The Sun.
London, England, 1849-08-24 00:00:00

naediately the Russians cross the frontiers of Hungary
we shall acknowledge the independence of that coun-
try, and our fleet in the Mediterranean v%id take
possession of Trieste and Fiume, which will be gar-
risoned from Malta and Corfu, and will then
proceed to raise the siege of Venice, the
independence of which will be also acknowledged,"
his Lordship would have effectually secured the
liberties of Hungary and Italy. In the face of
such a declaration, with the knowledge that Turkey
would join England in an alliance offensive and de-
fensive, and that Moldavia, Wallachia, and Poland,
would in such a case be up and doing, the
CZAR would have preferred mediation with
Austria to war with Hungary. If last year
he had, instead of suffering himself to be
blindly led by France, at once acknowledged,
as he was bound to do by treaty, the inde•
pendence of Sicily, and pointing to the guarantee
by England, in 1812, of the Sicilian Constitution have,
at once announced to the Neapolitan BOURBON
that any attempt on his part to violate that
constitution would constitute a caaus belli, Si-
cily would now have been free ; and seeing
the independent attitude assumed by England,

the French PRESIDENT would not have ventured
to attack Rome, nor his cousin, the Russian EM-
PEROR, to invade Hungary. That Lord PALMER-
STON, had he been permitted to follow his own inspi-
rations, would have acted thus, we verily believe,
but he is thwarted and obstructed by an irresponsible
camarilla. Too long has he submitted to the secret
tyranny of this cabal. Let him come out from
among a Ministry to which he alone imparts re-
spectability ; let him leave them to perish of their own
rottenness—they already stink in the nostrils of the
people ; let him resign, and denouncing the camarilla,
upon which, be it dynastic or aristocratic, the people
will know how to do justice, if he cannot uphold
the cause of liberty in foreign countries, at least, by
placing himself at the head of the movement, save
it in his own.

The year 1769 has been for ever rendered re-
markable by the birth of many peculiarly dis-
tinguished men. Among the number, however,
were three whose astonishing careers have cast the
recollection of the others into almost entire oblivion. In
that auspicious year three infants first saw the light,
born in different countries and in such marvellously
dissimilar conditions, that their history is another
proof of how little a man's fortune depends upon his
circumstances, and how entirely (under PROVIDENCE)
it depends upon himself. Of these three infants, one
was the younger son of a British noble, another was
one of the fifteen children of a humble tradesman in a
Turkish town, and the third was the offspring of an
exiled Italian family, living in retirement in
a little island of the Mediterranean. Eighty
years back they alike slept the sleep of unconscious
innocence in their dissimilar cradles—those three men,
whose lives were to have an imperishable record in
the history of the world, whose actions were to
change the fate of nations. Unlike as was the outset
of their various careers, all ultimately adopted a sol-
dier's life, even the young Turk fled away from the
tobacconist's shop to which his destiny had seemingly
consigned him, and entered the army as a volunteer.
Nevertheless, although the battle-field was to those three
heroes the initiation of the path of renown, it is not to
be inferred from thence that war is an infallible way to
glory, and warlike qualities the best passports to dis-
tinction. Had these three men been only soldiers,
their names would have passed away like the thou-
sands of others never known beyond the muster-roll.
It was not to the mere circumstance of their having
adopted a military life, but rather to their own great
talents and marvellous energy, that these men were

indebted for their remarkable celebrity. It was
talent and energy of no common order that converted
the unknown English ensign into " the WELLESLEY
of Assaye," and afterwards into the WELLINGTON of
the Peninsula and of Waterloo. It was talent and

energy, or rather let us say it was genius of the
highest order, a mental capacity capable of conceiving
great designs, and an indomitable courage and resolu-
tion in effecting them such as no other man has ever
possessed. It was this, and not the circumstance of
his having first chosen a sword to carve his path,
that elevated the humble 'youth of Corsica to the
Imperial Throne of France, that girt his brows with
the Royal diadem of Italy, that gave to his dominion
"a realm, surpassing that of Charlemagne,
Which stretched from Moscow to the Southern Seas,"
and made the Kings and Princes of Europe attendants
in his ante-chamber.

The history of this greatest of the children of 1769
is interwoven with the history of the world, and the
fortunes of him whose greatest triumph is in
having given the death-blow to that almost
invincible conqueror are familiar to all. He lives,
an object of veneration to his countrymen—long may he
be spared !—the only survivor of the wondrous "three"
whose lives have cast so much celebrity upon the year
1769. It is not of these that we would now speak,
but their fortunes have been recalled to us by the
consideration of one who started on his career at the

same epoch, and who, as it were, but yesterday, has
been gathered to his fathers. MEHEMET ALI
is no more. The son of the Turkish trades-

man, the incipient tobacconist, the volunteer
soldier, the Viceroy of Egypt, the terror
of the SULTAN, and the glory of the Egyptian, has
passed away—
" The paths of glory lead but to the grave."

•
We can readily believe that MEHEMET must have
been greatly beloved by his own people, fortis character
was one that invariably wins regard. He is described
as frank and open, easily impressed, and readily express-
ing Tall he felt ; to his children remarkable for his
kindness, and living in domestic life with simplicity
and
,without restraint. Ever active and energetic, he
rose before sunrise ; and, like all ambitious men,
keenly alive to public opinion, he was in the habit of
having the European papers constantly translated to
him, and any remarks concerning himself affected him
much. He entertained a high opinion of America,
and prophesied that its great resources would hereafter
be remarkably exhibited. It is said that he was
well acquainted with the characters of European
politicians, and familiar with the various views of

Lord JOHN itussELL and Sir ROBEHT PEEL, the
latter being his especial favourite. These are but
minor points, yet they are interesting as character-
istics of a great man. Ambition, which ultimately
converted the obscure tobacconist into the powerful
Pasha, was the ruling passion of MEHEMET. That
ambition stimulated his first essay in arms.
He soon obtained favour with the Govornor
of Cavalla (his native town) by crushing a re-
bellion. In 1799, in the war with the
French in Egypt, MEHEMET greatly distinguished
himself, rose in rank and acquired the love and sub-
mission of his soldiers. After various vicissitudes
and much intrigue, in 1806 he was raised to the
Pashalic. of Egypt, and at once ensured to himself
the adhesion of the army by the payment of long-
owing debts. From this period the new PASHA, not
content with the power he had obtained, seemed only
desirous of extending his dominions; assisted by his
victorious son IBRAHIM, his successes were great. It

is unnecessary here to recapitulate the varying fortunes
of MEHEMET ALI, they will be found detailed in an-
other column, One blot, however, tarnishes the memory
of the VICEROY—the cold-blooded murder of the
Mamelukes, an act (making allowances for the
doubtful morality of the East) not, perhaps, so
atrocious in intent as it assuredly was in execution,
but, nevertheless, an indelible stain in the history of
this generally merciful and magnanimous Prince.
As an instance of this latter quality let it not be for-
gotten with what almost unparalleled generosity
MEHEMET ALI permitted the ordinary transit of
the India mail through his dominions, even while
the English fleet were bombarding Acre—an act
worthy of the chivalry of SALADIN I
The great test, however, of the worth of a Governor
is the condition of the people over whom be rules.
Has Egypt been benefited by the sway of the late
VICEROY ? We believe, on the whole, the answer
would be in the affirmative. MEHEMET ALI, not-
withstanding Turkish prejudices, encouraged fo-
reigners to mingle with and instruct his people. In
his latter days be founded many schools and hospi-
tals, and endeavoured to promote manufactures. The
following observations are said to have been uttered by
him some years back. They form a noble panegyric
on his memory :
" Respecting myself," said he, to an intelligent Eng-
lish gentleman, "I am not a literary man. My educa-
tion has been gleaned from the open page of nature. I