The Sun.
London, England, 1841-06-14 00:00:00

THE kRECTiON OF PALESTINE
INTO AN INDEPENDENT CIIRISTIAN
STATE.

(From the Malta Times of the 15th ult.)
The following circular has been published Some four
months in Malta. It has also appeared in a Malta
journal, the Globo, translated into Italian. We have
deemed it proper now to publish the Circular as origi-
nally written. We are not answerable for all its opinions,
though we cordially approve of some :
There is a principle equally pervading the philosophy
of life as religion, that the countries, and " spots" of
countries, where the illustrious of mankind were born and
died, should be held in reverential esteem, if not be the
objects of a devout pilgrimage. The coldest sneer of the
sceptic cannot stitie this spontaneous • feeling of the
human heart, nor can the dry calculations of the political
economist barter away this instinct of our universal
natur.

Actuated with this deep and rational feeling, we Chris-
tians have come forward, but not presumptuously, at the
present crisis, to give expression to our sentiments as to
the propriety of Christians, of all sects and denomina-
tions, convening public or private meetings throughout
Christendom, for the object of requesting, through their
respective Sovereigns or Governments—that the Sublime
Porte would grant the cession of Palestine, or that por-
tion of Syria commonly denominated " The Holy Land,"
to all Christians, to be erected, under the auspices of
the Christian Princes of Europe and Asia, into an inde-
pendent Christian territory possessing self-government,
and subjected to such Prince as the Christian nations may
agree to, and with full and unanimous assent confirm in
his regal authority, it being a country which has always,
from the earliest times, excited the devoutest feelings
and desires of the -friends of Christianity, and after
which the hearts of all true believers now ardently yearn.
In making this request, we disclaim every idea of a
political, religiously-proselyting or invidious nature.
Our object is common Christian piety ; we are devoutly
anxious that the country which was the scene of the
labours and miracles of our glorious Redeemer, the
theatre of his unparalleled passion and death ; which
country also being the depositary of the monuments of
those stupendous events that have filled the world with
wonder theSe nineteen centuries should be in the pos-
session of those who believe in them and practise the
faith of the Divine Sufferer, and who can alone preserve
and venerate. them in a manner suitable to and worthy
their mysterious grandeur, and awful importance.
It is not for us to attempt to convey within the narrow
compass of a circular the crowd of ideas which irresisti-
bly force themselves upon us ; they will naturally arise in
the minds and affections of all those who believe in the
mission of the Saviour, or call themselves by the honour-
able name of Christians, in whose hands this communi-
cation may fall, and who will likewise easily devise the
most prompt and practical mode for bringing about this
consummation so devoutly wished. We think it enough
to express frankly and humbly our sentiments, to have
them responded to by the entire Christian world.
We think, likewise, the present moment exceedingly
favourable to the attainment of our object (an opportu-
nity is afforded which may not occur again for centu-
ries)—whilst diplomatic negotiations- are going on to
dispose of the territories of the disorganised empire of
the Turks, and to pacify the Levant in a substantial and
permanent manner, and equally for the interests of Mus-
sulmans, Jews.* and Christians.
The necessity of promptitude, and yet of the most
judicious deliberation of all Christians in a matter of
such high importance, have appeared to us so great,
that we have put aside the formality of a public meet-
ing, neither would we, though ardently disposed to for-
ward the divine cause, with a full heart and a strong
hand, be considered to arrogate to ourselves the credit
of originating this pious project ; nor would we seem to
dictate by affixing our signatures hereto, though we
pledge ourselves privately to communicate these our
sentiments to those Christians who we think will co-
operate with us—leaving the subject to,effect the rest. on
the public mind of Christian Europe, by its own simple.
intrinsic, and superlative excellence. 'Thus, then. we
leave the subject to produce a simultaneous result, so
that if this result be favourable it may develope itself in
meetings, end addresses or petitions to the respective
Christian Governments of Europe—to obtain this great
concession for the Christian world.
We are not able to anticipate any objections from
the nature of the object, or its cession by the Sublime
Porte: The Christian sovereigns cannot refuse to make
the request, inasmuch as they are both backed by what
must be the desire of all Christians, though that desire
be not expressed, as well as the interests of the Sublime
Porte, who has never been able to profit by the posses-
sion of this portion of Syria, whilst it would form an
impassable barrier to the ambitious projects of the Vice-
roy. of Egypt, and keep the capital of the Turkish em-
pire in a state of uninterrupted tranquillity. But if the
Porte should complain that her revenue would suffer by
this cession of territory, the Christians of Europe,
through the representative of their faith in Palestine,
would with the greatest willingness make up the defici-
ency in the most ample way.
-A common interest and common request cannot in-
volve any individual compromise of principle or feeling
amongst Christian's ; nor can such a request, collectively
made, have any other effect than redounding to the ho-
nour of those personages of high diplomatic rank, who
make it to.the Sublime Porte, and the Sultan who gra-
ciously condescends to gratify the Christian nations by
its cession. Nor, finally, do we see any ground for jea-
lousy amongst Christians and their Governments,, for we
would suggest that some one of the native Princes of
Syria should assume the Government, and in such an in-
dependent manner as to be uncontrolled by any of the
Christian Governments of Europe.
Let then the Christian world, at this most.favourable
juncture, arouse itself—that all true Christians may see
the .land dyed with the passion-blood of the Redeemer
of mankind, under the gentle and Christian sway of the
followers of the Cross.
* We think, however, the Jews would see it to be their ad-
vantage, that the Holy Land should be rather in Christians'
hands, who retard them, according to the Apostle St. Paul
(Rom. xi. 17, 15, 19, 20, 21.), as the stock on whichthe Gen-
tiles have been engrafted, who believe the Old Testament to
be divinely inspired,—and (wiih the exception of the judicial
and ceremonial portion of it) to be, as far as relates to the ful-
filment of the prophecies in the person of Christ in part the
foundation of Christianity—who venerate the Holy Land for
the sake of the Patriarchs and Prophets that inhabited and
decorated it, and who think that although the Jews cannot enter-
tain a hope of obtaining it for the establishment of the Jewish re-
ligion, by reason of the signal judgment of Heaven, as recorded
even by one of their own historians, by which they have been
banished from it now nearly nineteen centuries past, it may
yet serve, by being in the Christians possession, for the ga-
thering together of the remnant ( Nom. ix. 27, Js. x. 22.) of
that once favoured people, predicted to be called in and saved;
not (as they themselves must admit) by the profession of the
Jewish religion, which was but a type and figure of the reli-
gion of th promised Messiah, but by the profession of the re-
ligion of that Messiah, who upon that sacred spot would
be more efficaciously proved to have already come and
to have established His Holy Religion, which being embraced
by some, the announcement may go forth to their brethren dis-
persed all over the world, and thus the expression of the Pro-
phet Isaiah (Is. ii. 3.) may be verified—" The law shall come
forth from Sion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem."

AN INFERNAL MACHINE.
(From the Gazette des Tribunaux.)
BOULOGNE, JUNE 4.—A discovery which is still en-
veloped in mystery has seriously disturbed our city these
two days. The day before yest2rday. June 2, the packet
from London came ihto port about nine o'clock at night,
having on board eighty passengers, whQ successively were
searched, as customary, at the Custoin-hpuSe: .The last
carried a kind of straw hand-basket, the inside, of which,
having been cautiously examined, was found to contain,
envelopei with much care, a sort of infernal machine, a
six-barrelled pistol, the model of a fort, some powder,
some balls, and a few detonating caps adapted to the use
of these fire-arms. In consequence of this discovery, the
forenamed articles were seized and forwarded to the
Procureur du Roi, and the individual in whose possession
they were found was apprehended and incarcerated.
The Procureur du Roi and his deputy immediately com-
menced an investigation of the affair, and the passenger
was subjected to a long and minute examination, in the
course of which only this transpired :—The prisoner
says his name is Israel Levy Lillycrass, armourer, at
Bridgwater. He invented the machine and the pistol,
and completed them last February ; was now on his
road to Paris, with the intention of offering the deadly
weapons for sale to the French Government. He appears
aged about twenty-five or twenty-six, and is dressed like,
and has the gait of, a working man. Only two shillings
were found upon his person.
This a description of the machine and the pistol. The.
former is composed of an iron plate, from eight to nine
centimetres long by six wide. One side is bound with
wood, and upon the other, opposite, are fixed fifteen bar-
rels, five in a row, which are discharged by means of
vethreer3, nice.deto detonating gpiltante
whichhammers,
stiliiperotrritgsgtehre otranel
wbisch is
is
little hollowed, and, to fire it, it must be placed against
the The
breast,
barrels a
arefte r
very suspendingsbort,
andi
it aboutmN, thhee neck
easily
y a
n t)eb
race.
under a loose dress. They are so:.pointed as etoo fcoranliet:ll
circle of fire. The six barrels of the pistol are placed
one above the other, in pairs, and are fired by means of
two hammers, being placed so that. the fire may' cross.

The New toution of 44 BGREE'S PEERAGE
AND BARONETAGE," is just published. It is universally ac,
knowledged to be one of the most. splendid voumes ever issued
from the press. The extent of its information is indeed sur-
prising. ' The lineage of each distinguished House it records
is deduced through all the various ramifications, every collateral
branch, however remotely connected, is introduced, and the al-
liances are so carefully inserted as to show, in all instances, the
connexion which so intimately exists between the tiled and
untitled aristocracy. We have also much most entertaining
historical matter, and many very cut ious and interesting family
traditions. The work is, in fact,e complete Cyclopoedia of the
whole titled classes of the Empire ; supplying °all the informa-
tion that can possibly be desired en the subject. Among the
new features of the present edition may be mentioned—" 'I he
Royal Chronicler" (descriptive of the Crowned Heads of
Europe) ; " Particulars of Foreign Noblemen, Subject., by
birth of the British Crown ;" full details of " Toe Peerages
claimed and now under discussion ;" perfect Lists of toe
Knights of the different Orders of Knighthood,
the Knights
Bachelors, &c., &c.
THE WEATHER.—During the whole of the
present week we hale had northerly winds with cold and raw
weather, considering tlitit we are now so nearly approaching Mid-
summer. Great quantities of very fine mackerel have been
brought ashore dunng the week. and vended in the town at the
rate of six and eight for a shilling. In consequence of the pre-
valence of northerly winds -our Bay has been crowded with
homeward-bound vessels during the present week. Yesterday
they amounted to tbove.l3o sail, and embraced some very fine
ships. It i 4 to be hoped the wind will:soon shift round and
waft them to their respective destinations. On Wedre slay
a lady "pa gentleman resident on the Marine Parade, who were
exploring the reeks which shelve out into the sea, at the base of
Shakspeare's Cliff, to gather thence such fossil treasures as
they might find, got surrounded by the unobserved marches of
Davy Jones ; and, but for the timely approach of a boat en.
gaged at the works of the South-Eastern Railway, which was
_passing at the time and rescued them from their perilous situa-
tion, the conseournces might have been rather' serious to the
adventurous psir. —Dover Chronicle.