The Sun.
London, England, 1840-08-22 00:00:00

THE EASTERN QUESTION.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
SlR,—Though I am atforeigner, may I hope that you
will not refuse the following few lines a place in your so
highly estimated Newspaper.
I have found with the greatest pleasure that you are
always a defender of what is just and right, and that
you are perfectly aware that the friendship betwcer,
England aad France is the surest bulwark against the
powerful enemies of liberal institutions. It is, therefore,
,vith regret that I now see you defending Lord Palmer.

stone's transactions with respect to Egypt and Turke;

Surely it is of little consequence for the happiness
of mankind whether Syria is under the govern-
ment of the weak Sultan, or of the powerful Mehemet
Ali, if both these Monarchs have no other object in view
than to enslave the people of that country ; but as it iQ
far more probable that Syria, under the government of
Mehemet Ali, will sooner be a partner of European
civilization than if it should obey the authority of the
Sultan, so all ought to wish that it may continue to he
in the hands of the former. This seems to me to be
the principal reason wherefore Lord Palmerston, as a
member of England's liberal Government, should have
agreed with Prance in giving Mehemet Ali a sure
possession of Syria' but this able Minister has surely in
this instance been deluded by the falsehood of Russia,
and, perhaps, of Lord Ponsonby's renowned hatred to
Mehemet Ali. 1 think in respect to the Eastern ques-
tion that I can justly apply to Lord Palmerston this old
proverb—lnterdum dormitat etiam magnus Humerus.
How have Lord Palmerston and yourself been per-
suaded that Russia, only to please England, which it
certainly hates, will change its politics with respect to
Turkey ? And even if Russia should at present do so,
how can you think that it is its real intention to resign
entirely her design on that empire ?

" Aut ulla putatis
Dona carerc dolls Danaum ? Sic notus Ulysses?"
Russia very well sees that if the Sultan and Me-
hemet Ali be permitted to make peace with each other,
then should all cause for Russia to send troops to Asia
Minor, under pretext to assist Turkey, cease, but really
to make herself master of it. Russia well knows that
Mehemet Ali is not the man who will be subdued by
words alone, and therefore she certainly hopes that a
war will begin, which will open the gates peace would
have closed. This is, however, not the principal object
wherefore Russia has sought the friendship of England,
but to sow the seed of discord between England and
France. It is the friendship between these countries
which disturbs the sleep of the Autocrat, and strikes
with terror the hearts of the Russian Aristocracy. It
is this friendship which causes the Russians to fear
and the Poles to hope that Poland will yet see the days
of liberty ; therefore, to make France and England
enemies, has Russia now concluded a treaty with Eng-
land to save Turkey, which it, however, has resolved
soon to destroy. Lord Palmerston is therefore to
blame, who hazards the friendship between England and
France to give Syria to that Monarch, who himself,
perhaps, may soon be a prey of the Russians,
but still let us hope that Providence will avert
that great crime—a war between France and England,
who are both the guardians of the freedom of nations,
and ought to unite all their power against the enemies
of the people.
If the people of Syria will make themselves inde-
pendent, then let England and France assist them in
that noble purpose ; but may the Syrians never again
come under the Government of Turkey. Such thoughts
are worthy of the enlightened Ministers of England and
France, who at present rule the fate of both these great
nations.

Approving of that praise you have often bestowed
upon Lord Palmerston, who with such true glory has been
so long a time Minister for Foreign Affairs, 1 must,
however, declare that I dissent from your defence of
his politics on the Eastern Question. I am about to
publish a political work, in which I will treat on this
question, and therefore give my opinion on the same,
that no one may have reason to say that my judgment
has been caused by the results.
I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
Hull, Aug. 20, 1840. G. C. H.

Colonel Chatterton has announced his intention
of becoming a candidate for the representation of the pity
of Cork at the next election.--Dublin Evening Jtlail.
BUTTONS.—The manufacture of buttons has at
length reached the ne plus ultra of perfection. An in-
genious Frenchman has invented a button in which the
principle of nut and screw is applied, so that, without a
stitch, buttons may be far more securely, as well as more
speedily, put upon clothes than in the ordinary way and
those wbo have not 'abuts above buttons Nab L 4.1 t
please, ye half-,a-dopn suits of builtcina tocth 844 of
clothes, the top being screwed Al} tg thu shank ...Binning.
ham 144crt4sert

r DEATH 4 WHI.LE BATHING.4—On Thursday
eve'hig, about seven o'clock, a man named John Delaney,
While bathing in the river, was seized with ttts cramp, and
before any aid could reach him ho Rank, and was drowned.
The body was picked up about three hours afterwards off
"'els?a 'Hospital, a short distance from the spot where
the'rp"an lost hi.; life, by King, a Thaws Police Inspector,
And hi; boat's crew. An inquest was held yesterday, and
a verdict of " Accidental Death " returned. A youth
was drowned under similar circumstances yesterday after-
noon, while bathing in the Thames at Bermondsey