The Sun.
London, England, 1841-12-21 00:00:00

PRICE 5d

THE LEVANT MAIL,

TURKEY.
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Government
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Minister
be procured to satisfy it. It is, in fact, now living from
ten
go,
before their receipt. The Porte is restoring the system
out the revenue of its provinces to the highest bidder. if
this is continued, it will renew the necessity of making
use of the infamous and unprincipled Armenian bankers,
and the always ill-used influence of money in the affairs
of Government. New taxes are to be levied on houses
in the capital, which will be a new source of revenue
heretofore unexplored.
The Smyrna journals of the day will inform you that
the Druses and Maronites have broken out in open hos-
tilities, and are slaying each other with dreadful cruelty.
'The Porte seems not to be much concerned about the
matter, and even the Governor of Beyrout, Selim Pach2,
does not care to interfere and .stop the effusion of the
blood of- the Sultan's subjects. It need not be told you
that Syria at this moment is a prey to an anarchy of the
worst kind, viz., that which is caused by religious in-
trigues. :Numberless French Jesuit priests have been
landed on the ill-fated shores of the once Holy Land,
and, in their anxiety to convert their inhabitants to
Polery, have induced the Patriarch of the Maronites
(who are Catholics) to exert his influence over the
secular chief of the Maronites, and ineluce him to com-
pel the Druses, a people half Mussulman half Chris-
tian, but under his authority, to become members of
their church. The two tribes have not been friends for
many years, and this religious persecution has added
new fuel to the fire of discord. It is said that the
Patriarch rides side by side with the Emir, and excites
him and his people to exterminate the infidel Druses. A.
petition has been sent to the Porte by the Druses, beg-
ging they may be taken from under the juri2diction of
the Maronites, and form a separate and independent
tribe. Their numbers are much less than those of the
Maronites, but thus far each Druse has proved a match
for two of them ; and if something is not soon done to
stop the war now raging between them the Maronites
will be exterminated. The old Emir I3eschir is still
here and although it is reported that he is to be restored
to his principality it will not probably be done. His
cause is supported by the French and Austrian embas
sies, and the Catholics of this capital are warmly in
favour of the Maronites. If the Porte consults its own
interests, is not biassed by these two embassies, and is
really desirous of procuring the tranquillity of its Sy•
rian subjects, it will do what nature suggests as the
only rational method of doing so—allow the separation
of the conflicting tribes and give a Chief to that of
the Druses.

The new Opera established in Pera has commenced
operations, and has quite gained the hearts of the Pera-
otes, most of whom have grown up in ignorance of a
drama of any kind. S. everal representations of the opera
of Norma have been made, and though none of the best,
yet they really do credit to such strolling actors as these.
The theatre has been fitted up with good taste, and each
chief of a legation has taken a loge for the season. Tho
night before last the circus erected some time ago in the
Grand Champs des Morts by their Excellencies Redshid
and Achmet Pashas took fire, and was burnt down, much
to the gratification .of the more devoted Mussulmans;
who regarded it as the work of a certain nameless
Coloured gentleman. It was, however, generally pretty
well patronised by the lower classes of both Mussulmans
and Christians.