The Sun.
London, England, 1861-08-15 00:00:00

THE PASHA OF EGIP2.

As the family jewelsOf the House of Othman
were actually sold by auction last week in Bond-
street, it is hard to say to what extent Royal
economy may not be carried ; but the Viceroy of
Egypt is at this moment outstripping even his own
suzerain so completely in the race of retrenchment
that, if the mood does but last, a miraculous ex-
ample will be given to all embarrassed Princes.
The Pasha's affairs were considerably " involved."
The debts of his Government, it is true, were small
in comparison with those of more independent
States, but serious enough when measured against
the resources of his position. His Highness owes
about £7,000,000, in addition to which obligations
he is liable for nearly £3,000,000 more in con-
nexion with the Suez Canal Company—an engage-
meat to which no financier could affix any satisfac-
tory denomination. These debts, too, are on the
increase, being necessarily swelled by the extrava-
attehde
rgeavneeneu ewohf itchhe
eoeraigaitnrayllhyas carlreeaateddy
hteheenman,
tai
cnidp
to the extent of an entire quarter. Under these
circumstances the Viceroy took his finances
seriously in hand. His first idea, not unnaturally,
wcs that of a loan, and Messrs. Laffitte, the great
Parisian bankers, were not unwilling, on certain
terms, to accommodate their princely customer.
Their conditions, however, were somewhat un-
inviting. The sum which they offered to advance
was hardly sufficient to place the Pasha at his
ease again ; it was to carry a heavy interest;
it was to be rigorously secured; and the Viceroy
moreover was to bind himself to incur no fresh
liabilities till this debt was cleared off. The
nominal rate of charge was only 5 per cent., but
what with discount and other incidents of the trans-
action it became clear that twice this rate of interest
would not cover the demand. The terms were pro-
bably justifiable by the nature of the investment,
but they were fortunately so onerous as to alarm
the Viceroy for his funds and his freedom, and he
has applied himself to a better method of improving
his affairs.
All branches of expenditure, private as well as
public, were at once cut down. The army was re-
duced at a few days' notice to 5,000 men, and even
the police constables were disbanded in great num-
bers. The Viceregal household came in for its share
of the retrenchments. All the horses in the stable
were sold, except a dozen or so—a very small allow-
ance for an Eastern Prince. Even the plate from
the Pasha's table was disposed of, and the silver
helmets of the Life Guards were despatched to the
Mint, to be turned into money. A reign of economy,
in short, has now been proclaimed at Alexandria as
well as Constantinople; and, if the system should
be permanent, we may soon see Oriental despotisms
ranking among the model Governments of the
world. This, however, is of course a point on
which there is much misgiving. The fit is thought
too strong to last, and it is feared that when the
novelty of the attempt has worn off these salutary
resolutions may be abandoned for extravagance
more in keeping with traditional policy. We
sincerely trust this may not be the case. The
political position of Egypt is so peculiar that any
serious embarrassment of its Government
would
be attended with worse difficulties than thrJse of
finance. It is above all things desirable that the
Viceroy should be independent, and independence
is an attribute to which no embarrassed debtor can
cordial approbation
ppHreihs
atHieinghenfetshs
Highness will
countryea by persisting inrn, therefore, the
the system of economy now proclaimed. England
wishes to see him rich and prosperous, with an un-
encumbered exchequer and a contented population.
To such a position lie may certainly attain, for the
resources of Egypt are inexhaustible, and they
may be developed instantaneously by good govern-
ment and economical administration.
It has not been overlooked at this crisis of affairs
that Egypt is one of the candidates for the privilege
of supplying our markets with cotton. The country
is well adapted for the cultivation of the plant, and
exports the wool to some extent. The fertility of
the soil is so great that its capabilities would be
almost without limit; but the products of the land
are judiciously arranged as it is, and labov.r and
capital are too scarce to admit of much fresh terri-
tory being brought under cultivation. The actual
tillers of the earth are so poor that they can only
carry on their work by means of advances, like
the indigo-grouters of Bengal; and that system,
as we have learnt by experience, is always atten-
ded with invidiousness and trouble. Nobody,
however, questions the actual productiveness of
Egypt. Under good government the country
would always hold its own, and the Pasha, if
he desires to be independent and powerful, has
only to adhere for a short time to his present reso-
lution. Egypt may then assume a place in the
world's history such as she has not held for many
a generation.
It would be curious enough if: the Ottoman and
Egyptian Courts were to set an example of financial
wisdom at the moment the Democratic States of
America are throwing economy to the winds, and
plunging headlong into what must be National Debt
unless the consequence be averted by national
dishonesty. Many persons may, perhaps, feel dis-
posed to smile at the scheme of public retrench-
ment which commences in the stables of a Prince ;
but in such a country as Egypt the personal ex-
penses of the Viceroy count for a great deal, and it
was impossible, indeed, to inaugurate a new system
in any other manner. We can only trust that the
work has been sincerely undertaken, and it is at least
certain that if Said Pasha has accurately informed
himself of the tendency of the recent negotiations he
must be aware of the magnitude of the peril and the
narrowness of his escape. Considering the nature of
the venture, the securities demanded by the French.
capitalists were not, perhaps, unreasonable.' Pro-
bably the money would not be procurable on easier
terms, but these terms would have left the Viceroy
bound hand and foot, though still embarrassed and
liable to the serious displeasure of the Porte.
It is hardly to be expected that the Sultan, in
the midst of his own reforms, would have seen the
revenues of Lower Egypt pledged to foreigners
without a protest ; nor do we see that Said Pasha
could complain if he were informed from Constan-
tinople that his tenure of the province gave him
no right to create a public debt by mortgage of
the public revenue. We trust, however, that this
danger is now past, and we cannot but think it
's experience of borrow-
ing to a safer method of
norgtusnhaetuea that
v thee drivenV c Viceroy's
re establishing his finances.
No doubt the Pasha's difficulties remain very
r serious, nor is it to be supposed that the retrench-
' meats so resolutely effected on the spur of the
moment will go far to lighten embarrassments
which had all but brought about the transaction
with Messrs. Laffitte. Still these proceedings are
extremely creditable to the Court, for they show a
carrieddetermined
ou t and
dritnt
aoifnetcaoinned omy
, and if that- spirit is
at Egyptianpresent, fin
soon assume another complexion. The Pasha is
doing all that can be done
a n d a nf c
he
es
idoes
l
but continue in the same course he will find his re-
ward in wealth and prosperity. We, in England,
regard his decision with unqualified approval. We
know full well that the only way on t of pecuniary
difficulties lies through thrift and economy. It is
seldom that much good is done by borrowing, and
the glimpse which the Viceroyobtained of his actual
position must have taught him a serviceable lesson.
When he found what was asked of him in return
for a loan not sufficient to give him immediate ease
better to save
he might well conclude that it was
than to borrow. By a few years' economy he mayinsure himself atwofold
effectually establish his credit, and,
of ill what is still
better, he will be under no necessityemploying
advantage—he will
it,— Times.

THE CARDROSS CASE.—A private meeting of the
Commission of the Free Church was held on Tuesday night
in the Free Assembly Hall, Edinburgh, to consider what
steps should be taken by the church in consequence of the
recent decision by the First Division of the Court of Ses-
sion in the Cardross case. Dr. Candlish,;moderator of the
General Assembly, presided, and there Was a large attend-
ance of members. A very free and harmonious interchange
of opinion is reported to have taken place, and ultimately it
was agreed that in the meantime there should not be an ap-
peal tIR
othoeDON TILE R
House ofLords.E—ASßcloNts: oan;
A v c
quantity of seed sown to an acre is,
on
falling
OaTvoT.__The
average, about
half a bushel. The first material caro nON
the culti-
vator,
after the plant has attained a certain
amount of
strength and elevation, is the joint
operation of hoeing and
cleaning. This latter consists in freeing it from grass and
weeds, and spontaneous growth of which is generally rapid,
andits effects so noxious that it must be dealt with by a
summary process of ejectment or extirpation: This takes
place between April and ;fume. Then comes thinning, which
involves toil and judgment, and is likewise performed chiefly
during the act of hoeing. When the boles crack, which
they do with a loud explosive noise, very appreciable by
the ear, it is a signal thlt the season for plucking the fleecy
treasure has arrived. This gathering the crop, which is
also a work of time, delicacy, and patience, peculiary with
adapted to the minute instrumentality of a child's hand,
commences about the middle of August, and is brought to
completion with the month of November. As the value of
the wool depends very mainly upon the cleaning or gin-
ning, great attention should be given to this important
opera; tion which is so differen'Lly accomplished on different
estates, that it is often a principal cause of the variation in
price of the same description of produce. It is thought
that if the Egyptian cat, were thoroughly well ginn.
ied,
and thus freed from the gross impurities with which it s
commonly mixed, it wou'td approach nearer in value to the
genuine Sea Island than, any other sort imported but with
,
the present imperfections in cleaning prevalent in Egypt,
the innate quality of the material, which is excellent,
under-
goes a false and urmecessary deten'oratiop•
this clean condition EV,3 hundred weight is the average
yield of four acres of pl; mtatious—Ono irfa.Of wool in