The Sun.
London, England, 1855-10-06 00:00:00

LoieD STBATFO_Ra'DE I?EDOLIF

(Front the Tinzes of this day.)
Diplomatists have always given great importance to the
mysterious power which they claim to exercise byalter-
nate suppleness and severity, by their intimate knowledge
of the august characters of reigning princes, and the foibles
which lay open Presidents and Ministeri of the Interior to
their subtle attacks. It is, perhaps, 'no. elevatqd eart in
which they chine perfection, but the world has hitherto
thought it useful, and proficiency hardly to belsteained
until the student has made the tour of EttroteV• during
years of diplomatic vagrancy. Then only is the attaché
deemed competent to express his surprise at what he has
known for months, and to offer to the Minister he is
labouring to eject the assurances of his distinguished con-
sideration. Diplomacy in the East, however, seems to
partake of the character of Orientalism. It rules by terror.
An Ambassador at the Porte is to his well-bred brethren
of Paris and Vienna what an Amurath or Othman might
be to Louis XI V. A representative in the West attracts
by his cook—in the East he threatens by his dragoman.
A fierce little Levantine who can go into a passion when-
ever it is necessary, and translate the forcible expressions
of his superior into any Eastern dialect, is the invalu-
able assistant in all diplomatic interviews. This sys-
tem, however, is dying out. All the romance of the
East will soon have fled. Even the Sultan does not
rule by the sword. Civilisation is pouring in ; railways
are to be introduced ; Parisian fashions attract the admi-
ration even of the harem. A new race of diplomatists is
arising whose practice is to the old traditions what trial
by jury is to the bowstring. But, as among the tightly-
clothed Europeanised Pashas an ancient man may some-
times be seen who fought Kleber in Egypt, or defended
the Bosphorus against Duckworth, so among the represen-
tatives of the new school there is one ambassador who pre-
serves the manners which prevailed in the times of the
' turban and three tails. Lord Stratford de Redcliffe is
still the contemporary of Sebastiani or Strogonoff. •
We do not know whether we may rely upon the report
that Lord Stratford has been recalled, and we certainly do
not wish to place implicit belief in the accounts of the Am-
bassador's recent conduct in the affair of Mehemet Ali
Pasha. It is said that he refuses to recognise the appoint-
ment, that he sent an attache or dragoman to the Sultan
with remonstrances, and then in a personal interview he
add-essed the feeble but not spiritless Sovereign with such
want of courtesy as to throw him into a nervous fit. These
things may be true or they may be exaggerated statements,
arising, like other mythical narratives, from the known
character of the actor. If correct to the letter, they would
only be a repetition of what has often happened before,
for it is well known that in the last resort the British
Embassy has always relied on the personal terror of its
chief's menaces acting upon the weak mind of a
Monarch who has few on whom he can rely.
Whatever may have been the violence of Lord
Stratford, his mistake in a diplomatic pcint of view
consists only in not perceiving that the age for such
forcible representations has passed, and if the Sultan loses
in independence by admission into the European brother-
hood of kings he also gains by becoming entitled, in the
opinion of the world, to that personal deference which is
customary in civilised Courts. No one sees more clearly
than Lord Stratford that his power is not what it was in
days when the attention of nations was but partially given
to the East. He has learnt that his long experience and
the influence he wielded through the belief of the Turks
that his embassy would end only with his life have not
saved him from checks the most galling, and he must see
that in the Sultan's regard he has never had a place., Only
the conviction that his power was dangerously menaced
would, in such circumstances, lead him to recur to the
bold policy of former years, in the presence of a new and
highly distinguished French Ambassador, and at a time
when the position of the Western Powers requires great
caution and great dignity in their representatives. The
occasion of this last struggle for revived importance is,
however, wanting in interest to the world and eleVation
in itself. It is the enmity and the intrigues of two rival
Turkish politicians which have urged the Ambassador of
the Queen of England to personal disrespect of an allied
monarch, at the moment when common dangers were suc-
ceeded by a common triumph.
The public knows that this Mehemet Ali Pasha is a
strong-minded, but unlettered Turk, who rose from s low
origin, was brought up in the late Sultan's palace, and
married his master's daughter. This was an honour from
which every sensible man who was above absolute want
endeavoured to escape in the old times. The daughters of
the great reforming Sultan have generally resembled in
temper the two queens who sprang from a very similar
potentate in England. Achmet Fethi Pasha, who married
one of them, hardly dared to express an opinion—he did
not even smoke in her presence. Mehemet Ali seems to
have gained the best, and by her help he rose through
various gradations until lie attained the same post which
he now holds. In this position he made large sums by
such devices as drawing on the Treasury for the construc-
tion of large steamers, and then ordering small ones at
Blackvvall, substituting 32-pounders for 48-pounders, or
building vessels of inferior wood, bought cheaply at half
the sum mentioned in the contract. Let it not, however,
be thought that these little failings at all lowered him in
the eyes of the diplomatic body, or even of Lord Stratford
eimiselt ; for long after they were excellent friends. Me-
hemet Ali received small gratifications from other quar-
ters, and, though a strict Mussultnan, interested himself
warmly in behalf of every Christian who was rich. At
last he became a sharer in the transactions which have
furnished his subsequent - opponents with a pretext
against him. Djezairli, an Armenian, farmed the cus-
toms of Constantinople. He was extravagant, built
a splendid mansion, plundered the State, bribed on
all sides, but without skill, and was overthrown by Me-
hemet Ali, because of his increasing connexion with Red-
schid. Pasha. When his accounts were examined there
was a deficiency. "I gave," said the unfortunate man,
":;0,00)1. to the Sultan's mother and 40,000 L to Mehemet
Ali." The insolent Oiaour waft ordered back to prison for
his calumny. Then came the Measchikoff mission. Me•
hemet Ali behaved very well, and was supported by all the
influence of Lord Stratford, to whom the Pasha was
pleasingly deferential. But the pi udence of the Porte
substitut :d Redschid for Mehemet Ali in the Cabinet, in
order not to break entirely with Russia. As war became
more imminent, and the authority of the Western Powers
was evidently rising to supremacy, Redschid Pasha deter-
mined to go every lngth in subserviency to at least one of
them, and the veteran who had helped to negotiate the
peace of Bucharest scorned a more powerful protector than
the unworldly and hasty soldier who for the moment re-
presented France. Redschid therefore became in a most
undignified manner the partisan of Lord Stratford. Even
the confidence of the Porte was violated that the British
representative might have early intelligence of all inter-
views or official documents. If this power had been'really
used to advance the interests of England the attainment
of it might have justified the means by which it was ac-
quirci ; but all acquainted with the East know that
personal importance and personal display have always
been the chief oisj.cts of him who represents England at
Constantinople. Even during the present year this old
Ambassador, instead of giving the results of his long ex-
perience to tire common cause, has been engaged in un-
seemly disputes, about the most trivial matters, with the
French Charge d'Affaires, a young man placed in a most
difficult position at little more than 30 years of age. Red-
schid Pasha being now the most useful instrument, the
desire of Mehemet-Ali to return to power was viewed with
alarm, for he was not likely to be as friendly as before.
He had of late fallen back en the old Turkish party and
become its leader. To his popularity with the Sultan and
the people he looked more than to diplomatic support. So
far as he was linked with an embassy it was with the
French. He was an energetic man who must be combated
and crushed. Ths old affair with Djezairli was again
opened, and the acceptance of illegal presents by Mehemet
Ali was published in all the Turkish journals. His exile
was then wrung from the Sultan after a long resistance. It
now appears that he was too strong for both Redschid and
his protector He has been recalled, and resumed office
with, it is said, the concurrence of the French Embassy.
Such is a piece of political history in the present day.
These are the transactions in which a representative of
western civilisation is engaged. Any one curious in past
politics may turn to the various blue-books connected with
the East. There he will find a number of despatches writ-
ten somewhat in imitation of the Rambler and Rasselas.
The style is not loftier than the morality. They repre-
sent a man who abstains from political intrigue as froth
pollution, who is on terms of mutual goodwill with all
around him, and whose only thoughts are for the good of
the country he represents and of that to which he has
been sent. Let the inquirer then listen to the opinions
of men of any nation who know the East and the politician
who penned these lofty documents, and he will fully admit
that men are not always what they seem, and perhaps be
enlightened as to the cause of many failures that were
before inexplicable.

•

(From the Morning Advertiser of this clay.)
We can state from the best authority that one of the
greatest of Lord Palmerston's present " difficulties" is orr
Ambassador at Constantinople. The overbearing manner,
and excitable temperament of Lord Stratford, render it
almost impossible for either bis own Government, tbe
Government of Turkey, or the Ambassadors of other
Powe-s, to transact business with our Minister at Con-
stautinople. And yet Lord Palmers• on does not
know how to get rid of him. Tne Premier is
afraid to remove him from his office, for reasons
at which we hinted yesterday ; and even were he
superseded, Lord Palmerston would not have the right
to compel him to return to this country. He could, aid
it is believed he would, still remain in Constantinople. It
is feared the result would prove that, owing to the power
he has acquired in the Turkish capital, in diplomatic ci*'
Iles, and the unsci upulous way in which, if superseded, he
would use that power, he would do quite as much mischief
out of office, as he has for years past done in it. Of late
his conduct, not only to those members of the Turkish
Government, to whom be has taken a strong personal di--
like, but even to the Sultan himself, has been so demi'
nerring and insulting, as to have become intolerable. In
fact, he virtually plays the part of Sultan himself,—at
least, he attempts to do so, by seeking to dictate who
shall, and who shall not, be Ministers. It is so far satis•
factory to be able to add, that Lord Palmerston has, within
the last few days, plucked up sufficient courage to disavow
his recent conduct in relation to the appointment, by the
Sultan, of Mehemet Ali, to the offic! of Prime Minister.
It is not, however, expected that this practical vote of
censure will have the effect of inducing Lord Stratford to
resign.

CRIMINAL CHARGE AGAINST THE PROVOST Of LEITII,
—A case, disgusting in the extreme, has just, come to
light, in which no less a personage than the Provost of
Leith is criminally implicated. The charge brought
acr,aiust the civic dignitary is criminal assault on two
girls both under the age of puberty. He has been era'
mined before the Sheriff and Procurator Fiscal, and cat
Saturday was admitted to bail. There is no doubt that
Provost Phillips will figure rather disagreeably before
the Criminal Court in November. The provost some
time ago gave to the world a lengthy lucubration on the
Sabbath, in which he expatiated on . God's claims ..a
man's duties. He was about the last man, therefore,
who kihould be thought guilty of committing a crime 0°
heinous.—Scottish Daily News.
PATENT PACKAGES.—A. patent for a novel description
of wooden package bound with thin tinned iron, for the
enclosure and preservation of edibles, &c., was grants('
in July last to Mr. A. Robertson, of the Hollows/
mills ; aad although so short a period has elapsed the
demand fnr it has become exceedingly great. The m'av
tard trade, which requires a dry and sweet package, woe
the first to adopt it, and several leading firms are excle-'
sively sending forth their mustard in this package. F'
cocoa, coffee, arrow root, tea, spices, and drugs, it i°
peculiarly adapted, and as the wood is slightly disin'
feciant, that lumpiness and disposition to mould in the
-more-farinaceous kind of edibles is not likely to occur
when encased in tin ; while the objectionable effluvia 0
the latter are altogether got rid of. The patent package
ie very light, exceedingly cheap, and while presenting e.
very handsome appearance, is capable at the will of tll
trader of being rendered even elegant by decoration.

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