ALEXANDRIA. 
403 
lous to make such an uproar about a private individual !" but he 
well knew that, although in fact his observation were just, yet that 
I was on this occasion a public pageant, as no one believed that I 
had come without political motives ; an idea which Major Missett 
encouraged, to counteract the intrigues of the French, whose 
agents had for some time unblushingly asserted, that England con- 
sidered Egypt as of no consequence, and did not wish to keep up 
any connection with it. I received a message from the Governor 
of Alexandria, stating, that he was rejoiced to hear of my safe ar- 
rival, and that be would have paid his compliments to me in person, 
if he had not been particularly engaged. This was a Turkish com- 
pliment, and a very high one to a Christian, although untrue, for 
he was, in fact, perfectly at leisure ; but he justly considered him- 
self as entitled to the first visit. 
March ^4. — The different Consuls paid me a visit, and were 
received with due civility. A very respectable native, who acted 
as Surbaje, or chief magistrate of Alexandria, during the time the 
English were there, was also introduced to me. He had quitted 
Egypt with them, and retired to Malta, where he was astonished 
and gratified by a reception as friendly as if his assistance had still 
been required. He received from them a pension of ten shillings 
per day, on which he lived very comfortably, having a few villages 
of his own. He openly professed his attachment to the English, and 
refused to hold his former office under the Turks. He was never- 
theless on very good terms with the present Governor, and highly 
respected by the Arabs, and inhabitants of the town. In the morn- 
ing I visited the Governor, who had drawn out a considerable 
detachment of the Turkish soldiers, disciplined after the European 
