DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6551#0289
240 OPERATIONS CARRIED ON AT GIZEH.
of a strong and efficient government — without which,
neither private security, nor public prosperity, can long
exist. Unhappily, however, this peculiar advantage is in
many instances perverted to their ruin, and together with
their own idleness, dishonesty, and ignorance, has plunged
them into a state of misery, which Christianity and its
attendant blessings can alone effectually relieve. It may,
therefore,, be worth while to consider how far the Pacha
deserves the commendations so lavishly bestowed upon
him in this country, in consequence of the innovations,
and reforms he has attempted in his own ; and whether a
power, as extensive as that which was at any time pos-
sessed by the Romans in Egypt and in Syria, has been
exerted for the welfare of those countries, or for the grati-
fication of his own private ambition.
The schools and manufactories every where established,
indicate, as I have already mentioned, the Pacha's anxiety
to civilize the people ; and the condition of the army and
navy, however inferior they may be to European establish-
ments — his success in war — the whole tenour of his
memorable life — and, above all, the unexampled extent
of his authority, prove the resources and vigorous energy
of his mind, and also the rectitude of his intentions, when-
ever his own personal interests do not interfere. At the
same time it is to be observed, that notwithstanding these
merits, influenced probably by the prejudices of early life,
he appears to be desirous of carrying his improvements
into effect on the short-sighted principles of eastern des-
potism ; and to be unable to understand, that the perma-
nent interests of every government are essentially involved
in the prosperity of the people: that, for instance, the
most effectual manner of increasing his own revenue
of a strong and efficient government — without which,
neither private security, nor public prosperity, can long
exist. Unhappily, however, this peculiar advantage is in
many instances perverted to their ruin, and together with
their own idleness, dishonesty, and ignorance, has plunged
them into a state of misery, which Christianity and its
attendant blessings can alone effectually relieve. It may,
therefore,, be worth while to consider how far the Pacha
deserves the commendations so lavishly bestowed upon
him in this country, in consequence of the innovations,
and reforms he has attempted in his own ; and whether a
power, as extensive as that which was at any time pos-
sessed by the Romans in Egypt and in Syria, has been
exerted for the welfare of those countries, or for the grati-
fication of his own private ambition.
The schools and manufactories every where established,
indicate, as I have already mentioned, the Pacha's anxiety
to civilize the people ; and the condition of the army and
navy, however inferior they may be to European establish-
ments — his success in war — the whole tenour of his
memorable life — and, above all, the unexampled extent
of his authority, prove the resources and vigorous energy
of his mind, and also the rectitude of his intentions, when-
ever his own personal interests do not interfere. At the
same time it is to be observed, that notwithstanding these
merits, influenced probably by the prejudices of early life,
he appears to be desirous of carrying his improvements
into effect on the short-sighted principles of eastern des-
potism ; and to be unable to understand, that the perma-
nent interests of every government are essentially involved
in the prosperity of the people: that, for instance, the
most effectual manner of increasing his own revenue