The Sun.
London, England, 1841-11-27 00:00:00

SYRIA.

The following is a letter from the Sardinian Consul at
Beyrout, dated the 20th of October :
Serious events have taken place in the mountains—
events amounting to civil war. The Emir, as is known,
has established himself at Deir-el-Kammer, and given
orders for the levy of tribute ; but the Druses, instead of
bringing their contributions, attacked the town on the
13th, and the fighting lasted till the 17th. There were
42 Christians killed, and 100 Druses ; the lattel, to the
number of 5,000, besieged the Christians, not numbering
more than 800 ; but the latter fought, protected by their
houses. There would have been no end to the combat
had not Colonel Rose and the English officers interfered
with Eyab Pacha, Aide-de-Camp of the Generalissimo,
and concluded an armistice. The Colonel left the Pacha
at Deir-el-Kammer. The Maronite Patriarch has sum-
moned his flock to arms. A mixed village of Druses and
Christians wished to remain neutral, but the Christians
attacked it, which made the village declare for the Druse
party, and the firing can be heard from this. The sale of
powder is again allowed here.
BEYROUT, OCT. M.—Again has this devoted country
become the scene of violence and bloodshed. We shall
endeavour to give such details as may be relied upon,
congratulating the public, however, on the fact that poli-
tics have had nothing whatever to do with the cause of
the quarrel. It would appear, as we have before stated,
that a degree of animosity has long existed between the
Druses and Christians, which has, at length, terminated
in open acts of hostility.
On the 12th and 13th instant a large party of Druses
and Christians from Deir-el-Kammer, of all sexes and
ages were assembled, in order that the men should deli-
berate on the affairs of " the mountain." Prior to the
discussion, the old fashioned and manly game of throw-
ing the djerid was played, and the utmost harmony
seemed to prevail. On a sudden, however, things
changed, and upon a pretext, whichisdiffeehrieldnretly related,
but appears from all accounts to have been of a most
frivolous nature, the Drusese fell
Nor
rn and
didt thheumr n.snbuasprtboicaireteihutsyest
crowd,
swordtwith putting
the
utmost
oms
ten, ferocity.u• me n,
stop here ; numbers, upon preconcerted signals, arrived
and mixed in the fray which had evidently been previ-
ously organised, setting fire to the houses in the village,
serious earnest. The Druses
byTwhheisctruhmgangleynwowerehedgeasttir
johy
armed on all sides. The Patriarch caused the Christians
to arm ; his commands were obeyed with alacrity, and
the Emirs Khangiar, Hagdar, and Sanwa, at the head of
large bodies of the mountaineers, hastened to the fray.
The Druses were not behind, and under the command
of chiefs of known bravery and tact, met in battle order
the people whom they had
so scandalously assaulted.
The consequences were such as would seem incredible:
a hundred villages have been sacked, the loss of human
life has been dreadful
on both sides, hundreds of chil-
dren who escaped the ruthless fur of the sword are now
in bondage, and the hatred existing is of such a nature,
as to lead to the idea that it will continue for a length
of time. The town of Beyrout has given shelter to
hundreds of miserable families burnt out of their villages
at an incredibly short distance from that place, to such
a point of insolent audacity have the Druses proceeded.
Colonel Rose, whose courage is proverbial, hastened
with some troops and his aides-de-camp, to endeavour to
allay the excitement—his endeavours were, however,
fruitless, as were also those of Selim Pacha, and even of
the Emir Beschir himself.
As
stuymult et,
allisthfaatr cfarnombe
being
gedq wehled c.
ertaisonmtye
siasy, that
the
Druses' have been driven back—others that they keep
uilt
their position. From Damascus nothing has reached,
the roads leading thereto being intercepted.
All commerce has, of course, ceased, and the one wish
breathed is for the speedy return of peace, which is ar-
dently to be desired.
Plague is report? d
march distant. to have broken out at Mazara, a
village twelve hours'

MALTA, Nov. 5.
NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

The Indus and - 'Calcutta ships of the line sailed this
morning for the westward, under sealed orders ; and four
other sail of the line now in port, Rodney and Vanguard
to-morrow, Ganges and Revenge on Wednesday.
Various are the conjectures as to their destination, two
are supposed to be for Lisbon, but two (the Indus and