The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-12-24 00:00:00

st.iW I,

THE NORTHERN TIMES.---LIVERPOOL, WEDNESDAY.

to express their opinion as it wishes its own rights
of Suzerainto to be recognised and maintained, the
question of union and the whole organisation of
the provinces would have been settled without
animosity. As it is, we must apprehend that the
bad impression produced by the false policy of the
late Government will not be easily effaced, and
that there is not much chance of an understanding
between the Turkish Government and the provinces
on this subject. Nothing remains, therefore, but
to try and convert the European Powers to the
Turkish view with respect to the union.
1 hear from an excellent source that France and
Austria, the two Powers which, as yon know, have
taken most decidedly opposite views on the question

of union, have come to an understanding. If this
is true, as I have no doubt it is, considering the
source from which I have received the information,
then the great stumbling block is removed, and
the sooner the matter is taken in hand the. better.
As long as there was a division into two camps on
the question of the union, everything else was
made subservient to this consideration, and all
kinds of impediments thrown in the way of a speedy
solution, and yet nothing is more to the detriment
of Western, and to the advantage of Russian,
influence in the Principalities, than delays in their
reorganization.
The pending diplomatic questions, however
crave and urgent, have not prevented the Grand
Vizier from turning his attention to internal affairs.
for he must be aware that the greatest diplomatic
ability will not raise Turkey from the humiliating
position to which she has sunk down. This can
only be effected by internal improvements; if once
the internal affairs are in order the foreign nffairs
will take care of themselves. As natural, the
Grand Vizier's attention, once turned to domestic
matters, could not but be arrested by the state of
the fin ►aces. To speak of the wretched state of
Turkish finances when its Government for months
past has been living on the small loans contracted
at the Exchange of Constantinople, paying as much
.25 per cent, would be, I think, superfluous
The question is only where to begin, with the
reforms. Redschid Pasha very wisely thought
first of the means of putting some kid of order
into the expenditure. As it is, at this moment each
department is nearly independent in its own finan-
cial arrangements. There has been, indeed, nomi-
nally a kind of budget made out for each of them,
but even this is by no means stiietly adhered to;
and each department makes out its yearly wants
according to its own imagination, which is only con-
trolled up to a certain point by the equally powerful
imagination, and corresponding claims of the other
departments. But when once the sum which the de
partment has to receive is fixed alleontrol ceases,!and
the Minister at the head of the department is at li-
berty to employ the money according to his own
convenience, without having to fear impertinent
enquiries. For the control, then, of expensive
Ministerial fancies, Redschid Pasha proposes to
introduce an audit board. The necessity of such
a branch in the administration need scarcely be
pointed out. Everything, however, depends on the
choice of the persons, especially of the President,
to whom the direction of this arduous department
is to be given. The post will require more energy
and moral courage than any other, for the possessor
of it will have the whole official class almost without
an exception against him.
Besides this project of regulating the expendi-
ture, another, having for its object the increase of
revenue, is likewise under consideration. The state
possesses very large forests in all parts of Turkey,
which are turned to no account. Everybody is
allowed to cut down as much as he pleases, and
wherever he pleases. The result is not only that
the Government receives not a pare from all these
extensive tracts of land, but that the forests are
being rapidly destroyed. It is now contemplated
to establish forest laws, and a special administration
of the state forests according to European mode.
I send you enclosed the official project for a rail-
way from Varna to Rustchuk, by way of Shumla,
which I suppose may be considered in its present
form as so much waste paper, for it is not very
probable that anybody will embark in such an
undertaking under the conditions laid down by the
Turkish Government. I must leave all remarks on
this line for another letter. I want only to draw
attention on this occasion to the idea of the Turkish
Government, of getting people to undertake a rail-
way at five per cent. guarantee, when in the actual
state of the market they may get as much or more
at home.

The prjeot does not belong to the present Ad-
ministration; it was made out by the railway corn
mission appointed by the late ministry.
PROPOSAL OF THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT FOR THE CON-
STRUCTION OF A RAILWAY FROM RUSTCHUK TO VARNA.
BY SHUMLA.

The Imperial Government informs capitalists that it is
proposed to construct a railroad, which, passing through an
im,rortant place like Shumla, connecting thus Varna with
the Danube, and ending at itustchuk, would likewise unite
the Danubian Principalities with Varna. This route would
diminish the distance between Constantinople and Vienna
by 100 hours ; it would obviate the difficulties which navi-
gation encounters at the mouths of the Danube, and would
consequently be of great advantage tor the future.
The advantages and conditions granted to the company
which would undertake this line are as follow :-
1. The railroad will bear the name of Imperial Ottoman
Railroad, and will be subject to the regulations of the
empire
2. When the surveys on the spot will be finished, the
company will rec ive 5 per cent guarantee on the snm
which will have been fixed for the expenses of constructing
the line.
3. The company will have the right of cutting gratuia
tously the wood required for the construction in the forests
of the state, situate in the environs of Varna and Shumla.
4 All the uncaltivated land belonging to the State, an d
necessary for the construction of this lice, will be likewise
given gratuitou,ly to the company. For the private pro-
perty through which the line will have to run, a price will
be fixed according to the regulations, which price will be
repaid to the company.
5. The materials and machinery which the company will
bring from abroad for the construction and the working of
the railway will be exempted from Customs dues.
6. The Imperial Government has the intention of trans•
forming into a maritime port the Lake of Varna, which
offers all the advantages of a large and sure harbour.
7. The moment the company receives the grant it will
have to deposit a slim equivalent to 2 per cent. on the
capital, on which the Sublime Porte will have guaranteed
an interest of 5 per cent.
3. If on the capital on which the Sublime Porte will have
guaranteed an interest of 5 per cent. for the construction of
the railway and the port, the profits, after the deduction of
expenses, should surpass 5 per cent , the surplus will not
belong to the company, but will be, in the first instanc.,
employed to repay the sum pail as guarantee by the Imperial
Government, and after this shall have been done, the profits
exceeding 5 per cent. will be divided equally between the
Sublime Porte and the company.
9. The concession will be granted at most for ninety-nine
years. The company will most diminish this term, as well
as the interest to be guaranteed, and which will besides give
the most favourable conditions in other respects to the
Imperial Government, will have the preference. At the
end of the term fixed in the concession the railroad, with
all its dependencies, will become gratis the property of the
Sublime Porte. As for the engines and other accessories the
Imperial Government will buy them at a fair valuation,and
the stipulations in this respect will he discussed and in-
serted in the firmans at the time of the concession.