The Express.
London, England, 1856-05-08 00:00:00

TURKEY.

(PROM ono OWN COARLIPONDINT.)
CONSTANTINOPLE, APRU. 24.
I have already bad occasion to allude in the course
of my correspondence to Moachtar Pacha, who may
be considered unquestionably as one of the most able,
enlightened, and honourable members of the Sultan's
administration. Ever since hisaccession to power, many
solid improvements have been introduced into the
various branches of the treasury department, and
he has evinced a firm determination to earry out a
general and fundamental reform in all matters con-
nected with the monetary and financial system of the
empire. A standing grievance hitherto has beta the
continual fluctuation on 'Change, and the riecessary
perturbation resulting therefrom in all commercial
operations. The traffic in foreign specie, and the
combined manoeuvres of certain European firms, in
regulating for their own special benefit the rise and
fall of the exchange, have at length attracted the
serious attention of the government. With a
view, therefore, of obviating finally a recur-
rence of such transactions, Mouchtar Pacha, within
the last few days, appointed a commission, consisting
of 17 members, the chiefs of some of the principal
oommercial houses of this city, to co-operate with
him in devising the beet mesas of remedying such
abuse and putting an end to illicit speculatioc.
Two sittings of the commission have been already
held at the Mint, and the regulation of the exchange
on London was, if I ant rightly informed, on both
occeeions the principal subject of debate. Some mem-
bers voted it at 125 piastres, others at 130. This
matter however, I may mention, seems already to
have been settled by the force of events, for the
pound sterling has fallen to 123, and even 123, and is
apparently disposed to remain at tbat standard. It
fluctuated from 140 to 130 previous to the conclusion
of peace. A quantity of gold is in circulation, and
the last monthly payments were made in specie at
most of the government offices. Two handsome
gold coins have been lately issued, about the size of
a doubloon and half dosbloon, in value 500 and 250
pre., equal to 41. and 21. at the present
rate of exchange. Paper is rather scarce, and much
prized since the mention of hostilities, and will be,
it is said, as soon as circumstances admit, withdrawn
altogether from eirculation.
Tue news of the conclusion of peace has, it appears,
produced considerable excitement and agitation
among the mountain tribes. Their interests are
necessarily most deeply involved in this question,
and may give rise to very serious embarrassments
and future complications, unless equitably provided
for by the allied governments. The firm determinel
tion throughout the Caucasus is, it appears, never
under any circumstances to submit to the Muscovite
yoke; and the impossibility of reducing by force of
arms those warlike races has been sufficiently demon-
strated by a bloody and ineffectual struggle, so dis-
graceful to the oppressor and to his military reputa-
tion, duriog nearly &quarter of a century. A deputa-
tion, headed by Ibrahim Bey, the son of Sefer Pacha,
and consisting of above two hundred of the moun-
taineers, arrived here on the 23rd instant, and im-
mediately on landing proceeded straightway. to
the office of the Sereskier, and exposed to his Ex-
cellency the objects of their mission. Thence, the
deputation repaired to the Pot te, and met with a
very favourable reception from the Moustechar of the
Grand Vizier.

The government has provided a large palace for
the residence of these strangers, and made all the
necessary arrangements for their wants and necessi-
ties during their stay in the capital. The address,
framed by the national assembly of Circus* will be
within a short time presented to the Sultan, as well
as to the British and French Ambassadors, for
transmission to their respective governments. This
document, it is said, exposes with great determina-
tion the firm resolution of the mountain tribes to pre-
serve their liberty and independence under the
sovereignty of the Sultan, and states that they will
resist to the last any attempts of Russia to gain a
footing in their territory.
It is reported at Constantinople that M. do Titoff
will be accredited as Russian minister to this court
on the breaking up of the conferences. He is well
known at Constantinople as a man of great mode-
ration and ability, and there could not have been a
better selection made at the present juncture. His lady
was a Countess Creptovich, and he is thus connected
with the family of Count Nesselrode. You are, per-
haps, aware that M. Titoff has passed the greater
part of his life at Constantinople, knows perfectly the
languages of the country, and all about Turks and
Turkish affairs, and is, besides, if I am rightly in-
formed, on the very best terms with Lord Redcliffe.
Private letters from Brzerourn speak in no very
measured terms of Colonel Giles, the British Commis-
sioner, and successor of General Williams. It these
reports be well founded, and for which I am in no
wise responsible, he is "a man of war" in the full
force of the term, and in a state of open hostility with
almost every person who has had the misfortune to
eons in contact with him—nay, even the British
officers residing under the same roof have been at
length under the necessity of quitting, and setting
up a separate establishment. The commonest cour-
tesies of life, to return visits and so forth, are things,
it appears, utterly beyond the comprehension of this
functionary—in short, the goad folks

. . . . Mestatemation stir.,
And thick dins a tremendous bear.

Who is Colonel Odes? One thing is quite oertaits,
that if there be any foundation for the tenth part of
these accounts, the government could not possibly
bare made a more unfortunate selection than the ap•
[ointment of the present British Commissioner at
Minoan.

The government has issued orders to the various
governors of districts throughout the empire to receive
the dun and nue in kind—i. a., horned cattle and
alimentary supplies, which will not only find a ready
market in the capital, bet contribute to alleviate
the pressure and urgent necessities of the present
moment, to which I alluded in my last communi-
cation.

TURKEY IN ASIA.

(nom ova OWN ow

ERZEROUM, Aran, 8.

The new civil governor, Vedgi Pacha, arrived here
on the dth inst. He has the reputation of being a
good governor; but it is uuderstood that he knows
bow to extort money—as is generally the cue with
his colleagues.
Major Peel and Mr. Evans are at Olti, to acquaint
themselves with the position. They are expected
back in a week. Two English surveyors and two
corporals are at Devi Boynu, preparing a plan of that
strong position.
Colonel Giles keeps close in his house, doing
nothing. Whether it be from pride or some other
cause, he has not returned the visits of any of the
respectable residents who have waited on him, and
has intercourse with very few persons here. This
exclusiveness makes us feel keenly the lose we have
enatainedin General Williams.

An Aidede•Camp of the Senskier, who arrived
here three days ago from Constantinople, informs us
that the armistice is indefinitely prolonged, and that
he considers peace to be certain. We hope, witk all
our hearts, that this may be true; for our district
is ruined, and neither barley nor forage for the ca-
valry is to be found. If the war goes on, our condi-
tion will become still worse. Our troops are kept
inactive, and shut op in their quarters by snow, ice,

and the insufferable cold. With the exception of a
good many scorbutic cases, their general health is
good. There is little proepect of the scurvy abating
till vegetation recommences, and that will be two
months hence.

Feinllah Puha, the Veely of Sins, at one time
attache of the Ottoman embassy in London, has been
barbarously murdered in his palace, by four of his
Georgian slaves. In consequence of ill-usage expo-
rienced at the hands of their ma3ter, they vowed
vengeance, and, having put him to death one night in
his sleep, went straight to his chMga (secretary),
confessed the deed, and surrendered themselves pri-
sonars. The murdered pasha had his peculiarities,
but he was not a bad man at bottom.
Oar most recent advice' from Persia are of the
month of March. They state that a portion of the
Persian cavalry had occupied Herat, and that the
Shah was marching troops and forwarding the mate-
rial of war in that direction, with a view to invade
Candabar. The country between Teheran and Herat
is suffering this year from dearth, and it is feared the
Persian army will undergo great privations before it
reaches its destination.

Mr. Murray, with the whole of the mission, left
Tabriz on the 11th of March, for Bagdad, Tit Mosul.
An impression prevails that an Anglo-Indian sgaa•
dron will soon appear at Bushir.