The Sun.
London, England, 1839-12-21 00:00:00

THE MILITIA.

(FRObi A CORRESPONDENT.?
Much has been said about the Militia Staff and
arrangements ; the following is in agitation at the
War-office :—To re-model the Militia altogether,
to make them useful, and in case of emergency
efficient. A draft annually of one-fifth in each
County, to be trained by the Adjutant, the duties
of Paymaster and Quartermaster to be performed
by the same officer, and the surgeon to perform his
official duties, all to be retained at a reduced rate of
pay. Men allowed to volunteer into the line for a
limited period ; as volunteering takes place the
numbers to be filled up. Iu proportion to the
number joining the line an officer will have a com-
mission given him as an ensign for every 50 men.

EGYPTIAN JUSTICE,--MEIIEMET
ALEXANDRIA, Nov. 27, 1839.-1. must here relate an
occurrence that took place a few days since, not that
the Paella acted unjustly, but as n proof of his natural
cunning and shrewdness when money is concerned. A
native banker, by name Michael Seroph (banker or
money changer), was one day surprised by receiving a
a visit from a Turk who had been ten years in the Hid-
jas, and who commenced, after a salaam, a prayer for
his health and happiness, in return for a great benefit
conferred upon him by the said Michael, previous to
his departure for the Hidjas. Michael had not the
slightest recollection, either of the individual, or of the
service he had rendered him, and requested an explana-
tion ; when the Turk stated that Michael Seraph had
lent him 250 piastres, previous to his departure ; since
then he ;had been fortunate, and had become a Bim-
bashe (chief of 1,000), and then tendered him the 250
piastres in payment of the debt. The Seroph was
surprised, but not satisfied, and insisted upon receiving
not only interest, but compound interest, which, taking
into consideration the difference in the value of money,
he insisted amounted to about 300 purses : this sum
the poor Bimbashe was unable to pay, and the Seroph
sent him to prison. The worthies at the citadel were
unable to decide the case, and it was referred to the
Pacha, who immediately paid the money for his officer,
and then reminded the Seroph that upwards of 20 years
ago there was a deficit in his accounts of about 350 dol-
lars, and insisted upon immediate payment, with interest
and compound interest, according to the rate fixed by
the Seroph in the case of the Bimbasbe, amounting to
about 6,000 purses, at Si. the purse. This may appear
improbable, but money is worth 3 per cent. a month.
The Seroph said he could not pay, and was imprisoned
for a fortnight, when he handed to the Government 700
pares, and was liberated upon the promise of paying an
annual sum until the whole debt be liquidated. No one
in this case can impugn the justice of Mehemet Ali, and
I only mention it to show you how sharply he looks
about him when money is concerned.

CLIMBING BOYS.—By adopting the following
simple plan to sweep chimneys, invented by Mr. M‘Gil-
livray, there would be no further necessity for continuing
a system so, disgraceful to every feeling of humanity.
It is, that a small round iron bar, or pulley, be fixed
across the top of each chimney, over which place a
small endless chain, or prepared rope, descending to the
fire-place, where it will pass under another small iron
bar, to prevent it from twisting, then attach a whale-
bone brush to any part of the chain, and by pulling it
up and down, it will effectually bring down all the soot,
the brush being then detached, the chain will remain in
the chimney. It may be applied to any chimney, let
it be ever so small, or have ever so many angles. There
is now a neat model at the Polytechnic Institution,
Regent-street. By the above plan it would only be
necessary to employ adults to go about of a morning
with a chimney cloth and one or different sized brushes.
TItIESTE, DEC. 7.—A courier arrived here to-
day, who has engaged a suite of apartments in the Lo-
canda-Granda, for the Duchess of Berry and her numer-
ous suite. She is expected every moment. The Ko-
lowrat steamer from. Syra arrived half an hour ago._ The
Captain says that he spoke in the lonian Sea au
armed English steamboat, which was in pursuit of a
strongly-manned Egyptian corvette, which had steered
its course towards the coast of Albania.

GUEECE AND TURKEY.—M. Zographos, Mi-
nister of Foreign Affairs of Greece, sent by King Otho
to compliment the young Sultan on his elevation to the
throne, arrived
.on the 24th in Constantinople. The
steamer m which he was conveyed having fired a salute
of 21 rounds, the, batteries returned it immediately, but
it appears that the Envoy, who, placed on the deck of
the vessel, counted on his fingers the number of shots
tired by the latter, only reckoning nineteen, considered
this to be an insult offe:ed to the Grecian colours, and
refused to go ashore. The next day the dragoman of
the Porte was dispatched to him to inquire the motive
of his conduct, and when he ascertained that his dis-
pleasure arose out of the omission of two shots, he as-
sured him that was a mistake of the gunners, and as
a proof of it, he promised that another salute of -21
rounds shOuld be fired, which was actually done. All
the captains of merchantmen in the harbour were di-
rected to send their boats, bearing the Grecian 113 g, to
form the cortege of the Ambassador. Upwards of 300
accordingly assembled. • •
NATIONAL PROPENSITIE3.—WIIM a cele-
brated Scottish Nobleman was once Ambassador to the
Court of France, Louis was.very anxious to learn from
him the character of our nation, trio •
juncta in uno.
Well, my Lord." cried the King,
. . "hew would an
Englishman be found after a hard fought fiftl ?". " Oh !
f the day," replied the Am-
sleeping away the fatigues o
bassador. " Very prudently," rujoined his Majesty.
" And the Irish 1." " Oh, he'd be drinking away the
fatigues of the day." " Good ! good!" laughed out the
Royal Louis. " And nose, though last not least in
glory's annals—your own countryman—the bonny Scot ?"
Why, your Majesty, I ken Sandy's humour—he'd be
just darning his hose, perhaps, and thinking of the silier
he could save."