The Sun.
London, England, 1852-12-16 00:00:00

STATE OF EGYPT

ALEXANDRIA, DEC. 4.

The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamer Hin-
dostan, with the Calcutta mail of November 7, arrived
at Suez on the Ist inst., and the Achilles from Bombay
on the. 2d, with passengers for England, to proceed 'by
the Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamer Had-
dington, now hourly expected.
Last week, Mr. A. Paget arrived here from Athens,
to take charge of the Consulate-General pending the
absence of the Hon. C. A. Murray, and the illness of
Mr. Gilbert. It is hoped that Mr. Murray will not pro-
long his absence, as, owing to the influence he has gained
in Egypt, and particularly over the mind of Abbas
Pasha, his presence is very conducive to British in-
terests.
Abbas Pasha has not been very well of late, and has
been talking of proceeding to the Upper Country for
change of air. His Highness takes great care of his
health, and is much afraid of dying. His two delegates,
Nubar Ney and Abdallah Bey (11. Rickards) returned
from England by the last French steamer, having suc-
ceeded in effecting a loan for 300,0001. sterling in the
name of the Viceroy, among some of the directors of
the Peninsular and Oriental Company. This money has
been raised merely to accommodate the Sultan, who is
much in want of pecuniary assistance, while his High-
ness gains no advantage by it himself. It has always
been the policy of the Porte to weaken Egypt by di-
minishing it 3 pecuniary resources. Abbas Pasha was
made, some time ago, to pay enormous sums of money to
the several living sons of Mehemet Ali, as an indemni-
fication for the land which they, as sons, considered they
had a right to ; and now his
.Ilighnes3 has to borrow
money to assist the Sultan out of his difficulties, though
he owes him nothing whatever, the tribute due being
entirely paid up.
Said Pasha, the heir apparent to the Pashalic of
Egypt, returned to Egypt yesterday from Constanti-
nople after an absence of several months. It is to be
hoped that a reconciliation will ensue between him and
the Viceroy, as both parties cannot but be losers by the
misunderstanding that exists between them.
There is not much activity at present on the railway
works, the Nile being at its complete height, and the
engineers are waiting for the water to subside. Mr.
Rouse, one of the leading engineers, goes to-day to
Trieste for a short absence.

Prices of all produce are falling. Freights have risen
to 6s. 6d. and 7s. per quarter. Exchange on London,
98,E piastres per pound sterling.

THE GREAT BRITAIN STEAMER IN TABLE
BAY.

Table Bay never presented a more busy scene in times
of peace than on Wednesday last, from swarms of
visitors going to and from the Great Britain. A French
war steamer was also in the Bay, of a large class, but
the Great Britain reminded one of St. Paul's and the
minor churches in London, from the contrast her tower-
ing dimensions afforded to the other vessels in the bay.
The French war steamer, the Archimede, at a distance
appeared as if alongside it, but was quite swallowed up
in its shadow, leaving nothing but the paddle boxes to
be seen, as if attached to the Great Britain. The
scene on board this huge novelty beggars. all descrip-
tion. The day was excessively warm, and the breeze
from the north-west favourable to boating, but no one
ever expected, till on board, to have seen such a crowd,
so dense that all possibility of coaling for some hours was
out of the question. The most remarkable feature in
this affair was the immense number of Cape Dutch fa-
milies, most of whom had never been on the sea before,
but could not withstand the temptation to visit this
wonder of wonders. A great many people came also
from the country, and, notwithstanding the crowd, the
heat, and the crushing, the coals and the water, all
seemed highly delighted. Indeed it required no small
degree of forbearance and patience at such a busy time
to be thus obstructed and overpowered by numbers.
From the kindness and attention of Captain Mathews
and his officers, however, every opportunity and assist-
ance was given, that they might inspect the whole eco-
nomy of the floating city. More than one fair face
brought home evidence of having been among the coals.
The town and neighbourhood have never been so lively
in our recollection for such a continuance, and the ar-
rival of more passenger ships is likely to keep up this
healthful excitement. It is truly refreshing to see so
many honest, good-looking English faces among us.—
Cape paper.