, in a formal and positive manner, that that tranquillity could not be attained if, on the contrary, it was decided to select the said kaimakams from amongst the Druses and Maronites. The Turkish Ministry regret deeply to observe that this point of the question has given rise during the last year to so many discussions and arguments, and that, notwithstanding the good government which it has succeeded in re-establishing in the Mountain, and the convincing proofs of its assertion which it has it in its power to produce, the High Powers, its friends and allies, have never changed their opinions in this respect. The Sublime Porte, however, actuated by those sentiments of respect which she never ceases for a moment to entertain towards the Five Great Powers, her dearest friends and allies, has, in order to arrive at a solution of a question so delicate, and which at the same time is one of her own internal affairs, preferred to conform to their wishes, rather than to meet those wishes with a refusal. It is however evident, that the views of the Sublime Porte and those of the Great Powers, having both the same object, — the re-establishment of order in the Mountain, — whichever of the systems proposed b}^ the two parties was adopted, it could be considered, at first, only as an expe- riment. If this result can be obtained by this system, the wishes of the Sublime Porte will be accomplished, and she can only be grateful for it; but if, as she has reason to fear from the information continually received up to this time, tranquillity should not be restored in Syria, in that case the justice of the objections hitherto raised by the Porte must plainly be acknowledged, and the Government of His Highness would, by common consent, have been in the right. Accordingly, the Sublime Porte, actuated by a desire to conform to the friendly counsels which have been given to her by her friends, has resolved to send to Assaad Pasha instructions to proceed, — as regards the government of the different classes of subjects inhabiting Mount Lebanon, and placed under his jurisdiction, — to the choice and nomination of two kaimakams, one for the Druses and the other for the Maronites, chosen from amongst those of the natives who do not belong to the Shehab family, according to the plan already acquiesced in by the Great Powers, and to call upon him at the same time to use his utmost endeavours to pre- serve tranquillity in Syria. This resolution on the part of the Turkish Ministry having also received the imperial sanction of His Highness, I consider it my duty to announce to your Excellency that this question has been arranged with- out any necessity for further conferences. Whilst congratulating myself on being the channel of the sentiments of friendship and respect of which His Highness, my august Master and Sovereign, has, on this occasion given a fresh proof towards the Allied Powers, I beg. Monsieur I'Ambassadeur, that you will receive the assur- ances of my most distinguished consideration. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, (Signed) SARIM. 128 No. 83. Sir Stratford Canning to the Earl of Aberdeen. — -{Received January 9, 1843.) My Lord, Buyukdcre, December 17, 1842. I HAVE already informed you that the Syrian Question is settled in so far as it depends upon the Porte's assent to the propositions contained in your Lordship's instructions. I have now tlie satisfaction to add, that my despatch, announcing this important intelligence to Lieutenant-Colonel Rose, went on from Smyrna without an hour's delay, in Her Majesty's steam-vessel " Devastation," and there is every reason to presume that it reached Beyrout on the morning of the 12th instant. The advices which I have received from Syria, of fresh intrigues, of fresh con- flicts, and of fresh acts of violence and cruelty in the Mountain to so late a date as the 9th instant, satisfy me that I did not err in hastening to apprize Colonel Rose of the success which had finally crowned our exertions here. Most ear- nestly do I hope that the intelligence so long expected, may have the effect of restoring tranquillity. Judging from Colonel Rose's account of the good, though momentary, effect produced by my preceding communication of the course to be pursued under your Lordship's more recent instructions, I venture toenteitain that hope with some degree of confidence. The policy and per- sonal disposition of Assaad Pasha appear to be more conciliatory than those of his predecessor, the Seraskier ; and the influence of Her Majesty's Consul- General and his colleagues may be reasonably expected to derive strength from the concession of the Porte, as well towards the Pasha as towards the inhabitants of Mount Lebanon. The employment of Albanian troops in the heart of the Mountain, though in direct violation of the Porte's engagement, and accompanied with the usual horrors, may find some degree of palliation in the extremities to which the Turkish authority was reduced, and in the failure of all attempts to conciliate the Druses then actually in arms. I return to our proceedings here. Inclosed with this despatch are copies of my reply to Sarim Effendi's letter, and of two instructions which I have addressed to Her Majesty's Consul-General in Syria, the second in concert with my colleagues in the Syrian Question. We held a meeting together some days ago at my house; and, after communicating our several impressions on the subject, decided upon writing to the Turkish Minister, and also to the Consuls at Beyrout in the sense of what I have expressed in the accompany- ing papers. It is particularly gratifying to state that the utmost harmony prevailed in the expression of our respective sentiments, and that the principles of unanimity and uniformity were admitted by all without exception to be the true basis of our action and of our strength. The only shade of difference worthy of notice or of recollection, was a desire expressed by the Austrian Charg^ d'Affaires to mark in rather pointed terms our conditional acquiescence in the exclusion of the Shehab family, and the absence of any participation on our part in that decision. Monsieur Kletzl's acquaintance with the Turkish language enabled him to allege that the passage in Sarim Effendi's letter relating to that point, intimated more strongly than in the translation, that we had assented to the exclusion of the Shehabs. However that may he,\\ confess that, for one, I was governed by what is due to the main object of our oft-repeated and long-protracted efforts in favour of Mount Lebanon and the mass of its inhabitants. We all agreed that our instructions did not admit of our opening a fresh discussion with the Porte on behalf of any single family or individual, and that we should weaken the chances of re-establishing tranquillity in Syria if we held out to the excluded family and its partizans the slightest ground or hope that its resto- ration to power would stillj become an object of interest to our respective Governments. This view of the matter prevailed to such a degree, that when I finally suggested, as a middle term, that while we kept silence as to the Shehabs in our answer to Sarim Effendi, we should make a separate and verbal disclaimer to his Excellency of our participation in what concerned that 129 family, the French and Russian Representatives agreed in thinking that even so quiet and confidential an intimation as this would in all probability transpire, and occasion the very mischief which we were all desirous to avoid. Your Lordship will observe that in my own reply to Sarim Eff'endi's letter, I have endeavoured, though with very imperfect success, to reconcile the silence which is requisite to avoid that danger, with the eventual disap- pointment of our present hopes, by recording the actual disturbed state of Mount Lebanon, as a point of departure for the experiment, as Sarim Eft'endi describes it, of a recurrence to the old principles of government in that dis- trict ; and intimating that we are neither blind to the source of the present disorders, nor inclined to be passive spectators of any insidious attempt to render the measure now adopted practically abortive. I trust that the recapitulation in one official document of the various promises successively made by the Porte in favour of Syria, at the requisition of the Allied Powers, either with or without the participation of France, may prove conducive to the one grand object of realizing, to the practical advan- tage of its inhabitants, those benevolent views which actuate the principal Powers of Christendom in their joint dealings with this Empire. I have, &c., (Signed) STRATFORD CANNING. Inclosure 1 in No. 83. Sir Stratford Canning to Sarim Eff'endi. Monsieur le Ministre, Buyukdere, 15 Decembre, 1842. LA conference que M. Pisani vous avait demandee, tant de ma part que de celle des Representans d'Autriche, de France, de Prusse, et de Russie, devenait en effet sans objet dfes que votre Excellence etait a m^me de m'in- former que la Sublime Porte avait adopte une resolution conformeaux voeux des Puissances ses amies. La lettre que vous m'avez fait I'honneur de m'adresser le 7 courant, m'annonce cet heureux resultat de nos communications pr^cedentes ; et je me felicite d'etre I'organe de transmettre a ma Cour un aussi eclatant temoi- gnage de la bienveillance qui preside dans les pensees de Sa Hautesse. Mon Gouvernement apprendra avec plaisir que la Porte, en prenant la decision de placer le Mont Liban sous I'administration d'un Chef Chretien pour les Maro- nites, et d'un Chef Druse pour les Druses, a \'oulu surtout manifester sa con- fiance dans I'amitie des Cinq Cours, et sa deference h leur opinion. Entouree de leurs sympathies, et forte de leurs conseils, elle s'acquiert de nouveaux moyens d'afl^ermir le repos, et avancer les interfits de son empire. Tout sentiment de regret qui pourrait se m^ler flcelui de leur satisfaction, a cause de certains doutes que la Porte semble avoir concus pour I'avenir, s'efface devant la conviction que le succes, de meme que I'execution, de la raesure dependraprincipalement de la Porte elle-meme. Les derniers incidens de la Syrie ne sont pas de nature a dementir la necessite d'un tel remade. lis ne justifientque trop la prevision des Cours Alliees; et si par consideration pour ceux qui ont exerce I'autorite souveraine dans les lieux, je m'abstiensde toute remarque sur la cause de ces malheurs, je ne saurais m'aveugler sur I'existence et la gravite des faits. i. J'aime a croire que I'avenir offre quelque chose de plus rassurant. La decision adoptee par la Porte doit venir a I'appui de plusieurs mesures dej;\ annoncees par I'ordre de votre Excellence. Ce sont, la demission d'Omar Pacha, I'exclusion des troupes Albanaises de la Syrie, et la restitution des proprietes ; a une dpoque anterieure, le libre exercice des cultes, rallegement des impots, et, en general, la confirmation des anciens privileges se trouvaient consacr6s par les assurances de la Porte. L'ensemble de ces mesures sera envisage par mon Gouvernement, je n'en doute pas, comme un nouveau motif de cordialite entre les deux Cours, comme un droit de plus acquis par la Sublime Porte a la soumission et h la recon- naissance du peuple objet de leur adoption. Que les soins et les qualites du Vizir charge de surveiller la province repondent aux intentions bienveillantes S 130 du Sultan, que le choix des gouverneurs appeles du sein des deux nations pour administrer les affaires du Mont Liban s'accorde avec les besoins du pays, et les Puissances amies de Sa Hautesse n'auront rien a regietter et rien ^ desirer. Je profite, &c., (Sign^) STRATFORD CANNING. (Translation.) M. le Ministre, Buyukderi, December 15, 1842. THE conference which M. Pisani had requested of you, both for me and for the Representatives of Austria, France, Prussia, and Russia, became in fact without an object when your Excellency was in a posi- tion to acquaint me that the Sublime Porte had come to a resolution in conformity with the wishes of the Powers, her Allies. The letter which you did me the honour to address to me on the 7th instant, announced this happy result of our previous communications, and I congratulate myself on being the channel through which so decided a proof of the friendship which influences the mind of His Highness, is con- veyed to my Court. My Government will learn with pleasure that the Porte, in determining to place Mount Lebanon under the rule of a Christian Chief for the Maronites, and a Druse Chief for the Druses, has been especially desirous of showing her confidence in the friendship of the Five Courts, and her deference for their opinion. Surrounded by their sympathies, and strong in their counsels, she acquires to herself new means for increasing the repose, and advancing the interests of her empire. Every sentiment of regret which could mingle with their satisfaction, on account of certain doubts which the Porte would seem to entertain as regards the future, disappears before the persuasion that the success, as well as the execution of this measure depends principally upon the Porte herself. The last events in Syria are not of a nature to disprove the necessity which exists for such a remedy. They only afford too strong a justification of the anticipations of the Allied Courts; and if, out of con- sideration for those who have exercised the sovereign authority on the spot, I abstain from any remark as to the cause of these misfortunes, I cannot conceal from myself the existence and importance of the circum- stances. I flatter myself that the future opens a more encouraging prospect. The decision adopted by the Porte, will come in support of several measures already announced by order of your Excellency. These are, the dismissal of Omar Pasha ; the exclusion from Syria of the Albanian troops ; and the restitution of property : at an earlier period freedom of religious worship, decrease in taxation, and, generally, the confirmation of ancient privileges, had been secured by the assurances of the Porte. The whole of these measures will, 1 doubt not, be i-egarded by my Government as a new motive for cordiality between the two Courts, and as a further right acquired by the Sublime Porte to the submission and gratitude of the people on whose account they have been adopted. Let the endeavours and disposition of the Vizier charged with the Govern- ment of this province, only correspond to the benevolent intentions of the Sultan, let the selection of the Governors chosen from the two nations to administer the affairs of the Lebanon, only be in accordance with the wants of the country, and the Powers friendly to His Highness will have nothing left for them to regret, and nothing left for them to desire. I avail myself, &c., (Signed) STRATFORD CANNING. 151 Inclosure 2 in No. 83. Sir Stratford Canning to Colonel Rose. Sir, Buynkdere, December 7, 1842. CONSIDERING the disturbed and critical state of affairs in Syria at the date of your last despatches to me, I think it my duty to apprize you, without the loss of a single moment, that the Ottoman Ministers, acting under the express commands of the Sultan, have at length conceded the remaining point of difference between them and the Representatives of the Five Allied Powers respecting the government of Mount Lebanon. The Porte's decision has been communicated to me this morning by a note from his Excellency the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Of this important document I send you a copy herewith for your perusal and confidential information, and also for that of your colleagues the Consular Representatives of the other four Christian Powers at Beyrout, in the event of their not having received a similar communication from their respective Ministers. You will easily perceive that, although it is highly desirable for the main satisfactory point of intelligence regarding the local administration of the Mountain to be used with a view to the maintenance of whatever degree of tranquillity may still subsist there, the tenor and character of Sarim Etfendi's note, as a whole, are not such as to make it a fit object of public, or even of more than limited and guarded communication. The immediate departure of the steam-packet, which enables me to communicate with Sir James Stirling at Smyrna, precludes me at the same time from either obtaining any further explanation of the Porte's decision, or even entering into any consideration of the manner or terms in which it has been announced. 1 propose to take the earliest opportunity of addressing you more at length upon this subject, and, in the mean time, I avail myself of this oppor- tunity to acknowledge the receipt of your despatches and letters of the 24th instant. I have, &c., (Signed) STRATFORD CANNING. Inclosure 3 in No. 83. Sir Stratford Canning to Colonel Rose. Sir, Constantinople, December 14, 1842. IN writing to you on the 7th instant, I promised a farther and more deli- berate communication on the subject of the very important document which I then transmitted to you in confidence. The approaching departure of the Austrian steam-packet enables me to redeem my pledge without much delay; and I have now the satisfaction to inform you that my colleagues agree with me in regarding the measure announced in JSarim Eftendi's letter, as a com- pletion of the Porte's assent to our proposals respecting Syria. We have resolved to accept it in that sense on behalf of our several Courts, and our only remaining anxiety is to secure its prompt execution in the manner best calculated to restore the tranquillity of Syria, and to promote the welfare of its inhabitants. Guided by your habitual discretion and local experience, you will no doubt be able to contribute to the attainment of these objects, without exciting the jealousy of the Turkish authorities, or diverting from their Sovereign those sentiments of confidence and gratitude which are now so emphatically due to him from his subjects of Mount Lebanon. You are by this time already in possession of the letter addressed to me by the Ottoman Minister for Foreign Affairs. A letter expressed in terms almost identical was addressed by his Excellency to each of my four col- leagues. I now transmit to you herewith a copy of my answer to Sarim S2 132 Effendi. Though differing in terms, it is similar in purport to the answer sent in respectively by them ; and 1 despair of being able to give you a clearer idea of our united views, as founded upon our common instructions, than by referring you to that correspondence. There is one point, however, to which I am desirous of calling your more particular attention. The Porte, you will observe, has expressly excluded the Shehab family from the number of those amongst whom a governor of the Maronite population is to be selected. Without entering into the motives of this exception, its justice, or its wisdom, I wish you distinctly to understand that I have decided, in concert with my colleagues, upon the expediency of raising no question, either here or in Syria, upon the subject. Whatever may be the merits of the family, whatever its claims upon the respect of those whom it governed so long, we recognize no obligation and no right on the part of the Powers to interfere especially on its behalf; and we cannot be blind to the deep responsibility of leaving any shadow of doubt as to our sen- timents, at a time when passions are likely to be roused, and a spirit of intrigue may prevail among the disappointed. We must bear steadily in mind, that the restoration of tranquillity under the enjoyment of this last crowning concession, is the one great object now to be secured. The motives which have determined this line of conduct might preclude us, in point of consistency, from entering into any discussion with the Porte as to the details of execution, even if we felt ourselves qualified by sufficient information to undertake the task. It is manifest, at the same time, that the result of the Porte's decision will principally depend upon the manner and spirit in which it is carried into effect. The character of Assaad Pasha seems open to favourable impressions, and your friendly intercourse with his Excel- lency may afford you opportunities of exercising a beneficial and not inconve- nient influence on the present occasion. The choice of the individuals to be selected for the government of the Mountain is, no doubt, of the greatest importance. It is most desirable that they should enjoy the general respect, if not the affection and confidence of the people. But it is also desirable that, without being the mere creatures and tools of the Vizier, they should be alive to the importance of deserving his good- will, and maintaining the inhabitants of the Mountain in peace with each other, and in lawful obedience to the Sultan. I have every reason to believe that you will find your colleagues autho- rized, as well as disposed, to concur with you in pursuing this line of conduct, remembering that interference, even limited to the most prudential forms, should be rather the exception than the rule; and that its value will be generally in proportion to the quiet and unobtrusive manner in which it is exercised. Wliat I thus state, with a view to your instruction, has been practised here throughout the whole course of our proceedings relating to Syria, and nothing can be more satisfactory than the uniform and unanimous character which prevails in this last stage of them between my colleagues and myself. I am, 8ic., (Signed) STRATFORD CANNING. No. 84. Sir Stratford Canning to the Earl of Aberdeen. — (Received January 9, 1843.) (Extract.) Buyukderi, December 17, 1842. I HAVE not succeeded in ascertaining from Sarim Effendi, upon what indi- viduals, or upon what families, the choice of the Porte may be expected to fall in appointing the native Governors, or Kaimakams, for Mount Lebanon. In answer to my inquiry, he said, that the selection would be left to Assaad Pasha; and, m truth, I know not that it could be assigned to better hands in the present disturbed state of the country and doubtful position of parties, provided the Paslia be at liberty to act with sincerity, and to lend an ear to the counsels of those who may naturally be supposed to have other means than his of knowing the disposition and real wishes of the inhabitants. With respect to the renewed employment of the Albanians, which came 133 to my knowledge only yesterday, I have sent in an expression of deep concern and surprize, and I think it by no means unlikely, that the adoption of some joint step, on the part of the Representatives, may be found indis- pensable. 1 have again recommended the restitution of EI-Kassim's property ; I have spoken in favour of a liberal treatment of the Shehabs in general, now that they are definitely excluded from power ; and I have urged the expe- diency of releasing the prisoners at Acre and Beyrout. The Minister for Foreign Afiiiirs has sent me an assurance, that he will exert himself for the attainment of these objects, but I should not like to be held responsible for the effect of his exertions. I have only to add, that in communicating with those persons who may be considered as the partizans of the Shehab family, I have been careful to inculcate the propriety, the expediency, and the duty of their abstaining from any intrigues calculated to create a necessity for its recall to tlic adminis- tration of Mount Lebanon. Judging from the general tendency of the information, which has reached me, such a necessity is by no means unlikely to occur ; and if it were to arise out of the natural order of events, or from the crooke«l policy of the Porte, counsels more favourable to their pretensions would, no doubt, pre- vail in proportion as the want of them would be felt. But I am confident, and such is the conviction which T have endeavoured to produce in their minds, that the triumph will ultimately rest with that party which deals most fairly, and abstains, at present, from useless resistance, and mischievous intrigue. No. 85. Sir Stratford Canning to the Earl of Aberdeen. — {Received January 9, 1843.) My Lord, Buyukdere, December 17, 1843. IN answer to a message which I sent to Sarim Effendi, complaining of the renewed employment of Albanian troops in Mount Lebanon, on the authority of a despatch which I received yesterday from Lieutenant-Colonel Rose, his Excellency assures me that his former promise on that subject has been carried into effect, under the express commands of the Porte ; that he has no knowledge of the Albanians having been again sent into the Mountain, and cannot imagine that I have been correctly informed. I am the more surprised at the clear and positive language which appears to have been used by Sarim Effendi, as my despatches from Syria were brought by a Turkish steamer, which, it is to be presumed, was also the bearer of despatches to the Government. At all events, it is satisfactory to find that the Turkish Minister does not shrink from his former assurance, on a point to which Her Majesty's Govern- ment so justly attach a deep importance. I have, &c., (Signed) STRATFORD CANNING. No. 86. The Earl of Aberdeen to Sir Stratford Canning. Sir, Foreign Office, January 20, 1843. I HAVE received and laid before the Queen your Excellency's despatches from the 7th to the 18th of December; and with reference to those among them in which your Excellency gives an account of the course adopted by yourself and your colleagues on receiving the reply of the Porte on the subject of the future government of Syria, I have the satisfaction to acquaint your Excellency, that Her Majesty's Government entirely approve your proceedings on that matter, and are highly gratified with the success 134 which has attended your Excellency's zealous and persevering efforts in carry- ing into effect the objects pointed out in the instructions with which you have from time to time been furnished. I am, &c., (Signed) ABERDEEN. No. 87. Sir Stratford Canning to the Earl of Aberdeen. — (Received January 25, 1843.) My Lord, Constantinople, December 31, 1842. IN obedience to your Lordship's commands I have applied to the Ex- Emir Beshir El-Kassim for a statement of his claims upon the Porte. They consist of lands usurped by the Druses, of moveable property plundered, and of arrears of salary for himself and persons in his employment. El-Kassim does not wish to prosecute his claim to the lands at present. The list of the moveable or personal property which he claims, comprizes a great variety of objects difficult to be recovered, to be estimated, or to be ascertained. The arrears of salary amount to 84,000 piastres a-month during the term of more than two years, to which his administration of Mount Lebanon extended. The Porte referred this claim to the Treasurer, who is alleged to have agreed with El-Kassim for the amount of his allowances and of those assigned to the individuals who served under his authority. The Treasurer's report, if given in, has not yet been communicated to me. I can only state, in the meantime, that on the side of El-Kassim there is probably much exaggeration, on that of the Porte an equal reluctance to admit his demands, and on both sides a want of method and explicitness, which makes it difficult to ascertain the equity of the case, and nearly as difficult to obtain a clear statement of it. I propose to return to the subject as soon as I have anything more ample or decisive to communicate, and your Lordship, I trust, understands that I have already on more than one occasion employed the influence of Her Majesty's Embassy in favour of El-Kassim and his pending interests. I have, &c., (Signed) STRATFORD CANNING. No. 88. Sir Stratford Canning to the Earl of Aberdeen. — {Received February 6.) (Extract.) Constantinople, January 17, 1843. I AVAILED myself of the opportunity to inquire as to what had been done in favour of the ex-Emir Beshir El-Kassim. The Effendi replied that a firman had been issued for the restitution of that part of his property which had been lost in the late troubles, and that orders had been given for paying him those arrears of his appointment which were really due, out of the tribute collected from Mount Lebanon. University of California SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY 405 Hilgard Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90024-1388 Return tfiis material to the library from whicfi it was borrowed. OCT 'iVQI^- RENEWABLE QEC 9 ?DC4 QU...-->-^ ^ ;QUE 2 WKS FROM DATE RECEIVED '^rlibrary (Joan Tn'^o 1 1 -xSol575 'SAngsles j^^A ACCESS SFPVJ(» in -V Research Lm " - '075 UC SC'UTH£(-fJ Ht ■.. ■^", .■r-h~'-' ■ "■. 1 1 : 1 5 D 000 300 572