14 Sir C.Hamilton, No. 51, Sept. 26, 1839.

Count Nesselrode to Count Pozzo di To Lord Clanricarde, No. 6, Oct. 10,1838.

that he entirely concurred in the view taken by the British Cabinet of the state of affairs in the East, and felt disposed to adopt the measures recommended in the note to Count Pozzo di Borgo of September 3 ; but he doubted whether Russia would consent to a Conference on the question. In fact, Count Nesselrode, before communicating with the Emperor, expressed to Sir George Hamilton his doubts as to the necessity of a Conference in London on Eastern affairs, the Powers being all agreed on that subject; and he said that Russia would gladly leave Mehemet Ali to be dealt with by the English and French fleets.

The formal answer of the Russian Cabinet was in conformity with Count Nesselrode's language to Sir George Hamilton. That Cabinet Borgo, September j ; j not consider it necessary to authorize Count Pozzo di Borgo to enter 21'1838, into the concert proposed by Lord Palmerston witn the Ministers of the other Powers respecting Mehemet Ali, because the Powers having, without previous concert, arrived at the same conclusion, there was no reason why they should not do so in future ; and because it was probable that the language held by the representatives of the Powers at Alexandria would effectually check the Pasha, and render unnecessary any further measures ; and consequently no good could result from discussing what should be done in a hypothetical case, while such discussion would be more likely to produce difference than unanimity.

On receiving this communication, Lord Palmerston observed to Count Pozzo di Borgo that his proposition had a twofold object;—First, that the Five Powers should agree to act by mutual concert in the affairs of the Levant; and, secondly, that such concert should immediately be established, as it was probable that immediate action might be required. Count Nesselrode, however, without adverting to the first point, confined himself to denying the urgency of immediate concert.

Lord Palmerston was glad that His Excellency had offered no objection to the principle of the first proposition, which his Lordship considered was one of great importance to all Europe. Although Mehemet Ali might for the present be deterred from taking his meditated step, there was no answering for the future ; and circumstances might arise to render necessary the interference of the allies of the Sultan. If such a case were to arise, it was evident that Europe never would allow the matter to be settled by any one Power alone; consequently, that the only way in which Turkey could be assisted without risking a disturbance of the peace of Europe, would be by establishing that concert between the Five Powers which Her Majesty's Government have proposed.

In the course of a conversation which Sir F. Lamb had with Prince Metternich, at Venice, on the 3rd of September, in which the former repeated what had just passed between him and Count Nesselrode, respecting the relations between England and Russia, and also respecting the affairs of the East, Prince Mctternich rejected the idea of an exclusive Austrian expedition to Syria, as exceeding the means of Austria ; but was silent as to a combined operation.

Sir F. Lamb, having subsequently taken occasion to communicate to Prince Metternich Lord Palmerston's note to Count Pozzo di Borgo of September 3, the Prince expressed his full concurrence in the views expressed therein, and his intention to give the required instructions to M. Ilummelauer. He said that it would be necessary to show to Mehemct Ali, that behind the unity of language held by the Five Powers, were the allied armies, which he would have to encounter Sir F. Lamb, No. 72, Sept. 8, 1838.

Sir F. Lamb, No. 84, October 25, 1838.

if he undertook operations against the Porte. Subsequently Prince Sir George Hamilton, No 62, Oct. 24, 1839.

Metternich said he could not draw up his instructions to M. Humme lauer till his return to Vienna, engaging that he would then do so. Prince Metternich admitted that the proposition contained in Lord Palmerston's note, was the same which Sir F. Lamb had at his desire transmitted to England in June.

Baron Werther, having been informed by Sir George Hamilton of the nature of the answer given by Mehemet Ali, in September, to the Russian demands, expressed his doubts whether it might not be expedient t Ali, to make an arrangement between the Sultan and Mdicin securing 15 to the latter the hereditary succession, on his giving up a part of Syria. This was, however, only an idea which had crossed his mind.* An account is given in the 12th and subsequent pages of this memorandum, of what passed between the British and French Consuls-General, and Mehemet Ali on the 2nd and 16th of August, upon their communicating to him the sentiments of their respective Governments contained in despatches of the 7th and 24th of July, on his proposed declaration of independence.

On the 28th of August, the Consuls-General of Austria and Col. Campbell, Russia, and the Consul of Prussia received the instructions of their No. 61, of Sept. 5, respective Governments, dated at Tceplitz; those of Austria, on the 5th 8 -of August; those of Russia on the 2nd of August: and those of Prussia £„ « o " S w <• on the 24th of July. _ ml" P The purport of the Austrian instructions was, to declare to Me- Col. Campbell, hernet Ali, that if he proclaimed his independence, it would not be No- 63' of SeP*-7' recognized by Austria, which Power would still consider Egypt as an ' integral part of the dominions of the Ottoman Empire, and the relations of Mehemet Ali towards the Sultan those of a vassal to his Suzerain.

Moreover, that this declaration was the result of the union which subsisted between the European cabinets on the subject of Egypt.

M. Laurin made a written communication to Mehemet Ali to the above effect on the 29th of August, and had an interview with him the next day, when Mehemet Ali said, that he could give no other answer than that which he had already given to the Consuls-General of England and of France ; that he was aware that he could not resist the Powers ; that he would endeavour to make the Powers understand, that what he demanded was just and beneficial to the question of the East; that he demanded his independence in order to preserve his family from destruction, but that he would be satisfied if the Porte would grant the hereditary succession. Mehemct Ali enlarged upon these topics, and in reply to an intimation from M. Laurin, that the Powers would probably force him to disarm, he said that such a demand would be equivalent to his destruction, and that he would never consent to it; but the hereditary succession once settled, he would reduce his forces to the amount requisite for the maintenance of internal tranquillity, and for restraining the ambitious designs of his neighbours, and would devote himself to the improvement and civilization of Egypt.

The purport of the Russian instructions was, that the Great Powers were satisfied of the necessity of maintaining Egypt in its present position, and consequently declared through their representatives, that they would not recognize the independence of Egypt, if proclaimed by Mehemet Ali; but they would continue to consider it as an integral portion of the Ottoman Empire, and the relations of Mehemet Ali towards the Porte, as those of a vassal towards his Suzerain. Moreover, Russia had stated to England that she would see without jealousy a British naval force employed on the coasts of Egypt, to keep the Pasha within the bounds of his allegiance ; would approve the measures which Great Britain might take for that purpose, and the rather because the success of those measures would relieve Russia from the imperious necessity of herself interfering in the affairs of Egypt, which she will defer doing as long as possible, but which, at the demand of the Sultan, she will not hesitate to do, if Mehemet Ali commits an unjust aggression. It is desirable that the communication to the above effect should be simultaneously made by the agents of all the Powers, and the Consul of Prussia will be directed to act with the others, and thereby disavow the encouragement which Prussian travellers may have given the Pasha.

Mehemet Ali's answer to this communication, when verbally made to * Subsequently on learning from Lord W. Russell the answer of Prince Metternich, reported in Sir F. Lamb's, No. 84, R.iron Wcrtlier said, that the proposal-, made by Great Hritain to Russia were approved by Prussia, whose opinions on this matter coincided with those of Austria; but that the question was now set at rest by the union of the Powcis.— Lord W. Russell, No. Go, Nov. 21, 1838.