ously employed all her influence to bring
about an accommodation; but in vain.

The Divan refusing the demands of Mehemet Ali, the solution of the
question was referred to Field-Marshal Hussein, who proceeded with that
calculated exertion which the Ottomans take for dignity; and thus three
weeks were lost before the army advanced on Mount Taurus. It was only on
the 1st of June that Mehemet Pasha arrived with the vanguard and Beker's
brigade at Adana. A reconnaissance, pushed forward as far as Tarsons,
brought back the news of the fall of Saint Jean d'Acre. It became,
therefore, an imperative necessity to occupy the passes of Syria, and to
march upon Antioch, in order to cover Beylau. A Tartar was despatched to
Hussein, who posted off in great haste to Adana, only to halt there for
a fortnight. At last the movement was effected, and the army reached
Antioch, where the cholera broke out in its ranks, and where eight days
were lost. Instead of profiting by Ibrahim's delay to take up a more
advanced position, the latter descended into the valley of the Orontes,
and entered Damascus on the 15th of June, after a short engagement with
the Turkish irregulars.

But all Ibrahim's operations were marked by a want of rapidity. After
securing Antioch, the Turkish army should have marched upon Horns,
which offered an excellent position, where they might have established
a communication with the Druses, upon whom some hopes were founded, and
whence they would have commanded the road to Damascus. But it was not
till the 6th of July that Hussein would execute this movement. Mehemet
Pasha commenced his march; but in their haste they forgot to issue
rations to the troops, who reached Horns at ten in the morning, almost
dead with hunger and fatigue. The Seraskier of Aleppo was encamped, with
his irregular troops, at the gates of the city; but without deigning
even to think of the enemy, whom they thought to be at some distance, or
to issue rations to the serving troops, they wasted their time in vain
ceremonies.

The young Mehemet Pasha was carried, under a salute of artillery, into
a magnificent tent pitched upon the bank of the river. There the
two viziers made a long interchange of compliments, and smoked the
hargueleh.

Midst of all this mummery, intelligence was brought in that the Egyptian
army was within two hours' march of them. The disorder that ensued was
dreadful. The hungry soldiers dragged themselves in masses to meet the