France and England, it is said, have protested against the
treaty lately concluded by the Sultan with the Russians. We do not see what good their protests can effect ; but they add to the embarrassments of the Turkish Government, already sufficiently distracted by fires and revolts. Great precautions are taken against incendiaries since the late fire. The correspondent of the Times writes, that
" No person is permitted to stir out at night without a large lantern ; and even respectable residents, if met in the streets, are forced to go to the guard- house, in order to satisfy the officers that they are not incendiaries. On Sunday night last, a foreign Consul, with a lady and four Englishmen, was forced at half-past eight o'clock, by the Turkish soldiers, at the bayonet's point, although within three yards of his own house, to go for that purpose to the watchhouse. The loss in the gun-manufactory is estimated at 40,000 guns and bayonets."
The Sultan lately assembled a number of the legal and eccle- siastical authorities, and addressed them in a very stern manner. He said that he was aware of their opposition to his reforms ; but if he found them refractory in future, he would apply to his allies, who would send thousands of soldiers to keep them in order. His allies appear to be the only persons of any influence in Constanti- nople.
" M. Boutenieff, the Russian Ambassador, whose removal was spoken of, has been confirmed in his old position at this Court. The Embassy of the Czar is the most numerous and splendid of all here. There are six secretaries, each with an assistant and attendants to perform the duties required by the Cabinet of St. Petersburg. Money is lavished on all sides, and Russian agents swarm. The other Embassies make but a sorry figure when contrasted either as to the Mi- nisters or the Secretaries, and above all as to the Dragomans or interpreters, with that of Russia. Thus is the power of Russia extended among the imbecile Turks by the ignorant agents of other Powers. As an illustration, one might mention the fact of a young Irishman, wholately drank champagne at Bujukdere, and, eager for freaks, mounted his horse, and was guilty of eccentric extrava- gancies. He was stopped by some Turkish soldiers, and taken to a guardhouse. Hekicked, cuffed, and abused them, and was about to be chained; when he cried out that he was a Muscovite or Russian; and they actually sent a guard to escort him home."— Times Correspondence.
The Turks began to rebuild their wooden houses in the midst of the ruins, before the ashes of the late fire were cold. No pre- cautions whatever will be taken to prevent a recurrence of a similar calamity.
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