New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1860-10-29
From syrin.
FRIGHT OF THE DsUsEs THE CHIEFS SUMMONED
a,-.. TO ANSWER
The Beirut correspondent of the Bost

~ AhSWSh
The Beirut correspondent Of the Boston Traveller.
writing on the 22d utimo, says:
The Druse Begs were summoned to appear be.
fore the Ministerial Commission last week letter.
were sent TO each chief stating the fact or the mas
sacres aud the unjustiiiabe war which had rayaged
Syria and ruined Lebanon, and as no one had been
proved guilty Of these crimes a convention Of all
the Maronite and Druse Chiefs would be assembled
in Beirut, to examine the evidence and ascertain
who the guilty parties are and concluding with
the declaration that all who do not appear will be
declared guilty. At the expiration of the five days
OF grace allowed, the Christian or Maronte Chiefs
appeared, and only one Druse Sheikh. This chief,
who had the hardihood to appear alone, was Sheik
Hassein Felhook, who is called the tongue or
brains Of the Druses.
He declared before coming down that he would
rather surrender and save his family, even though
he might pc executed, than to flee with his family
and die of starvation, or be killed all together by
the Arabs. Said Beg Jumblaat, the real head of
the Druse nation the butcher of DER ell Komr
Becheer Beg, Khottar Beg " the sword Of the
Druses, and other prominent warriors, have re-
solved to fee or fight, depending doubtless on
British diplomacy to save them in the last extrem-
ity. Yesterday the nominal head, the Emir Mo-
named, with three or four of the prominent Begs
who had the least to do with the war, made their
appearance, but are in great fear and trembling
lest they may be punished without examination, OF
in the excess of their crimes account Of the alb
sence OF the most guilty parties.
Liz tEial Vi AOusIIlu IdSUA Is SILL III progress,
and much fearis expressed lest he may be declared
innocent. have much faith, however, in the com
mission which will pronounce Judgment upon him.
It Is composed of Admiral Mustapha Pasha, Ahmed
Pasha, the new Goyerner-General Of Beirut, Has
san Beg, Colonel O'Reilly,) Abro Efiendi Can Ar
menian,) and the Multi of Beirut. All but Mutt
have the confidence of the people generally, but
the majority of the commission is Moslem. The
result is awaited with great anxiety by every one
of all creeds who are interested in the Syrian ques-
ton, for he has already been condemned by public
sentiment, and / think there is not Frank in Bel
rut who would not be willing to sign his death war
rant, so strong is the moral conviction of the COM
munity as to his guilt.
The Druses are now completely environei.
The cunning of the Turkish policy may be seen in
the proceedings of Fuad Pasha. Mohammed
Duhuy, the Bedouin Chief, who rallies fourteen
thousand horsemen in battle, was won over by the
presents and cajolery of the Foreign Ministers
during his stay in Damascus, and now these Be-
douins are marshaled against the refractory Druses
Already Megdel Shams, the great stronghold and
famous retreat of the Druses, has been reduced by
this tribe; and while Ismail Pasha proceeds with
the Turkish force from Beirut twenty-five thousand
soldiers under Hahn Pasha will advance from
Damascus, and the Bedouins will cut off the Druses
retreat to the desert and greatly harass them on
all sides.
The famous AkieI Agha of Capt Lynehfs expe.
diton to the Dead Sea, will also, no doubt be en-
listed in the service of the Turks, who, with his
Arabs, will approach from Liberals along the base
of Mount Hermon in the Bekau. We may soon ex-
pect, therefore, to learn of the settlement of the
Druse question: unless, as have ever feared, the
British Commission will interfere to stop proceed
ings against them. The Pfussian Commissioner
has been changed.
It is, no doubt d,7'tere pei,see on the part Of
Prussia and England to create as much delay as
possible, in order to give Fuad Pasha time enough
to apply the necessary remedies himself and prove
the French expedition to have been unnecessary
and fruitless. Until the arrival of the Prussan
Commissioner, the Syrian Commission of the five
European powers cannot act, and meanwhile Fuad
Pasha will restore order, punish the guilty, and
ince, thus enabling him to preserve the honor of
his government.