The navy of Egypt in 1826 according to a Dutch handbook for seamen

In a Dutch handbook for seamen is a small note published dealing with the Egyptian navy in 1826. The value of the note is the dating, namely 1826. I have translated the original Dutch written text into English.

When the Grecian war for independence begun, didn’t exist an Egyptian navy. The Mediterranean ports, especially Marseille, Genoa and Livorno delivered ships to the Pacha. Within short time making him able to make considerable sea expeditions. However, Alexandria and other Egyptian seaports didn’t posses arsenals or shipyards. If necessary, were some repairs at Alexandria possible, while timber, especially for ships, was hardly available. Stores imported from France and England, destined to refit the fleet, could be find back in extreme disorder on several places on the banks of the port of Alexandria. In August were most of the Egyptian ships at Alexandria, which recently returned from Morea. The ships which available for service were two frigates, built for 36, but armed with 60 guns, 9 corvettes of 20-24 guns, 25 brigs of 16 and 18 guns and 10 armed transports. The two large frigates were built in the Turkish arsenal at Rhodes. The best ships were the recently at Marseille built corvettes. From the same place were also two large frigates expected to arrive. There were two British steamboats, bought by the Pacha for a lot of money, but both useless, The steamboat on stocks at Cairo and destined for service on the Nile, was likely useless. The ships were manned with Arabs, coming from the banks of the Nile and the sea shores. They were trained by former officers of the French navy, but now in service of the Pacha. Daily were drills on the ships and with some practice the Arabs would become good sailors. The commanding officers were Turkish. The admiral Ismael Gibraltar which recently died, was a wise and skilful man, honoured by the Pacha. The Pacha wanted to improve his navy considerable and to found a yard at Alexandria. For this purpose he made in the inner part of the harbour a long quay or moelje. Sometimes he used armed vessels on the Nile and at the moment he maintained some at Suez and Cossier (Red Sea).

Source

J.F.L. Schröder. Berigten en verhandelingen over eenige onderwerpen der zeevaart. Vol 6, 1st part, The Hague, 1828, p. 38-39.