The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1853-09-30 00:00:00

the actual "right" of the CZAR to the military oc

our contemporary in-
forms us, is not of modern date, " but ever since
1792 Russia has posscsed and exercised a share
iu the goveriunent of these provinces only inferior

cupation of the

wise true that those previously conceded were
inconsistent also. The principle of Turkish inde-
pendence' has vanished long ago, otherwise we
should not have seen what we see at present—a
political scramble for that power which Turkey
can no longer retain. But, though the CZAR was
not making any attack upon rights hitherto un-

impaired, he was undoubtedly carrying his encroach-
ments further than they had been carried before; and
the question is whether these aggressions can be
submitted to. The simple object of the great
Powers is to prevent Russia from acquiring, under
pretext of spiritual claim, such a hold upon the
Ottoman dominions as may hereafter be turned to
the purposes of political ambition or territorial
conquest.

How to account for this altered tone of the Time.

we cannot conceive, nor can we at all understand

the contradictions contained in the foregoing ex-
tracts .Surely the whole affair cannot be a monster
ruse or a stock-jobbing bubble!

As a very large portion of British commerce floats
from the Mersey, the Clyde, and the North Chan-
nel, through the Irish Sea and St. George's Channel,

nothing should be omitted in maritime appliances,
to make that navigation safe and convenient. It
is the province of law, among other things, to pro-
tect life and property; and, certainly, the safety of
this immense commerce should not be disregarded.
We think it a duty, therefore, to bring this subject
prominently before the public mind, that justice
may be done to the commercial interests of the
Northern portion of the kingdom. In referring to
this matter, it must be noted, that vast sums of
money have been expended along the Southern
coast, bounding the English Channel, to make the
navigation of that channel as safe and perfect as
possible by the most extensive harbour appliances.
[n addition to former works of the kind, a magnifi-

.ent Harbour of Refuge, is in course of construction
I Portland, near Weymouth, and yet another is
ontemplated at Torbay, on the coast of Devon
he little Channel Islands, also, have received the
ttention of Government, and a large harbour is
Low being made at Peter Port, the chief town of
Iruernsev.

While such are the clemonstrations to the South—
le Irish Sea is neglected. To say nothing of the

f the Isle of Man, as affecting the commerce of
ie North. It lies mid-channel in the Irish Sea,
srrouncled by the great trading ports, Liverpool,

►ublin, Belfast, Carlisle, and Glasgow. Almost all
ie merchant vessels sailing from these ports for

foreign countries, or coasting trade, pass on one side
or the other of the Isle of Man, and the same also
on the homeward-bound voyage.•
In order to become impressed with the import-
ance of this fact, one has but to ascend to the top

)f Snaefell, the highest mountain of Mona, on a
31ear day. There, from an elevation of some 2,025
'eet, may be seen all the coasts of the surrounding
iingdom, and the Channel dotted over with a
,housand vessels, sailing around the Island. This
Channel is a fitful and restless body of water, ever
n commotion, and frequently agitated by tre-
nendous storms. The coasts of the Island are
agged and rocky, and the cross tides in the region

' the Calf create most dangerous currents, putting
jeopardy every vessel navigating them. Here,
en, we have more than half the commerce of

itain floating upon a dangerous sea, hard-by a
3ky Island, around which storms and tempests

often beat with frightful fury. Could the past his-
tory of this navigation be faithfully pourtrayed, the
statesman would learn thereby, that the loss of
property in shipping around this coast during the
last half century would be equal to the expense of

cting at least ten harbours of refuge ! But the
it stops not here. Scarcely a month passes by
thout the destruction of human life. Owing to the
,nt ofaharbour of refuge, the tempest-tossed vessel
obliged to keep out at sea, whilst the imperilled
men strain every nerve to beat off from the

Ld, but all to no purpose; till drawn into the tidal
.earn, or driven by tempest, the craft is wrecked
on Langney's Point, or the fearful rocks of
anish-Head ; or else is hurried on to destruction

'ough the frightful gulph separating the Calf

rom the main Island. The disasters which have
,ccurred within the last year have been numerous,
,rid the loss of life and property immense. Of the
even or eight vessels (some of which belonged to
Averpool) that have been wrecked here during the
last twelve months, was the ill-fated Lily; whose
errific explosion hurled thirty-two human beings
uddenly out of existence.

I'he preventatives required are two Harbours of
fuge, the one at Douglas, and the other at Port
in, on the West side of the Island. Hitherto
have considered the subject in reference to a
le of peace, and have seen that the maritime and
nmercial interests of the country demand Har

irs of Refuge at the Isle of Man ; but peace
y not always be our happy lot—war may inter-
le, in which these great seaports will need pro-

ion against a Foreign foe. The geographical
ation of Douglas is admirably adapted to a
val depot for the defence of these great trading
orts. It lies at the central point between them ;
ad a navy kept there could fly to the relief of any
Dint attacked in a few hours. Be it remembered,
tat the trade of these great ports is the chief ele-
ent of Britain's wealth ; and nothing should be
tought too dear to furnish them with complete
!otection, both in time of war and peace. The
1.3* best materials for the work are on the spot.
he stones are abundant and of the most durable
nd, as may be seen in the walls of old Castle
But I Rushen, which have defied the storms of a thou-

1 winters

If the interests of commerce haw

weight with the Government—if the fearful

of property now occurring, supply a weighty
invent—if the wild cry_of distress and death,
ggles of drowning seamen, can reach the ears

to occupation. In these " Ottoman territo-
ries," as they are called, the Ottoman SULTAN can
neither appoint or remove a Governor without per-
mission first obtained from the CZAR, nor can he
quarter in them a single Turkish battalion, In fact,
although the Emperor of Russia has assuredlu no busi-

ness there, the Sultan has not much more. Less than
thirty years ago, the Turks were occupying Wal•
lachia and Moldavia;' theßussians were complain-
ing of the breach of treaty ; ' and it was with the
Porte that Great Britain was employing her urgent
offices for the restoration of a good understanding
in the Bast.

" In the year 1824 Lord STRANOFORD, the British
Ambassador at Constantinople, delivered to the
Turkish Goveniment an elaborate Note,' in which,
after recalling to the Porte its wrong-doing in thus
prolonging an unlawful occupation, he represented
in peremptory terms, that the total and immediate
evacuation of the Princialities ' was the sole con-
dition on which the Emperor of Russia could con-
sent to make peace; but when this had been ac-
complished an ambassador should be instantly
despatched from St. Petersburg to Constantinople
for the renewal of amity between the two Govern-
ments. Does not this read like a parody."
"The truth is that the sovereignty' of the SULTAN
can only be spoken of conventionally. or by com-
parison. It is perfectly true. that those demands
of Prince MENSCIIIKOFF which were refused were
inconsistent with Ottoman- sovereignty, but it is like-

of Ministers—if the exigencies of war appeal
to patriotism, and claim protection
.for our great
trading ports,—then we trust that the desiderated
work will be speedily commenced, prosecuted, and
completed.