Chapter I: Front Matter

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Transcriber’s Note:

This version of the text cannot represent certain typographical effects. Italics are delimited with the ‘_’ character as _italic_.

Footnotes have been moved to follow the paragraphs in which they are referenced.

Minor errors, attributable to the printer, have been corrected. Please see the transcriber’s note at the end of this text for details regarding the handling of any textual issues encountered during its preparation.

THE
WAR IN SYRIA.

BY

COMMODORE SIR CHARLES NAPIER, K.C.B.,

_&c._, _&c._, _&c._

----------

_IN TWO VOLUMES._

---

VOL. I.

LONDON:
JOHN W. PARKER, WEST STRAND.

---

M.DCCC.XLII.

LONDON:
HARRISON AND CO., PRINTERS,
ST. MARTIN’S LANE.

ADVERTISEMENT.

--------------

In giving an account of the War in Syria, I have endeavoured to state the facts as they occurred, of most of which I was an eye-witness. The _Levant Papers_ have furnished me with much useful information, and I have endeavoured to make no statements that cannot be borne out either by them or by documents in my own possession.

In writing a work of this kind I have been obliged to publish letters and extracts of letters from these Papers, in order to save the reader the trouble of examining them, and, indeed, it is not in the power of the public to get hold of Parliamentary Papers without a serious expense; this I trust will be a sufficient excuse for the numerous documents that I have thought it necessary to give.

_May, 1842._

CONTENTS OF THE FIRST VOLUME.

--------------

PAGE

CHAPTER I.

State of Affairs in the Levant in August, 1839—The Author’s 1
Interview with Hosrew Pacha—Sir Robert Stopford at
Constantinople; his Interview with the Sultan—Impolitic
Junction of the English and French Fleets—Sir John Louis
takes the command of the English Squadron—The Author
tenders his Resignation

CHAPTER II.

The English Fleet winters at Smyrna—Summer 12
Cruise—Insurrection in Lebanon—Opinion on the proper
course of the English Fleet—The Powerful and Edinburgh
sent to Beyrout—Murder of a Frank; conduct of the French
Consul—Insignificance of the Insurrection—Mission of Mr.
Wood—Grievances of the Mountaineers—Author’s Letter to the
Egyptian Admiral—Letter from Souliman Pacha—Suppression of
the Insurrection—Ignorance of the Allied Consuls—Visit to
Tripoli—Excursion into the Mountains—Appearance of the
Country—Ships ordered to Vourla Bay—Author’s Report to the
Admiral

CHAPTER III.

The English ships withdrawn from the coast of Syria—The 29
Author appointed to the command of a Squadron—Letters to
the Egyptian Authorities, the British Consul, the Emir
Bechir, and others—Proclamation to the Syrians—Letters
from the Emir Bechir and Souliman Pacha

CHAPTER IV.

Generous behaviour of Souliman Pacha—Intercepted Letter from 42
Boghos Bey to that Officer—Interview of the Consuls with
Mehemet Ali—A Turkish Squadron equipped—Arrival of the
Turkish Troops—Force of the Egyptian Army—Its proper line
of Action

CHAPTER V.

The Allied Troops landed in D’Jounie 50
Bay—Encampment—Reconnoissances—Submission of the Emir
Abdallah—Beyrout summoned to Surrender—Reply of Souliman
Pacha—Impolicy of the Attack on Beyrout—Forbearance of
Souliman Pacha—Capture of D’Jebail—Captain Martin’s
Report—Reconnoissance to Merouba—Report to the Admiral

CHAPTER VI.

Proposed attack upon Sidon—Correspondence between Sir Robert 69
Stopford and the Author respecting the command—Attack on
the Heights of Ornagacuan—Report to the Admiral—Return to
D’Jounie

CHAPTER VII.

Proposed Attack on Sidon abandoned; 80
resumed—Instructions—Correspondence between the Author and
Sir Robert Stopford—Arrival at Sidon—Letter of Sir R.
Stopford to the Admiralty—Summons to the Governor Report
to the Admiral of the Capture of the Town—Excellent
behaviour of the Allied Troops—Fortitude of a Negro
Soldier—Return to the Camp at D’Jounie

CHAPTER VIII.

State of Affairs at D’Jounie—Effect of the Capture of 94
Sidon—The Emir Bechir Cassim joins the Allies—Overtures
from the Emir Bechir—Movements of Ibrahim Pacha—Capture of
Caiffa, and of Tyre; Captain Collier’s Report—Conflicting
opinions as to future Operations—Letter from Sir Robert
Stopford—Insufficient boating of War Steamers

CHAPTER IX.

Destruction of Stores at Beyrout—Intermeddling of Izzet 108
Pacha—Correspondence between the Author and Sir R.
Stopford—Visit to Tyre and Sidon, and Reconnoissance of
Acre

CHAPTER X.

Osman Pacha defeated by the Emir Bechir Cassim at 113
Merouba—Proposed Attack on Beyrout—Correspondence with Sir
Robert Stopford—Letter from the Emir Bechir Cassim—Letters
to Lords Minto and Palmerston—Visit to the Encampment of
the Emir Bechir Cassim—Comfortless quarters at
Argentoun—Return—Preparations for the Attack of Beyrout

CHAPTER XI.

March towards Beyrout—Apprehensions of the 122
Admiral—Arrangements in case of Disaster—Letters to and
from the Emir Bechir Cassim—Skirmish—Position at
Boharsof—Omar Bey dispatched to join the Emir—Letter to
the Admiral—Arrival of Sir Charles Smith—The Author
ordered to return to the Camp

CHAPTER XII.

Impossibility of immediately retiring—Letter to the 134
Admiral—His Answer—Arrival of the Emir—Advance upon the
Enemy—Doubtful character of the Forces on both
sides—Novelty of the Author’s situation—Battle of
Boharsof—Defeat and Flight of Ibrahim—An awkward Mistake—A
Green Egyptian Flag taken, and said to be lost
again—Promptitude of Omar Bey—Turkish mode of
Rejoicing—Second Letter of Recall—Note to the
Admiral—Letter respecting the Author’s return to
D’Jounie—Official Report of the Battle of Boharsof

CHAPTER XIII.

Necessity for disobeying the Orders to return to 152
D’Jounie—Advantageous results—Difference with Izzet
Pacha—his Character—Unmolested retreat of Souliman
Pacha—he should have been closely followed up—Letter from
the Admiral—The Author resigns the Command—Letter to Lord
Ponsonby—Unsuccessful attack on Tortosa

CHAPTER XIV.

Interview of the Author with the Admiral and Sir Charles 169
Smith—Returns to Beyrout—Urges various enterprises upon
the Admiral, which are disapproved of—Correspondence with
the Emir Bechir Cassim—Surrender of the old Emir
Bechir—Retrospect of the Successes of the
Expedition—Speculations as to the Attack upon Acre—Visit
to the Emir at Ammanah—Scenery of Lebanon—Reconnoissance
of Ibrahim’s Position—Letter to the Admiral—Conduct of the
Turkish Authorities—Visit to the Emir’s Palace at
Ibteddin—Accident to the Young Prince—Departure of the
Squadron for Acre

CHAPTER XV.

Letter of Congratulation from Lord Ponsonby to the 187
Author—Ibrahim Pacha’s Standard, missing from the Field of
Boharsof—Letters to Lord Ponsonby, Colonel Hodges, and the
Admiral respecting it—Lord Ponsonby’s Speech to the
Sultan, and Letter to the Author—Colonel Hodges’
Explanation—The Affair never satisfactorily cleared up

CHAPTER XVI.

Former Sieges of Acre—Arrival of the Allied 196
Squadron—Proposed mode of Attack—Objections—Survey of the
North Channel—The Squadron under weigh—The Author attacks
from the North—Conduct of the different
Divisions—Explosion of the Grand Magazine—Close of the
Action—Evacuation of the Town—Fate of the Sick and Wounded

CHAPTER XVII.

Difference between the Admiral and the Author—The Author’s 212
Orders—Captain Berkeley’s Orders—The Author applies for a
Court Martial, but is refused—Correspondence with the
Admiral—The Admiral’s Dispatches

CHAPTER XVIII.

Second Explosion at Acre—Prisoners sent to Beyrout—The 232
Author ordered to Alexandria with a Squadron—Letter from
the Emir—Neglected State of his Troops—English
Commissary-General appointed—Excursion to the
Mountains—Padre Ryllo—French Priests in Lebanon—Visit to
the Wife of an Emir—Bad conduct of the Turks—Letters to
Lords Ponsonby, Palmerston, and Minto on the subject

CHAPTER XIX.

The Author sent to Alexandria—Defences of the Town—Lord 248
Palmerston’s Instructions to Lord Ponsonby—Lord Ponsonby’s
dislike to Mehemet Ali—The Author’s Correspondence with
Boghos Bey—Interview with the Pacha—His Arsenal—Further
Correspondence—Signature of the Convention

APPENDIX.

Treaty of 15th July, 1840, for the Pacification of the 285
Levant

Separate Act and Protocols 293