The Sun.
London, England, 1859-01-28 00:00:00

Within the last few days a pamphlet of great in-
terest has appeared from the pen of Sir Macdonald
Stephenson ,the enterprising chairman of the Smyrna
and Aidin Railway Company, under the title of
" Remarks upon the Practicability and Advantage
of Railway Communication in European and Asiatic
Turkey." Accompanying this practical work is a
large and accurate map of Turkey, which greatly_
assists the reader in his perusal of the " Remarks."
The Ottoman (or Smyrna and Aidin) Railway is
the first line commenced in the Turkish empire.
The works upon the forty miles out of Smyrna,
constituting the first section of the line, are in
course of rapid construction, and this portion of the
railway it is intended to open in September next.
To show the energy with which the works are pur-
sued, it may be mentioned that about three thou-
sand men, of different nations, are employed on the
line. The prospects of its success are most satis-
factory, and no doubt can be entertained that it will

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prove an advantageous as well as great commercial
undertaking. The second, or tunnel section, is also
in rapid progress. The third section, to Aidin, we
arc informed, is easy of construction, and, as soon
as the second section shall be sufficiently advanced,
will be completed without delay or difficulty in time 1
to open these two sections together.
It appears that Smyrna, the first city in the,'::
Ottoman empire, contains a population of 160,000; )
possesses one of the finest harbours in the world,
and takes the highest rank among the trading ports
of the Mediterranean. The aggregate value of its
imports and export:3in 1856 amounted to £5,000,000
sterling, and the tonnage inwards and outwards to
869,380 tons.
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In 1847 (according to a return of the Austrian
consul at Smyrna) the imports amounted to
£2,447,493, and the exports to /2,397,342. Tho
trade of the populous district through which the
railway will pass is rich in agricultural and mineral
wealth, and will doubtless be further most largely de-
veloped by the facilities which the line will give to
the conveyance of valuable merchandise hitherto car-
ried on the backs of thousands of mules and camels,
at heavy expense and serious loss from damage in the
transport, and from slow and tedious travelling. We
may add that the Sultan is a large shareholder in
the company, that he takes much interest in its
progress and success, and that he rightly estimates
the value of railway communication throughout his
empire.
Sir 'Macdonald Stephenson's "Remarks" com-
prise a brief abstract of the concession, the traffic
and general prospects of the Smyrna Railway, with
much other matter both important and highly inte-
resting to all classes of the commercial community'.
No doubt the opening of the Smyrna and Aidin
Railway will speedily lead to the construction of
similar great enterprises. Sir Macdonald Stephen-
son has large and comprehensive views in reference
to the gradual formation of railway communication
in European and Asiatic Turkey, by which the
whole of Europe, of Turkey, and of Asia would bo
brought into close connection, conferring
mutual
benefits on the interests both of civilisation and
peace. His ardent desire is to establish a national
highway, as he terms it, through Europe, to the
British possessions in Asia. The opening of the
Smyrna and Aidin Railway will, by demonstrating
the practicability and remunerative character of
such undertakings, help that colossal scheme, by
which Calcutta would be united by railway with
London ; the British Indies with the British Isles.
With some the practicability of this noble design
may be questioned. But in these days of bold
enterprise, of engineering and mechanical skill,
and of liberal support to great works of world-wide
utility, what limit can be fixed to plans of this
nature ? Rapid intercommunication is the domi-
nant idea of the future : our children will enjoy as
realities-what we now regard as Utopias.

COUNTRY MA.RKETS.

BIRMINGHAM—JAN. 27.
This day's market was shortly supplied by the farmers,
yet the buyer had the advantage. Barley maintained its
value. Oats held higher, but only taken in retail. Fin°
beans Is. dearer. Peas quite as high.
MANCHESTER—JAN. 27.
There was about an average attendance at our market this.'
morning. Good conditioned samples of English wheal
were in fair demand at last week's prices, but damp parcels /
were neglected. Flour met a slow sale, and is 6d per sack
lower. Oats were firm, and oatmeal brought rather 'nor°
money. Beans were is per qr. higher. Egyptian bean
and Indian corn were unchanged.