ALI BEY, the name of an eastern adventurer, who at tracted for some time considerable attention in Europe, being considered as the founder of a new dynasty in Egypt. In a short time, however, all his projects were overturned, and lie is now only to be classed with those rebellious chiefs, who, possessed of more courage than capacity, have often succeeded in usurping a power which their mismanagement soon dissolves. Ali, like the rest of the Mamelucs, was originally a slave. He was born, as is generally supposed, among the Abazans, a people inhabiting Mount Caucasus, and who, next to the Circassians, are held in greatest estimation by the Turks as slaves. All was sold at Cairo to two Jews, em ployed in the custom-house, and by them given in a pre sent to Ibrahim, a colonel of the Janizaries. Ibrahim was the leading roan in Egypt, and had extended his in fluence chiefly by procuring his domestics to be advanced to situations of trust and importance. At that time no fewer than eight of the twenty-four Bcys, amongst whom the government is divided, were of his household. Find ing Ali every way adapted to his purpose, both from the qualifications of his mind and of his body, he prepared to extend his influence, by adding one more to the number of his dependents. Accordingly, at the age of 18, All received his freedom, was advanced to be governor of a district, and at last, through the interest of his patron, was elected one of the twenty-four Beys. On the death of Ibrahim, which happened in 1757, Ali gave full scope to his ambition, and began to plot the destruction of those Beys whose power he chiefly dreaded. His first intrigues proved unsuccessful, and he was obliged to retire into Upper Egypt. After an exile of two years, he returned suddenly to Cairo, and in one night killed four Beys who were his enemies, and banished four others who were obnoxious to him. Not satisfied with the decided pre-eminence which he had now obtained, he openly aspired to the sovereignty of Egypt. Ac
cordingly, he banished the Turkish paeha, and set the authority of the Porte at defiance. He began now to form very extensive projects. He fitted out vessels on the Red Sea, seized on the port of Djedda, and plunder ed the city of Mecca. Intoxicated with his success, he meditated the conquest of all Syria. He, therefore, joined his forces with Daher, who was in open rebellion against the Porte ; and his troops, in conjunction with those of his new ally, laid siege to Damascus : the city was taken without opposition ; but the castle, which still resisted, was saved by the treachery of Mohammed , Ali's commander, who suddenly retreated u its all hi, forces. From this moment there was open war between Ali and Mohammed, and the tide of popularity now turn ed in favour of the latter. Alter many rencounters, at tended with various success, All was at last taken pris oner by Morerad Bey, and by him carried to :Mohammed. It is not certain whether he died of the wounds he had received in the engagement, or was poisoned by orders of his enemy.
Ali Bcy displayed considerable talents and great in trepidity ; and had he possessed a little more caution, or a little more address, be might probably have succeeded in his scheme of erecting Egypt into an independent sovereignty : but he was impetuous, rash, and unsus picious ; and was ruined by the mistaken confidem e which lie placed in his faithless adherents. During his administration Egypt enjoyed more security than it is likely to do for a long time to conic. He declared war against all plunderers and robbers, and wished to afford every 6ceurity to the persons and properties of his sub jects. We ought, therefore, perhaps to regret, that Ali did not succeed in his attempt, and that his eulogium can only be that of the unfortunate Phaeton : Si non tenuit, magnis tamen excidit ausis.
Some account of Ali Bcy may be found in Savary's Volncy's and Sonnini's Travels in Egypt. CO