The Sun.
London, England, 1869-07-14 00:00:00

EGYPT AND THE PORTE.

It is currently stated that the agitation caused in
Constantinople by the European tour of the Khedive of
Egypt has ended in the nomination of his brother, and
mast hitter enemy- 1%1-11st:101a Fazil—to a portfolio in the
Turkish Cabinet. In sonic quarters this news- supposing
it to be true—is interpreted as a declaration
of hostility between the Porte and Egypt. There is
little doubt that great jealousy at present exists between
the two Governments. The Porte fears that the Khedive
means to attempt to throw off his allegiance, and the
Khedive is probably not insensible to the advantages
which he would derive from his freedom. At present
Egypt is a tributary State of the Ottoman Empire. The
connection, it is true, is not very close, but it involves a
tribute from Egypt of tome £600,000 a year, the obliga-
tion to assist Turkey in any foreign war and other bur-
densome duties. It is not to be expected that the Khedive
can overlook the material advantage as well as increased
dignity which would be the result of his getting free. He
may not actually entertain the project ; but in many
quarters he is suspected of doing so, and atConstantinople
this suspicion amounts to a conviction. One thirg
is certain. The Khedive's brother was originally
the successor presumptive to the Egyptian Vice.
royalty, but by a series of intrigues the Khedive bas
managed to get the Egyptian law of succession changed
in favour of his own progeny. He has deprived his
brother of his inheritance, and his brother has become his
deadliest enemy. Should Mustapha be really appointed
a Turkish Minister, the symptom cannot fail to be regarded
as of extreme gravity. It is noticeable that at Constari
tinop!e the feelirg of hostility to tie Khedive is so vehe-
ment that his deposition is openly talked of. A quarrel
of this kind would reopen the Eastern question in its most
disagreeable form.

SLAVERY IN THE SOUTH SEAS.

The Melbourne Argus calls attention to the traffic in
slaves—for the Australian journal thinks it deserves that
name—growing up in the South Seas. It says : " Our
Sydney telegram notifies the capture, by her Majesty's
steamship Rosario, of the Daphne schooner, of Melbourne,
for offending against the Act prohibiting the shipping of
slaves. When captured the Daphne had 100 Kaneko,
natives on board. The commander of the Rosario reports
that a slave trade, in its very worst form, exists amongst
the South Sea Islands."

The supply of gold bullion at San Francisco from
January 1 to Juue 4 instant has been $10,937,549, against
$12,535,232 in same time last year, showing a decrease of
$1,567,712, which is attribatable mainly to the White Pine
stock excitement, which temporarily diverted labour from
the productive mines. The export of wheat and flour
aim) Jan. 1 has been $3,403,441, against $4,409,818 same
time last year—a decline of over $1,000,000. The supply
of silver In the same time has been $5,550,328, against
$5,824,388 in same time in 1868. Thus the net decrease
in gold bullion has been $1,597,712 ; in silver, $274,070 ;
in wheat and flour, sl,ooo,ooo—together, $2,871,772. This
decrease of the means of remittance at a time when the
amount of goods to be paid for has been larger has caused
the price of gold bullion to rule high at California. It is
now 900 for shipment, which is higher than it will realize
to coin. The disposition therefore is to sell the bullion
rather than coin it. There are bankers, however, who
make the loss, which ie about $7 in the $l,OOO, in order to
supply the coin to their customers. _ _

The arrangements of the (Ecumenical Council
begin to assume shape. There will be a certain number
of preliminary councils held, according to the Perseveranza,
each of which will be presided over by a cardinal
specially named by the Pope as his locum tenens, and
the results will then be proclaimed as canonical laws
in the sessions, presided over by the Pope himself.
There will be about ten of these sessions, but they
are not to be a "clerical Parliament," but assemblies, to
which certain propositions will be read, and which will
vote upon them by acclamation and without any discus-
sion whatsoever. The programme, as at present fixed,
gives for the respective sessions the following sub-
jects:-1. Pantheism, rationalism, naturalism, absolute
rationalism, in nine theses; 2,modcrate rationalism in seven
theses; 8, indifferentism, tolerantism, in four theses; 4,
socialism, communism, secret societies, Bible societies,
liberal-clerical societies, in six theses; 5, errors on the
Church and its rights, in twenty theses; 6, errors
on society and its relations to the Church, in seventeen
theses; 7, errors on natural and Christian morals, in ten
theses ; 8, on the Christian marriage, in ten theses ; 9, on
the sovereignty of the Pope of Rome, in two theses ; 10,
on modern liberalism, in four theses.

I)urtvlLLE and Co., Belfast, are the largest
holders of Whisky in the world. Their Old Irish Whisky is re-
commended by the medical profession in preference to French
Brandy. Supplied in casks and cases for home use or exporta-
tion Quotations on applicalion to Messrs. Dunville and Co.,
Belfast; or 4, Boutortrbuillugg,Stand,..l4ol4o,
Te;tlautient,_ • _