Office of the Historian

Mr. Hale to Mr. Seward.

No. 59.]
Agency and Consulate General of the United States of America, Alexandria, Egypt, June 25, 1866.

Sir: On Wednesday last, 20th instant, his Highness the Pacha returned to Alexandria from Constantinople, and for three nights the palaces, public offices, consulates, and the houses of the principal inhabitants were illuminated in his honor. On Thursday the consuls general visited him at his palace of Ras-el Tin, and again on Saturday morning, by his invitation, to hear publicly read the firmans of the Sublime Porte according the succession in Egypt to his family, and settling the regency in case of his demise before his own attained majority. Finally there was a diplomatic dinner at the same palace on Saturday evening, at which his Highness himself presided, and proposed the first toast to the foreigners and chiefs of government in friendly relations with him. The next day, his Highness, who has been much pressed with questions of business since his return, went to Cairo, whither he has to-day summoned his principal ministers.

The financial panic in England produced distress here, but since his return the Pacha has made promises which it is hoped will result in substantial relief.

I enclose a copy of the reply made by his Highness to the address made by Mr. Testa in behalf of the consular body.

I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

CHARLES HALE.

Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.

[Translation.]

I thank the diplomatic body for the felicitations which it addressed me.

Since my accession, the constant object of my efforts has been the progress of Egypt, its prosperity, and the stability of its happiness for the future. The principle sanctioned by my sovereign, and to which the friendly powers and allies of the Sublime Porte have had the goodness to give their assent, satisfies this honest ambition and consolidates the work of my grandfather, Mehemet Ali.