Lord Broughambegged to call the attention of his noble Friend at the head of the Government to the question, or rather questions, which were now pending in the East between the Sultan and Mehemet Ali. If the reported results of their hostilities were true, he could not help thinking that there had not been that cordial and vigorous attempt, which their Lordships were told would have been made to keep peace between them. The peace had been broken by the Porte, and not by Mehemet Ali; and how the Porte could have been advised to risk itself with Mehemet Ali in a manner so badly prepared for the fray, was perfectly incomprehensible. He wished to know, therefore, not only as to the truth of the reports, but also whether it were true, as he had learned, that a noble Friend of his at the Porte had taken less vigorous measures than ought to have been taken in attempts to prevent hostilities? It was an unaccountable notion, that the armies of the two powers had been in the reverse position of what was the fact. They had been told that the Turkish troops were in an excellent state of discipline, and that there was almost an absolute certainty of their defeating those of Mehemet Ali. He, therefore, begged to ask, whether it were true or not, that the Government had received accounts from our negotiators to the effect that everything would turn out to the advantage of the Turks, and to the discomfiture of the Egyptian army?—whether the accounts of the Turkish fleet having joined Mehemet Ali, and of the defeat of the Turks by the Egyptians, were correct?—whether, from the accounts received, his noble Friend were still of opinion, that every means had been used be" fore the breaking out of those hostilities to 423 prevent them?—whether endeavours were now being made to prevent—as men would who really wished to prevent—the continuance of those hostilities?—what hopes were entertained of upholding the power of the Sultan?—and, finally, whether the information received as to the relative state of the armies had been such as to make the sudden beginning and termination to the campaign which had taken place, a matter of disappointment to the Government?
§ Viscount Melbournesaid, it was impossible for him to deny that his expectations upon the subject had not been realized. As to the circumstances which had occasioned, or which of the parties had taken those measures which had led to hostilities, it was not for him to say; and, indeed, it appeared to him useless and unnecessary to inquire. The defeat alluded to by his noble and learned Friend, had undoubtedly taken place; but from accounts which the Government had received, the victory was not so complete as had been represented. It was also true, that the Turkish fleet had fled from Constantinople, and placed itself in the hands of the Pasha of Egypt. His noble and learned Friend had asked, what hopes were entertained of supporting and maintaining the power of the Sultan? His answer was, that the hopes they entertained of maintaining the power of the Sultan, and preserving the integrity of the Ottoman empire, which they considered a very great and valuable object, were mainly founded upon the complete co-operation and agreement of the five great Powers, and the determination of those Powers to act together, cordially and energetically, for that purpose. With respect to the conduct which had been pursued by those who represented her Majesty in that part of the globe, he begged leave to say, that there was no foundation whatever for any of those notions which had reached the ears of his noble and learned Friend. He begged also to state, that there had been on their part every, and the most sincere, exertion to prevent hostilities taking place; and that the Government had not received from them any representation as to the certainty or probability of a different result from that which had taken place.
§ The Duke of Wellingtonobserved, that he was not surprised at the questions of his noble and learned Friend, for he himself had read one report of the engage- 424 ment—the most beautiful report he had ever in the course of his life read of any engagement—the only fault to be found with which was, that there was not a single word of it true.
§ Subject dropped.