The influence of Russia at Alexandria induced the viceroy to withdraw his troops in spite of the opposition of Omar, and after the disastrous end of that campaign the remainder were embarked for Egypt, 10,000 surviving out of the 24,000 who had landed under Schahin Pasha.

The other change was the removal of Derch, whose uselessness even to his own government had finally become evident.

His successor--Tricou, a quick-witted Parisian, of a character entirely opposed to the Turcophile Derch--asked permission to follow the army in the next movement, which was intended to be for the subjugation of the central provinces, and Omar bluntly refused.

As Tricou had orders from his own government to accompany the army, this impolitic refusal threw him at once into the opposition with us.
Omar marched by Retimo towards Candia, watched by Coroneos, and, when the army reached the valley of Margaritas, it was surrounded and furiously attacked by Coroneos and all the bands of the immediately surrounding country, and completely bottled up.

One of the European officers with Omar assured me that they had given up all hope of rescue.