Mehmed Ali used a personal autobiography to convey diplomatic intimidation toward Britain

Evidence

This was a strange introduction indeed: having received the. Ottoman Sultan’s approval to represent British interests in Alexandria, and going to present himself with the Sultan’s firman in hand, the British Consul was surprised to be received by a story of Mehmed Ali’s childhood in Albania. As strange as this reception might have appeared to the British Consul, this first encounter with the Pasha was full of political intent which was too obvious for the Consul not to notice. Besides referring to Barker’s predecessor as having the wisdom not to contradict the Pasha in any of his opinions “which, he observed, was very easily done, because they were always founded on reason and justice,” and thus insinuating that he expected the same from him, it was clear to Barker that the Pasha had also intended to pass on to him the message that “he was as little awed by the power of the Sovereign of Great Britain as that of the Sultan.” — Khaled Fahmy, All the Pasha_s Men_ Mehmed Ali, his…, 44

Categorization

• XREF: Echoes the diplomatic theater theme and Mehmed Ali’s balancing act with foreign consuls central to earlier chapters of this book.