Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-09-14 00:00:00

PERSIA.

A private letter from Teheran, of the 231%11y,
gives some interesting details relative to the
Persian army, awl to the state of the country
since the capture of the town of Herat. At this
moment the Shah of Persia has 100,000 infantry
and 120,000 cavalry under arms. Of the
cavalry there are not more than 11,000 regulars,
and they belong to the Royal Guard. This
army is a heavy charge for the population
on which it is quartered. The irregular cavalry
particularly, which is commanded by its Khans,
and over whom the Government has but little con-
trol, forms an undisciplined mass, which plunder
the neasants of every article it requires for its sup-
port. The artillery is like the regular infantry,
well organised and well disciplined. It consists at
present of four regiments of 1,200 men -each, who
are well instructed in their profession. The materiel
is good, although the calibre of the guns is too
varied. The waggon train is excellent. The Persian
artillery possesses a regiment of Zumburahis, com-
posed of six companies. The Zumburchis are
artillerymen, mounted on camels. Each camel
carries a light field-piece. The Zumburchis
are commanded by a colonel, two majors, six
captains, and twelve lieutenants. The most
contradictory reports yere current at the date
of this letter on the subject of what is passing
at Herat. The Sirdar . Murad-Mirza had
been accused of refusing to surrender the-citadel,
but he had sent a justification of himself to the
Court, which was folly admitted. The Hon. Mr.
Murray, the British Minister, had combatted the
excuse of Murad Mirza and demandel the execu
tion of the treaty of peace. The Persian Go-
vernment then proposed to send two commissioners
to Herat to ascertain the real position of the
place. Colonel Taylor, a military attache of the
British Legation, was chosen by Mr. Murray,
and the Shah chose one of his aides-de-
camp. They immediately set out for Herat, and
Colonel Taylor has been further empowered to see-
that the treaty is executed. If it be considered
proper to evacuate Herat under existing circum-
stances, it will be done forthwith. The evacuation
of Herat will permit the Shah to make a (onside-
rable reduction in his army. for the Sirdar Murad
Mirza has more than 60,000 men under his com-
mand. These troops are excellent soldiers, and
the Sirdar, who is said to be a groat favourite
with his men, is accused of ambitious projects,
and of intending to proclaim himself Prince
Sovereign of Herat. The writer of the letter does
not believe that Murad-Mirza has any such inten-
tion. He admits, however, that if such an event
should take place it would seriously complicate
the position of the English in that part of Asia,
particularly under existing circumstances in
India. The Shah is said to be animated with the
best intentions. His late edicts, by which his
Mussulman, Christian, and Jewish subjects are
placed on an equality, will, it is feared, encounter
much opposition from. the fanaticism of the
inhabitants. The British troops had evacuated
Bushire, and Emiru-Mirza, the new governor had
taken possession of that town on the 28th June.
The accounts from the interior of Persia are good.
Fezlali Khan, who commands the troops of Fars,
has recently chastised the Turcomens, who were
perpetually pillaging the coast. The. Shah had
quitted Teheran, with his court, accompanied by
the foreign ambassadors, to encamp at the foot of
Mount Elbour, where he is sheltered from the
intense heat of the sun. He has likewise esta-
blished a camp there, in which 12,000 men are con-
stantly manoeuvred.