Mr. Hale to Mr. Seward
Sir : I have the honor to report that on the 4th instant, his excellency Cherif Pacha, first minister of state, and charged with the administration of the government during the absence of his highness, called on me to express his felicitations at the recurrence of our national anniversary, and his best wishes for the continued prosperity of our country.
The news, now reported as certainly true, of the execution of Maximilian [Page 94] creates a profound impression here. Mr. Zogheb, who has acted as consul general of the so-called empire of Mexico since 1st November, 1865, continues, however, to display his flag.
The garrison of Alexandria now for more than a fortnight past has been exercised every morning by a parade through the principal streets of the city, infantry and artillery on alternate days, about five thousand men and twelve field-pieces. A small force of cavalry generally accompanies the column.
The remains of Ismaïl Pacha Faric, minister of war of the Egyptian government, and general-in-chief of the Egyptian troops on service in the island of Candia, were brought to Alexandria the 19th of June, and a public funeral was celebrated with great pomp. I believe that he died of disease in the island, but the most ridiculous reports were in circulation, to the effect that he had been beheaded by his half brother, a Candiote insurgent, and that the body was returned without a head. It is true that the late minister was a native of the island of Candia, and I believe it is also true that, by a singular coincident, after a long life abroad, he died in his native village.
The grand land caravan of pilgrims from Mecca made its formal entry into Cairo on the 6th instant; it numbered between three and four thousand persons. The health of the pilgrims has been excellent. The number of pilgrims returning by water to Suez has increased since my despatch No. 93, and is now-reported as 6,877 ; making the total enumeration of this year’s pilgrimage about 10,000.
On the 17th of June, the first symptom of the annual rise was observed in the waters of the Nile at Cairo. By the end of the month, a rise of about three inches had been attained; yesterday’s report shows a rise altogether of one pic and eight kerats, equal to about 31 inches. The rise begins earlier by several days than last year or the year before, and the water is now fully two feet higher than at the same date in either of those years.
By an arrangement beginning with the present month, the Syrian coast steamers of the French Messageries Imperiales, to and from Alexandria, now call at Port Said in their voyages in each direction, making a direct communication each way three times a month, in close connection with the steamers from Marseilles to Alexandria.
It is publicly announced here to-day that a new company has been formed in London, under the title of the “Anglo-Indian Telegraph Company Limited,” having for its object the laying of a telegraphic cable in the Red sea and Arabian gulf from Suez to Bombay, with possible future extension to China and Australia. I understand that this enterprise is in the hands of some of the parties who, under the name of the “Telegraph Construction and Maintenance Company,” laid the Atlantic cables, and that they have the resolution and the means to press forward the work to a success. The former Red Sea line was a failure, and the present land lines of telegraphic communication with India are worked in a very unsatisfactory manner.
Accounts have been received of the arrival at Venice of Pini Bey, a Venetian long resident in Egypt, and a favorite of the present Pacha. He was sent to Venice in a government steamer, and it is said that he is charged with the negotiation with the Italian government of arrangements for the establishment of a line of steamers between Venice and Alexandria; four of the largest steamers of the Azezieh company being promised, it is said, for this service. Pini Bey has been received in Italy with marked attentions.
Halim Pacha came from Cairo to Alexandriaon the 30th June, and proceeded the next day by the mail steamer to France. This amiable prince, actually a son of Mehmet Ali, until lately next but one in the line of succession to the vice-regal throne of Egypt, and living in the greatest state, has, by the change of succession, been so completely thrust into the position of a private person, that I am told he was required to pay his ticket on the government railway, [Page 95] travelling in an ordinary train. At Alexandria he lodged at a public hotel, and he took the mail steamer for Marseilles. Such are the vicissitudes of oriental grandeur; special express trains, palaces, government yachts, are only for the worshippers of the risen sun.
Daily accounts are received here of royal honors paid to his Highness the ruler of Egypt, in France and England, and it is now reported that the visit will be protracted beyond the term originally fixed.
I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.