The Express.
London, England, 1852-01-05 00:00:00

TURKEY.

The Courrier de Marseille, on the authority of •
letter from Constantinople dated Dec. 17, states that
the great piece of news there is that the Sultan has
attended the solemnisation of the marriage according
to the rites of the Roman catholic church between
the son of M. F— with the daughter of the Prince
of B—. The report had long been spread that
the Sultan intended to be present at this ceremony,
but no one would believe that a thing so unprece-
dented could take place. The Sultan, however,
arrived at the nuptial mansion without ceremony,
escorted by two horsemen only, and followed by a
few domestics. He was received with gratitude by
the clergy and the family of the bride and bride-
groom. A throne was prepared for him, and after
he had taken coffee and smoked the sacramental
pipe the ceremony commenced. His Majesty stood
up the whole time, saying that he ought not to hear
the name of Almighty God called upon in any other
position.

A letter dated Constantinople, Doe. 17, says
Like the rest of the civilised world, we were on the 15th
Jut. thrown into a state of commotion by the receipt, rim
Odessa, of the events of Paris. The Porte, in particular, is
mightily pleased at the tidings, as it is hoped that the new
cabinet will pursue a more liberal lino of policy as regards
the Holy Land question than the system of the late ministry,
which by all is deemed harsh and crushing. The policy of
the French cabinet on this the most crabbed and disagree-
able affair Eastern diplomacy has ever had to handle, is
evidently the offspring of a morbid sensibility about reli-
gious influence, which it pretends it has a right to enjoy by
virtue of a treaty. Indeed, much as France pretends to con-
sult the welfare of the Ottoman empire, its own interested
purposes are apparent beneath the flimsy veil. Besides, who
will believe in the sincerity of an assumed sympathy for reli-

gine. rights? The Porte is naturally envious to avoid all mis.
understanding with the French cabinet; but at the Caine
time it is not powerful or strong enough to resist the me.
naces of Russia. I cannot conceive the motives which ac-
tuate the French government to be so interested in perpe.
tuating bya system of vexation the ill-feeling which already
exists to such an extent between the religious creeds of the
East and the West. And what is secured by this system?
Why, the triumph of Russia, the enemy of liberty, and in
• word the success of those who aim at the final dissolution
of the Ottoman empire. The hostile tone of the French
cabinet has caused much disgust here. It is a singular
contrast with the just and impartial language held by Sir
Stratford Canning-in endeavouring to bring about a mats
quo of the question. Never has foreign diplomacy ahown
such stir as iu the above guistion. To give you a list of the
interviews would occupy half a column alone. The most
important of all is an interview M. Lavalette had last
night with the Minister fur Foreign Affairs, with whom he
remained closeted till punt midnight; nothing, so far, can
be picked up of what is going on for the present oppor.
tunity, hut it is supposed that the affair is adjourned until
events once more assume an appearance of permani nt GAO-
quality in France. A company is on the eve of being or.
ganised for constructing a railway lode (en this city nod
Adrianople, and a number of wealthy individuals have
come forward for the support of the enterprise. From up-
pearancem, however, it is not likely that the Porte will, for
the present, by undue concessions, facilitate an introduction
into this country of railways, to be laid down with foreign
capital. Projects here are often brought forward, nominally
succeed, and are in reality abandoned. For instance, a few
years ago l'era was to he lighted. The lamps were fitted
up, the oil and wick prepared, and then Caine a stoppage;
by an order of the government the lamps were removed,
and after a lapse of time again brought forward, and there
they dangle in the.• wind without the least chance of ever
being illuminated. The same impediments would probably
stand in the way of foreign railways.