The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-11-17 00:00:00

COUNCIL

" Alexandria, Nov. 1

" The concentration of the Egyptian troops which were at
Tripoli, Tortosa, Lataqui, and Horns, has been made in the
vicinity of Balbec. The new Prince of the Mountains, the
Emir Bechir Saghir, was on the 22d at Ammana, with a con-
siderable force, within four hours march of Ibrahim. A de-
cisive engagement is expected. St. Jean d'Acre had not
been attacked on the 27th. Everything is tranquil here."
This despatch is probably the precursor to an important
event, as no doubt Ibrahim Pacha has concentrated his troops
with the idea of making a last effort. If he should be de-
feated, the submission of Mehemet Ali must follow, as the
continuation of a hopeless contest would only exasperate
those to whose mercy he is to be a suitor. Should he be
victorious, the Egyptian question will be further removed
from a settlement than ever, as the allies will endeavour to
repair the ill, and Mehemet Ali and Ibrahim Pacha will pro-
bably grow insolent on success. We therefore look with
great interest for the next news from Syria.

SYRIA.
(From the Correspondent pf the Morning Herald.)
OFF BEYROUT, OCT. 22.—Cpon the 14th instant, the old
Emir Bechir, former Prince of the Mountains in this dis-
trict, arrived from Sidon in the Gorgon steamer. The se-
cession of this prince from the party of Ibrahim is likely to
be productive of great effects, as he is, without doubt, the
most influential man in Syria. The terms which he soli-
cited were merely that he might retain his private property,
consenting willingly to withdraw his claims of sovereignty in
favour of his nephew, lately appointed to supersede him.
These terms, I believe, will be allowed him. It was then
intended to send him to Malta, a course which was after-
wards deferred, in consequence, it is said, of the representa-
tion of Mr. Wherry, the English consul at Damascus, then
with the admiral, who considered that the great influence of
the prince was a cause why he should be kept at head-quar-
ters, for the sake of his advice, and even co-operation
against the enemy, if necessary. The Emir seems much op-
posed to this arrangement. He is at present with Sir C.
Smith, at Sidon.
Upon the 16th intelligence was received of the evacuation
of Tortosa ; and on the day following the same news was re-
ceived respecting Tripoli, a place of far greater importance.
It appeared that several days previous the English ships
stationed at the latter place left it. and stood out to sea, and
in consequence it was reserved for the good fortune of Ad-
miral Bandeira, who arrived there in his frigate, for the
purpose of observation, to take possession of the town. It
is reported that a very large force of the mountaineers was
stationed there ; amongst others, 3,000 of the flower of his
Arnauts.

ATHENS.
(From the Correspondent of the Morning Herald)
OCT. 28.—The French fleet, who were preparing to winter
here, have just received orders to return to Toulon, and will
leave to-day. A letter from Syra, of the 27th October,
states that the insurrection among the mountaineers has
become general, and all the communications of the Egyptians
are interrupted. The want of provisions was beginning to
be felt among the latter, as they had not camels to convey the
provisions ; and the English had intercepted a quantity of
biscuit coming from St. Jean d'Acre. Letters from Alex-
andria, of the 17th October, state that Mehemet Ali had
seized on every article of' provisions in order to send them
by land to Syria, and that this arbitrary measure had caused
great scarcity ; and, to add to the distress, the inundations of
the Nile have this year caused great damage. M. Cochelet,
French consul-general at Alexandria, appears to be the sole
adviser and counsellor of Mehemet Ali ; and it is he who
prevented the sailing of the fleet. Mehemet Ali is the warm
defender of Islamism, and has therefore excited a warmer
hatred against the Christians in the breast of the Mussul-
mans. Notwithstanding the credit which M. Cochelet en-
joys at the court of the viceroy, he is not without anxiety
for his personal safety. A number of Christian families are
leaving. A French steamer had been despatched to the
coast of Syria to watch the progress of events.

SPAIN.
(From the Correspondent of the Morning Herald.)
MADRID, Nov. 7.—Sjnce my last some decrees have been
issued relative to the better administration of the revenue of
this country, and if one-half of the improvements proposed
by the minister of finance be realised, he will have done more
for the nation than any of his predecessors. But we have
been so often deceived by pompous announcemements, so
often have Spanish ministers of finance failed in the perform-
ance of their promises, that few persons, if any, are disposed
to place much reliance on Senor Gamboa's protestations.
That functionary's determination to cancel the New Five per
Cent. Stock, which was issued with the sanction of the
cortes, to serve as a guarantee for the temporary loans made
to the government, has relieved our Bourse from the pres-
sure which such an immense sum, known to exist in the
hands of private individuals, who waited but a favourable op-
portunity to put it into circulation, naturally created, and
our funds, in consequence, experienced a rise of nearly two
per cent. To-day, however, they have declined 4, and closed
at 254, cash price.