The Sun.
London, England, 1868-01-01 00:00:00

LETTER FROM MR. RASSAM.

We have been favoured with the following ex-
tracts from a letter written by Mr. Elormuzd Ras.,
sam, dated Magdala, the 28th of October :—" We
learn from different letters just arrived from the
coast that her Majesty's Government intend to ap-
point Sir William Coghlan to the comtnaad of the
expedition which is to be despatched to Abyssinia
to effect our liberation. I sincerely hope that such
is the case, and, assuming the intelligence to be
true, I lose no time in communicating a scheme
which, if carried out, will materially assist the
General in his dealings with the native Christians.
The Metropolitan died here in prison, on the 25th
inst., from disease of the heart, and the Abyssinians
are consequently left without a spiritual head to
ordain priests and deacons, and to consecrate their
churches. According to the rules of the Abyssinian
Church, the Metropolitan, or Abuna, must bo a
Copt, and must be consecrated to the office by the
Coptic Patriarch filling the See of St. Mark, in
Egypt. I feel confident that the Coptic Patriarch
would consecrate a new Metropolitan for Abys-
sinia, provided that the Egyptian Viceroy gave his
consent, and I fancy our resident Consul-General
could readily obtain that. In my opinion the pre-
sence of a metropolitan for Abyssinia, accompany-
ing the General in command, would remove many
of the difficulties which are likely to arise from our
invasion of the country, as the Abyssinians are a
very superstitious people, and regard their Abuna
in the light of an Angel sent from Heaven. When
our army enters Abyssinia you may rest assured
that many Jesuit priests will follow in its wake, and
the fact of an Abuna being with our people will
inspire confidence among the people, and render
abortive all the intrigues which will be set
on foot to instil distrust regarding our
object among the ignorant and fanatical. ii
tender this advice, whatever officer may eventually
be selected to command the expedition, for I feel
confident that the mere fact of the Abuna being
with the English, and under their protection, will
be a great security against the attempts which will
be made to intimidate the peasantry, and which,
if successful, will prevent them from coming for-
ward to supply the force with provisions, and from
proffering their manual services, both of which will
be very much needed by the invading army. Since
I last wrote, in the beginning of September, diffe-
rent rebel chiefs have been reported as coming to
invest this fortress; but thus far nothing has come of
their boasting. Menilek, the young new Ring of
Shoa, has proclaimed that he intends to attack Mag-
dala, and he is expected to reach this place with an
immense host about the end of the week. I fear that
this rumour will prove as groundless as many others
which have preceded it. One thing is certain, there
is no power at present in Abyssinia ,ab:e to capture
this fort from without, unless aided by treachery on
the part of the garrison. For the last two mouths
the Emperor has only been able to communicate
once with this place, through a secret messenger,
the whole country between this and Debra Tabor
being in a state of great anarchy. A messenger
whom I sent to the Royal camp has been missing
for a long time. I heard of his departure from Debra
Tabor, but he disappeared the day after he left the
Royal camp, and I have learnt nothing of him since.
The messenger who came from the Emperor three
days ago brought me, as usual, a private message
from his Majesty, stating that the cause of his pro-
tracted delay was owing to a great mortar which he
had had cast and which he found much difficulty in
moving. The messenger left the Emperor at
Aibankob, about two ys from Debra Tabor, on
the way to Magdala. But this kind of rumour has
so often proved false that we hope to be left alone
until the arrival of the British force."—Pall-mall
Gazette.