Mr. Morris to Mr. Seward.
Sir: The present pacha of Egypt and his two immediate predecessors have, at various times, endeavored to procure from the Sultan a change in that article [Page 243] of the imperial firman of 1841 establishing the family of Mehemet Ali on the throne of Egypt, by which the right of succession is restricted to the oldest male descendant, to the exclusion of the lineal heir of the reigning pacha. These efforts, heretofore fruitless, have at last been crowned with success, owing to the pecuniary necessities of the Porte, and a similar question in the imperial family.
The Sultan has abrogated this article of the firman, and has determined that hereafter the succession to the pachalik of Egypt shall descend in direct line from the reigning viceroy to his eldest son. In consideration of this concession, Ismael Pacha obliged himself to increase the animal tribute of Egypt to the Porte ($1,333,000) 250,000 Turkish livres. It having been suggested that it would be more agreeable to the Sultan, if, instead of this annual increase, the sum of 5,000,000 Turkish livres should be paid over to the Porte, the proposal was accepted. A loan of this amount, about twenty-two million of dollars, by authority of the pacha, was negotiated through Nubar Pacha, his minister of foreign affairs, at Paris, and the above sum, as soon as realized, will be paid into the imperial treasury. This relief will enable the Turkish government to pay the next semi-annual interest on its debt, of which heretofore there had been great doubt, and also to sustain the extraordinary expenses to which it is subjected by the military operations in progress
It is understood that the representatives of the protecting powers have unofficially signified that their governments would not interpose any objections to the proposed change. The reason assigned for their assent is, that under the old system the viceroys devoted their energies exclusively to the acquisition of wealth, to the great detriment of Egypt, for the purpose of enriching their immediate descendants. As a necessary consequence, every succeeding pacha, on his entrance to office, found the treasury exhausted, while the children of his predecessor were revelling in wealth, the spoils of a plundered and oppressed people. By the change adopted it is believed that a better government will be secured to the country, as the pacha will naturally have a stronger interest in preserving and improving an estate which is to pass to his own lineal descendants, than if it were to continue to be transmitted to collateral heirs.
It is generally understood that a similar change in the order of succession to the imperial throne is soon to be made. For this purpose the heads of all the rival parties have been called to power, in order to conciliate them into acquiescence with this radical innovation on the immemorial usages and laws of the empire. As the eldest son of the Sultan is only about eight years of age, it is under consideration to appoint Fuad Pacha grand vizier, and the new Captain Pacha, Mehemet Ali, brother-in-law of the Sultan, for life to their respective offices, that they may act as regents during the minority of the Sultan’s son, should his father die before he attains his majority.
There is no doubt but that lineal succession in the imperial family will be preferable to the present system—a system which has frequently been the cause of civil war, fratricide, and the most infamous crimes. When the throne descends from father to son the imperial heir will be carefully educated and trained for the duties of the high office he is to occupy; whereas, under the existing system, not only is the education of the heir apparent neglected, but he is purposely kept in a state of ignorance, and every effort is made to brutalize him morally and mentally. Until he ascends to the throne his life is rendered miserable by the jealous aversion manifested against him, and he is constantly in fear of losing his life through poisoning or assassination, that the son of the Sultan may supersede him in the succession. Were there any public opinion in Turkey this change of a canonical as well as civil law could not take place; since the destruction of the janissaries and the daring reform of Mahmoud the Second, it [Page 244] may be said that public opinion has ceased to exist in Turkey, and such a measure, subversive as it is of a law derived from the Koran itself, may be carried into execution with little or no opposition.
I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.