The Sun.
London, England, 1835-10-15 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 1835.

TUNIS, SEPT. 10.

tion in this regard, it may be safely predicted that Africa is
lost to the empire, and the success of Mehemet Ali is placed
beyond a doubt as well as that of France."

(From a Morning Contemporary.)
The state of commerce in this Regency has varied but
little during the past three months : it is languishing from
the sensibility of the public, both as regards events in
Tripoli and the uncertainty of things around us.
Much anxiety, indeed, is felt at this time, and confidence
languishes daily in the new Government of Mustafa Bey,
from the attitude he has assumed, which is one of opposi-
tion, if not hostility, to the policy pursued by the Porte in
Africa. The uncertain issue of a policy so bold has created
a sort of panic, and every one appears to retire within him-
self while waiting the result of the Shakir's mission to Con-
stantinople, whither this confidential officer has been sent
with valuable presents for the Sultan and Divan, in the
hope of procuring a firman for the Bey.
Those whose opinions are formed on a knowledge of
things in Turkey previous to the reform of abuses, conceive
that the golden key is still calculated to open every lock,
the embarrassments of the Government affordinc, probably
greater facilities to more influential powers. Addb to this
a communication made to Mustafa Bey by the French
Cgnsul, to the effect, that if the former would subscribe to
coTiditions conformably to the secret articles of a treaty
proposed to him by France, the French Government would
then pledge itself to support him at tome, while Admiral
Roussin should be instructed to obtain the desired firman
at Constantinople.
Independently of considerable sums of money confided to
the Shakir to employ in this negotiation, independently of
the valuable objects in jewellery, &c., sent to the Sultan,
he was also furnished with 200,000 Spanish dollars, 200,000
Mateboob, and 100,000 Venetian sequins, the value of which
collectively would be about 120,0001. sterling ; and besides
this, the Shakir is armed with an extensive, if not an open
credit, upon the French house of Messrs. Durand and
Co., to insure the success of a measure of this importance
to the interests of the French Government, as much as that
of the Bey.
This Prince, however, is not without his misgivings, not-
withstanding all, and the state of the public mind does not
contribute to exhilirate his spirits. The protection and sup-
port of France are, indeed, something to draw consolation
from, and the Consul of that nation, as may be supposed, is
everything in the State.
There can be doubt that if France should succeed in
realizing the pledge she has given, it will be to her the value
of a permanent conquest of all North Africa, by the in-
fluence she will acquire, although her arms may not be able
to penetrate the interior. The Mediterranean then may
change its name for any other qualified to distinguish waters
belonging to France, whose possession of Algiers in per-
petit° will be indisputable, for Tunis is an ally, commanding
from her geographical situation the back of Algiers, while
France rules in front, must ensure stability to French au-
thority in that regency, whether the Cabyles may submit,
or live upon their own resources in the security afforded by

THE CITY AND THE SURREY

MAGISTRATES.

After the general business of the Court of Aldermen was
ended on Tuesday, Sir Chapman Marshall presented the
report of the Committee of Police, to which the petition of
Mr. Wallis, for a licence for a house in the borough of
Southwark, was referred. The petition stated that Mr.
Wallis, who has reached his 62d year, and is a citizen of
London, had been the owner of a public-house in South-
wark for many years ; that it had become necessary to take
down the house, in consequence of the Approaches to
the London Bridge ; and that, close to the spot which that
house had occupied, he had, at a large expense, built an-
other house, in the reasonable hope of procuring a license
for it from the Surrey Magistrates—a hope, however, which,
although repeated applications had been made, never was
realized. Having incurred an expense of nearly 8,000/. in
erecting the new house, and epdeavouring to accomplish
the object, which was so unfortunately frustrated, the peti-
tioner, who had been the father of sixteen children, eleven
of whom were alive, threw himself upon the compassion of
the Court of Aldermen.

The report was to the following effect :
" After full consideration of the powers of the Magis-
trates of this city, and of the county of Surrey, with re-
spect to granting licenses in the borough of Southwark,
and upon reference to the decision in the Court of King's
Bench, in 1791, in the case of the King v. Sainsbury, this
Committee feel that they cannot recommend the Magis-
trates of this city, at this distance of time, and upon this
particular application, to exercise their power of granting
licenses in the borough of Southwark, although they feel
that the petitioner has strong claims upon the favourable
consideration of the licensing Magistrates."
Alderman FAREBROTHRR—What is the opinion of our
law officers as to the right of the Magistrates of the city of
London to exercise this important power ? If we have the
right, which I believe we certainly have, here is a most fair
opportunity for exercising it.
The Town Clerk said that, in consequence of this dictum
of the Court of King's Bench (for he could call it but a
mere dictum), the Court had not exercised the concurrent
right since 1791. It had been thought not expedient. It
appeared, however, clear that the Aldermen who had passed
the Chair had, notwithstanding the jurisdiction of the Sur-
rey Magistrates, the power of licensing public-houses in
Southwark.

Alderman FAREBROTHER—The idea of resizning our
right is quite out of the question. I mean nothing disre-
spectful, by any means, to the Surrey Magistrates, but I
should like to know why they refuse to license this man's
house ?

Alderman T. WOOD said that there existed not a doubt
as to the power of the Aldermen to grant licenses in the
borough of Southwark ; but the question was as to the
time. The Aldermen who had passed the Chair had a
concurrent jurisdiction, but he believed that the jurisdic-
tion was lost as to cases in which the other set of Magis-
trates had already determined.
Alderman FAREBROTHER observed that the petitioner
must renew his application for a license, and the Aldermen
who had passed the Chair would attend at the place of
application.
The Town Clerk—The Magistrates can meet at the
Town Hall in the Borough on the day of application, and
can all exercise their power on the occasion.
Alderman T. WOOD—Alderman Farebrother has passed
the Chair, and can attend and assert his right.
Alderman FAREBROTIIER—Very well, I shall do so. The
powers of this Court are greater than they are generally
supposed to be. Perhaps the Lord Mayor does not know
that he can appoint a Magistrate for Surrey, and a Magis-
trate for Middlesex, if he think fit.
Alderman T. WOOD—It is so named in one of the
charters.
The LORD MAYOR—I shall think of the matter.—(A
laugh.)
The COURT then unanimously agreed with the Report, and
requested the Lord Mayor to lay it before the Court of
Common Council.

the Atlas mountains.
The Bey is now, and in the event of success will be-
come more than ever, the creature of France. Ahmed
Bey of Constantine, at present so much dreaded by that
Power, from having borne up with such signal success
against her both in the field and cabinet, would become
pent up in the interior, and the authority he now enjoys
must necessarily become demoralized or corrupted ; besides
Christian antagonists to struggle against, he would have
others of his own religion. Engaged in war against France
and French misrule in Africa, be would not know how to
quit head-quarters, from the fear of an attack on the side
of Tunis during his absence.
Ahmed Bey has now a very imposing force under his
command, but that force is of a description adapted to de-
fensive an not offensive operations. His finances, although
limited, are capable of supporting this army. He enjoys
the confidence of the people, both Arab and Berreber,
who evince as much attachment, and pay him as much
obedience, as if he were seated on the throne of the Deys.
He receives his tribute regularly, and without demur ; some
bring it in from a feeling of religious fanaticism, others
from a conviction of the necessity of supporting the de-
fender of the rights and liberties of the nation against
France, whose conduct in Africa inspires universal horror
even in the population of this Regency. The frequent
communications between Ahmed Bey and the Porte have
contributed materially to strengthen the mutual confidence
which exists, and his authority over Constantine has been
consolidated upon it. Should his enemy, Mustafa, how-
ever, succeed in obtaining the firman, Ahmed will at once
be discouraged.
The Bey of Tunis, without waiting the result of the mis-
sion, has been advised to anticipate danger by taking timely
precautions. With this view, knowing the little depend-
ence he can place on the townspeople, he is endeavouring to
attach some of the Arab tribes, while he lends himself un-
reservedly to the policy of France. Already he has con-
fiscated 4,000 muskets, the property of Ahmed Bey, which
had been purchased in Italy, and shipped from thence by
his agents ; and should he be successful at Constantinople,
there cannot be a doubt he will then cast all scruples
aside, and openly declare war against the enemies to French
supremacy.
It is much to be deplored, under existing circumstances,
that our own Consul, a man who might enjoy weight in the
country, does not avail himself of the opportunity to acquire
it by a line of policy calculated to attach to England the
most influential interests in Tunis. His policy, if policy it
merits to be called, is directed to measures which pro-
mote the views of France materially, as on a previous
occasion, when he held at the disposition of the Bey
a British ship of war for the purpose of communicating
between the Regency and Malta, in order to ap-
prise the Bey of all the movements of the Otto-
man squadron while operations were in progress
against Tripoli. That he should be friendly dis-
posed towards a family who have enjoyed the supreme autho-
rity exactly 101 years, and that his views are limited to the
interests immediately surrounding him, seem not altogether
unreasonable to admit in extenuation ; still it is hardly to be
accounted for how be can be blind to things of infinitely
greater magnitude, and if not, and if he is acquainted with a
treaty (as we may fairly suppose he must be) to cast Tunis
into the arms of France, what must we suppose of his ca-
pacity, to say the least about it ? That he should unite
with the views of the French Consul, and employ all his
exertions in probing, for the information of the Bey, what-
ever secrets he might be able to penetrate as regards the
measures employed by the Sultan, does not seem rational
conduct in a British functionary who cannot be totally igno-
rant of our present relations with an empire of which Tunis
forms a part. That he may be friendly disposed towards a
family who have enjoyed the supreme authority in Tunis
exactly 101 years, and that immediate pecuniary interests
should create or augment a bias, seems but reasonable to
admit ; yet in the face of things tending to uproot British
interests, in face of a treaty for the consolidation of French
power at the cost of England, we are left in amazement ;
and reflect as we may upon his conduct or capacity, it would
seem but reasonable to expect he should consult the Govern-
ment before taking upon himself such responsibilities.
It would be unjust to place the conduct of Sir
Thomas Reeve in any point of view approaching a si-
militude with that of Mr. Warrington in Tripoli, whose
incapacity needs no other elucidation (leaving morality
apart) than the fact that the failure of his intrigues to
put a mature upon the throne devoted to his private in-
terests, although they ultimately caused the removal of
the dynasty, have twice alienated that Regency from
England by casting her into the protecting arms of other
Powers—first, France about five years ago, now Turkey !
while the protection he promised to Mehemet so long,
ended in the death of that deluded puppet. Nor is this
all the evil felt, for the object which gave zest to so many
intrigues, the bonds or obligations of the old Bashaw,
British and foreign claims included, fell with the fall of a
dynasty chased away by a British Consul, and Alli's
influence at Constantinople is greater than when upon the
throne of Tripoli. It is said he now sees and sorely re-
pents of the past, and well he may, for of whom will he
demand payment—of the Porte ? No one believes that
she would contribute money (if inclined to pay the per-
sonal debts of her servants) to be employed in resisting
her authority again in the Regency. Of old Yousef Ba-
shaw ? If he concerns himself about anything in this life
amidst his infirmities, it is, we should hope, in preparing
himself for the next, where he has much to atone for as
regards the imbecility and misconduct which contributed
to so many frightful disorders, and ended in the misfor-'
tunes of so many deserving men.
" More than three months have elapsed since the Turkish
Admiral visited Tripoli, and tranquillity is not yet restored.
It is affirmed that Nedjib Pasha, finding himself secretly
thwarted, has therefore had recourse to. the measure of
blockade.
" In regard to both Regencies, it is now well understood
that the Porte was induced to cast her eyes on Africa, be-
cause the state of things on this continent menaced the ex-
istence of her own authority nearer home. After the
treaty of Koniab, between the Sultan and the Vice-
roy of Egypt, the latter pursued a new system for
weakening the Porte, which he has followed hitherto with
success, and without relaxation ; this was by sowing the
seeds of revolution in other departments of the empire, or
fanning the flames of war after it had broken out. The
Porte, well informed of the intimacy existing with France,
and of the probability that Mehemet Ali might succeed,
under French protection, in his object of obtaining inde-
pendence, found that the measure of occupation in Tripoli
could not be delayed with safety to herself, while the re-
organization of that Regency would enable her to make
head against the policy both of France and Egypt.
" Judging from these things, it does not seem at all pro-
bable that the Porte can be persuaded to sacrifice such im-
mense interests after all she has done, as would inevitably
be the case should she accede to the wishes of the Bey of
Tunis. But should things turn out contrary to expecta-

CONSISTORY COURT, WEDNESDAY