t a
ford, Hussein Pasha having blown up the superb bridge of nine arches
that crossed that river at Missis.

The Ottoman troops continued their retreat across the plain of Adana,
but they had scarcely reached that city before they were dislodged by
the enemy, who were on the point of capturing the field-marshal. The
whole district of Adana declared for Ibrahim, who had at length
reached the new line of frontiers which Mehemet Ali wished to make the
boundaries of his empire. There was now nothing to prevent the march of
the Egyptians upon Constantinople itself, for the demoralised soldiers
of Hussein Pasha deserved not the name of an army. The Kurds and the
Anatolian peasantry murdered the Turkish regulars wherever they could
find them, which was not difficult, for, deserted by platoons, the
provinces of Upper Asia were in such a state of insurrection that a
single officer of Ibrahim's would have been sufficient to make the most
considerable town capitulate.

The Viceroy, at one moment, had the insane idea of himself attacking the
Turkish capital by sea, while Ibrahim should threaten it from Scutari.
But his prudence doubtless prevented the execution of the enterprise,
for however popular the cause of Mehemet Ali may have been, he would
have appeared in Constantinople only as a subject, and certainly could
not have prevented the intervention of Russia. And lastly, had he
succeeded in these projects of unbounded ambition, what would have been
the result? Instead of a compact state bounded by Mount Taurus, he would
have found himself embarrassed with a great empire, tottering to its
base, which no human power can regenerate.

Mehemet Ali listened, therefore, to the sagacious counsel of France,
and endeavoured to obtain the recognition of his independence. But the
Porte, listening to the perfidious suggestions, and governed by the
blind obstinacy that led to the battle of Navarino and the victories
of the Russians, would make no terms, and reduced Ibrahim, after an
armistice of five months, to conquer her again. Hussein Pasha was
succeeded by the Grand Vizier, Redchid Pasha, the same who had
distinguished himself in Greece, and quelled the revolt of Scodro
Pasha. Brave and accustomed to the camp, a sound politician, Redchid was
superior to his predecessor, but even he was only a Turkish general.
He had been selected principally on account of his great influence
in Turkey in Europe. He therefore received orders to repair