The Sun.
London, England, 1841-03-13 00:00:00

SYRIA.

THE TURKS, JEWS, AND CHRISTIANS,
AT DAMASCUS.
DAMASCUS, JAN. 15.

Ever since the departure of Ibrahim from this city,
the Christians are exposed to the fanaticism of the
Turks and Jews, which is carried to such an extent
that they will soon he obliged to emigrate, unless some
energetic and powerful protection be afforded them.
A. few days after the departure of the Egyptian
General-in-Chief the provisional authorities proceeded
to meet some of the definitive Magistrates appointed
by the Porte. They had scarcely left the town when
disorder commenced ; the Turks, incited by the Jews,
began to attack the police-officers ; several persons were
murdered and divers houses pillaged. This was done
with the view of occasioning a general rise against the
Christians, who were dreadfully beaten wherever they
were found. A Greek, of the name of Lidaouni,
having made some resistance, was murdered most
atrociously, and expired beneath the blows of fifty as-

sassins.
On the evening of this day of blood and anarchy, the
Turkish authorities made their entry into the town,
went through the principal quarters, escorted by a de-
tachment of Turkish soldiers, and in the evening pub-
lished a proclamation, which gave some hope that dis-
order would be repressed ; but the persecution planned
between the Jews and Mussulmans against the Chris-
tians, was soon to manifest itself in the very acts of the
authorities themselves.
Three days after the nomination of the members of
the Divan took place, the same members were re-elected.
At the very first sitting it was decreed that the Chris-
tians were no longer to be mounted, were to possess no
slaves, and were not to wear a white turban. Mr. John
Anhouri, a member of the Divan, and the representa-
tive of the Greek Catholics, begged that the execution
of the decree should be delayed for a fortnight. A
week's delay only was granted, and the decree was im-
mediately posted round the town.
From this moment every species of insult was con-
sidered practicable against the Christians, and the white
turban was pulled off the heads of several.
Complaints were addressed to the Governor by a
great many individuals. The Governor received very
kindly all those who called on him ; he promised to
see into the matter immediately, and, in fact, convoked
all the members of the Divan, declaring that he did
not recognise the measures which they bad adopted
respecting the Christians, and informed them that he
intended to forward a detailed account of the affair to
the Government.
On this the members of the Divan, who had been the
foremost in proposing the aforesaid measures, began to
remble for the consequences of their behaviour, pro-
posed leaving unexecuted what they had decreed against
the Christians, and withdrew quite disconcerted. But
in awaiting orders from Constantinople, the Christians
remain under the weight of the reprobation that the de-
cisions of the Divan have excited against them in the
minds of the people. Under such circumstances, the
members of the different Christian worships have has-
tened to address to the Consuls residing at Damascus
a circular which, although written with the reserve that
their situation demands, is nevertheless sufficient to at-
tract public attention to the present situation of Chris-
tians in this country.
" CIRCULAR ADDRESSED TO THE CONSULS AT DA-
MASCUS, BY THE PRELATES OF THE DIFFERENT
CHRISTIAN cHURCHEt..
Messieurs les Consuls—We have the honour of in-
forming you, that on Thursday last some Jews took the
liberty to insult and grossly outrage the Christians, by
making them undergo every kind of humiliation.
" Several Christians called on us to complain of the
wicked conduct of the Jews, an abominable conduct,
which humiliates the Christians in general.
"In your quality of representatives of the great
Christian powers, you will not allow, Messieurs les
Consuls, religion to be further insulted by malefactors,
which is contrary to the wishes and orders of his Ex-
cellency the Pacha and to those of the Government
of the Sublime Porte, which tends, in harmony with
the European Powers, to promote the improvement
and civilisation of these countries, by extending its be-
nefits and justice to all its subjects. We address this
letter to you in order that you may act conformably,
and that you may support us with kind protection.—
We have the honour to be, &c.
(Signed) "The Vicar of the Greek Patriarch, the
Vicar of the Holy Lard, the Vicar
of the Catholic Patriarch, Joseph
Marsani, a priest ; Bishop Jacob, a
Syrian ; the Armenian Vartabiet,
the Armenian Catholics.

" Damascus, Jan. 4."
Previous to receiving this circular, several of the
Consuls had repaired to the Governor to demand justice
for acts of violence committed on their proteges. The
English Consul had succeeded in having a man punished
for having pulled off the turban of Mr. Selina ; but all
the efforts of the European representatk es have ob-
tained no real reparation for such revolting fact, and
consequently have inspired no respect for the Christian
name.
Since the arrival of AU Pacha, who entered this city
at the head of 6,000 men, the Christians have con-
tinued to suffer the most vexatious treatment, especially
from the Jews. Bands of Jews from without have pa-
raded the town, and, under pretext of rejoicing, have
fallen on the Christians and insulted them grievously,
cursing aloud Christ, the cross, and the priests.
These are the first fruits that have been reaped at
Damascus from the departure of the Egyptian autho-
rities, that, during so many years, had maintained
such excellent order, and had inspired respect for every
kind of worship by extending their protection to all
alike.

THE WEATHER.

ROYAL GALLERY OF SCIENCE, ADELAIDE-

STREET.

NOON. MARCH 12.
Barometer 30.43 In.
Thermometer
Highest 64.5
Lowest

Wind S. W. —Freezing Point 32 Deg.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

ALL ENGLAND COURSING MEETING,
MAacit 9, 10, AND 11.
The All England Cup of 640/. was won by Mr. Hunt's
Ilarriet, beating Mr. Reade's Ruby. The Fleetwood Stakes
of 114/. were won by Mr. A. Graham's Cacciatore, beating
Mr. Slater's Echo. And the All England Purse of 401. by
Mr. Easterly's Erico, beating Mr. Eden's Snap.
HER MAJESTY'S STAG HOUNDS.—Monday, Riching's
Park ; Wednesday, Ascot Heath.

A GENERAL INVITATION.—The Boston
Post ( America) tells a story of a down-cast Militia Cap-
tain, who, on receiving a note from a lady, requesting
" th^ pleasure of his company," understood it as a com-
pliment to those under his command, and marched the
whole of them to the lady's house.
At Vienna, on the 25th ult., was celebrated, in
the chapel of the English Embassy, the marriage of his Excel-
lency Lord Beauvale, her Britannic Majesty's Ambassador to
the Court of Austria, with Mdlle..deMaltzahn, daughter of the
Prussian Ambassador at Vienna. Prince Metternich and the
whole of the resident foreign Ministers were present at the
ceremony.
MARRIAGE IN HIGH LIFE.—On Thursday,
by special license at St. George's, Hanover-square, by the Rev.
Horace Pechell, the Right Hon. the Earl of Abingdon, to the
Lady Frederica Kerr, daughter of Lord Mark Kerr and the
Countess of Antrim.
One of the petitions presented by Mr. Hume
from the National Charter Association, on Wednesday, was for
the release of Robert Peddie, not Petty as given in the Report.
BIRTH.—On the 9th inst., in Park-street,
Bath, the lady of Walter Irvine, M.D., was safely delivered
of a son and heir.
DINNER PARTlES.—Viscount Beresford will
give his third grand dinner on the 24th inst. ; the Duke of
Cambridge will give a grand dinner on the 20th inst. Dinner
parties were given yesterday by Mr. Abraham Robarts, in Hill-
street; the Bishop of London, in St. James's-square ; and. Mr.
Baring Wall, in Berkeley-square.
.YEWS DECLARATION BILL.—Of the twenty-
five bigots who formed the tail of Sir Robert Inglis, inopposing
this Bill on Wednesday, not fewer than ten were Scotch Alern-
hers, or of Scotch descent. To the honour of Ireland not one
Irish Member voted against it.