The Sun.
London, England, 1859-10-14 00:00:00

THE LATE CONSPIRACY IN TURA-Bre

A letter from Constantinople, dated Oct. 5,-says:
7" The commission instituted for the purpose of
inquiring into the facts connected with the con-
spiracy, and for the examination of the accused,
has not yet published its report. Neither is the
fate of the prisoners known. Any information the
Go
Government may be disposed to afford the public
will, if accurate, add but little to what is already
known. :11.Iinikters have manifested, unwisely r
think, an. inclination to induce the belief that they
regard the affair as of little moment, and one which
had no extended ramifications. That the plot was
ill-conceived, and still more badly conducted, is
abundantly clear ; on the other hand, it is not to
be denied that the circumstances connected with it
have a certain significance. It is idle for the Go-
vernment journal to speak of the affair as one in
which a few Kurds and Circassians were alone en-
gaged, and from which no danger was really in-
curred. An examination of the list, which the
Government bas itself published, of the principal
conspirators will at once show that the attempt was
confined to no one particular body of men. The
priesthool, if such the corps of the Ulemas may be
termed, and the army, are alike fairly represented
in that list, at the head of which figures the name
of the best native officer in the Sultan's service.

Hussein Pasha, the military Governor of Janina,
arrived here in custody towards the end of last
week. He has been several times subjected to exa-
mination, and it is said no doubt of his complicity
can be entertained. He first came into notice during
the late war with Russia, in the early part of which
he was a colonel in the army of Arbistan. He it
was who, in command of eight battalions of infan-
try, covered the flight towards Kars of the Turkish
army, after the battle of Indj-dere. During that
flight, for which the efforts of Hussein alone pro-
cured the more dignified name of a retreat, he was
as conspicuous in the rear as the Commander-in-
Chief (Zariff Mustafa Pasha) is said to have been
in advance of the broken and utterly disorganised
troops. For this distinguished service Hussein Bey
was shortly afterwards made brigadier-general.
During the siege of Kars his honesty, no less than
his courage, placed him in strong contrast with most
of the other superior officers of the Turkish army.
He was there taken prisoner by the Russians, and
returned to Constantinople at the end of the war. In
the disastrous campaign in Montenegro, Hussein
Pasha commanded the Turkish troops, but his repu-
tation appears to have suffered little from defeat. The
misfortunes which there befell the army under his
command are with justice attributed to the Com-
missioners sent by the Porte. These two function-
aries, in whom, of course, their Government reposed
a degree of confidence proportionate to their inca-
pacity and ignorance, were invested with supremo
authority. The opinions and remonstrances of the
General were alike disregarded, and the conse-
quences were such as might have been expected to
ensue. Whatever his guilf, the public will hear of
any very severe visitation of Hussein Pacha's of-
fence with regret; for all, Christians and Mussul-
mans alike, know him to be a brave and honest
man; they know, too, that of all the abuses with
which the Turkish Government is chargeable, there
is not one so crying as the administration of the
army; and that to this fact alone his offence is to be
attributed. _

The representatives of the Great Powers do not
seem to view the conspiracy with the indifference
which Turkish Ministers would fain assume. De-
termined on taking advantage of the occasion to
express the wishes, of their several Governments
with respect to the carrying out of long promised
reforms, those representatives met and agreed on a
11 memorandum to bo presented to the Sultan. On
further reflection, however, I believe it was con-
sidered that there were objections to this course,
and it was ultimately decided to make a joint re-
presentation to the Grand Vizier. This document
has, I am informed, been delivered to his highness,
accompanied by a message from each of the am-
bassadors and Ministers who signed it. The main
object to which it addresses itself is a radical re-
form of the system of finance, which, in its present
state, goes far to render every other improvement
useless. The importance of this step will be the
best appreciated by those who have had opportu-
nities of observing the manner in which it has been
the custom of Turkish Ministers to play off one
ambassador against another. Formerly, the fact of
the French ambassador having made a requisition
was in itself sufficient to induce the English am-
bassador to exert his utmost influence to get it
refused ;or vice versa. This, too, the result of
no difference of national interests, but of ample
personal jealousy. The 'arks are certainly clever
in th.ir generation. They ever looked with dis-
favour on reform, and were content to loiter on the
path, while two of its most renowed champions
were contending for the honour of having driven
them to the writ Now, however, things are
altered. Until some of those who agreed to
the memorandum in question act in bad faith
towards the others, it cannot fail to produce a bene-
ficial effect. Now, at least, we shall see whether it
has really been, as the Turks allege, foreign diplo-
macy that has stood in the way of reform ; or
whether the interference of the Legations has been
merely an excuse in the mouth of the Government.

Affairs in Serv'a wear a very threatening aspect.
The Skouptschina appe irs to be a mere instrument in
the hands of Prince Miloqcb, who becomes from day
to day more tyrannical. It is said that all the exist-
ing constitutional guarantees against the exercise of
despotic power have bccn formally annulled by that
Assembly. Virtually they have bccn of no avail for
some time past. Unless a revolution occurs at onco
it will behove the Porte to interfere. What course
the Turkish Government is likely to take I cannot
ascertain. I think Ministers have themselves not
yet decided on their line'of action.
New difficulties are already arising in Monte-
negro. Notwithstanding the fact of the Frontier
Commission having actually recommenced its opera-
tion. a Turkish guard has been attack( d, and seve-
ral soldiers were killed by the mountaineers.

VOLU.NTEER CORPS.

LONDON.

At a meeting of the Council held at the Mansion-
house, the Lord Mayor in the chair,
The LORD MAYOR announced that a list of mu-
nificent donations had been received, and among
others from Lord Brougham, the Worshipful Com-
pany of Carpenters, the Secondary of London, and.
others, his lordship stated he had just received 20
guineas from Mr. Benjamin Bond Cabbell, a mem-
ber of the council. The Lord Mayor read a letter
from Mr. Alderman Rose, vice-president of the
council, annon nein g that his proposal to the London
and Brighton Railway Company had been agreed.
to—namely, " To convey the members of this bri-
gade to and from the Crystal Palace, charging
them 6d. first class, or 4d. second class for the
double journey ; these tickets being only avail-
able for members of the corps when in
uniform." Alderman Rose further stated that he
had. received £lO 10s. from Mr. W. May, and also
the promise of £lO 10s. from Messrs. Jackson and
Co., and £lolos. from Mr. W. F. Moore.
On the motion of Sir F. DOYLE, seconded by Mr.
SOMES, M.P., the thanks of the meeting were pre-
sented to the Brighton Railway Company for their
liberal arrangement, and also to Mr. Alderman
Rose for his energetic exertions.
The council proceeded to examine the various
applications received for the office of adjutant. The
testimonials were read.
On the motion of the Lard Mayor elect, seconded
by Mr. KENNARD, M.l'., Capt. C. F. Mackenzie
was unanimously elected to that office.
The LORD MAYOR stated the various arrange-
ments were nearly completed, and that the drill
would take place at Guildhall as soon as it could
be in readiness after the forthcoming banquet.
Mr. W. GARDNER addressed the council on the
plans and estimates for the butts, &e., and a meet-
ing was ordered to be called to consider that and.
other subjects on Friday next.
b y Onsi
rt he
}, ootyi oLnEo, ft thl c
tLh LORD
sMoArY
theoß seconded
by meeting elect,
wor
presented to the Lord Mayor for his courteous con-
duct in the chair.

BRENTWOOD.
The services of the company formed here have
been officially aeceptcd. The corps is numbered
" fourth" in the county of Essex.