The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1845-07-09
FRIGHTFUL ATROCITIES OF SYRIA

The following details have come to hand
through private letter of the chickering's that
have recently taken place in Syria -
Sc 4 civil war. and one of determinations reions
al this moment in the mountain between the Dru-
ses and the Christians, and during the last fifteen
days The horrors we have seen perpetraeh around
us dreadful On every side the sounds of bat
tie are heard. and nnthing is seen but fire and
fame honses, villages, and churches and CON-
vents being reciprocaIIy prey to The flames. AT
The moment write (Nlay 10 we have before MS
the appalling spectacle of no less than eleven vii
lagos and number of Marnnite churches and con-
vents in flames, and what is worst, when the
Christians are victorious, they enter the Drnse
villages. putting to the edge of the sword. men
women, and children; the Druses following the
example when they are victorious All the silk
worms of both parties, the sole support of The Sy-
rian population. have heen burned The converts
of the Maronites and Catholics have heen bnrned
and the bodies of their priests after death. have
hPen burned by the Dfnses Every horror is
pracIisrd on their enemies-for example. TO kill
by famine. massacres, and thousand niher acts
ut haTbarlSm are mnmPniarily committed The
Christians at the commencement we're victoriuns
over their enemies; Int our Pasha, who is mn
with his regular troops, as sn0n as he perceives
Christians victorious. points his artillery aoo;nst
them, loaded with grape, and comnels this nnG,r
tnnae sect 10 take flight The Drusps immedi
ately entering their villages, sacking them. burn
ing their houses. goods, &c. | do moi dunb, h,,
the Pasha has secret orders from his Government
to destroy and ruin the Christians entirely nr No
conld not so openly aid and assist their enemies
The ianaiicsm of the Turks on the coast ;s
daily beroming more and more visible and ,v.
are menaced Ivy terrible revolution I'm Said,
lhfy rose lew days since, To massacre all Tho
Christians, but thanks to- some European ships- oc
war. and to Rescbid Pesha, who Jeff sndJerl,
fur the seat Of disturbance, calm, pprha,s ,nn
mentary. has succeeded. Here. in yeyror q
rising also took place few days ago 10 mt tho
Christians to death bat, thanks to The enerov ,F
the COnsuls, and To some Of the rich TurkisL 49,,
prletOrs, calm has succeeded
" A this moment with the helm or nnr cl,sso.
we see unfortunate fugitive Christians ,ynr,on'
and children. 10 the number Of 5000 or 7o0n nm
he coast Two ships Of war, one French s,d
one Austrian. and five or six small vessels cb.,
tered by the mercantile body. have sailed to c,I
leci and save them from the dreadful deatb which
awaits them from famine. do not know cha,
50 many people will do here to live; Or VIVA, Geo
all shall do, from The great existing scarcifv rs
water when The pnpu!atlon Of our city will be
augmented by $4,000 or 20 900 souls 20
" This. you may rely on it, is no exaooe,,,;,-,
do not know how EUropen puwprs can tole,a,a
such abomi0alions, or the fanaicism If tho La-
bafIans, and remain inactive, v hen handful rs
troops, OF any Christian nation, would suffice r.,
cause their iasolence To cease and to BRING tI,e,
to proper sense of reason.
May 20.-Fre and battle continue to roi,,
with destructive violence on all sides sronnd -
and the news we have at this moment is. that fbc
Christians have been obliged to FIRE on the rernla,
troops, which places us in a very alarming posi.
'i3n, as we tear revolution Of the Turks against
al 'he Chrls'ians' and we are now all prepared,
Weapon in hand, to defend our houses md The l;,,
Of our families. Yesterday the Pssba wrote n
the consular body that it was impossible for him