A British merchant, on whose intelligence and sound judgment we
can rely, sends us an interesting letter from the centre of Syria; where he has become a spectator of the disastrous misgovernment and petty intrigues which seem to threaten the safety of that country as much as the tyranny of Mehemet Ali, or open war—such is Lord Palmerston's settlement of the East ! The letter is. dated from Aleppo, the 17th June.
" The government of the country consists of Pashas and Deftardars. A Defterdar is a " book-keeper "; the office here is that of a minister of finance for a district. There are of course, besides these, Mutzilius (or .governors) over every town. The Pashas and Defterdara have been supplied from Constantinople ; the governors of towns are partly former governors, confirmed by the Sultan, and partly new men from Constantinople. The general character of the new rulers individually is duplicity and venality ; that of the Government feebleness, irresolution, inactivity, faithlessness, and poverty. All over the country, access to the Pashas, and a favourable decision by them, is obtainable by presents of money to them, and by that means only. If a poor fellow who has supplied the Government with stores, gets an order on the local treasury, he must consent to allow the Defterdar to retain a per- centage, or delay after delay is made, amounting almost to a distinct refusal of payment. The customhouse-officers may be (and are) bribed to allow goods to pass at lower rates than those in the tariff; and in some cases, without entering them at all in the customhouse-books, the officers take their present in kind, and the merchant takes them away without paying any duty. The courts of the Cacti have become so dreadfully venal, that decisions are openly bought ; and no man who will not buy the judge's favour need go to his court. In cases where disputes have been carried to the Pashas by the English and other Consuls, the most profligate violation of promises and rights is made without shame or fear.
" The feebleness of the Government is seen in the state of Mount Lebanon, many of the Southern districts, and all the Northern. The Christian popula- tion of Lebanon make no secret of their contempt for the Sultan's authority, and dictate to him the terms on which they will remain at peace, as if they were an independent and more powerful state. The promises and power of the Allies have been able as yet to retard revolution, but there has been for the last three months constant and immediate anticipation of a violent demonstra- tion. The roads in the districts of Naplous and Jerusalem are insecure, from the presence of old marauders whom Ibrahim Pasha effectually kept down. " In the North, disturbances of a tedious sort took place at Orfa; and the Arabs, from Harrah to the Taurus, and from Aleppo to the Euphrates, are at 'enmity with the Government, and command the country. So bold are they, that they were lately encamped within sight of the walls of Aleppo, and nothing was done to disperse or even check them. The English Consul has been endea- vouring to arrange with them ; and thus the Government is in such a position, that, through the representative of another power, it has to treat with the chiefs of .robbers, who laugh at its pretended authority. As you may imagine, the roads are nearly all unsafe, and robberies are common. The worst is, that these ar- rangements arc defeated by the Government continually changing its views, and acting with bad faith to the Arabs in the face of agreements. The poverty of the Government is so great that no one will trust it unless compelled ; and the British Commissary has been employed for some time at Beyrout drawing money to supply its wants. The only improvements that have been made since the occupation of the country are at Beyrout and Acre; and they are made not only at Great Britain's cost, but chiefly with British hands. The effect of -all this on the people is deep discontent and contempt. No respect is paid to the Government ; and complaints are made by all. Relief has been obtained certainly from the conscription of the Pasha of Egypt, and from some grind- ing taxes in oppressed localities. The friends of Mehemet Ali cannot deny that the happiness of many of the poorer classes has been increased by the ab- sence of his vigorous government, which endeavoured to find resources in the country although at the expense of ruining considerable portions of its rural population and inflicting great hardship on those liable to serve in the army. These evils have been removed, however, by removing all government, and re- ducing the country to a state approaching to anarchy ; which, if permitted to continue, will more surely ruin the country. The partial sufferings under Ibrahim Pasha were very apparent, and probably magnified by interested parties : the mischief doing now is far more general, and strikes at the root of civilization and prosperity, though it may exhibit fewer cases of individual misery. This is so evident to every one looking at passing events in this country, that there are no remarks so commonly made by the British officers, as that we have unfortunately removed all government from this country,' and 'this state of thing cannot last.' " The European influences now exerted in this country are that of 'the Allies,' represented by the British officers and Consuls, and that of France, aided more secretly by Russia, which latter influence is directed by the Consuls of these two Powers, through the instrumentality of spies and the Christian -clergy. The British influence is employed in pacifying the excited moun- taineers of Lebanon, treating with the Arabs, and interfering with the Go- vernment in all quarters to prevent its making, as the Levantines say, Cativa figura.' Indeed, the Government only shows energy under the immediate and severe pressure of this influence; and wherever its abuses are controlled, it is by strong direct interference of the British officers or Consuls. The Consuls are few, and, with one or two exceptions, feeble, and not well disposed to British interests. One favours Greeks and another Frenchmen; and they act as if sent shere rather for the interest of strangers than of British merchants, whose interests they neglect or injure. The military and naval officers are very different men. They exert themselves openly and firmly against abuses. The military officers are located over the whole country, which is divided into districts. One is at Aleppo, one at Tripoli, &c. At Beyrout are their head-quarters; where they
have improved many parts of the town, and are beginning on the neighbour- hood. They are also fortifying Acre. Never had the Sultan such bountiful Allies. His subjects consider them as their rulers at present de facto, soon to be so de jure. May God send more of you!' is a common salutation when an Englishman meets a traveller on the road.
" The French influence employs the native priesthood of the Maronites (and a large importation of Jesuits have recently arrived to their aid) to influence the minds of the people against Great Britain. Over these people they have the most complete control; and consequently the Maronites are all in favour of France and against Great Britain. The Druses alone favour us, and it is pro- bable they may soon formally adopt the Protestant religion and claim British protection. They amount to about one-third of the population of Lebanon. The Russian influence is employed in the same way with the Greek Christians, though not with so successful a result. But the fact that Russia also acts against British views, greatly strengthens the power acquired by France in the mountains.
" The Euphrates expedition, or rather a detachment of it which left Bagdad in the first week in March, arrived fifteen miles below Boles in the first week of June ; and several of the officers are now at Aleppo. It consists of two steamers, the Nitocus and Nimrod, the former commanded by Lieutenant Jones, R.N., the latter by Lieutenant Grounds. In the absence of Captain Lynch, the expedition is commanded by Lieutenant C. D. Campbell, who commands the Syria, another iron steamer of the Euphrates flotilla,' now employed at Bagdad. The steamers have come up slowly, but have come up without injury at the most difficult season. Chesney's account of the river was very faithful ; but he saw it going down, and difficulties were discovered coming up which he had not anticipated. It would require much labour to make the river navigable. The Arab tribes on the banks were generally friendly, and plenty of wood and bitumen were easily got. These steamers lack power, and were frequently dragged by ropes over the rapids. Some of the obstacles could easily be removed, but some are formidable."
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