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November 1831 the armies of Mehemet Ali, the Pasha of Egypt, invaded Syria; the Turks were defeated at the decisive battle of Konieh on 21st December, 1832, and Constantinople would have been attacked but for the assistance rendered to the Porte by Russia. By the Convention of Kutayeh, signed on 14th May, 1833, it was agreed that Mehemet Ali should receive the Governorship of Egypt, Candia, and Syria, and his son Ibrahim the collectorship of Adana. On 8th July following, the Porte concluded, at Unkiar-Skelessi, the alliance with Bussia which gave so much offence to some of the other Powers.

In 1839 the Sultan and the Pasha were again at war. The Turks were beaten at the battle of Nezib, and the Ottoman fleet deserted to the enemy. Instead of allowing the authority of the Porte to be re-established by Russia alone, under the Treaty of Unkiar-Skelessi, the Great Powers determined to bring about this result by their collective action. A Conference of representatives of Great Britain, France, Russia, Prussia, and Austria met at London, and the Sultan, when on the point of yielding, was encouraged by the receipt of a