"of the Beys were affaffinated, contrary to "all juftice: fome of you were present, and "bear about with you the marks of that "maffacre. The marble, we tread on, is "red with the blood of four of your colleagues. To-day I am to die, and to

morrow the man who shall supply my place. The hour is come for us to shake "off this tyrant's yoke; who, violating our

"felves with Ruffia, and free the republic "from the dominion of a barbarous master. "Grant me your aid, and I will be refpon"fible for the liberty of Egypt."

This fpeech produced every effect Ali could expect fixteen Beys, who were of his party, unanimously declared for making war on the Grand Seignor; and the remainder, unable to oppose, promised every affistance in their power. The Pacha was immediately ordered to quit Egypt in four and twenty hours, and Ali fent to Sheik Daher to inform him of what had paffed; promifing to unite his troops to thofe of the Sheik, for the conqueft of Syria.

As foon as the Porte heard of the rebellion of the Beys, and the ftorm that threatened Syria, the Pacha of Damafcus was ordered to attack Sheik Daher, before the latter had been joined by the forces of Egypt; who accordingly marched, with twenty thousand men hastily affembled, to furprize St. John d'Acre. The Sheik had all his life been accustomed to war with the Turks, and was not alarmed at their approach: he mounted his horfe, called his feven fons, who all commanded fortified caftles, and immediately marched at the head of nine thoufand cavalry. While one of his fons harraffed the enemy with a body of light horse, Sheik Daher took poft near the lake of Tiberias. Informed of all their motions, when he knew the Turks would foon arrive, he separated his troops into three divifions; the two first were ordered to hide themselves among the mountains, till the fignal fhould be given; he himself retired to fome distance, deserting his camp on the plain, full of provisions. When night approached, the Pacha, imagining he should furprize the Arabs, advanced, filently, concealed by darknefs, and the few

troops,

troops, left in the camp, haftily fled, after a light fkirmish, on his arrival. Their flight was attributed to their fears, and the foldiers, heated by a forced march, regarded the abandoned provifions as lawful conquest, and eagerly drank the wine. At break of day, the fignal was given, and the three bodies of cavalry fuddenly attacked the camp, fword in hand, where, finding none but drunken men, their only trouble was to flaughter them. Eight thousand were flain, a great number made prisoners, and the flying Pacha, who took refuge in Damafcus, loft his tents, arms, and baggage. A courier was dispatched to Grand Cairo, with the news of his overthrow, by Sheik Daher, who returned into his principality.

His ally thus in fafety, Ali turned his arms elsewhere. Traverfing Yemen, and the eastern coast of the Red Sea, he had perceived how many advantages might be gained by commerce, and the productions of those countries, could he subdue them; he therefore raised two armies, both of cavalry, the first containing twenty-fix, and the other nine thousand men. The command of the great army was given to his brother-in-law,

and of the fecond to Ifmael Bey, who was to attack the maritime towns, and fea ports, while Abou Dahab entered Arabia Felix, and the interior provinces. The plan they were to follow was delivered to the generals, and he equipped a fleet, to coaft along the Red Sea, and bring them provifions. Like an able warrior, he had calculated what the obftacles were they had to furmount, and fuccefs depended on the fidelity with which his orders should be executed. The troops left Grand Cairo in 1770; and, while they marched to conquer Arabia, the Sheik El Balad remained in the capital, where he employed himself in the interior government of the kingdom, and the people's happiness.

The custom duties, in Egypt, had long been in the hands of Jews, who committed flagrant depredations, and impofed on foreign merchants with impunity. Ali, therefore, intrufted them to the adminiftration of the Chriftians of Syria, exprefsly recommending them to favour the Europeans: well convinced how flourishing Egypt might become by commerce, his project was to lay the trade open to the whole world, and render this country the emporium of the merchants

of

To effect

of Europe, India, and Africa. this, it was neceffary to defend caravans by his forces, and merchants by the laws; which he did by repelling the wandering Arabs on all fides, and establishing Selim Aga, and Soliman Kiaya, of the Janiffaries, at Grand Cairo, to protect the merchants, and fee they had justice done them. In like manner, he commanded his generals to leave officers in the sea ports they took; who should welcome the fhips of India, and guard them against the cupidity of the inhabitants. He foon enjoyed the wisdom of his administration, foon had the happiness to fee the Egyptians relieved, foreigners well treated, public fafety established, agriculture encouraged, and the republic raised to a point of fplendor which it had never known.

While occupied by these cares, his generals triumphed in Arabia. Abou Dahab, in one campaign, conquered Yemen, and dethroned the Schereif of Mecca, inftituting Emir Abdallah in his place; who, to ingratiate himfelf with Ali, gave him the pompous title of Sultan of Egypt and the two feas. Ifmael, on his part, took all the towns on the eastern coast of the Arabian gulph. They returned