EGYPT AND HER PASHA. 



Turkish Pasha, Abdallah, like a tiger at bay, disputed every inch of 

 ground. Three times, with terrific slaughter, were the assailants re- 

 pulsed, and as often brought back by the exertions and gallantry of the 

 Egyptian officers. Two regiments of the Candiote tacticoes fought like 

 devils, and deserved the palm of honour. Not so the Arab guards, one 

 of old Ibrahim's crack corps. They would not advance, and it was not 

 till he had sabred five or six of them with his own hand, that they would 

 enter the breach. Ibrahim's generous conduct to the Pasha Abdallah 

 made a most favourable impression on the Turkish population of Acre, 

 who have been hitherto accustomed to witness defeat on the field fol- 

 lowed by the horrors of the bow-string. For several days after the 

 capture of the town, salutes were fired four times a-day. The Pasha 

 held a levee, which was numerously attended, both by the Turks and 

 Franks, to congratulate him on his success. A wily Italian, who keeps 

 a large cafe, had it most brilliantly illuminated. Ibrahim was highly 

 flattered by the compliment ; he passed and repassed several times 

 before the door, and at last gave orders that all comers should be regaled 

 at his expense. The scene that ensued baffles description. In spite of 

 Mahomet and the Alcoran, both Turk and Arab drank deeply of rakee, 

 and in a short time Acre presented the novel scene of crowds of the 

 faithful lying intoxicated in her streets. Some of our own fellows envied 

 the state of the faithful, and would fain have drunk the Pasha's health in 

 his own rakee ; but as some disturbance would certainly have been the 

 consequence, the lieutejiant ordered all hands on board. 



Acre contains nothing remarkable ; it is irregularly and meanly built, 

 though most of the houses are of stone. But as a military point it is the 

 key of Syria, and will enable Mohamet AH to render himself master of 

 the .whole pashalic. Two days after the assault, Ibrahim gave an exten- 

 sive order for ordnance to one of the English houses, and the engineers 

 were actively employed in repairing the ancient fortifications, and in 

 tracing out new ones. The Porte will have some trouble to drive the 

 Egyptian from his strong-hold at Acre. 



But at this moment Egypt presents the splendid spectacle of a country 

 reascending, after ages of barbarism, the scale of humanity, and making 

 a noble effort at regeneration. It is by considering the difficulties he had 

 to overcome, rather than by measuring what he has already done, that 

 we must estimate the career of Mohammed Ali. His history, though 

 romantic, is not singular in the turbulent regions of the East. A native 

 of Thrace, he rose from the ranks to the grade of Bin Bashee, and 

 formed part of the Turkish army sent into Egypt to co operate with the 

 British. Endowed with great natural talents, a profound politician, and 

 complete master of dissimulation, even in the widest Turkish accep- 

 tation cool and designing, he found himself in a country presenting a 

 wide field for his ambition, and little to oppose his views of aggrandize- 

 ment. Appointed to command the troops destined to act against the 

 Mameluke ; on his return from the expedition, being joined by the 

 troops sent against him, he revolted. He then marched upon Cairo, 

 which the Pasha, after a short defence, surrendered; and in virtue of a 

 treaty, he was allowed to depart with his treasures and his wives, an 

 example of generosity on the part of the conqueror perfectly new in 

 Turkish warfare. 



Now it was that the reforming schemes of Ali began to develope 

 themselves. Impressed by his late contact with the armies of England 

 and France, of the advantage of military discipline and organization, he 



