was well located in the most eligible part of the city, overlooking the large public place called the Esbekieh. It was somewhat dilapidated, and its apartments were badly arranged, but the missionaries repaired and improved it from year to year until it became well adapted to their purpose and afforded ample room for their schools and chapel, and commodious apartments for two families.

The presentation of this property is mentioned in Mr. Thayer's dispatch No. 12, of November 26, 1861, and is again referred to in his dispatch No. 17, of March 13, 1862. In the latter dispatch Mr. Thayer states that the property was granted to the missionaries in fee-simple, and estimates its value at not far from $50,000.

He was mistaken as to the nature of the grant, and his valuation was undoubtedly too high at that time; the valuation of $25,000, as given in his dispatch No. 12, was nearer correct.

The property was given to the missionaries, to be kept by them so long as they continued to use it for their schools and the legitimate purposes of their missionary labors, and no longer; they could not sell it nor dispose of it in any manner, and of course they possessed no hodget or deed for it. They held in their hands a paper signed by the governor of Cairo, specifying the nature of the grant and describing the property.

When the city was surveyed and remapped for the purpose of locating the broad boulevards which were to intersect it, it was discovered that this missionary building occupied a very important and valuable site, and steps were at once taken to obtain possession of it for the purpose of pulling it down and erecting a more ornamental and profitable structure. The missionaries were notified unofficially to vacate the premises. The government was reminded of the terms of contract given by Saïd Pasha, and negotiations were commenced, which lasted from that time (1869) until last June.

When I arrived here, a year ago, I found the feeling on both sides was not calculated to lead to a satisfactory settlement of the case, the missionaries feeling that an attempt was being made to dispossess them of a valuable property in an arbitrary manner, and without sufficient remuneration, and the government feeling that the missionaries were preventing a much-needed improvement and endeavoring to speculate on its generosity. Negotiations had been carried on through irresponsible agents, who had only embarrassed matters by misrepresenting both parties.

The missionaries demanded, as a condition of their giving up the building in question, that another building of equal size and suitable for their purposes should be provided for them, or that sufficient money should be given them to erect a new building of equal size to the one they then occupied.

The government finally answered that it had no other building to give them, but that it would give them a certain piece of ground in the new part of the city, on the north side of the Esbekieh, and 3,000 pounds sterling to build with. The piece of ground designated contained a few meters more than their old property, and its location was satisfactory, but the missionaries claimed that £3,000 would not more than lay the foundations of a new building. (In the new part of the city the surface of the ground has been raised from 6 to 10 feet with débris from the old city, and foundations of large buildings are commenced from 15 to 20 feet below the surface.) They would not fix upon any amount, but waited for further overtures from the government.

The negotiations reached this stage many months before my arrival,

and I found His Highness the Khedive feeling provoked and angry on the subject, and inclined to resort to extreme measures to obtain possession of the property.

Of course I did not interfere in the matter, except to let it be known that so far as the missionaries were possessed of rights, they would receive the protection of their Government, and I endeavored to bring about a better understanding between them and the Khedive, in which I succeeded.

It is unnecessary to recount the different steps of the negotiations in this case, except to say that the missionaries finally fixed upon 10,000 pounds sterling and the piece of land already specified as the only terms on which they would give up their property; that the Khedive was indignant, and offered the land and £1,000, and finally £5,000; that the missionaries absolutely refused to accept less than £10,000 and the land; that at this stage of the negotiations I was asked by both parties to be their intermediary, and that finally the matter was compromised by the missionaries accepting the piece of ground and £7,000. The lot was given to them in fee-simple, without conditions, and is one of the most valuable and well-located pieces of property in the city.

The mission will proceed early next year to erect a handsome and substantial building on this property, which will be an honor to the mission as well as a monument to the liberality and toleration of His Highness the Khedive.

In justice to the American missionaries, and in view of the work they have done in Egypt, it must be said that they well deserve this stroke of fortune. They have been the pioneers of education in this land of ignorance and superstition, and three fourths of the employés in the telegraph, railroad, and post offices of the Egyptian government have been educated in their schools. They have labored on quietly and nuostentatiously for many years, and the fruits of their labor have been long seen and recognized by every intelligent individual in Egypt.

I have the honor to inclose herewith a map of Cairo, showing the situation of the property which they have lately acquired, as well as that which they gave in exchange. This map also shows most of the new boulevards which are being cut through the old city, as well as the plan of the new city, or Ismaïlieh, which comprises all that portion of the map between the canal Ismaïlieh, the Nile, Rue Abdin, and Kasr-El-any. and which is now mostly covered with private residences and gardens. I am, &c., R. BEARDSLEY.

No. 788.

No. 145.]

Mr. Beardsley to Mr. Fish.

AGENCY AND CONSULATE GENERAL

OF THE UNITED STATES IN EGYPT,

Cairo, October 24, 1873. (Received November 26.)

SIR: I have the honor to inclose herewith an official statement of the annual budget of the Egyptian government for the Coptic year 1590, the beginning of which corresponds to the 11th of September, 1873, and a statement of the floating debt of Egypt.

As the estimate of receipts and expenses is somewhat long and complicated, and as the amounts are stated in "purses," I make a summary

statement of the budget, reducing the purses into dollars, at the rate of $25 to the purse, as follows:

Income of government property at Cairo, Alexandria, Suez, Port Saïd, &c.

Net revenue of salt monopoly.

Net revenue of canal Mahmondieh.......

Net revenue of fishery concession of the Matariah.

Net revenue of post-office..

Tolls levied at the Barrage

Fishery concessions, &c....

Tolls levied on boats passing new bridge at Cairo
Special tax on tobacco..

Net revenue of the Soudan..

Interest on Suez Canal shares

Various commissions, Boulak museum, employés of canals, mint, &c

Provincial administration...

Governments of Cairo, Alexandria, Damietta, Rosetta, Suez, Port Saïd,

Ismaïlia, and El Arish

Custom-houses

Pensions, allowances, &c..

Pilgrimage to Mecca

Public works undertaken

Payments and interest due on the public debt..

Price of materials, grounds, and buildings for railways and telegraphs, to

be built in the Soudan.

Reserve fund.....

Refunding of interest on Suez Canal shares..

Excess of receipts over expenses

27, 132

505, 791 1,008,519

2, 111, 902 174,702 803, 076 390, 762 2,500,000 20, 738, 022

2,580, 291 1,250,000 851, 553

44, 078, 175 5,481, 677

49,559, 852

This estimate shows a surplus for the Coptic year 1590, ending September 10, 1874, of over $5,000,000.

If from the total amount of receipts we deduct the amounts derived from customs, from the Soudan, and from interest on Suez Canal shares,

there remain $46,235,998 as the amount of internal taxes paid by the people of Egypt, being an average of over nine dollars per head. At the same rate per head the United States would pay about $360,000,000 of internal taxes.

Within the last few days, however, since the inclosed estimate was made, many additional taxes have been imposed. Every beef is taxed $5 when slaughtered; every sheep, calf, or other small animal, $1; and all the local taxes usually collected at the city gates have been increased. The receipts, therefore, for the coming year will probably exceed in amount the estimate of the budget.

The virtual failure of the Egyptian loan of July last, together with the embarrassments caused by the financial crisis, which has been seriously felt in Egypt, appears to have awakened His Highness the Khedive to a realization of the critical condition of the Egyptian finances. There are visible signs of retrenchment in the public expenditures, and the rapid increase in price of every article of daily consumption is an eloquent proof of additional taxation and of the efficiency of the revenue officers.

The financial panic, although at one time alarming at Alexandria, has now virtually passed, and the substantial business houses of Egypt have been in no way affected.

Many small speculators who had been operating largely in Egyptian and other securities, supported by short loans from the money-market, were unable to meet their engagements and suspended, but no serious disasters occurred, and trade is beginning to resume its customary ammated features.

I am, &c.,

No. 789.

R. BEARDSLEY.

No. 150.]

Mr. Beardsley to Mr. Fish.

AGENCY AND CONSULATE-GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES IN EGYPT, Cairo, November 10, 1873. (Received December 9.) SIR: I have the honor to inclose herewith an official copy, with a translation in English, of the imperial firman granted to His Highness the Khedive by His Majesty the Sultan, on the 9th of June, 1873.

This document has just been officially issued by the Egyptian government for distribution to the foreign powers. Its principal features, some of which render it of more interest and importance than any former firman issued to the viceroys of Egypt, are, 1st, it confirms the change in the order of succession, fixes the rules which shall govern the succession. and confirms all the privileges granted by former firmans; 2d, it provides for a regency in case of the minority of the new Khedive, and estab lishes the manner of electing the regent in case no regent has been ap pointed by a will of the late Khedive; 3d, it invests the Khedive with full and unlimited authority to make all internal laws and regulations necessary for the government of the country; 4th, it authorizes him to contract loans without the consent of the Sultan, and to enter into commercial and other treaties with the agents of foreign powers not preju dicial to the political treaties of the Sublime Porte; 5th, it empowers him to increase his army and navy to any extent, forbidding him only

to construct armored ships; 6th, it confirms the Khedive's right to bestow the military grades as high as colonel, and civil grades as high as bey; and, 7th, it fixes the annual tribute to be paid to the Porte at 150,000 purses, which is equivalent to about $3,750,000.

These are the principal features of this important document, which confers upon the Khedive all the most important prerogatives of sovereignty. Although complete independence would add to his political importance, it is a question whether the Khedive would be materially benefited by its possession. He now enjoys all the material advantages of a sovereign, and escapes many of its responsibilities. It would be most fortunate for Egypt if His Highness would abandon his dreams of political independence and devote himself to the development of the country's commercial and industrial resources. Without the embarrassment of foreign complications, and with the responsibility of the public defense shared with the Porte, he might reduce his army to the smallest force consistent with internal security, and thus, while relieving the country of a heavy monetary burden, enjoy all the substantial advantages and escape the gravest responsibilities of sovereignty.

I am, &c.,

R. BEARDSLEY.

[Inclosure.-Translation.]

Imperial firman issued to the Khedire of Egypt.

JUNE 9, 1873.

Imperial firman of the 13th Rabi Akher 1290. After the usual form, the firman thus continues: As thou art aware, we have taken into consideration thy demand, relative to the emanation of an imperial edict, uniting in detail, and with the modifications which have been deemed necessary, all the hatts and firmans since granted to the firman, according the right of succession to the late Mehemet Ali Pasha, being intended either to modify the form of succession, or accord fresh rights and privileges in harmony with the position of the khedivat, and the character of its people.

The present firman will in future replace all former imperial firmans; and its orders, hereafter expressed, will forever remain valid and executory.

The order of succession to the khedivat of Egypt, accorded by the firman given in our imperial hand, and dated the 2d Rabiul-Akher 1257, has been so modified that the khedivat of Egypt passes to the eldest son of the person who shall find himself clothed with the dignity of Khedive; from him to his eldest son, and so on; that is to say, the succession is established exclusively by order of primogeniture, as we are persuaded that this will be conformable to the interests and good administration of the khedivat, and the welfare of its people.

On the other hand, taking into consideration the extent and importance of Egypt; appreciating thy care and efforts to promote her prosperity and the improvement of her population; the fidelity and devotion of which thou hast given me proof, I have admitted thee to all my confidence and favored thee with my good graces; to give thee signal evidence of which I have established as right of succession to the khedivat that the Egyptian government, its dependencies, together with the Caïmakamats of Souakum, Massaoua, and their dependencies, shall pass, as above stated, to thy eldest son, and after him, in accordance with the rules of primogeniture, to the eldest son of whosoever may be Khedive.

In case of the Khedive dying without male issue, the khedivat will pass to his younger brother; and should he not survive, to his eldest son. This definitively-established rule does not apply to male children by the female line.

In order to assure the maintenance of and the carrying out of this mode of succession, the regency that will govern Egypt in case of minority is thus established:

At the death of the Khedive, should his eldest son still be a minor, (that is to say, under the age of eighteen years,) as he will still be Khedive, though minor, by his right to the succession, his firman will be immediately granted.

Should the deceased Khedive have previously appointed a regency, in a will signed and witnessed by two high functionaries, with a view to the proper administration of