CHAPTER VII

SULTAN AND PASHA

Efforts to prevent a renewal of the struggle between the Sultan and the Pasha--Strained relations between Great Britain and Russia--Wellington and the Dardanelles--Ponsonby at Constantinople--Durham at St. Petersburg--M. Thiers--M. de Lesseps--Secret negotiations--General Chrzanowski--The Pasha's monopolies--Ponsonby negotiates a commercial treaty--Indian government occupies Aden--Importance of the victories of Mehemet Ali over the Wahabites--The Pasha announces his intention of declaring his independence--Russia and the Court of Teheran--The Shah lays siege to Herat--Palmerston protests--Disavowal of Simonitch and Witkewitch--The general situation in the East--Mahmud resolves on war--Policy of Lord Palmerston--French government obtains a credit of 10 millions of francs--Harmony of French and British relations--Self-restraint of Mehemet Ali--Ibrahim defeats the Turks at Nezib--Death of Mahmud and suspension of hostilities--The Turkish fleet treacherously surrendered to Mehemet Ali--Strange conduct of the French admiral--France seeks to isolate Russia--The _Collective Note of July 27, 1839_--Satisfaction of Palmerston and uneasiness of the French government--Conversation between Bulwer and Louis Philippe--Palmerston does not share in the general illusion respecting the military strength of the Pasha--Brunnow's mission to London--The Treaty of Unkiar-Skelessi--France scouts the Russian proposal--The French party in the English Cabinet--Return of Brunnow--Palmerston's letter to Sébastiani--Guizot in London--Thiers, President of the Council and Minister for Foreign Affairs--Guizot's despatches--Thiers mediates in the sulphur dispute--Remains of the Emperor to be removed to France--Proceedings of "Bear" Ellice--Metternich alarmed--Palmerston accepts the Austrian proposal--Attitude of M. Thiers--M. Coste and the French agents at Constantinople and Cairo--Princess Lieven in London--Palmerston tenders his resignation--Insurrection in Syria--The Quadrilateral Treaty of July 15, 1840--Palmerston informs Guizot of the treaty 219-278