Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1845-07-10
feared that other troubles will be the re-

feared that other troubles will be the re-
suit.
BELGIUM.
Brussels June l5.-This diminutiVe
kingdom is at present in a great hustle
on account of Elections,
THE EAST.
The Overland Mail from Bombay is to
the 10Th of May. The chief intelligence
of interest is from Lahore. Ghoolab
Singh was there kept state prisoner.
The news from China comes down 10
the end of March. The Emperor is said
to have received some favorable notice
of Christianity, and was disposed to toll
crate it.
From a private letter.
FrightruI Atrocities in Syria.--'A civil
war, and one of determination, reigns al
this moment in the mountains, between the
Druses and the Christians, and during the
last fifteen days the horrors we have seen
perpetrated around us are dreadful 49,
On every side the sounds Of battle are
heard, and nothing is seen but fire and
Aames-houses, villages churches and
converts being reciprocalIy prey to the
flames. At the moment | write MAY ~
we have before us the appalling specta-
Gle of no less than eleven villages and Il
number of Marontc churches and con-
vents in flames; and what is worse, when
the Christians are victorious, they enter
the Druse villages, putting to the sword
men, women and chiIGren;-the Druses
following their example when they are
victorious. All the silk-worms of both
parties;5 the sole support ofthe Syrian
population, have been burned. The
converts of the Maronites and Catholics
have been burned, and the bodies ottheir
priests, after death, have been burned by
the Druses, Every horror is prctised on
their encmies-lor example, TO kill by
famine, massacre, and thousand other
acts of barbarism are momenarily com
mitted. The Christians at the commence
ment were victorious over their enemies;
but our Pasha, who is out with his regu-
lar troops, as soon as he perceives the
Christians victorious, points his artillery
against them, loaded with grape, and
compels this unfortunate sect to take
flight. The Druses Immediately enter
their villages, sacking them, burning their
houses, goods, &c. do not doubt but
the Pasha has secret orders from his Gov
eminent to destroy and ruin the Chris
tians entirely, or he could not so openly
aid and assist enemies.
"The (ana,icism of the Turks on the
coast is daily becoming more and more
visible, and we are menaced by terri
bic revolution. In Saida they rose few
days since to massacre all the Christians
but thanks to some European ships Of war
and to Reschid Pacha, who left suddenly
for the seat of disturbance, a calm, per-
haps momentary, has succeeded. Here
in Beyrout, rising also took place few
days ago, to put the Christians to death ;
but thanks to the energy of the consuls,
and to some of the rich Turkish proprl-
etors, calm has succeeded.
"At this moment with the help of our
glusses,we see unfortunate fugitive Chris
|tians-women and children, to the number
of G0OO or 1000 on the coast. Two
ships ST war, one French and one Aus
tran, and five or six small vessels, char
tered by the mercantile body, have sailed
to collect and save them from the dread
full death which awaits them from famine
| do not know what so many people will
do here to live; or what We shall do, from
the great existing scarcity of water, when
the population of our city will be argu-
mented by 1000 or 10000 souls,
"NIay 20.-Fire and battle continue
to reign with destructive violence on all
sides around us, and the news we have at
this moment is, that the Christians have
been obliged to fire on the regular troops
which places us in a very alarming posi-
ton, as we fear revolution Of Turks a.
gainst all the Christians, and we are now
all prepared, weapon in hand, to defend
our houses and the lives of our families.
Yesterday the Pasha wrote to the Con-
suIar body that it was impossible for him
to reconcile the hostile parties, and de-
manded assistance from them. But what
can the Consuls do between two nations
equally stupid, ignorant, fanaticaI, and
superstitIous? Our city is already fall of
unfortunate mountainecrs, of the Chris
tians, men, women and children, dying
Of hunger, whom the Consuls here are
constrained to support in common char
nv."