The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-07-24
Tcorrespondence Of Me Boston rravslIsr.


BEYRouT June 81, lS60.-Zahleh has falleni The
last stronghold of the Christians has been taken,
pundered and burnt, and its surviving inhabitants
are flying like sheep from the wolves that are now
their track. The Christian army has been ami
hilated and the Christian power, which has for
ages competed with the Druses, has been crushed
The fleet Law quietly at anchor in the harbnr of
Beyrout, while Zahleh beseiged, sacked and
laid in runs-and the consuls general, who have
hitherto been so potent and mighty, have held
daily and nightly consultations in vain. The desc
lation of the "goodly Lebanon was decreed, and
the bosom of destruction has laid it waste.
The consuis were in secrect conclave all night,
after the news of the sacking of Zahleh was re-
ceived, to devise ways and means for the of
the surviving Christians of the country from
general massacre. What they have done has not
TRANSFERRED, but the butchery of the remainder of
the one hundred and fifty thousand Christians is
sad thing to contemplate. We had hoped that the
steamers of this week would have brought authority
from the powers that be to land marines for an
armed interference, but in this We were dsappoint
ed. True, the consus were instructed to stop the
war as soon as possible, but power placed at
their disposal to conquer peace. Moral suasion
has not in this barbarous land, the influence it
joys in more civilized climes, and only an armed
Intervention can convince these boodthirsty Druses
that the European powers are in earnest.
The absurdity of the present arrangement is
loudly proclaimed by the eoups de cannon, which
even now shake my windows. The Queen, an Eng
lish ne-otbattle ship, has just arrived from Glbra-
from II. B. Ms ship of l20 guns, and Il guns from
the battery of the town, have warlike sound, but
they are mere courteses and have no effect on the
war. H
The United States Consul has repeatedly warned
the Americans of their danger, and informed them
that residence in the mountains is no longer safe.
Many have come down. To-day tine mission at
Beyrout passed vote requesting the Rev. Mr..
Calhoun of Aeeip, the President of the College at
that place, together with Mr. Bird, of Deirl Kenir,
to come to Beyrout at once.
The Christians, throughout this war, have been
most cowardly, but the defence of Zahleh, the most
warlike town in Lebanon, was conducted with much
spirit. As an illustration of the manner in which
the desperate forlorn hope of the Christian behaved
in this last BATTLE in which about 1000 Druses and
Arabs were engaged in the siege, | will refer to
case only at present.
The Druses had gained the suburbs of the town,
and had succeeded in setting fire to about score
of houses, when the Christians rallied, and drove
them out upon the plain. The Druses were led by
most ferocious and bloodthirsty chief, Range ell
Amad. In the Christian army was lad of four
teen years of age who determined to die In defense
of his home. He rushed into the ranks OF the enemy
and shooting the chief fell pierced with spears and
bullets. The chief was killed, and the little hero
shared his grave.
The destruction of Sdon has Just been reported
$500 Christians are said to have been killed by
Moslems and Druses. This intelligence requires
confirmation, and is not generally credited
OPPOSITION OF THE PLANET MARs-On Tuesday,
the sun, and on Sunday last, the 22nd, when in
perigee, its distance from the earth was about
100000 mes-its least distance from US for
many years, and but little more than its least pos
sible distance. For some time past the unusually
bright red light of this planet has made it the most
conspicuous object in the southeast about 10 p. NJ
and it may be long time before it will be again
brilliant. As the defamation of Mars towards the
south is now very great, or % degrees its altitude
even on the meridian will not for several weeks
here exceed 20 degrees; but at the Observatory of
the Cape of Good Hope the present opposition at
fords an uncommonly excellent opportunity for the
determination of the paraliax of the planet with
greater precision, of which the astronomers there
will doubtless fully avail themselves. Oppostions
of Mars occur at the average interval of about &c
months; the two last happened in 1856, April 2,
and in 1858, May 15 the two next occur in 1860,
July IT, and 1862, October 5. The least distance Of
the planet from the earth at these oppositons was,
in 1856, 59% millions of miles; in 1858, 40 millions;
in 1860, 81 18th millions, and in 1862, 1873 mil
lions-a variation of over 80 millions. After next
Sunday Mars will begin to recede, and its light
will gradually become fainter, so that August
49, 1861, when most remote from the earth, its dis
lance will be 256 millions of miles, or about seven
times great as at the present time.