The Sun.
London, England, 1861-09-27 00:00:00

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year, instead of lying in the river, as they bow have
to do, thus freeing the anchorage ground of the
many ships that now occupy it, waiting to get into
the Liverpool Docks, where the depth of entrances
is much less tha❑ at Birkenhead.

There can be no doubt that the Warr:or and ships
of her class can easily enter or leave the Mersey
every day in the year ; and they would have weter
to enter the Birkenhead Pocks 1 85 days each year,
even when loaded to 26ft., their calculated load
draught.
As in case of war there must be a considerable
fleet stationed in the Irish Channel, and as there 'itL.;
also a pressing necessity for haiing the means of
accommodating the new class of-ships, Government
might advantageously communicate with the Mer-
sey Docks and Harbour Board, and make such ar-
rangements for the alteration of the works now com-
pleting at Birkenhead, or the construction of new
works there, as would save a vast outlay of money
in other places, and enable a large portion of the
new iron-clad fleet to be accommodated at moderate
cost with floating basins and graving docks as soon
as they are likely to require them.

THE CiIIIIPAIGN A GAINSI MONTE-

NEGRO.

A letter from Mostar, dated Sept. 9, says :—I
entered the suburbs of Mostar at 8 p.m. on the sth
of September, and, having taken charge of de-
spatches from Ragusa for his Highness the Gene-
ralissimo, proceeded at once to the house which he
at present occupies. Saving an occasional group of
Turks, seated in the very centre of the street, the
city appeared perfectly deserted, and, as my jaded•
ponies scrambled over the half-paved lanes, I began
to speculate on the probabilities of passing the night
al fresco. As may be supposed, then, I felt con-
siderably relieved when I found myself, chibouque
in hand, awaiting the Pasha, who had expressed his
intention of seeing me immediately. Nor was it
long before I was deep in conversation with the
man who, whatever may be his faults, is undoubt-
edly the mainstay of the tottering Ottoman Empire.
Dignified in bearing, and affable in conversation,
Omar Pasha possesses a charm of manner which
wins all who are thrown much in his society, and
perhaps that which renders him more popular than
all else with the Christian subjects of the Sultan
is that he never forgets his European extrac-
tion. With the more fanatical Mussulmans, it is
true, he is not in such good odour, as they urge that
he does not scruple to show his contempt for the
religion of the Prophet. But, be this as it may, he is
the best friend that the Moslem soldier possesses,
and ever speaks in the highest terms of his courage,
obedience, and cheerfulness under privations. No
one can have a greater horror than myself of that
mania which possesses some travellers for detailing
conversations with Eastern dignitaries, which for
the most part consist of ordinary civilities imper-
fectly translated by a half-educated dragoman. In
the present case, however, I deem no apology neces-
sary for dwelling upon this and subsequent conver-
sations, for anything from the lips of such a man at
so critical a moment must at least be of interest,
even if it be without political importance. Having
discussed the relative positions of the European
Powers with Turkey, and spoken most unreservedly
on the subject of French and Russian intrigue, he
expressed great interest in the opinion formed by
the public of the different countries on the Herze-
govinian and Montenegrin questions. He also asked
repeatedly about Garibaldi; but the principal topic
of conversation was the present campaign against
the Herzegovinian rebels, and the preparations
which he has made for carrying it out. These I
have mentioned in another letter, so I will pass on
to a general account of the manners and customs of
the strange people among whom lam living. The
only society which exists is such as is to be obtained
in the families of the Consular agents. I say Con-
sular agents, because some of the Consuls are ab-
sent, and their duties performed by subordinates.
For instance, the duties of the British Consulate
are most ably performed by M. Gyurkovich, an
Hungarian of remarkable intelligence and
ability. To this gentleman lam math in-
debted for the great assistance he has given me
in the purchase of horses and other necessaries
for the campaign, to which Omar Pasha has
most kindly invited me to accompany himself.
The proficiency in, and facility of, acquiring lan•
guages which distinguishes those who have lived
much in these countries is truly wonderful. For
example, I passed an evening at the Russian Consu
late, where among ten people I heard no less than
eight different languages spoken ; though, to be
sure, there were representatives of nine nationali-
ties present.

I think that a few words on the social condition
of this people may be in teresting, as so little is known
of the province generally. The means of living are
remarkably contracted, but, fortunately, the views
and desires of the people in this respect are on a
corresponding scale. One great means exists for
the promotion of enlightened views, and this is the
encouragement of commerce. The attainment of this
desirable end would be much facilitated could the
Austrian Government be induced to open the port
of Klek on the Dalmatian coast, This measure
would insure the passage of all merchandise for
these countries through Herzegovina, and by it
would be realised a large yearly income, to say
nothing of the stimulus it would give to the impor-
tation of goods. But there is no probability of
this taking place, since it would prove a deathblow
to the trade of Trieste. With respect to the relations
existing between the Christian population and the
Government, I was surprised to find how little dis-
content prevails among the former. That they have
had just cause for complaint is true, but it has been
more against the landed proprietors than the Go-
vernment. The principal fault of the latter has
been that it has not made adequate arrangements to
carry out the concessions granted to the Christian
population by the Imperial firman of the 18th of
February, 1856. Up to the present time they have
been the tillers of the soil, and as such very depen
dent on their Mahomedan landlords. These have not
failed to render their yoke most oppressive, exact •
ing forced labour, seizing the half of the produce of
the land, and inflicting other grievances,which it is
to be hoped will now be abolished. The Commission
which has been sitting at Mostar, and which will
possibly reassemble again, has literally for
its object the organisation of means to render'
valid the firman of 1856, an& thus place the
Christians in the position whicThhheis
proceedings Majesty the
f
late Sultan assigned to them.
the Commission have of course not been made
public, but it is generally known that the following
are among the points of debate :—That the Court B
of Judicature which now sit only at Mostar, and
which consist entirely of Mussulmans, shall be dis-
seminated over the country, and be open to all
religions. This, while it renders an impartial
administration of the law more probable, will go
far to put an end to the system of corruption now so
prevalent. It is also proposed to distribute Crown
lands among the Christians, which would at once
make them independent of their present masters,
and would insure the employment by Mussulmans
of none but paid labour. Of this waste land there
is an abundance, as all such as is left uncultivated
for three years is appropriated by the Crown. Of
these reforms Bosnia and Herzegovina are doubt-
less most in need, for while Servia has made rapid
strides of late in the march of civilization, these two
provinces remain as they have been during years of
ignorance and oppression—the habitations of a race
of swineherds and brigands. Of Bosnia and Servia
I hope to convey a more exact idea in future letters
from those countries. I must not omit to .mention
a fact which speaks strongly for the popularity of
Omar Pasha's rule, and for the odium which
attaches to the rebels. An irregular corps of 1,000
men have volunteered to accompany him to the
frontier. These are in equal numbers of the Greek A