The Sun.
London, England, 1858-04-29 00:00:00

EGYPT.

ALEXANDRIA, APRIL 19.
The present month has been a busy one in
respect to the traffic of steamers in the Red Sea,
and, what between the regular mail-packets and
extra boats and transports, the port of Suez has
probably never before during an equal period re-
c ived so many steamers. Arno g these her
Majesty's steamer Pylades has cailed, and left
with the Siamese mission on its way homewards,
an 1 the Cyclops has conic up to conduct a
series of deep water soundings and 'general sur-
veying operations in the Red Sea, similar to
those executed ou this side by the Tartaru-). The
latter has also called at Alexandria on her way
from Malta to Scauderoon to survey and take
soundings in the gulf, and thence along the coast
of Syria down to El Arish, the frontier town of
Egyp t.
Toe Panther, with the Llndon mails of the 9th
inst., arrive I here on the 17th inst., and the Co-
lombo, from S)uthampton, came into port yester-
day. The Ori)ntal is still at Suez, and has on
board part of the troops which came forward by
the Ripon on the 10th inst. She awaits the arrival
of the Bentres, now daily expected at Alexandria
with another and a heavier instalment of men for
India.
The transit of the troops continues to be per-
formed with the utmost regularity, and with every
regard to their comfort. Tha last batch per Ripon
accomplished the jGurney from ship to ship in 21
hours. The efficiency of their arrangements in this

respect is creditable to the Administration, but it
shows also that, with proper precaution and care,
the delays to which the ordinary transit passengers
are often subjected are not unavoidable. With
every wish to make due allowances for the difficul-
ties against which the Administration has to con-
tend, with an unfinished railway, and a scarcely
organised service, it must be conceded that passen-
gers have, on more than one occasion, had just
reason to complain of the detentions to which they
have been subjected on the road.
It is doubtful whether any railway was ever con-
structed offering as brilliant promise of returns for
the capital invested in it as the line through Egypt
which, independently of its being the highway be-
tween two wealthy and populous continents—or,
indeed, between two hemispheres—passes through
the heart of one of the most productive countries
of the world, whose internal traffic alone, it might
be supposed, would amply suffice to render
the road self-supporting. And yet it is asserted
that the line does not pay the expense of
administration. The statement may be correct,
and is partly explained en the ground that no ac-
connt whatever is taken of the services rendered to
the Government of. Egypt in the transport of troops,
material, and scores of all kinds ; but, be this as it
may, and without entering into any discussion of
the question, no doubt can be entertained that
with a moderately good management the railway
will yet become a most lucrative source of revenue,
besides being a real and valuable boon to the com-
merce of the country. That the public here is fully
alive to this fact is proved by the satisfaction with
which the announcement has been received that a
double line between Alexandria and Cairo has
finally been decided upon, and that, with a view
to its commencement, a portion of the material has
actually been ordered. The next requirement will
be a large addition to the rolling-stock, after which
it may safely be relied upon that not only all cause
for complaint on the score of inadequacy of returns
will absolu'ely cease, but that the Government will
also be in a position to make such reductions in its
charges as will render the railway truly valuable to
the agricultural and commercial interests of the
country. At present. the passenger fares are, per-
haps, higher than in any other country in the
world, and the tariff for the carriage of goods would
elsewhere bo looked upon as amounting to an ab-
solute prohibition, notwithstanding which, at all
the principal stations-aloug the line may be seen
piles of cotton bales and of other produce which the
railway administration, with its present means, is
totally unable to bring forward to the pout of ship-
ment.

Within the last few clays there bas been a dis-
pute between the Transit Administration and the
English engine-drivers, who have threatened to
strike, not, however, so much for an advance of
wages as for a reorganisation of their work. The
Govarnment, it is said, have spoken of employing
natives in their stead, but it is in the highest de-
gree unlikely that so dangerous a proposal will ever
be permitted. _

A set of new police regulations for more effec-
tually controlling and keeping order among
Ithe increasing European population of Alexan-
dria and Cairo has been published by the Eg}p-
tian authorities. The frequent recurrence of crimes
of the gravest description has long render, d some-
thing of the kind an absolute necessity ; but fears
have been expressed that many of the stringent
rules that have been introduced, and especially
those enforcing upon travellers and residents to be
provided with passports and licenses, and the es-
tablishment at Alexandria and at Cairo of supple-
mentai y police boards, with officers who are to
exercise a special surveillance over Europeans, may
be more effectual in giving annoyance to respectable
members of the community than in controlling the
evil-disposed. The regulations have been framed
under the immediate superintendence of the Euro-
pean consuls—in fact, the Viceroy had left tLe
matter almost entirely iu their hands ; but this has
not rendered the new measures less unpopular, the
prominent part taken by some • representatives of
absolute Governments, and the appointment of a
French military officer as foreign police superinten-
dent at Alexandria, having spread fears among a
numerous class of settlers lest the ends in view
should be of a political nature as well as what they
merely profess to be. I am, indeed, credibly in-
formed that an attempt was made by some of the
consuls to introduce a rule which would have had
the effect of excluding from Egypt all persons un-
provided wi h passports from their respective Go-
vernments, and that it was only in consequence of
the protest made by the British' and American
consuls that a clause was added authorising such
persons to land on their receiving a permit from
the Egyptian Government. With the exception
of this abortive attempt, however, there appears to
be no great foundation for the fears that have b eu
so loudly expressed, but unless the police officials
have the good sense to use proper discretion in the
exercise of the right that is claimed for them to
exact passports from all passengers arriving in
Egypt before permitting them to land, and to enter
hotels and other public houses, at whatever hour it
may bt., pour y faire des perquisitions, their pro
ceedings will inevitably constitute an intolerable
nuisance to every English traveller who may land
in this country, whatever may be his object.
The Red Sea Steam Navigation Company, under
the patronage of the Viceroy, has commenced active
operations, A boat purchased in England is on
its way round the Cape, and on the Mediterranean
side we have already tad one or two departures ;
but the line has opened most inauspiciously. Oue
of the steamers, the Suez, purchased iu France by
Monsieur de Lesseps, has been totally lost in the
roadstead of Jaffa, and out of 51 persons upwards'
of 30 have perished. Full details have not yet
been received, but it appears that the whole of the
native craw succeeded in saving themselves by
swimming to the shore, and there is reason to fear
that they abandoned thesbip in a panic on the first
intimation of danger, thus depriving their officers
of the assistance by means of which the calamity
might perhaps have been averted.