cution of his final instructions according as the reply of the Porte may require.

The naval force in the Archipelago, of which one-half is British, consists of eight large ships of the line, as many frigates, and a considerable number of corvettes, &c.; a force, you will perceive, more than sufficient, if recourse must be had to arms, to put any doubt as to the issue of a contest quite out of the question. Placed in a situation most trying, but with instructions not less positive, his Excellency the Commander-in-Chief is particularly desirous that the whole may terminate in an amicable arrangement; but if the Porte should blindly refuse to listen to the request of the three great mediating Powers, his Excellency is most solicitous that the fleet of H. H. the Pacha of Egypt and the forces embarked on board may not be involved in the hazard to which, in the event of hostilities becoming inevitable, they must be exposed. His Excellency has therefore instructed me to convey, in the strongest possible manner, to his Highness the Pacha his most anxious desire and earnest hope that his Highness may be induced to recall his forces either wholly or in part, within his ports; as, however reluctant, however pained to take any part against the favourite little navy of Egypt, his orders are such as to prevent the possibility of his distinguishing between it and the Ottoman fleet: and the British character is a sufficient pledge that if he acts, it will be with the promptitude and vigour peculiar to that nation. And I am further directed to state that in the event of the Egyptian fleet being withdrawn from the contest now carrying on against the Greeks, and its being afterwards threatened by the Greek force under Lord Cochrane, his Excellency the Admiral would consider the Egyptian fleet as under his immediate protection, and would interpose the necessary force to prevent any molestation being offered. In this pressing state of affairs I need not urge you to use your utmost influence with his Highness to effect, if possible, an arrangement in every res pect so desirable, and which I know, in your zeal for the public service, you have so much at heart. Should it appear to you that my presence at Cairo will tend in any way to the furtherance of this important object, I will repair thither on your signifying your wish to that effect. In the event of the Pacha wishing to recall his forces, you are at liberty to say to his Highness that should he so desire, the Pelorus' will proceed instantly with his despatches or orders, or with any person he may wish to send for that purpose, and that I shall esteem myself most fortunate if I should be thus far instrumental in preserving that good understanding which

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has happily so long subsisted between his Highness and Great Britain.

My instructions further are to communicate with you on the existing state of affairs, and to convey to the Admiral intelligence I may deem of sufficient importance; but again, to show the Commander-in-Chief's extreme anxiety on the subject of the Pacha's fleet, I am instantly to proceed to him if I can obtain any information of its return. I beg you will reply to me as soon as possible on the subject of this communication.

I have the honour to be, with great truth, &c., &c., PETER RICHARDS.

(Most confidential.)

Mr. Salt to Captain Richards.

(Extract.)

Cairo: September 6, 1827.

At eight o'clock Osmyn Bey came to me and communicated from his Highness the following answer. That he was surprised at the extreme imprudence of Admiral De Rigny in giving to the world such declarations as those he had been pleased to put forth, for which there could be no foundation

that he had to tell me in private that owing to this imprudence the Grand Seignor and Divan had, as his Highness learned by his last letters from Constantinople, been actually on the point of declaring his Highness a rebel to the Porte, and of arresting his Agent Nedjib Effendi and his other friends, but that fortunately at that moment a Tartar had arrived at Constantinople, which announced the departure of the fleet; and thus for a time warded off the blow. That I must therefore see how delicately he was situated. His Highness could not give any direct orders to recall his fleet, or take any step which might be interpreted into rebellion by the Porte; but on this head he would communicate more particularly through Mr. Boghos at Alexandria. That he begged to express his high sense of the attention paid him by the Admiral in making this communication.

With respect to the security of the Consulates and British subjects resident in Egypt, on which I had begged to have an explicit declaration, his Highness told Osmyn Bey to assure me that, whatever might occur, even in the case of his ships suffering, both might consider themselves as in perfect safety in his dominions; but he desired that even this might not be openly announced, as, if it came to the ears of the Porte, it would be said that he (his Highness) had entered into a secret intelligence with our Government.

From Captain Richards to Sir E. C.

H.M.S. 'Pelorus,' off Hydra: September 23, 1827. Finding there existed a strong impression on the public mind that some secret communications were passing between our Government and the Pacha, in which the Porte was not consulted, I deemed it prudent to remain at Alexandria until his Highness the Pacha or the Consul-General should request my presence at Cairo. I therefore lost no time in forwarding, by courier, to Mr. Salt, your despatch, with a letter from myself in conformity with your instructions. On the 9th I received Mr. Salt's reply, a copy of which I have the honour to enclose, and on the 10th he arrived at Alexandria, but in a state of such severe indisposition that Mr. Boghos, the Pacha's confidential agent, and ourselves, did not meet till the following day at noon. At the meeting which then took place Mr. Boghos said the Pacha had apprised him of the contents of your despatch and of my letter, and that he was fully authorised by his Highness to reply in his name; that the Pacha had preferred this medium of communication as more likely to be secret, and to prevent any idle rumour, than by personal conference with the Consul-General, or myself, at Cairo, where Osmyn Bey would be the interpreter. Mr. Boghos next proceeded to assure Mr. Salt and myself that the assertion of the French Admiral, that Ibrahim Pacha would retire from the Morea on an intimation to that effect being given by the Admiral, was without the slightest foundation, and that the Pacha was far from having given any such assurance, or even any intimation of such an intention. On the contrary, he added, be assured the Pacha has never explained himself to the French in the frank and open manner he has to the English, particularly Mr. Salt and Major Cradock. He further said the excessive imprudence of the French Admiral and the 'bavardage' of the French agents generally, had done much mischief, and had given such a handle to the Pacha's enemies at Constantinople that the Sultan was on the point of declaring him a rebel to the Porte for having detained the fleet, and which the opportune arrival of the news of its having sailed had alone prevented.

He next expressed the deep sense the Pacha entertained of your marked attention and courtesy towards him, and said that, suspected as his Highness was at the moment, you would easily understand the delicate and critical nature of his position, and how impossible it was for him to recall any part of his force, or act in any way as if he had an interest

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separate from the Porte; but that if you could show him the least opening, the slightest glimpse even of anything that could bear him out, he would be most ready to listen to you, as in fact it was so clearly his interest that the Greeks should be free, that you could not but be aware of it. Situated, however, between two evils, he must choose the least; and that it was better for him to suffer the loss of his fleet than draw on himself the whole weight of the Ottoman power, the hatred of all the Mussulmen, and the sacrifice of all that he had been so long endeavouring to establish; as he was convinced his defection would excite the indignation of the Sultan to such a degree that every sacrifice would be made to ensure his destruction.

Mr. Boghos then hinted in no very doubtful terms, that though alone the Pacha could not encounter such a risk, yet with a guarantee of support from England he might be induced to try the hazard. He further said the Pacha was prepared to hear of the destruction of some of his ships, nay, that he even thought that a little damage might do him a service in the eyes of the Porte, but that even if he sustained a total loss it would not cause any change in his sentiment towards the English, and that the consuls and merchants might be assured that themselves and their property would be respected, and that, even if orders of a rigorous nature were sent by the Sultan, he would find means to protect them and ensure them a safe residence if they should choose to remain. As a guarantee, at least in part, his Highness cites, he added, the protection he has so long afforded the Greek merchants, notwithstanding his orders to the contrary. Mr. Boghos gave a most positive assurance that he had said nothing but by the authority of his Highness, and pledged the Pacha's word of honour thereon. The only intelligence I have been able to obtain respecting the Pacha's fleet is, that it was seen off Bomba on the coast of Barbary, towards the end of August (the precise day I was unable to learn), steering towards Modon with a fair wind. It affords me much pleasure to state on the authority of the consuls, as well as from my own observation, that the most perfect tranquillity exists at Alexandria, and that the British residents, notwithstanding the present aspect of affairs, are under less anxiety about their safety than for some time past. This state of tranquillity, the wish of the Consul-General to send forward his despatches, and my own wish to communicate with you, have induced me return for your further instructions; which I hope will meet your approbation.

I have, &c.,

PETER RICHARDS,

From Stratford Canning to Sir E. C.

Constantinople: August 31, 1827.* SIR,-I hasten to inform you that at the expiration of the term allowed to the Porte for deliberating on our proposals respecting Greece, the Reis Effendi having refused them on the part of his government in the most positive terms, I have this day sent in to his Excellency, in concert with the French Ambassador and the Russian Envoy, the official Declaration, of which a copy is herewith enclosed. In pursuance of the joint instructions under which this step has been taken, it is my duty to signify to you that you are now called upon to proceed to the execution of those important measures, which you have been eventually directed by his Majesty's Government to assist in carrying into effect. Immediately on receipt of this information, you will therefore, no doubt, make the necessary arrangements for that purpose, in concert with the commanders of the French and Russian squadrons. As it is probable, however, that Rear-Admiral Heyden will not yet have reached the station when you receive this despatch, I must leave it to your judgment to adapt your operations to the circumstances of his absence, in such manner as shall appear most advisable to you on communication with Admiral De Rigny, and the best calculated to give effect to the intentions of the Allied Governments.

I have the honour to enclose herewith, for your more complete information, copies of the letters, similar to this, addressed respectively by Count Guilleminot and M. de Ribeaupierre to the commanders of the French and Russian squadrons. We trust that you already have under your command and that of Rear-Admiral De Rigny, a sufficient force to deter the Turkish and Egyptian fleets from making any serious attempt upon the coasts or islands of Greece, especially upon such points of them as may be considered the most probable objects of attack.

I have the honour, &c.,

STRATFORD CANNING.

From Sir E. C. to the Admiralty.

'Asia,' at Hydra: September 3, 1827. SIR, I have the honour of presenting to his Royal Highness the Lord High Admiral a copy of the assent of the Greeks to the Declaration made to them, according to the instruction emanating from the Treaty, which was trans

Received at Egina on 7th Sept., the Ottoman Fleet having reached Navarin on Sept. 9.