The Sun.
London, England, 1846-01-26 00:00:00

THE PACHA OF EGYPT.

The Semaphore of Marseilles publishes the following
account of an interview with the Pacha of Egypt, com-
municated by M. Marmier, who is pErforming quaran-
tine at the lazaretto of that port ;—" Mehemet Ali pre-
serves in his old age all the habits of activity acquired
in his younger days. He rises early, and as soon as he
is up his doors are open to visitors. He takes plea-
sure in receiving foreigners, and more particularly the
French. The public functionaries come in to him with-
out any previous demand of an audience, and the Con-
sul of France goes to him with the same freedom and
ease as one friend calls upon another. We passed
through a large hall simply furnished, in which there
were persons attached to the palace, all of whom on
the arrival of M. Barrett rose, and saluted him with
great respect. One of these ushered us into a second
room, still more spacious, lighted by vet y high windows,
and having at the Jar end a divan which occupies the
whole side. On this divan was seated the youngest so❑
of the Viceroy, a boy about twelve years old, already
invested with the sabre, suspended from a belt round
his waist. By his side was his governor, and both pre-
served the utnr tst gravity. Mehemet Ali lay half in-
clined in a corner, supported by a pile of cushions,
and holding his ehibouck. Ou his head was the red
cap called the Fez, which he has given to be worn by
his soldiers instead of the turban, which is much heavier.
He was dressed in a furred caftan of ample folds, and his
fine white beard falling like flakes of silver upon his breast.
In front of him was his di agoman, and by his side a do-
mestic, who was employed in fanning him with a bunch of
palm leaves About half-a-dozen other servants stood at a
respectful distance, with their eyes fixed steadily upon
their master, watching to catch and execute the slightest
signal he might make. All the arrangements of this
apartment were very plain, but simply elegant. In this
group, formed near a window, in the oriental attitude of
this remarkable and noble old man, and, above ale in
the expression of his animated and energetic countenance,
there is wherewithal for a painter of eminence to pro-
duce a most striking picture. We drew near Mehemet,
and, after the usual formalities of a presentation, he
signified to M. Barrot to sit down by his side on the divan,
and pointed out for me an arm-chair placed in front of him.
Servants brought in coffee, and M. Barrett entered into
conversation with the Pacha, who loves to discuss ques-
tions of European policy. He had just received news from
Ibrahim Pacha, and spoke with delight of the accounts of
his improved health, and of the reception given him at
Marseilles. I have always loved France,' said the
Pacha, and I shall never forget that it was a French-
man who first held out the hand to me, at a time when I
was far from imagining the destinies which Providence
had reserved to me.' He then related that when he was
quite young, in his native town of Romella, one of his
cousins was murdered. He and his father wished to ob
taro justice on the murderer, but had not sufficient funds.
A French merchant, named Lyons, who had known
the deceased, gave them the necessary funds to proceed
to Constantinople and accomplish their wish.
always remembered,' continued he, with grati-
tude the conduct of M. Lyons, and when I was in-
vested with the dignity of Pacha, I wrote to him to come
and see me. He was preparing to set out, when he died
suddenly.' Whilst the dragoman translated to us this
story, Mehemet fixed on us his brilliant eyes to see the
effect it produced. I never saw more penetrating ones,
except with Bernadotte. In those of the latter, how-
ever, there was more pride, and in those of Mehemet
more keenness. Other visitors then arrived—the gover-
nor of the city, the English consul, and some of the chief
officers of the army. M. Barrot, thinking he had given
me sufficient time to see what I so much desired, took
his leave, and I went away, bearing with me an indelible
remembrance of the language and look of our host."

EDUCATION AND GAOL DISCI-

PLINE IN AMERICA.

The following observations were last week addressed
by Mr. G. H. Vernon, M.P., to the grand jury at the
East Retford sessions:—" Gentlemen of the grand jury,
—On the last occasion when it would have been my
province to have presided here, I was disabled from
doing so from my then being engaged in making a some-
what extensive tour in America. I was not there, how-
ever, as an idler, but as one seeking all the information I
could obtain during the shortness of my stay. There is
one subject which I think deserves our serious attention
as members 0: the English community. This subject
r,solves itself into two points; first, the manner in which
education is conducted; and secondly, the method in which
their gaols and penitentiaries are managed. It is strange,
that, in a comparatively new country, education (to use a
common phrase) has gone so much ahead of the mother
country, and that particularly amongst the lower classes,
where every man feels ashamed who has no education,
and where every man who is educated feels ashamed of
committing a crime. In our own country there is a pre-
judice against going ahead in Education ; and in this im-
inediat,, neighbourhood a foolish prejudice prevails
amongst the middle classes
children educated where the chi
classes receive their education. But in
againstld of
thhave inl gboutrhienigr
totally different. I had, during my
an opportunity of visi ing one
city, and I found that
easlitabollaisshsemsr
ntostinuntlhyatin
that city, but throughoutg
largest
h scholastic
tr
ai ltderle nt
hodef
whole state of Pennsylvania, were there con
were all taking an education in common, not being asked
what were the circumstances or situations in life of their
respective parents, or what churches or chapels they at-
tended, but all seemed bent upon attaining the object for
which they were sent, that of a sound and practical
education, to fit them for their respective stations in
after life. I found many of these youths exceedingly
acute, and put several questions to them, all of which
were answered in a surprising manner ; and on an in-
quiry, after a lengthened examination, as to who the
young man was who had acquitted himself the
best in the establishment, I was answered that he
was the son of the lamplighter of the city. With
respect to the management of their gaols and
penetentiaries, I find thatthey have established a system
of discipline and correction which is working most ad
mirably, and this is to be found in the decrease of the
offenders under confinement. The prison I inspected is
capable of holding 700 prisoners ; and a few years back
the avenge number confined was about 600, but latterly
these have dwindled down to about an average of
350. I inquired, in the various states which I visited,
whether the same systetia was adopted, and was in-
variably told that it was, and that with the same
results. Education, going hand in hand with proper
discipline, must produce results which are not only highly
desirable, but which must in time lead to a sounder and
better state of society in general. There is one other
benefit in America which cannot always be had here,
and that is, plenty of labour. Now, when a prisoner
gets out of gaol, and after having suffered that penalty
for his crime which the law awards, he ultimately emi-
grates to another state where his former course of life
and his crimes are unknown, and where he can redeem
his character by folio ping a different course of life from
what he had previously done where his crimes had found
him out.

WOUTH DEVON. —The incessant rains of the last
few days have done considerable damage to the young
wheats in hilly situations by washing the earth away
from the roots. The extraordinary mildness of the
weather has baffled the chronicle of that knowing re-
corder of rare occurrences, the oldest inhabitant. There
is not a man in Devon who remembers such a mild
season so long continued.—Western Times.
THE LEAGUE QUARTER OF A MILLION FUND...—
The subscriptions received since our last increase the
total amount to 80,5361, This is exclusive of the amount
subscribed at the fund meeting at Oldham, where 2,2651.
was the aggregate amount of the subscriptions in the
room. The subscriptions at Coalbrookdale. Salop, are
2,0671.; those at Preston, Lancashire, 2,3ool.—Manches-
ter Guardian.
EXTENSIVE FIRE IN CLERKENWELL.—About half-
past two o'clock on Friday morning, a tire took place at the
Hoop and Adze public-house, near Sutton-street, Clerken-
well. The persons residing on the premises were soon roused,
and the engine soon reached the spot. By that time, such
was the rapidity of the flames, that every floor was on fire.
Water was instantly supplied from the New River mains, and
several engines were set to work ; but notwithstanding this
powerful aid, in about half an hour nothing of the property
was left but the walls. An inquiry was made as to its
origin, but nothing decisive could be obtained on the subject.