The Sun.
London, England, 1867-12-26 00:00:00

A GUERILLA WARRIOR FOR ABYSSINIA.

(From the Times of India, Nov. 29.)
Considerable curiosity was excited on board the
Rangoon by a passenger who gave out that he held
the appointment of military commissioner in Abys-
sinia to the War-office, and that he was proceeding
thither for the purpose of entering upon his duties.
He also stated, not very consistently however, that
his first efforts would be made in the endeavour
to obtain, by personal mediation with Theodore,
the release of the prisoners ; aid if thase
efforts failed, to raise an auxiliary force of 3,000
men for the purpose of creating diversions in
aid of the invading force. The name of the
individual referred to i 3 Major 11. A. Leveson,
who is not an unknown person, for he has written
two works upon his exploring expeditious in diffe-
rent parts of the world ; and in a letter to Lord
Stanley, which appeared in the last Blue Book on
Abyssinia, he signs himself " late Colonial Secre-
tary, Lagos, West Coast of Africa." That letter
we append, which probably indicates the true pur-
pose of his visit to Abyssinia, though no official
reply appears in the Blue Book further than an
acknowledgment of its receipt.

When the Rangoon arrived at Jub-el-teer, an
island in the Red Sea, off Massowah, the Coroman-
del was found awaiting mails by the Rangoon and
also the arrival of Major Leveson, to which vessel he
was transferred. He gave all to understand that
he goes unaccompanied except by servants ; and the
bearing and talk of the man certainly go far to pro-
duce the conviction that he is equal to the mission
—whatever it may be—which he has in hand. We
trust he may be successsful, and in the meantime we
hope to hear more about him. The following is his
letter above referred to :

MAJOR LEVESON TO LORD STANLEY.

The Ship Hotel, Charing-cross, July 18, 1867.

My Lord—ln April, 1865, I volunteered my
services for the purposes of negotiating the re-
lease of Captain Cameron and his companions,
but, other arrangements having been made
my offer was declined. More than two
years have now elapsed and the captives are still in
chains, all negotiations having been simply treated
with contempt. This result might have been prog-
nosticated, as an Armenian or Levantine was the
very last person to have been sent, those racesbeing
listrusted and looked down upon by other nation-
alities in the East, on account of the general cha-
racter they bear for deceit and duplicity. At last,
wearied out with the fruitless attempts that
have hitherto been made to negotiate, the nation
at large seems to have determined that either
the captives shall be set free, by force if
necessary, or that Theodorus the King shall be
punished. The chances• are that when hos-
tile means are commenced the lives of .all the
captives will be at once sacrificed, as the King, who
is said to be at the head of about 40,000 men at
Debra Tabor, would most likely immolate them out
of mere bravado. Nearly four months must elapse
before any troops can take the field so as to act
with efficiency ; and before any threatening or
hostile measures are carried into effect, I ask per-
mission of your lordship to be allowed to attempt
by mediation to rescue a brother officer and his
companions in trouble. I want no aid, and but very
little means ; all the risk is my own, and I will
cheerfully run it. Should I succeed, a great ex-
pense of life, treasure, and perhaps even pres-
tige, will be spared the country ; should I
fail, a single life is the only penalty that can
be exacted, and that will be paid without a regret :
"Le jeu vaut biers la chandelle." This is the worst
view of the case, but I hope and believe that, with
tact, the release of the captives might be arranged
before any troops were landed at Massowah.
Under the present circumstances, now that a part
)f his territory is in open revolt under different
leaders, King Theodorus may find it to his interest
o keep on friendly terms with this country. lle
,vas once very partial to Englishmen, as 12lowden
tnd 13,11 were the most trusted friends and intimate
companions for many years, and I know the former
4entleman bad a very high opinion of him, as some
years ago, he invited me to join him in Abys-
iinia for the purpose of hunting large game with the
King : and had I not been suffering from the effects
,:f severe wounds, I should have wandered over the
country simply for sport. Ido not anticipate much
linger to myself were I to go now. A fair Oriental
linguist, I have often travelled alone in Africa,
having made several expeditions quite as dangerous
as the one I now wish to undertake. lam accus-
tomed to a tropical climate, having returned three
times from the west coast of equitorial Africa,
besides having made long exploring trips ints the
interior from the east coast. I would make my
way via Massowah or Tajurah to the camp at De-
bra Tabor, and present myself to the King as the
friend of Plowden, and, like him, ready to serve his
interests. I would endeavour to persuade him to
send back Cameron and the other captives, offering
to remain myself in their stead. If your lordship
should see fit to entrust me with this mission. it
hall be carried out if possible. If, on the other
hand, it should be determined to commence hosti-
lities, I would still volunteer my services, as great
assistance could be rendered to an invading force by
creating diversions in different parts of the coun-
try. Several provinces are said to be in insurrec-
tion under different leaders at the present time,
and were a contingent of their followers armed
and organised they would spare our regular troops
much harassing work. The Arab tribes of Beth
Um'mr are now said to be holding their own
against the troops of Theodorus in the province of
Shire, whilst Menelik in Shoa, Tadla Gulaw in
Crojam, Waksham Gobezi in Tigre, and Tussoo
Gobezi in Samden, are in open revolt. Should the
troops of his Highness the Viceroy of Egypt take
any part in the campaign, I would again venture
to suggest that my services might be useful, as I
commanded some of them during the Russian
war, when on the staff of the Ottoman army.
Since then I have served as Colonial Sec-
retary and Lietenant-Governor of Lagos, where
I was superseded on account of a severe
wound received in an engagement with the natives,
and have taken part iu the campaigns of Italy,
Denmark, America, and Austria.

I beg to forward a couple of my works upon ex-
ploring expeditions in different parts of the world,
to show that I am accustomed to similar adventures
and hard work ; and I have left with Mr. Wyld, of
the Foreign-office, a book full of certificates and
testimonials, given to me by different commanders
under whom I have served, any of whom will bear
testimony in my favour.

Should your lordships see fit to entertain my
proposal, I am ready to start at three hours' notice.
—I have, &c.,
H. A. LEVESON, Major,
Late Colonial Secretary, Lagos, West
Coast of Africa.

CHRISTMAS ORATORIOS.—The oratorio perform-
ances this Christmas by the National Choral Society, under
the direction of Mr. G. W. Martin, have commenced at
Exeter Hall. Miss Palmer, Mr. Leigh Wilson, and Mr.
Santley will sing in " The Creation" on January 1, and in
"Elijah," January 8, Mr. Santley's only appearance in
these oratorios this Christmas.
ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY._Capt• Grant, a very
active member of the council of this society, has recently
returned from a tour through Canada and the United States,
and succeeded, at much trouble and expense, in obtaining
for the society three splendid specimens of wild turkeys,
which have reached this country in perfect health. They
are magnificent birds, and amply repay Capt. Grant for
the difficulty he underwent in procuring them, and the
society for the expense it incurred. He also brought with
him a number of small birds, among them beautiful speci-
mens of mocking birds, thrushes, bobalinks, which,
though not coming strictly within the sphere of this society,
are valuable in their way. He also procured a pair of the
musquash, which aro at present in the Zoological Gardens.
No one but those who have tried the experiment can form
an idea of the difficulty a person has to contend with in
obtaining a particular quadruped or bird, and, when ob-
tained, in bringing it safely home; that difficulty can be
overcome by perseverance and a determination to succeed
—and Captain Grant, to whom the thanks of the society
are due, has proved the truth of this assertion. A large
consignment of swans, white Guinea fowls, and pigeons,
is now being got together, and will leave this country for
the North of India early in the ensuing month, and the
secretary has received notice of the transaction of a col-
lection of valuable birds from that country, which will
reach England in the spring, many of which it is hoped
may be acclimatised here.—Land and Water.

er-
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61133

HER MAJESTY.

♦-_

OSBORNE, Dec. 25.

Her Maje§"y the Queen gave a Christmas-tree
yesterday afternoon to the school children of the
parish of \Vhippingham.
Soon after 4 o'clock the Queen, accompanied by
Prince. and Princess Christian, Princess Beatrice,
and Princess Henriette of Schleswig-Holstein, and
attended by the Ladies and Gentlemen in waiting,
entered the Servants'-h:►ll, where the presents were
laid out, which her Majesty, assisted by the Royal
family, distributed to the children.
Meat and cake were afterwards distributed to the
labourers on the Osbofne estate.

The Rev. George Prothero, rector of Whipping'
hatn, and Mrs. Prothero had the honour of being
invited to attend.

The Queen and their Royal Highnesses Prince
and Princess Christian, Princess Louise, Prince
Arthur, Prince Leopold, and Princess Beatrice,
and the Prince of Leiningen and Princess Hen-
riette, attended Divine service at Whippingbani
this morning, where the Rev. George Prothero
officiated.
The Prince of Leiningen arrived at Osborno
yesterday or‘ a visit to her Majesty.
M. F. Eloln, late Chief of the Civil Cabinet at
the Court of the late Emperor of Mexico, also
arrived.