The Express.
London, England, 1858-07-12 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, MONDAY,EVENING, JULY

from every region of Islam is there interelanged. '
The Turk and Tartar, the Figlatah of Aikisa
and the native of Morocco, near thsraeli
the Menulinan insurrection egabill the Fdia t
in India ; the Malay, the inhabitants of Eindostan
and the Deccan, the pilgrims from Zanzibar, and the
natives of Arabia hear how the Nazarenes are en-
croaching on the northern frontiers of Islam, and of
the humiliating concessions made them, within his
own dominions, by the Sultan of Roux. Every sac-
ceeding celebration of the Hejira is a new Mahe-
metaa " Revival," confirming the pilgrims in their
hereditary faith, re-inspiring them with a sense of
a common interest in opposition to the Christians.
Nor are there wanting bold and intriguing spirits,
who take up their abode for longer or shorter periods
at Mecca, with a view to form political combinations.
The fact is that Islam is quite u much a system
of States as Christendom. It is a different, an infe-
rior type of civilisation ;—it embraces aportionof the
world's population which does not entirely !wog-
aim the moral deed of Christendom ; but the pro-
fessors of Islam have enough in common with Chris-
tiana to admit of compacts and treaties being con-
cluded with and observed by them; and the organi-
sation of Mussulman States is too advanced to admit
of our dealing with them u we deal with the strag-
gling bib.. of Australia, and America, and South
Africa. The territories of Christian and Muesulman
States are already much intermingled, and may any
day become more so. The commerce between Chris-
tian and 3lahometan nations is extensive, and of
vital consequence to both. That coils of international
law which is now recognised and appealed to by all
States of the Christian civilisation in their dealings
, with each other, has never been regarded as en-
tirely applicable, perhaps is not entirely appli-
cable, to negotiations and transactions between
Christian and Mahometan States. But it is
dear from history and from passing events that some
universally recognised system of policy—some inter-
national code—that shall regulate the relations of
Christendom to Islam is an urgent want. The rela-
tions of Christian to Mahometan communities have
never been exhaustively examined or clearly defined.
The spirit of the present age will not admit of
Christendom arraying itself against Islam as in the
age of the Crusades. But the spirit of antagonism
. between organised Christendom and organised
which survived the Crusades, which sent Spaniards,
• after the extirpation of the Moslem from the Pepin-
, Bala, to wage a " holy war" against Infidels in the
New World, which sent swarms of "soldiers of
" the Cross" from Portugal round the Cape to
the Indian Ocean, and which kept alive the
long internecine struggle between the Porte and
the German Empire on the Danube, still survives
among other Christian populations besides the Rus-
sian. It is in a state of come, but it is not extinct-
Austria is quite as ready to avail herself of the discon-
tents of the Christian subjects of Turkey as Russia.
Francs, as protectress of the " Latin Christians,"
still cherishes the feelings which erst animated GOD-
FREY' of BOULOGNE ; and harangues have of late
been delivered on Missionary platforms in Eng-
land, by English Protestants, which smack more
of the ecclesiastical policy of Prue the HERMIT
than is altogether consistent with the Nineteenth
Century's construction of the Christian doctrine of
toleration. The seen of the Christian civideation of
our day have ceased to profess the policy of extir-
pating Mahometanism by the sword ; but as re-
garde Mahometans, they have not adopted a better
creed, and their conduct towards Mahometans is apt
to be regulated by principles widely different from
those which regulate their conduct towards one ano-
ther. It is time that this should mess to be the case. It
is time that some effort should be made by Christians
and Mahometans, to meet upon equal terms under the
protect ion of recognised principles, social and political.
The recognition of Turkey as an integral member of
the European system was a step, bat a very short
and undecided one, in this direction. The tracessersis
in which England, France, Austria, and Russia have
since indulged, as regards the Ottoman Empire,
would seem to indicate that none of the contracting
Powers had a very distinct notion of what that recog-
nition implied. To our understanding the adoption
of Turkey into the European system implied—let.
That with regard to Turkey, as with regard to
European States in general, "the age of conquest is
" past ;" 2nd. That the nations and inhabitant of
the Turkish Empire must be left to settle their own
internal political disputes ; to adjust the balance
of power between sectarians, within their own
frontier, for themselves. Now against both of these
principles the whole of the frier Powers are at this
moment sinning. Austria and Russia are, as re-
gards Turkey, coveting their neighbour's provinces,
and insidiously seeking to remove the old landmarks
which their fathers have set up. France is hard at
work, by making herself the head of a sectarian
party in Turkey, to acquire an influence in the
policy of that empire, which no independent State
can with safety or honour concede to aliens. And
England—if the least selfish, assuredly the most
blinded of all—can discern no better way to ensure
the permanence and independence of the Ottoman
Empire than by interfering to arrest the spirit of
program in Turkey, and to assist Mussalman bigotry
in re-imaposiag fetters upon all the Christian popula-
tions. This is miserable work, and if persisted in
an only serve to afford materials for keeping alive
at Mecca that fire of hatred to Christians from
which kindled brands are every year distributed to
all the nations of Islam.

The question of the policy of Christendom u re-
gards Turkey is but a part of an infinitely greater
question—the policy of Christendom as regards
Islam. The Ottoman Empire is bet a frontier state
el Islam, and of all the Ishunitie States the one in
which the more intelligent and powerfal portion of
the population is least thoroughly imbued with
Mabometan peculiarities. The perpetuation of the
Ottoman Empire is a hopeless task, and one of very
little practical importance. What Christendom and
Islam have an equal interest in is, that when the
hoar of the disruption of the Ottoman Empire
arrives--and it cannot now be tar distant-00 undue
advantage shall be taken by any European Power
to subjugate or annex any of its fragments; that
the autonomy of all the populations at present web-
Jest to the Porte—be they Christians or be they
Mumulmans shall be respected. This can
only be accomplished by recognising and honestly
acting upon an equitable system of international
policy between the aggregate States of Christendom
and the aggregate States of Islam. Every Christian
has an interest in the achievement of this desirable
end. By recognising Islam as an integral part of
the greet system of nations, an abundant worm of
national jealousies, enmities, sad' wars would be
dried up. America would be as much benefited by
this as Europe, for the relations between its western
shores and the Mahometan world are daily increasing,
and will continue to inereve. But no country has
=oh& direct, pervading, and vital interest in placing
the relations of Christendom and Islam on a eatis-
fectory footing, as Oreat Britain. In India we have
troublesome Mehemet= subjects ; on the north-west
frontier of Aeglo-India we have troublesome Mehe-
met= neighbours; between Alexandria and Aden our'
way to India lies through Mehemet= populations
oar extending commerce with the West Coast and in-

terior of Africa will bring us into contact with more ;
the mast embieraming questions which threaten as
islhelkediterranrean arise 'out of the ill-defised code
which regulates the relations of Christredosh to
Islam. And where among our living statesmen is
there one who appears to have the slightest suspicion
of the importance and urgency of these consider-
' ations P Here is an honourable field of exertion,
quite unoccupied, and open to a re-organised Inde-
pendent Party.

,TEST INTELLIGENCE.

MASSACRE OF CHRISTIANS Al

JEDDAH.

DEATHS OF THE ENGLISH AND
FRENCH CONSIIIS.

The following telegram, from Acting Agent and
Consul-General Green, was received at the Foreign-
office, ria Malta, on the 11th of July, at 1.30 a.m.
Her Majesty's ship Cyclops arrived at Suez, from
Jeddah, on the 3rd inst.
On the evening of the 15th of June the M►hom-
medan inhabitants of Jeddah rose and massacred
the Christians. Among the victims were Mr.
Page, the English Vice Consul ; Mr. Evaillard,
the French Consul, and his wife ; and about
twenty others. The English and French Con-
sulates were plundered. The Cyclops was anchored
about two miles from the town, and during the
night some Greeks swam off to the vessel. The
next morning two boats sent to the town were
attacked and obliged to fight [? fire] on those who
endeavoured to intercept their retreat. On the 19th,
the Governor-General of the Hedjaz, who was at
Mecca, arrived with 800 men.
The Cyclops left Jeddah on the 24th, and brings
up the Christians who escaped, including the
daughter of the French Consul and the French
interpreter, both badly wounded, and twenty-four
others.

INDIA AND CHINA.

EXPECTED HOSTILITIES.
ALEXANDRIA, Juir 7.

The steamer Bentinck arrived at Sues yesterday
morning, with Calcutta dates to the 4th ultimo.
British columns marching in Owalior. I have no
information from Madras, dates from which place
are to the 10th.

The intelligence from Lord Elgin is to the 29th
April, when the allied forces were in the Gulf of
Peihek. The French had got two gunboats over
the bar, but our two despatch-boats had stuck.
The English and French admirals were both at
Peihek, and it was expected that in a few days the
tint blow in the north might be struck by the cap-
ture of the forts at the mouth of the river. The
Chinese government had named commissioners to
negotiate, but the letter announcing the fact had
retired adwing [? owing] to an assumption of supe-
riority on the part of the Chinese.
This telegram arrived at Malta from Alexandria
by the contract steam•packet Vectis at 3.15 p.m. on
Joly 10th.

M. STOPFORD, Rear-Admiral.

We (Tines) have received the following telegram
from our Malta correspondent:

° ALEXANDRIA, JILT 7.
" The Calcutta and China mails have arrived to-
day with intelligence from Calcutta to the 3rd of
June, Madras to the 10th, Hong Kong to the 22nd
of May.
" On the 31st of May Sir Colin Campbell was
still at Futtehghur. The Calpee rebels were ad-
vancing upon Gwalior. They were not plundering,
but paying for everything. A British column from
Capes was marching in pursuit. General Rose had
refused the command in Gwalior on account of ill-
health.

" Seindia is reported to have been beaten by the
rebels on the let of June, and to have arrived at
Agra-

" The rebels were again becoming troublesome in
Central India and re-occupying many forts from
which they had been driven by General Rose.
"General lones had barnt Mohumdee and the ad-
jacent villages without opposition. Chundy was ac-
cupied by Smith's Brigade.
" Troops were marching against the Moelvie at
Shahabod, and working parties had been set to
destroy the jungles in which the mutineers still
held out.

" The Barrackpore regiments have received the
option of disbandment or of service in China.

" CHINA.

" The allied fleet was at anchor off the mouth of
the Peiho on the 29th of April. Six days had been
allowed for a reply to the demands of the plenipo-
tentiaries ; the time having expired on the 13th, the
steamer Sampson had taken up two gunboats and
160 Bappers to the Peiho.

"Her Majesty's 69th Regiment was reported
under orders for the north.

"The French transport Gironde had arrived with
900 marine intently."

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.
(sr lIIIIIMAILINI AND suns' rsuaaAno
VIM 01111 OW 00111ASPONDIXT.)

MALTA, rots 10.

By the Calmat& and China mail we have dates
from Hong Kong, May 22 ; Calcutta, Jane 3 ; and
Madru, June 10.

The Calcutta produce market is quiet. Imports
are in lees demand; money easy ; freights unchanged.
Exchange 2e. ld. to 2s. lid.
At Madras, exchange 2s. lid. to 2s. lid.
At Hong Kong the opium market is quiet. Ex-
change 4s. 71d. to 4s. 9d.
At Shanghai imports are quiet; tea unaltered;
silks lower; stock in the interior reported large;
settlements 3,000 to 3,000 balm. Exchange 6e. Id.
to oe. 3d.

At Jeddah the English and French Consuls have
been massacred, and with them 21 other Christians.
Malta places Bengal), in ten day quarantine.

MALTA, SUNDAY NIDNIONT.

The Pere, with the India Mails of the btb, has
jest arrived, only seven days eight hours from South-
ampton. This is unprecedented.

Admiral Fatal:Awe, in the Marlborough, arrived
this afternsem.—Timar.

MONTENEGRO.

A letter from Cattalo of the 28th nit., in the
diossisuy Geeetts, says :
blesisougne there a onions attack from the Turks, erten en
eonteatentid in eooddirable knee In the Nebo& of &abut
In conesemot of Ibis haling of alarm, eU the inhabitant,
of Le Conlin have been plead on • war footing, eV egrktd-
Innel epoollone ere interrnpied, imoveable columns be,. barn
elnitsend dog the beaks of the Lam of &nowt end dep6ta
if as ad amisaition have been farmed In different *etc
Positive oaken lore been given that In ease el Wank no
ere &AU think of dieselieg his own property, bet that on
the fret slam way tee den troottil• at the kentled pool.
thus el Dap% sad °mill's% 'bee Prince Natio a ill go
hissOfswi Oar pet la the cwohtt.

.._....,
EXPRESS FROM PARIS.

CliOlt ova OWN 001UMPOWD1017.)
PARIS, Saxe a Evntnta.

The ifasifirwr continues to note that the Confe-
rees* meets to oonsider the question of the " Danu-
bian Principalities." This sufficiently disposes of the
conjecture that the affair of the Principalities was
settled at Etiolles, and that the Conference was
about to proceed to the discussion of other matters,
The Indlpendarws thinks that Moldo-Wallachian
interests will continue exclusively to occupy the
attention of the Conference during the rest of this
month, and perhaps till the middle of August; it
suggests the probability of an adjournment after-
wards till October, and that during the
vacation • commission will draw up new
organic regulations to be promulgated at Jassy and
Bucharest. •Although England and Austria oppose
the " union" it is thought that they do not object
to the Danubian Principalities being called the
" United Provinces."
A Paris letter of the 9th, in the Nord of Brussels,
says:

If I may believe information which I consider deserving
of credit, the labours of the plenipotentiaries for settling the
question of the Principalities have already bad for result to
secure judicial and oommerdal union. The formation of a
central committee destined to serve u a bond between the
two Moldo-Wellachian Assemblies may be elm considered
an the commencement of the political union, although but
little independence is left to this oommittoe, and that its attri-
butions are very restricted. In spite of these advantages ob-
tained by the partisans of the union they are far from being
satisfied, for England and Austria are said to have suc-
ceeded not only in setting aside the unity of government, bat
also in abrogating the prov.sion that the two provinces
should have one flag and one army. There is also a very im-
portant question still to be solved—whether the poet of hos-
podar shall be for life or hereditary. England, it is said,
wishes that the two hospodan shall be hereditary, as the
means of rendering more irrevocable the separation of the
two provisoes. The partisans of the union, on the con-
trary, not having been able to obtain their point of a single
bospodar prefer the status quo, or two hospodars for life, as
there would then be more chance of one day bringing about
the triumph of those who wish for a dynastic union. Count
Welewski has been charged by the Conference to draw up
the articles which are to regulate the orgrnisation of the
Principalities, a fact which shows that the opinions repre-
sented by nano, and Russia hare not met with any *heck.

The Emperor and Empress will (says the M. essager
4 rOutust) hear mass on August 16 (the fte Na-
poleon) in the church of Sainte Anne d'Anray.
Sainte Anne is one of the patron saints of Brittany,
and in that pious province no pilgrimage is more
popular than that to the Auray shine. It follows
from the above news that their Majesties will not
be in Paris at the fetes of August 16.

A letter from Baden-Baden, in an obscure pro-
vincial journal called the Gazette du Rhin Moyen,
mattes that great preparations are making in the
Grand Duchess Stephanie's palace for the reception
of the Emperor Napoleon, who is expected there
from Plombieres, and will " probably be accom-
panied by the Empress." It adds that the Duchess
of Hamilton will do the honours of the palace. I
have heard nothing of the above news in any other
quarter. It was reported here a little wbile ago
that the Empress was going to Plombieres, but the
tumour has not been confirmed.

M. Emile de Girardin, who is about to travel for
some time, gave a grand farewell dinner to his
friends a few days since. Prince Napoleon was
present and received numerous congratulations on
his appointment to the Ministry of Algiers and the
Colonies. It is reported that he agreed with M.
de Girardin and the majority of his guests that the
limits within which existing legislation confines the
expression of publics opinion ought to be extended.
Dr. Brulais, of the Regina Cali, whose arrival at
St. Nazaire I mentioned yesterday, proceeded at
once to his native town, Nantes. There he found a
letter from the Minister of State, informing 1"m
that the Emperor, desiring to give the young sur-
geon a testimonial of his Majesty's sense of the
courage and tact wb;ch he had displayed daring
two days and nights which hie life was threatened
by the negro emigrants, had granted him a pension
of I,Boofr. from his private purse.
The Independance states that the negotiation
between the Viceroy of Egypt and an English com-
pany for a loan upon a mortgage of the Alexandria
and Suez Railway has gone off, in consequence of
the jealousy of France.

SPAIN.

MADRID, JILT 10.

Fifteen civil governors have been superseded.
The floating debt has increased 33 millions.
The news from Mexico is bad.