Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1860-09-26

INTERESTING LETTER FROM SYRIA.
The following letter is from one Of the most re-
spected Missionaries of the American Board, who
has resided in Syria between seven and eight years.
BHAMDuN, Mt. LEBANON,
Wednesday, Aug l, 1S60.}
DEAR SIR:-In compliance with your honored re-
quest ! most respectfully place at your service the
following narrative of what we have seen and heard,
ourselves, in the midst of the late terrible events
upon Mt Lebanon. Our high point Of observation,
Bhamdun, is situated in the Druse country, near
the Damascus road, four hours from Beyrout, and
four thousand feet above the Mediterranean. 1t
contains thousand souls, Greeks, Maronites, and
Protestants, all Christian, under Druse Protection
In all previous in the present war, Bhamdun has
always maintained neutral position and never
been plundered or burned by either party. Since
the summer of 1884, it has, more or less been oc-
cpied by the SYRIA mission and for the last seven
years by the missionary family now resident here,
as station of the A. B. G. F. NJ During the third
week Of May last, in strong order issued by the
Pasha and the Kayiur-makum, addressed to the
Druse Governors in the mountain, for the efficient
protection of all the American missionaries in their
mission of Government for civil war between the
Dr,lses and Christians. We knew their mutual
animostes hereditary antipatbies, bitter retalia-
tons; and the entire failure of government to in
tcrfcre except for their increased alienation and the
effusion of their blood. For weeks together we
saw the Druses removing their families and goods
southwark, and heard that the Christians, in like
manner, were removing southwark. Alarmed at
these Indications, Tuesday, the Goth May, Wis.,
tied the chief bruce, Akkal in this neighborhood,
found him anxious and earnest as myself for pre-
serving peace suggested the united mediation of all
especially the English and Frencb) consular author
itcs in Beyrout to intervene and prevent the threat
ened barbarsm of civil war; and was most conf
dental'y assured that their mediation would be
most acceptable to all the Drusc Akals and Sheiks
but that the Sheks, challenged to fight could never
ask for it, however desirable it might be- But alas
for Lebanon the war was already begun. 1t COM
menced about 8 A. M. of the same day. three hours
beyond us. at the White Back Mountain, between
the Christians from Zahleh, two thousand in num-
Der, less, coming up to burn the Druse vii
lagos; and one hundred and fifty or two hundred
gathered to oppose them and defend their own
country. During the same afternoon, another band
of Christians, several hundreds IN number from the
North, came down upon Belt Miro about P. NJ,
at the northwest of us, in full vicx of Beyrout,
compelled the fifty Druses resident there to retire,
and burned their houses and other hamets and iso-
lated dwellings of the Druses in that neghborhood.
In the course of the night following, almost all the
villages in the Metro District of mixed population
at the north of u.s. were set on fire, Druse and
Christian neighbors mutually contending for the
victory In this terrible night conflict We hear that
only few persons on both sides were killed. The
next morning. Wednesday, May 80, after sleepless
night, while was with my family engaged in d.
vine worship, the whole population of Bhamdun.
with few exceptions, suddenly rushed towards my
house, crying, The Druses upon us!" 1t was
a false alarm Determined. if possible. TO restore
confidence and save the village, condition that
should 90 to war nor fire gun in Bhamdun,
without express ORDERS except at the forfeiture of
his own life offered to identify my residence and
American citizenship with the tranquility and pre-
servaton of the village. My position was most
fully sustained by the Druse Governor and by the
American Ambassador at Constantnople, as their
official correspondence at the American consulate
plainly shows. Since that date, the Druse Cover
nor himself or his representative, came and resided
here, often acknowledging that the presence and in
fuence of the missionaries have saved his village
always declaring that Bhamdun shall not be plum
dered while he lives. 1t is the triumph of preach
ing the gospel and living professionalism. second
engagement in the field occurred on Wednesday, the
9th of June. The Christians set on fire two Druse
houses in Falugha, in full view of the point Hun
dreds on each side were engaged all day. The
Druses, thrice repulsed themselves, succeeded at
last in driving back the Christians to the vineyards
Of Zaleh. And sir, from the aforesaid Tuesday,
May 20, when We saw and heard the first fighting
and burning of this war, for twenty-five days in
succession, could at this point the smoke and
flames of this great confagration continually ascend
in village after another, the smoke of fur
mace, toward Heaven; while it extended from Bru-
mana, the capital of the Christians southwark to
Sidon, eastward to Hasbeiya, and northward to
Baalbec, over an area of over one thousand square
miles. Expelled ourselves from Zahleh, in May of
last year, for our Professionalism, we heard, with re-
grst, Of the sudden expulsion of all its families by
the Druses, and the destruction Of all their dwell
lings in q whirlwnd of fire. On Monday, June lS
We saw the Turkish troops passing and melting the
Druses to the attack on the Saturday previous, and
heard of similar indictments to the shocking barba-
rites of Sdon, DER ell Komr, IIasbeiya, Rasheyia
and Damascus. Alas, for Lebanon and all Syria
Alas, for the absence of all government at such a
time! Alas, for the unfortunate divisions of the
Christian COnsus in their opposite instructions and
ideas of policy Alas for the wild passions and self
sh lusts of our fallen nature minging in the causes
and circumstances of this unnerciful war! The
wrath Of God Almighty has fallen upon the goodly
mountain, Lebanon is laid waste; Damascus, Has
beyiya, bier ell Roma, Zaheh, and two hundred
other towns and villages desoate and all Syria
| is now filled with homeless widows and orphans
But welcome, Sir, thrice, d thousand times well
come to the united fleets of England and France with
the Ottoman Government In the name of God and
all Humanity bid you welcome, Sir, and most earn
esty beg your united consideration and compassion
towards the several communities of this unhappy
land in all their interests and relations which may
accord with the Providence of God and the ends of all
true government for the restored prosperity Of the
whole country and the social and permanent tran
| guilty Of its inhabitants.
l have the honor, Sir,
to be your faithful servant
WIN. A. BENTON,
Citizen of the United States of America.
We elm the following from the Wilmington Dai.