"دليل الخليج. مجلد I. القسم التاريخي. الأجزاء Iأ و Iب. ج.ج. لوريمر ١٩١٥" [‎١‎٢‎٨‎١] (١٧٨٢/١٤٣٦)

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1281
or attempted reforms, in Turkey by which the reign of Salim Til
was distinguished. In fact, it may be said that, but for the financial
effects of Austrian, Russian and French wars, to which it wag required
to contribute, and but for incursions by the Wahhabis of Central Arabia,
against which the Porte were unable to afford it protection, the Baghdad
Pashaliq remained unaffected by movements external to itself.
But, though the native rulers and populations of Turkish 'Iraq lived
in comparative indifference to the progress of events in Europe, it was
otherwise with the representatives of the western powers there; and^
in order to explain the policies and relative positions of these agents at
various times, the following facts may be recalled. From the accession of
the new Sultan in 1789 until the treaty of Jassey in 1792, Turkey was
at war with Russia and at first with Austria also, while Britain and
Prussia were exerting their influence on her behalf, and France, which was
in a state of revolution, took no part in the strife. From 1798 to 1801
there was war between Turkey and France, due to the invasion of Egypt
by Bonaparte ; and Turkey, after the beginning of 1799, was in receipt
of active assistance from Britain and Russia. Finally, in 1806. the
relations of Turkey and France having in the meanwhile become friend
ly and even intimate, a rupture between Turkey and Russia took place,
and was followed by a breach between Turkey and Britain, in conse
quence of which the British Ambassador withdrew from Constantinople
at the beginning of 1807, and a demonstration against the city was made
by a British fleet under Admiral Duckworth. The most stirring days
at Baghdad were doubtless those of 1798-99, when it was seriously
expected that Bonaparte, either by the Euphrates or by some other route,
would advance from Egypt agaiust India.
The subject of the Wahhabi invasions of Turkish territory is dealt
with further on in the present chapter and, more fully, in the chapter
on the History of Najd ; and it is not necessary here to describe the
improvements in administration, both civil and military, to which Salim
III devoted much attention and which were one reason of his unpopularity
and dethronement; for their influence on affairs in Turkish ; Iraq was of
the slightest, if not altogether unfelt.
! i h'if
! ■
1 ' i:
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Internal affairs under Sulaiman Pasha's later rule, 1789-1802.
Mention has already been made of Alimad, originally a domestic Assasgination
servant of Sulaiman Pasha, whom in 1785 he appointed to be his Kehiyah
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