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"From the day on which the administration of this great country was confided to me by his Imperial Majesty, God forbid that I should have ever taken any decision beyond the limits of the rights and duties prescribed by the Imperial firmans. The thought, even, never occurred to me. On the contrary, appreciating the successive favours received from his Majesty, and the high benevolence which he has unceasingly testified towards me, I have subjected all my acts to his will and to his orders, and when his Majesty shall know that all my efforts tend to merit his high approval, I have the firm hope that I shall still retain his confidence and his good will.

"In reference to the troops some time ago despatched to Candia, it was upon my own demand, so that I might have the honour of serving his Majesty and proving my fidelity and devotion to him, that their organization was effected, and their despatch took place in conformity with the orders which he had given.

"The expenses of the Candian expedition, as well as those of the expedition to the Hedjaz, which took place about the same time, have not been paid by the Imperial treasury, as was the case in the Crimean expedition; on the contrary, they have been settled by Egypt, which has felt pride in bearing them exclusively. These expenses, however, having, in consequence of the prolonged stay of the expeditionary corps, reached the figure of about 200,000 purses, I was, with the sole object of taking an account of the sum necessary for the future maintenance of the troops, and to establish an equilibrium in the Budget, compelled to fix a term for the duration of their stay. I submitted the question to the Council at the time of my voyage to Constantinople, and a Ministerial decision fixed the date of their return, which did not, however, take place until fifteen days after the expiration of the time decided upon. From the time of their arrival on the island until their departure, these troops, with their companions in arms, marched wherever they were ordered, displaying not only true courage, but exhibiting perfect obedience; they contributed to preserve the honour of the Imperial arms, and many of the officers as well as the soldiers were either wounded or killed, happy in thus showing their devotion to the Sovereign. This being the case, I do not think I have committed any act or pursued any conduct contrary to the Imperial will, either in the despatch or the withdrawal of the troops; nor, moreover, do I think that any one has seen or heard of any thing singular in the conduct of these troops, whether officers or soldiers, during the expedition.

"As to the privileges accorded about two years since, I solicited them only in view of the general interests of the Imperial territory, confiding in the confidence and entire good will of his Majesty towards me.

"During my journey in Europe I accepted gratefully the invitation to visit them which some of the Sovereigns did me the honour to address to me; and if, when meeting them, I invited

these Sovereigns, or some members of their august families, to assist at the inauguration of the canal, it was only in virtue of the high position which I occupy under the auspices of his Majesty. If these Sovereigns by their reception have shown me any proofs of esteem and consideration, I owe it solely to the honourable position of being dependent upon his Majesty, and it is one of the happy results of the gracious favours with which he has loaded me. I may add that it is publicly known that in these circumstances no act whatever has been committed which could be construed as running counter to the sacred rights of the Sovereign-rights which I place above every thing else, and of which I know how to appreciate the value and importance.

"Your Highness mentions the displeasure which I am supposed to have evinced at the performance of their duty by the ambassadors of the Sublime Porte, and advances the opinion that, desiring to act alone, I avoided them, although in all my relations with them I in no way failed in paying due regard to their rank. As every one knows, I visited each of them. I even invited their Excellencies Djémil Pasha and Daoud Pasha to a family dinner which, during my stay in Paris, my son gave at his own house, thus proving that, so far from desiring to keep them at a distance, I was, on the contrary, glad to find myself with them. I doubt not, therefore, your Highness will be convinced that the accusations made in this respect are simply and purely calumnious.

"As to the mission of Nubar Pasha in Europe, your Highness is aware it is no new step, but that this mission has been already recognized so far back as two or three years ago; further, during each of my sojourns at Constantinople, I have spoken on several occasions upon this question, and even obtained letters of recommendation from the Minister of Foreign Affairs to the ambassadors of the Sublime Porte both at Paris and London, for which I at the time verbally expressed my sincere acknowledgments. Thus the mission of Nubar Pasha has been concealed neither from the Imperial Government nor from its representatives at foreign Courts. The progress, every day more apparent, both of commerce and agriculture, and the increasing efforts made, under the auspices of his Majesty, for their development, attract into Egypt numerous strangers who naturally increase their transactions with the natives, and form every where new commercial relations. This state of things occasions disputes and litigation; and for this reason it was deemed necessary to establish a fixed rule which would tend to protect the rights of all parties and create mutual confidence among them. The mission of Nubar Pasha has, therefore, for its object the modification of the system of jurisdiction so far as it concerns the differences, commercial or otherwise, between foreigners and natives. The adhesion of the Powers to the meeting of a Commission charged to examine this question, and to which they consent to send special representatives, proves that, seeing the development of commerce and agriculture, this reform is comprised within the

limits of those privileges granted by the sovereign condescension. This step is, therefore, unquestionably taken in order to arrive at the means of increasing the prosperity and welfare of the country, under the auspices of his Majesty and in conformity with his generous intentions.

"Your Highness has further done me the honour to say that the enormous expenses which have been incurred in the purchase of firearms, vessels of war, and the like, subject the inhabitants of the country to burdens far beyond their means, and inspire them with discontent against the Administration; that luxury being not the cause, but only the effect, of civilization, to neglect the cause which consists in real reforms, and to begin by the effect, can only have the most dangerous consequences. In pointing out the above, your Highness also invites me to act in accordance with the Imperial firmans, and to concentrate my efforts upon the development of the prosperity of the country and the security of the lives and property of its inhabitants. A fair comparison between the state of prosperity to which the country, under the auspices of his Majesty, has at present arrived, and the deplorable state in which I found it when the reins of government were confided to me, will demonstrate that, comprehending the august rights of his Majesty and appreciating his great benevolence, I have devoted myself completely and unreservedly to the accomplishment of the happiness and prosperity of the country, and the consolidation of the security of property and life.

"The excellent organization and the regularity of the Egyptian Government, which has established and strengthened in this country the fundamental rules on which all these principles rest, and its perseverance in pursuing the path of progress, were indeed sufficient to assure and protect the legitimate rights of all. Nevertheless, within the past three years an Assembly of Delegates has been instituted. Elected by the people, and called upon to meet during two months in each year, their mission is to seek out the true interests of the country, to deliberate upon its general wants, to control the revenues and the expenses of the Government, and, in fine, to watch over the management of the administration. This assembly has the right of examining and fixing the Budget for each year, and, according to circumstances, the increase or diminution of the taxes are submitted to their attention. It is obvious that, under the auspices of his Majesty, and with the general concurrence of the people, this institution assures to them every desirable guarantee.

"As the progress of the sciences and the propagation of enlightenment are the basis of civilization, the schools, which had been, I may say, formerly suppressed, have been, under the auspices of his Majesty, again established; new institutions have been founded, and in such a manner that to-day these establishments, both numerous and various, are completely organized. Further, pupils in great numbers are sent to all parts of Europe in order to perfect themyes in the sciences and letters, the arts and industry, of which

the first fruits have already sprung up in the country. These facts denote the importance attached to instruction, which is the principal basis of all progress.

"As to agriculture, when in the first place, we perceived the frightful ravages of the murrain, and then the unusual inundation of the Nile, which menaced with complete destruction the crops and property of the cultivators, assistance of every kind was prodigally lavished, and the most energetic measures were at once taken. Thanks to these enormous sacrifices and the considerable sums which were dispensed, the general prosperity and the public welfare have been, under the auspices of his Majesty, once more established. In spite of these successive disasters, agriculture has been so much developed in consequence of the works carried out, and the effective measures taken at the time of these misfortunes for the irrigation of the soil and the facility of transport, that 320,000 feddans of previously untilled land have been brought under cultivation and rendered productive. The foundation of a great number of important financial institutions; the considerable increase in the number of foreigners who have come to settle in all parts of the country, even as far as the Soudan, for the purpose of entering, with perfect safety, into business; the constantly progressive activity in the ports of Alexandria, Suez, and Port Saïd, and the development of commercial relations between Egypt and every part of the world, are the best proofs of the continual progress of trade and agriculture. "As to the expenses, they are made, as has been before mentioned, only with the approbation of the Assembly of Delegates. And if it is considered that, despite the debts left by the late Saïd Pasha, the different difficult questions which have caused the payment of large indemnities by the Treasury, the construction of new railways upon a line of 700 miles, an enterprise necessitated by the increase of general prosperity; the extension of the telegraph lines to Souakin, Massowah, and the Soudan, as well as their establishment at other points of the country; the works of the dock and port of Saïd, and others of a similar character which have been undertaken for the public good; in fact, the considerable sums advanced as aid to the population, as well as those dispensed for the Suez Canal; if, also, it is considered that every one receives regularly what is his due, that the pensions and salaries of the officials are paid regularly every month, and if we regard the amount to which the debt has been reduced, every one will readily comprehend that the finances are faithfully administered, without waste, without burdening the people with heavy taxes, and, consequently, without indisposing them against the administration.

"With regard to the purchase of fire-arms and vessels of war, I have the honour to point out to your Highness that it was simply a question of replacing the old arms by those of a newer construction, and substituting new ships for those which had become useless. With this object, commissions composed of officers of merit have been formed both here and in Europe during the past two or three

years, for the trial and choice of the best and newest weapon. The experiments thus made have resulted in the adoption of an arm of recent invention, and upon a report from the commission, suggesting a purchase equal to half of the old arms in Egypt, authorization was granted and the order for their manufacture was given. On the other hand, the vessels which have been ordered two years since are not yet finished. The expenses necessitated by these orders have been approved in the Budget which it is customary to present in the course of the year to the Assembly of Delegates, and each amount appears under a special head. These expenses, far from being superfluous, are justified by the sincere intention of being useful in the protection of the Imperial territory, and even of the Empire itself, as is evidenced by the fact that, at the time of the rupture of relations with the Greek Government, 20,000 men were concentrated at Alexandria, waiting but the first order or the first signal from his Majesty. These details fully demonstrate that the principal causes of civilization have not been neglected, and I have therefore the conviction that your Highness will fully recognize it.

"The measures taken during the past two years for the opening of new streets and the embellishment of the towns were suggested to me by the useful works executed at Constantinople in the interest of the general health and public well-being, and those works, emanating from the initiative of the municipal councils, as I have been able to prove during my recent journeys, I have endeavoured to confine within the usages and customs of the Imperial territory. The Ministry of Finance, besides, does not bear any of the expenses occasioned by this kind of public works, which are provided for out of the revenues of the town itself, and sometimes, when necessary, out of my own private purse.

"These frank and sincere explanations upon the true state of affairs will, I have no doubt, efface from the mind of your Highness the unfavourable impression which has been caused by unjust accusations, while the dignity and justice which in such a high degree distinguish your Highness are to me a sure guarantee that you will acknowledge the fidelity and devotion with which I am animated towards his Imperial Majesty. Further, if his Majesty has felt any displeasure towards me, I have the firm conviction that as soon as he knows the entire truth he will, moved by those sentiments of clemency and generosity which animate his great soul, deign to restore and even increase towards me the goodwill which he has, up to the present, condescended to bestow upon me. Under any circumstances, when I have finished some important affairs which concern the subjects of the Imperial territory, it is my intention to visit Constantinople, in order to do homage at the foot of his Majesty's throne, and to fulfil towards him my duties of respectful fidelity.

"I therefore beg your Highness will be good enough to take a favourable opportunity of submitting my intentions to his Majesty, and I beseech you to preserve for me his precious friendship."

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