The Sun.
London, England, 1840-02-03 00:00:00

TURKEY AND EGYPT.

(FROM A CORRESPONDENT.)
The LSt letters from Alexandria express considerable
anxiety as to the course about to be taken for the set-
tlement of the (Mental question—which difficulties and
entanglements (complicated as they are) are as nothing
compared to what they may become if hostile interven-
tion and violent coercion be adopted as the ultima ratio.
Such a
_policy would be far more fatal than that of
Navarino_it would destroy the last fragments of the Ot-
toman power—it would be the signal for all the desolations
of a fanatical religious war—it would place Christian and
Nlwsulinan in positions of irreconcilcable hostility. When
the two great branches of the Mahontmedan family were
about to settle their disputes amicably and peacefully,
could European diplomacy find no better object than to
prevent that most devoutly-to-be-wished-consummation? j
Never were the interests of Russia so blindly ministered to
as when " the Five Powers" prevented the signature of
that treaty of amity, which had been settled between the
Sultan and the Viceroy; fir certain it is l'ehemet Ali
will not surrender without a fearful struggle the Syrian
territory which he holds under the Treaty Kutayali, whose
surrender, it is said, Russia and England arc about to

insist on.
That Russia should desire the sanction and co-ope-
ration of Great Britain, in any course of policy which
leads to the ruin and exhaustion of any part of the
Ottoman dominions. is quite natural--but twat Great Bri-
tain should lend herself to a policy so suicidal is incre-
dible. Lord Ponsonby, in his exceeding hatred towards
Mehemet Ali may be reckless of consequences—but can
the Government at home imagine that the recognition
of Russian ascendancy at Constantinople is anything but
the deliveryover of Turkey to her most insidious and dan-
gerous foe ? Mehemet Ali—Russia well knows—Mehemet
provinces Ali, allied to and dependent on the Porte,. would present
a formidable barrier apivin!t aggression. He alone can
yslopneyofp,lFSdy_rir.sm, olfvbie,
restore vitality to the Empire—he alone has with him the
prestige of the Mussulman Deputation.. Is Turkey
re-
motest strengthened b:t
turbulent,hen n for two
generations, she has failed to maintain her sway ? Mehemet
Ali has offered to surrender Araby. But could Turkey
hold it ? She made the experiment when her armies were as
yet compact, and her finances in tolerable condition :—and
adby thanedpothleisl
Araby was wrested from her by the wandering Wahabris. It
was reconquered for her, and made again tributary to her by
Mehemet Ali. If the Sultan holds any sovereignty over
tie holy cities, it is "to, Mel!ernet Ali he is indebted for the
recognition of his authority. In July last Mehemet Ali
was master of the Levant. He did not march upon Con-
stantinople ; he took no step beyond the territory gua-
ranteed to him by the Convention of 'Kutayah. More
than any man he has made sacrifices to the empire. He
defended Ernie, reconqucred Crete,. subdued Acre, re-
stored Arabia. And what complaints has Great Britain
against the Pasha of Egypt? 'l'bis land has become the
steppingstone to India. Thanks to the protection of
Mehemet Ali, 'she communicates with her Oriental pos-
sess!ons in one-fifth of the time formerly employed. The
desert has been made safe; the Nile and the Red Sea is
navigated without anxiety. Is he to be overpowered by
being overthrown? This must not be.

We are sorry to state the total wreck of the
schooner Alarm, John Lincoln, master, belonging to the
port of Woodbridge, being the second vessel lost from that port
the present winter. It appears she had discharged her cargo,
w as d
proceeding from Glasson Duck, in ballast, to Liverpool,
an caught in the dreadful gale last Wednesday. The stern of
the vessel was washed cn shore in Canning Dock, at the latter
place.