"Of the modern sights of Alexandria, the Naval Arsenal is the most worthy of notice, not alone on account of the magnificent scale of the establishment, but, from the degree of perfection to which, in the short time it has been in existence, its different departments have been brought. Some long ranges of handsome stone buildings, standing at a convenient distance from the docks, contain the storehouses and workshops for the various departments. On the ground floor are those of the blacksmiths, carpenters, shipwrights, coopers, pump and blockmakers &, and also the store-rooms for heavy articles, such as iron and timber. Above, are warehouses for lighter stores-canvass, bunting, clothing, mathematical and nautical instruments, and other articles of equipment; as also workshops for sail-makers, tailors etc., schoolrooms, offices and printing-expresses. A rope walk occupies the entire length of one of these buildings, and is one thousand feet long".
"In the storehouses, I noticed some brass swivel guns, of about a pound calibre: a few were English, but the greater part were of native workmanship. They were all fitted with percussion-locks."
“The number of men employed in the Arsenal amounts to three thousand. I was rather startled on receiving this information; but on counting upwards of fifty men at work in the pump-room, and seventy tailors plying the needle in another apartment, I became convinced of its correctness. The workmen, with very few exceptions, are natives of the country, and their work considering the age at which they commenced learning their respective trades, and the short time they have been employed at them, is surprisingly good. The foreman are mostly foreigners-Frenchmen, Italians, and Maltese. The director is the establishment and naval architect (Ceris Bey) is a native of France; note he was later fired. The pay of a foreman is about two shillings and three pence per diem: that of a workman varies according to the degree of proficiency which he has attained-from one penny farthing to seven pence". "The Dock-yard contains four permanent slips for building vessels of the largest class, their dimensions being one hundred and ninety five feet by thirty-three. The slips are of stone, each on a series of arches forming an inclined plane, upon which the keel of the ship rests. Several vessels have already been launched from them, and three line-of-battle ships and a large transport were in a state of forwardness when I left Alexandria. A yacht for the Viceroy's own use was building on a temporary slip, which also was nearly completed. The build of the Egyptian ships is by no means so strong as those in our service, and the timber of which they are constructed (now brought principally from the newly acquired province of Adana) is not sufficiently seasoned. They are, however, fine models of vessels, and most of the latest improvements in naval architecture have been adopted in their construction-such as round sterns, diagonal planking for the decks, 'made masts", that is, composed of various pieces, etc. etc. The Egyptian navy 'afloat' consists of eighty line-of-battle ships of from ninety to one hundred and thirty-six guns, seven large frigates (two double banked) of from fifty to sixty guns, six corvettes, eight brigs, and several cutters, schooners, fire-ships, gun-boats, and transports. They are mostly named after the principal towns of Egypt such as Mesr, (Cairo) Mehalet Kebeer, Mansourah &c."
"The first time I visited one of the Egyptian ships of war was under every disadvantage, having on my way gone on board his majesty's sloop Champion, a pattern of order, cleanliness, and regularity, even in our service. I was, nevertheless, struck in planting my foot on the deck of the "Mesr" to find those qualities (the first to attract a landman's attention) possessed to a very considerable degree. A sailors's practised eye would probably have detected numerous faults in the setting up of rigging, in the eternal economy of the vessel, and so forth, which to me were not apparent; but, in every thing, my expectations were far surpassed. The vessel, a noble three-decker, mounting one hundred and thirty-six guns, was at that time commanded by a Frenchman, whose good taste in fitting up his ship I could not but admire. There was no attempt at finery, (so deplaced in the naval service; on the contrary, every thing was studiously plain. There was, at the same time, however, a want of that finish which is so observable in English vessels, (and I think may say in English vessels only), although all that met the eye was solid and good. The guns were in excellent order, and all fitted with sights: the decks clean and clear, and devoid of any close disagreeable smell. The arrangement of the powder-magazine deserved but little praise, and the sizes of the hospital ward certainly did not contemplate the care of a long list of wounded".
"My astonishment was great on being informed that smoking was forbidden on board the Egyptian ships: not a pipe was to be seen. [note: I found afterwards, however, that in many of the Egyptian ships this prohibition was not strictly enforced whilst in port]".
"The Mehalet Kebeer is, perhaps the best regulated ship in the Egyptian Navy. It is a fine round-sterned two-decker, carrying one hundred guns, all thirty-two pounders, of which thirty on the upper deck are carronades. The crew consisted of one thousand one hundred men. The complement of men to the Egyptian ships is ten to a gun [note: That is, to the actual number of guns, not to the broadsides], but the actual number usually exceeds that average. The officers are far too few in proportion to the men. The Mehalet Keber, for instance, had only a first and second captain, seven lieutenants, and ten or twelve midshipmen; the petty officers were tolerable numerous". "The ships are not, generally speaking, handsome, being very large and unwieldy, particularly for young voyagers to manage; indeed, the Mesr is so large, that there is not a sufficient depth of water in the channel to allow her going to sea with guns and stores on board; she therefore remains in port, as a kind of guard-ship. There are considered dull sailers, which may probably arise from the coppering on their bottoms being constantly out of repair- a fault occasioned by the sheets not being sufficiently stick when first put on".
Sources
C. Rochfort Scott. Rambles in Egypt and Candia, with details of the military power and resources of those countries, and observations on the government, policy, and commercial system of Mohammed Ali, vol 1, London 1837, p. 30-43.
