The Sun.
London, England, 1857-01-15 00:00:00

NEW TURKISH RAILWAY.

CONSTANTINOPLE, Jan. s.—On Saturday last, the
3d inst., another conference on the firman concern-
ing the convocation of the Divans ad hoc in the
Danubian Principalities took place at the British
Embassy, in which all the remaining points were
discussed and settled.
A new railway project has been taken up by the
Turkish Government lately ; it is Mr. Layard's.
He proposes a railway connecting the Danube and
the Black Sea with the Archipelago, sending out by
degrees branches to the capital and the principal
towns of Roumelia and Bulgaria. The railway
would start from the Danube, either at Rustchuk or
Silistria, and pass by Shumla and Adrianople to
Enos, or any other point on the Archipelago which
would offer the advantages of a large and sure har-
bour.

, The project invites the greatest attention, for it is
based on a thorough knowledge of the country, and
is therefore best calculated to draw out the resources
of European Turkey. 'lt differs from all other pro-
jects having reference to the country on this side of
the Straits, that it proposes the shortest artery of
communication between the West and East, and
would be sure to become the great high road
through Turkey. It would effect a revolution in the
whole export trade by placing the great harbour
of European Turkey on the Archipelago, dispensing
thus with the delays of months to which vessels are
exposed in passing the Dardanelles and the Bospho-
rus, and doing away with the dangers of the Danube
and Black Sea navigation. Most of the produce of
the Danubian Principalities of Bulgaria and Rou-
melia, and even of Hungary and Transylvania,
which is now sent to Ibraila, Galatz, and down the
Danube, or to Varna and Bourgas, on the Black
Sea, would be certain to take this route. But be-
sides the trade already existing this line would be
sure to lead to a great increase of exports from Rou-
melia, whose fertile plains have now no outlet except
Constantinople, and this is so expensive that the
grain costs 6 piastres or less the kilo. all over that
country, while it is sold at 25 or more in the capital.
The line could reckon, besides, on the greatest part
of the transit trade from Europe to Syria, Egypt,
and India; for if the line to Kronstadt, in Transyl-
vania, should be finished, and this line connected by
Bucharest with the Danube, the communication be-
tween London and Egypt would not take more than
seven to eight days. •So this line, intersecting and
connecting the most productive parts of European
Turkey, would be surer to pay than any other con-
templated. At Enos, or any other convenient
spot on the Archipelago, it is intended to make a
great entrepot of commerce. The whole line would
be from 320 ro 350 miles in length.
The conditions which Mr. Layard proposes are
very favourable. He asks for no guarantee. He
hopes that the advantages of the line he proposes
will be sufficient to induce capitalists to take a part
in the enterprise, and certainly the dubious gua-
rantee of the Turkish Government in the present
state of its finances ought scarcely to come into
consideration with the probability of the large pro-
fits which this line offers.

Mr. Layard asks for the gratuitous cession of all
the ground required for the main line and its
branches, the concession of the ground necessaryat
Enos or any other point chosen in the Archipelago
for the docks and entrepots of commerce; the grant
of all the forests, mines, and quarries which might
be required for the construction of the line, and
which are situate in its vicinity. The concession
to be for 99 years from the completion of the line.
The Turkish Government is wild about the
scheme, as you may judge from the circumstance
that in five days the whole affair was settled
without any intervention of Ambassadorial
power, and the " lrado" is being made out. This
is not to be wondered at, for the line is of the
highest importance to the Government, not only
in a financial but in a political and military, point
of view, connecting, as it does,
ntdhefadltaeretinutgptrhoe-
vinces of European Turkey, a
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mamn d e r even
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Empire are not lost
which the interests of the
sight of.

The Berne Gazette states that the Swiss Consul
in London has had offers from several of the sur-
geons and other officers of the British army who
served in the Crimea, to give their services to the
Federal array of Switzerland. An English lady
too, one of those who helped to nurse the sick and
wounded of the British army in the hospital at
Scutari, has written to the Swiss Consul in Loudon
the following letter
Sir,—Having read in the Times newspaper that the
ladies of Switzerland intend to follow the example of
Miss Nightingale, awl to volunteer their services for the

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relief of their suffering countrymen, in case of wa
becoming inevitable, I take the liberty of informing
you that some ladita from England also would be
happy to associate themselves with the Swiss ladies
in that work. I was at Scutari myself, and have bad
some opportunities of appreciating the need and the
benefits of female care and tenderness under such cir-
cumstances. It may be that God will yet avert from
your country the dreadful scourge of war ; but in the
contrary event, if you regard this proposal as worthy of
attention, and if a certain number of English ladies
should be allowed to co-operate with your noble minded
countrywomen, you may be assured that we are ready
and willing, with God's help, to respond to your call. I
cannot offer you my services as those of one of the rich
and nob leof the earth, but simply as those of an un•
known person who desires to do this only from the
motive of a pure affection for God and her fellow-men.
I do not give you any names except my own, because I
am at present residing out of town, and have not had an
opportunity of obtaining the signature of those ladies
who wish to take part iu this work. I may perhaps
mention that I am perfectly acquainted with the French
and Italian languages.

FRANCE.
PARIS, WEDNESDAY.

A private telegraphic despatch received here from
Berne, dated to-day, announces that the National
Council has approved unanimously the proposition
of liberating the Neuchatel prisoners.
The commission of the States approved it unani-
mously, with the exception of one vote.
The discussion by the Federal Assembly has
been postponed till the 15th. This is the date on
which the delay fixed by Prussia for the military
movement expires.
The Moniteur of to-morrow will probably contain
a note on the subject.
Verger has requested a postponement of his trial.
Feruk Khan will be here to-morrow.

M. Bourbolon, Minister of France to China, kas
taken his leave, and started this day, with all
speed, for his destination.
The Monitettr has nothing of political interest.
There are disastrous accounts of the effects of the
late terrific storm in the Mediterranean.
A letter from Odessa states that the coast bat-
teries and defences of that place are almost entirely
dismantled. General Luders still resides there,
and most of the garrison officers of rank have re-
ceived permission to travel in France, to visit the
military and naval establishments of that country.
Other officers are going to Africa to make the
campaign with the French forces against the
Kabyles.
The Debats still attacks the English press for
claiming the larger share in the settlement of the
Neuchatel question on a satisfactory basis. It, how-
ever, has nothing better than simple denials.
The Debats, upon a careful examination of the
official papers relating to the attack of the English
on Canton, does justice to our forbearance, and de-
clares that no other course could be taken under
the circumstances. It further clearly shows that
in this case the Chinese look upon French, Ameri-
cans, and English as one people of " outward bar.
barians," and of course advises, in these matters,
common action with ourselves.
The Pays denies the truth of the rumour circu-
lated in the French press to the effect that the
French colony of Otaheite was about to be aban-
doned, and it asserts that the prospects of this
colony are of a most favourable nature.
BOURSE, Jan. 14.—The following were the last
quotations :

Cash. fr. C.
4i per Cents . . 93

End of Month.
—fr. —c.
67 90

3per Cents 67 75
New Loan

Bank Shares 4,100 Roman (x d)
Credit Dlobilier 1,40 T 50 Austrian
Belgian Fives 994 Spanish Threes
Piedmontese (5) 92 50 Home Debt

.RAILWAYS-FOR CASH.

fr. c. fr 0
Orleans 1,381 25 Western
Northern 942 50 Strasburg -
Lyons 1,362 50 New Ditto
Mediterranean 1,760 Grand Central
Lyons Geneva ...... 755 Testa
Cate 753 75 Austrian Corn. ...... 777 50

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