The Sun.
London, England, 1860-07-12 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING; JULY 12, 1860.

the protection, in fact, from massacre of the
Christian population throughout those fair but ill-
fated regions, extending between the range
of the Lebanon and the shores of the Mediter-

ranean.
Thanks to the timely inquiries addressed by
Lord STRATFORD DE REDCLIFFE en Tuesday
evening in the House of Lords to the Under
Secretary for Foreign Affairs, we have already
been put in possession of additional and per-
fectly authentic particulars as to the late
deplorable occurrences in Syria. From the state-
ment made on Tuesday by Lord WODEHOUSE, in
answer to the inquiries of the noble viscount, late
her Britannic MAJESTY'S Ambassador at Constan-
tinople, it is only too clearly manifest that the ac-
counts already received from the Levant were
hardly in any way exaggerated. • The disturbances
in the first instance seem to have been entirely of
the old character—originating as plainly as could
be, as so often of yore, from the brutal fanaticism of
the pagan Druses—that fanaticism being allowed
full Flay by reason of the feebleness, the utter
powerlessness (for the prevention of outrages, and
the preservation of order) of the troops and emissa-
ries of the Turkish Government. According to the
account of Lord STRATFORD DE REDCLIFFE,
the signal was given during the month of May last,
by a descent of the Druses upon the little coast
town of Beit MeH, upon the shores of the Mediter-
ranean. Having thus whetted their appetite for
slaughter among the unfortunate Maronites—
the Maronites being, as Rom;tn Catholics,
peculiarly odious both to the Druses and
to the Mahometans—the Druses of the Lebanon,
reinforced by Kurds and Bedouins, appear to have
directed their attack in a more formidable and
infuriated body upon the larger town of Zaleh,
also not far from the coast, or from the city of
Beyrout on the Mediterranean. Thence, after per-
petrating a series of what Lord WODEHOUSE
termed "most horrible attrocities," they seem to
have threatened the destruction far and wide of the
defenceless Christians. Even Damascus has been
reported to be in imminent jeopardy, though it is
satisfactory to learn from the statement made on
Tuesday night by the Under-Secretary for Foreign
Affairs, that our own Consul at Damascus has no
such fears that any of these horrors will be under-
gone by its inhabitants. There is not the smallest
shadow of doubt any longer remaining, however,
but that the situation of affairs in Syria is such
that the Christian Powers of Europe, together with
the Turkish Government itself, all recognise
the necessity, at last, for a vigorous and
immediate interposition. An interposition not
merely between the Druses and the Maronites, but
between the whole of the lawless bands of the
heathens, and even, it is hinted, of the Mussulmans
themselves, and the entire Christian population of
Syria, otherwise threatened with destruction by
the swords of the Druses, Kurds, and Bedouins,
with the connivance, saith rumour, if not with the
direct encouragement and co-operation, of the whole
race of the Mahometans. A Pacha with full
powers to put down this cruel and brutal rebellion
is reported to have already left Constantinople for
the scene of these atrocities. Reinforcements are
known to have either preceded or accompanied this
alter ego of the Sultan ABDUL-MEDJID. France,
in the meantime, is understood to have intimated
in so many words to the Sublime Porte, through
her ambassador, her fixed determination to see
that the Christians in Syria are no longer
subjected to these atrocious persecutions
and fiendish massacres. England has not hesitated
for an instant in sending a squadron to cruise off
Beyrout, to be in readiness there for any emergency.
And with a view to concert all necessary measures
to the one desirable end of restoring order in
Syria, and of there enforcing its future continu-
ance, her MAJESTY'S Government has already
placed itself in direct communication upon this
subject with the Governments of Turkey
of Russia, of Prussia, of Austria, and of France.
The urgency of the necessity, now all but univer-
sally recognised, for this interference, could not
have been more clearly demonstrated than it was
on Tuesday evening, in the House of Peers, by the
whole tone or tenour of the speech delivered by
Viscount STRATFORD DE REDCLIFFE. The ante-
cedents of the noble lord render any remarks of his
upon the vitally important question under conside-
ration especially valuable and peculiarly significant.
And what said Lord STRATFORD DE REDCLIFFE,
who knows more about the situation of affairs
generally throughout the East than perhaps any
other Englishman now living—what said Lord
STRATFORD on Tuesday in reference, for example,
to the rumoured connivance of the Turkish autho-
rities—of the Mussulmans as a body—in these in-
human massacres of the Syrian Christians ? Why,
the noble lord said among other things, "I should be
slow to entertain any suspicion of the kind, but I
must say that there are circumstances, not yet
confirmed or proved, which seem to open a door for
some distrust on the subject, and at all events to
furnish an additional reason for desiring to ascer-
tain from her Majesty's Government the real state
of the case, and for pressing upon them the im-
portance of bringing the Porte and their subordi-
nate authorities to a sense of their duty, not only
towards their own subjects, but towards the great
Christian Powers who interfered at such a sacrifice
of blood and treasure to preserve them from a great
danger." And the Noble Viscount added—" I can-
not conceal from myself that an empire which
has been confessed to exist politically on
sufferance has a paramount duty to perform to-
wards allies, as well as towards its own subjects.
It does, I confess, appear to me that, whatever
suspicions we may have entertained in former
times with regard to the intentions of Rus-
sia, and however we may have acted for the
repression of her apparent disposition to interfere
too much with the Porte's independence, it is
exactly in proportion to our own interference
on that subject tat we are bound, as one of
the principal Powers of Europe, to see that justice
be done to the Christian subjects of the Porte, aye,
and to their Mussulman subjects too, and that the
security which has been given to the Turkish Go-
vernment by the treaty of 1856 be not made use of
as a screen for their negligence and for the faults of
administration which allow of the perpetration of
atrocities such as those which it has been my pain-
ful duty to describe." The reasonableness of this
argument—who will be slow to recognise ? Not
one rational Englishman, or Frenchman, or Rus-
sian, or Prussian, or Austrian—not for that matter,
we believe, one solitary Christian European.

The Duke and Duchess of Argyll have left Camp-
den Hill for Brighton.

The Countess de Flahault and the Hon. Miss
Elphinstone de Flahault have left Coventry House for
Brighton.

Mrs. Edward Cotterell Seholefield has left Far-
rance's Hotel for Paris.

Mrs. Lockwood, Mrs. Wiles, and Miss Lockwood
have arrived at Farrance's Hotel from Paris.

PLEA ON INDICTMENTS BlLL.—This bill, which
has passed the Lords, is now in the House of Commons. it
provides that a person indicted shall no longer be ask. ;d
whether he is guilty or not guilty, but whether he desir es
to be tried or pleads guilty. The subject having been d: is-
cussed by the lawyers, laymen must take for granted tli at
there is an imperative necessity for making some such qui
tion ; otherwise they might have thought that when a r-
son is sent for trial by the grand jetry, coroner's jury, or
hotihmerwci competento
raeu t h
ado,or t yun,tlehses Choeuarht
omuilgahitupt
erropcoeseed
wt
ht r ya
°Week= of guilt,

HAYMARKET THEATRE.

MR. BUCKSTONE'S BENEFIT.

The celebrated lessee of this theatre, Mr. Buck-
stone, took his annual benefit last night, and chose
for the performances a new comedietta, by Mr.
Charles Mathews, the new comedy by Mr. Falconer,
performed a fortnight since for the benefit of Miss
Sedgwick, entitled Does He Love Me? and the
grand Terpsichorean divertissement from Mr. Tal-
fourd's burlesque of Electra.

The little com edy is a light one- act piece, probably
adapted by Mr. Charles Mathews, but, at all events,
it is a lively piece of slight intrigue, which the
author's vivacity renders amusing. The embroglio
is effected by Laron (Mr. C. Mathews), a valet and
humble friend of Theodore de Rougemont (Mr. E.
Villiers), producing a pretended letter from the young
man's father, and getting him (Theodore) ensconced
in the ambassador's house, whose daughter, Isabella
(Miss Henrade), he is in love with. Of course, this
ruse being discovered, there is great consternation,
but it is all cleared up, and the young people marry,
and the valet is rewarded.

The new comedy of Does Be Lore Me? went off
with renewed applause, and Miss Amy Sedgwick and
Mr. Buckstone, as the immortal Bubble, alternately
interested and highly amused the audience. Not-
withstanding the excellence of the performance,
the chief feature of the evening was Mr. Buck-
stone's address, which is always amusing from its
comic points, and from his peculiar and admirable
rendering. The present quite equalled all his pre-
vious efforts in this way, and was received with
enthusiastic applause, which proves that years only
add to the esteem and admiration in which his
audience hold him.

As this composition is unique in its way, and is 1
always looked for as a part of the seasonal enter-
tainment, we give it entire :
LADIES AND GENTLENDN,—According to custom, on
these occasions, I appear before you, not only to give an
account of my stewardship, but to touch upon various topics
connected with this theatre, and which I think may interest
you ; but when I begin to consider my various topics I find
that I have very few to touch upon, and therefore I feel like
the celebrated needy knife-grinder, who had no story to tell,
or his cousin the well-known New Zealander, but with no
dramatic ruins to contemplate. The volunteer movement has
already been well and deservedly expatiated on by the press;
the exploits of Garibaldi are not exactly suitable themes for
the address of a theatrical manager ; and although the re-
cent state of the weather might afford me a very fruitful
subject, yet we only talk of the weather when we have
really nothing else to say ; and I do not think you would
be particularly interested if I were to discuss the question
of church rates ; still there is one gratifyind subject that
I can dwell upon, and that is the constant success which
attends this theatre. Whatever may be the cause of such
success—whether it may be the skill and enterprise of
the management, the good character of the house, the
popularity of the actors, or the talent of the authors, it
will not become me to assert—l can only say that we are
always successful here, and I am quite satisfied with know-
ing that pleasant fact ; while to prove this ladies and gen-
tlemen, I have but to inform you that our last long season,
which we brought to a close in July, 1858, extended to 1,428
nights ; that after a short recess for repairs we coirmenced
the present season on Sept. 7, in the same year, and have
continued open ever since, this being its 560th night.
During this time we have produced some of the most popu-
lar comedies of the day—" The Contested Election" and
" The Overland Route," by Tom Taylor ; " Everybody's
Friend," by Sterling Coyne; "The Family Secret" and
" Does he Love Me," by Mr. Falconer ; all of whom are
again at work for the Haymarket. Other comedies. by
well-tried authors, have also been produced ; and these,
with many representations of the standard drama, of new
and old farces, with Christmas pantomimes, Easter pieces,
and ballets, and all supported by an unrivalled company of
performers, and received with approbation by you, have
achieved that genuine success, of which I hope may be
allowed to boast. And now, ladies and gentlemen, for
want of any particular topic on which to discourse, I will
endeavour to explain one thing to you, and that is a mana-
ger's benefit. The question has often been put to me—
some saying " What do you mean by taking a benefit ;
isn't it your benefit every night ? " I believe there are a
few managers in town and country who would say " De--
cidedly not." But a manager's benefit may be thus explained
—he pays throughout the year large sums of money to his
tradespeople—to his gas compony, timber merchant, rope
maker, draper, ironmonger, basket worker, upholsterer,
cabinetmaker, stationer, printer, modeller, tailor, milliner,
dyer, hairdresser, and many other tradespeople that I can-
not just now remember, though I recollrct them when their
bills come in. These tradespeople make the manager some
return by patronising his night. Then there are his per-
sonal friends, to whom he occasionally gives an order or a
private box ; they think it but right and proper to be paying
parties on such an occasion ; then there are the manager's
unknown friends:amongst the public, and I am happy to see
by the attendance of to-night, that this manager numbers
many such. They also flock on these occasions to prove
their regard, and to hear what the manager has to say for
himself. Sometimes members of the dramatic profession
will show their unanimity by patronising a brother or a
sister performer, and I feel much gratified by informing
you that to-night a celebrated brother actor—attached to
this theatre—has not only taken a box, but has paid for it
handsomely. This combination secures a good house and a
good sum for the manager's pocket. Then why should he
refuse to take it ? who ever refuses to take money ? I am
sure you will believe me when I tell you in confidence, that
from the politician to the player, it is an objection I never
knew insisted on. With respect to the future, ladies and
gentlemen, every exertion will be made to sustain the high
character of this theatre. New comedies and many other
novelties are in preparation. There will again be a panto-
mime at Christmas, a fairy tale at Easter—recruits will be
enlisted to strengthen our corps, and as I am now making
arrangements extending to this time next year, there is
every probability of the doors of this establishment remain-
ing open for many a merry month to come ; while with the
one hundred and thirty thousand volunteers belonging to
the country, added to the thousands of volunteers who
throughout the year march in here at box, pit, and gallery,
I think I may feel assured that not only England, but the
Haymarket Theatre, is quite safe. Now, ladies and gen-
tlemen, in than!ing you for the brilliant assembly of this
evening, I bid you farewell, but only until to-morrow, and
beg to say, that during our recess of 20 hours, we shall be
diligently occupied in sleeping, dining, and reading the
newspapers, and we shall be quite ready to face our audi-
ence again at the "ringing in" of the overture at seven
o'clock to-morrow night.

rino.

LATEST NEWS.

The following telegrams have been received at
Mr. Reuter's office :

PARIS, JULY 12.

No intelligence has been received here to confirm
the report that Signor Bentivoglio, the French
Consul, at Beyrout, had received a stab from a
Yataghan.

PARIS, JULY 12.
The Moniteur contains the appointment of Ad-
miral Rigault de Genouilly at Senator.

PARIS, JULY 11.

It is positively stated that a perfect understand-
ing exists between the Governments of England
and France in reference to the affairs of Syria.

MARSEILLES, JULY 11.

A letter received here from Beyrout states that
the French Consul there had received a blow on the
head from a yatagaii. A panic prevailed at
Beyrout.
Advices from Constantinople to the 4th inst.
state that, in consequence of the mission of the
Grand Vizier, the agitation in Roumelia and Bul-
garia had subsided. The Grand Vizier had visited
Belgrade and the Eastern provinces. Agitation
prevailed at Damascus, and cannon had been placed
in position. The number of troops was considered
insufficient. There was a general panic at Beyrout,
and the Christian inhabitants were taking to
flight. Turkish reinforcements had arrived.

MARSEILLES, JULY 11.

Advices from Messina to the Bth inst. state that
Colonel Medici was at the village of Barcelona,
awaiting volunteers. He had reconnoitred the
heights of Messina and Melazzo. The attack on
Melazzo was fixed for the 10th inst. Assassinations
took place in Messina on the night of the 7th. The
Neapolitan army was demoralised. The soldiers
were deserting.

GENOA, JULY 10.
Signor Cosenz arrived at Palermo on the 6th, and
was received with joy by Garibaldi.
I'soo volunteers embarked yesterday at Genoa.
Another embarkation will take place this evening.
Volunteers continae to arrive.

TURIN, JULY ii.

General de Lamoriciere having withdrawn his
troops into the interior, insurrectionary move-
ments have broken out at Santagala, Montefeletro,
and near Cattolica.

The Neapolitan mission left Naples to-day for
Turin. It is composed of Signori Manna and
Winspeare (?).

RAVENNA, JULY 11.

The Adriatic Journal states that the Pontifical
troops stationed at Pesaro were ready for depar-
ture ; their destination, however, was not known.
Fifteen hundred Austrians had been sent to
Urbino.

Five hundred and fifty-seven Irish volunteers
had disembarked at Ancona, and committed dis-
orders at Sinigaglia, which were repressed by the
Papal carabineers.

MALTA, JULY 7.

The English fleet, which left Malta in June last,
is cruising in the Lavant. A division is at Nava-

VIENNA, JULY 12.

General Skocsevich, Bau (Governor General) of
Croatia, has arrived here in order to come to some
understanding with the Central Government, in
reference to the demand of the inhabitants of
Croatia to employ their national language in the
tribunals of the country.

VIENNA, JULY 11.

The official Wiener Zeitung publishes the report,
dated June 4, of the National Debt Committee upon
the state of the entire national debt from the be-
ginning of 1860.
The opinion of the Minister of Finance on the
report of the committee is also added.
The Minister's opinion is adverse to a forced con-
version of the national debt.

The report of the committee, and the opinion of
the Minister thereon, have been referred to the
Reichsrath by an autograph letter of the Emperor,
dated the 10th July. According to the report of
the committee, the entire national debt amounted
at the beginning of 1860 to 2,268 millions of florins,
Austrian currency. The annual interest required
amounts to 991 millions of florins.
The committee proposes the gradual conversion
into 5 per Cent. Securities, Austrian currency, of
all bonds in Conventionsmunze not belonging to the
category of lottery shares.
This proposal is maintained by the committee on
the principle that public creditors will not suffer
any loss, either in their interest or their capital.

Furthermore, in order to avoid contracting new
debts, the redemption of the national debt may for
the present be limited to those securities mentioned
in the Imperial Patent of Dec. 23, 1859, which,
in accordance with the promise given in the im-
perial regulations of the respective loans, are to be
redeemed by lottery or other kind of payment.
The further redemption of the bonds made in
Austrian currency is to be suspended until the sur-
plus of the public revenue offers sufficient means
for their partial redemption.

MADRID, JULY 11.
Marshall O'Donnell has recovered from a slight
indisposition.

Large quantities of provisions have been stored
at Tetuan and Ceuta.
The body of the late General Rios will be trans-
ported to Barcelona.

MADRID, JULY 10.
General Rios has died at Tetuan.
General Macßohon has been appointed Captain-
General of the Philippine Islands.

LISBON, JULY 10.
The Portuguese press enthusiastically supports
he new Ministry.

CONSTANTINOPLE, JULY 10.
Fund Pacha has arrived (?) with full powers for
,hc pacification of Syria.
The telegraph has been opened at Salonica.

CONSTANTINOPLE, JULY 8.
Fuad Pasha has left for Syria with full powers.
lle will have under his orders 16,000 men, the
commander of whom is llelim Pasha.
The Turkish Government are shipping corn to
Beyrout.