The Sun.
London, England, 1840-09-08 00:00:00

SYRIA.

Extract of a letter, dated Beyrout, July 9.0,1840 :
It is now two months since the people of the Lebano❑
began to rise, and many were the occurrences that took
place in the short period of 60 days that has elapsed.
I lament, as a Frenchman, the less of our political and
religious influence over the revolted Maronites (who im-
plored, in vain, our assistance), and their oppressors,
and it grieves me the more as, by not acquiescing in their
demand, we have suffered a favourable opportunity to
escape for terminating the apparently interminable
eastern question. The grievances of the mountaineers
were well founded. Christians, Druses, and Mutualis
simultaneously rose, and bound themselves by a pledge
of union.

The insurrection at first was not extensive, being
confined to a few peasants of the districts of Seyde, Bey-
rout, and Tripoli. Soon afterwards 12,000 or 15,000
mountaineers sallied forth and laid regular seige to
those three cities, whose garrisons did not amount to
more than 600 men each. Unfortunately for the
revolters, their great Prince, an avaricious and
wily old man, could not be prevailed upon either
to declare in their favour, or openly to join the
Viceroy, to whom he addressed underhand repeated
assurances of submission. The Egyptian Government
adopted energetic measures, and displayed admirable
activity in collecting on the menaced points a consider-
able force. In less than a month it had assembled at
Beyrout between 15,000 and 16,000 men, and a fleet
consisting of 1 ship of the line, 14 frigates, and 8 other
lesser vessels. During those preparations, which how-
ever formidable, would never have insured the least
success to the generals of the Viceroy, the agents of the
latter were labouring to divide the inhabitants of the
mountains, to shake the resolution of the Grand Prince,
and buy over the influential sheiks.
In the course of a short time the Druses recollected
that two years previously those same Christians, who
now revolted and sought their co-operation, had waged
against them a deadly war, in the Haouran, in conjunc-
tion with the Egyptian troops. The Mutualis had
similar and more recent reproaches to address to the
Christians ; and the inhabitants of Naplooz, those ter-
rible antagonists of Mehemet Ali in 1834, were also re-
minded that they had, like the Druses, a revenge to take
on the Maronites of Lebanon. The principle chiefs of the
_ _

Druses suddenly abandoned the ranks of the Insurgents ;
the Mutualis, whose numbers were few, also submitted ;
but the inhabitants of Naplooz joined the troops of
Soliman Pacha and Abbas Pacha. The unhappy
Christians, seeing themselves abandoned and betrayed
in their turn, as they had themselves previously aban-
doned and betrayed their vindictive brethren, imme-
diately broke up and dispersed, and when the army ad-
vanced into the mountains some days ago, it encountered
only a few feeble obstacles, which did not prevent it,
and does not prevent it even at this moment, from
burning and destroying whole villages, together
with the convents placed under the protection rf
France, which it meets on its passage. Soliman Pacha
(Col. Selves) is the author of all the massacres which
have occurred ; the renegade has not failed to include
the profanation of those abodes of Christian religion
among his duties as a pious Nlussulman.
Nevertheless, the insurrection is not yet altogether

appeased. We have been told, that whilst Soliman
Pacha was ravaging the districts of Deir el Kamar and
But-Eddin, in conjunction with Osman Pacha, who
has advanced from the valley of Bkaa, Tripoli was
again menaced by 6,000 mountaineers, under the
orders of Emir Khandjar and Feres. The French
corvette of war La Brillante, which had been detached

on a cruise along the coast, has returned with intelli-
gence that the garrison of Tripoli. having attempted a
sortie, had been repulsed, and re-entered the place in
disorder. after leaving a number of slain on the field.
The English have encouraged the revolt, ever since
its explosion. They lately landed ammunition on the
coast, and excited the hopes of the mountaineers by
promises of efficacious support. They have here, at
this moment, two ships of the line, a frigate, a corvette,
and two steamers, under the orders of Captain Napier,
who appears anxious for a " brush." They will cer-
tainly avail themselves of the first opportunity to strike
a blow, and then it may be that the artillery ot the
Powerful will set fire to that momentous Eastern ques-
tion, which, in my opinion, can never be completely ad-
justed without the interference of the ultima ratio regain,
or populorain.

INSURRECTIONARY MOVE
MENTS IN PORTUGAL.

CORTES.-CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES

AUGUST 25.

The Minister of War rose and said—When I had,
a few days ago the honour of announcing to the Chem-
her the honourable conduct of the garrison on a late
lamentable occasion, which so greatly distressed all
good Portuguese, I did not expect that within a few
days I should have to make a communication very dis-
honourable, not to the army, but to the corps which
has d;sgraced itself by acting in a contrary manner.
The Government has this day been informed by the
telegraph that the 6th battalion of infantry, 206 or
207 men strong, has committed the horrible offence of
revolting against the Government.
Ilis Excellency then read the whole of the telegra-
phic despatches. We give the following
"THIRD TELEGRAPHIC BULLETIN FROM
THE CASTLE, Auo. 28, 1840.

" TO THE WAIL MINISTER AND THE COMMANDER OF

TIIE FIRST mtuw,kaY

" Yesterday morning the 6th battalion rtvnited in
Caztello-Braneo, giving vivas for the Queen, the Con-
stitution a 1908, and the downfal of the Ministry.
The men of the Cavalry 4Rd the Safety Guard did not
interfere."
" FOURTH BULLETIN
E. FROM Tug
CASTL
Half-past 6 in the evening.
" (Continuation of the above.)
" The Cavalry and Safety Guard di4 pOt concur.
The authorities and the General fly.
The mutineers have hopes in the 9th and 13th, and
have marched oo Abrantes. The Governor here asks
orders from the Government, as be has only 50 men
disposable.

" CONSTANTINE JOSE ALVES.
" Dated the 28th current."
VAR-OFFICE--FIRST DEPARTMENT.

SEVENTH MILITARY DIVISION.
Most Illustrious and Excellent Senbor,--I
hasten to
transmit to your Excellency the annexed. orig,iaal
despatches and documents which I have just received
from the Administrator-General of the district of Por-
talegre, and from the Military Governor of Marvao, by
which it will be seen that Lieutenant-Colonel Miguel
Augusto da Sousa, commanding the 6th infantry, de,
aided, on the night of the 26th current, in concert with
the oth and 14th infantry to raise the cry of " Viva a
Riinha a Senhora bonna liarig 11." " the Constitu-
tion of 1835," and " Down with tn.-, ,Wri;:t;tcrs."
making proclamation to the troops in the spirit whie'h
your Excellency will see. I proceeded to take such
precautions as were within my reach to stop and
mut tbe troops in the district of the division
under charge from adopting a similar course, of
which
[pry
was not until this ylomeint certain ; and mean-
with
L•le i ...
1.11-" ne that your Excellency, esti/444,i the im-
portance of the ac,,
a will cause proper and energelie
11,,. I inform your Exce'
measures to be taken. Fina„ , a.
----General of
lency that I have directed the Govern,
Portalegre to order on Niza and Villa Velha the force
disposable for the public security, to observe the move-
meats of the rebels in this military district, and to