Weekly national intelligencer., 1860-08-04
AFFAIRS IN SYRIA.

The foreign intelligence which we publish to-day con-
tans further particulars of the state of affairs in SYRIA
and the details most narrowing Nearly the whole
Christian population, at least the male portion of it,
have fallen victims to the boodthrsty vndctveness and
animosiy of the Druses Reports said to have
reached the British Government that the city of Damas-
GUS the oldest inhabited city in the world and of the
most populous of the oriental capitals which known
to be threatened has been sacked by them and that five
hundred Christians there had been massacred in cold blood
the Dutch Consul being among them and an American
being counted among the wounded To this attack upon
Damascus the Druses doubtless prompted by their
horrible successes in other places achieved sometimes by
the direct aid of the Turkish authorities and by their SYM
pathy and conniyance in all cases.
The reported butcheres at Zahleh abundanty
rmed There, and in the surrounding villages the
vyors OF sixteen thousand families reduced homeless
nakedness and famine The carnage has been fear
full AT Hasbeya equal atrocities have been committed
The place had Christian population of about five thou
sand belonging not alone to the Marote community but
the orthodox Greek Church, and to various Protestant
denominations Of the latter there about two hum
dred, having native pastor and church of their
letter from Beyrout has stated that of the hundred
only two men now ve and of their four thousand Greek
Christians only thirtythree survives while the
fate of their wives and children than uncertain
AT Rasheya, at the foot of Mount Hermon there
about two thousand Christians tothds of whom perish
ed by the swords of the Drses and the bayonets of the
Turkish soldiers TO whose barracks they fled for protec-
bon DuG whence tney were nhmdny driven by the troops
Even Beyrout itself is scarcely protected by the English
and European vessels OF lying there which, however
had afforded refuge to the frightened Christian population
In all or nearly all the that have taken place the
Turkish troops have taken less part. One ac-
count states that Ottoman soldiers from Damascus enabled
the besegers to take Zaeh another says that the Turk
ish Government the local Turkish Governors have lent
the Druses men and cannon and the details Ne have from
time to time laid before readers abundantly confirm
this view of Turkish perdy and cruelty What scenes of
horror were enacted at Damascus, and what will follow
nfoifio Lo,4o
shudder to contemplate. pt IN
The latest foreign dispatches intimate that now when
the massacres have been completed the Sultan s making
show of concern about his Christian subjects and that
COmmssOner supported by armed force been sent
to the of slaughter After what has transpred no
one can place any confidence in either the Sultan his
Commissioner and is not to be expected to be de-
sired, that this tardy pretence will satisfy the Christian
Powers of Europe, many of whose quasi subjects fell VIC
TINS to the boodhstess of the Drses and the Turkish
soldiers Ii the tenor OF the dispatches received by the
English Government is correctly stated, Govern
ment Is also Immediately interested in Furnishing the per-
petrators of these savage France and Russia
especially interested in the matter and we will not be-
eve that England will permit any petty ealousies respect
the influence of those Powers the East tempt her
to shield Turkey from the punishment justly merted
She at least ought not to cOnnve at such atrocities pra
sed upon Christian people,. 1t reported that the EN-
perOr of France has already through the Minister for Fo
reign Affairs formally apprzed the Government of the
Sultan, that, in concert with other Powers he will with
out loss of time and directly interfere stop the carnage
Ii the report be rue Napoleon ILL., merits high
datOn for his promptude in the of humanity The
Emperor of Russia also said have moved in the mat
ter England appears to be slow to act although discus
sion in Parliament indicates that she contempates some
movement Of the kind Most probably the three Powers
will unite in demand that every Druse shek who has
taken leading part in these shall be expelled
from the Sultans dOminons; that the whole country of
Lebanon shall be placed under Christian Governor that
the Pashas who have connved at the carnage shall be pun
ished that indemnity shall be paid to the surviving Chris
as and better granees be given for their safety here
after Such demands would be moderate The difficulty
would be in the nature of the guarantees to be given with
respect to the future.-New York Com. AdU.