The Sun. — 1867-10-08 (London, England)

KING WEODORE.  The character of Theodore, Emperor of Abyssinia, has become a subject of grave interest to the British people. It is probable that on the individual qualities of that man will hinge the nature of the war in which the English are about to engage. When RasAli ruled at Debra Tabor about the year 1850, as Grand Vizier of the Emperor in seeming, but in reality as absolute monarch, a young man of humble birth named Dedjatz Kaisai, was deputed, under supervision of the Queen, to govern certain provinces, near Sennaar. Kaisai was King Theodore in embryo, impressed with the conviction that he was destined for a greht career. At Sennaar he attached to himself a following, when he revolted against the Queen and defeated the forces she employed to subdue him. While in open rebellion he managed to blind Ras-Ali to his real intentions. Eventually he presented himself at Debra Tabor, where he persuaded the potentate that he was his faithful servant, and the Queen the true enemy of the State. After carrying on his intrigues for two or three years he openly rebelled against the Ras, and in several actions defeated the troops despatched against him. In a final engagement, fought in the open plain, to which he had challenged the royal army, he broke the power of Ras-Ali, when he aspired to the supreme authority. Übye, chief of Tigre, was his formidable rival, and in 1854 he consented to refer his claims to the council of notables, binding himself by oath to accept the decision. He brought a brain as clever in intrigue as in war into play, and by pitting the Roman Jesuit Bishop Jacobus against the Coptic Abuma Abba Salama, who favoured his rival, he eventually brought both the prelates to his feet. In 1855 Abba Salama crowned him Emperor, under the title of King of Kings of Ethiopia. It was then that Consul Plowden, who had been despatched to Abyssinia by the Foreign Office, wrote of him in terms of the highest admiration. He reformed the administration, depriving the feudal chiefs of despotic power, and placing the country under responsible government. He suppressed the slave trade, and introduced decent habits into Abyssinian society, and altogether gave hopes of a brilliant and useful reign. He appears, however, to have had a taint of madness, which began to display itself. This was first shown in a pride which betrayed him into excessive follies. Thinking himself sent by God at first for the blessing and regeneration of the country he afterwards changed his mind, and became impressed with the conviction that God had employed him as a scourge to Abyssinia. After his last great victory in 1861 he announced to the assembled clergy at Axum that he had made a bargain with God. " He (God) has promised," said Theodore, " not to descend on earth to strike me, and I have promised not to ascend to heaven to fight with him." The Spectator, from which we have obtained most of these facts, says—" Since the date of the above impious and insane remark the character of King Theodore's administration has completely changed, and all the old evils of the land have returned in an exaggerated form. The country is delivered up to a licentious soldiery, and the most fearful cruelties are everywhere perpetrated. The Negus now believes it his mission to be a curse and a scourge to his rebellious people, and he executes it with all the energy of his character. He has given the pretender to the throne, Tadela Gwala, an excellent opportunity of rearing his head, and recent advices make it extremely probable that King Theodore's race is nearly run." A letter from Lieutenant Prideaux was published yesterday in the Pall Mall Gazette. It is dated Magdala, July 21, 18G7. The King had proceeded on a foray to a distant part of his empire, where he had plundered the property of the Church. The rebel peasantry infest the country, actually attacking the royal camp and murdering every straggling soldier. The European prisoners were well treated, except Mr. Moritz, who offended his Majesty, and was cast into the common gaol with the native prisoners. The five Europeans who at.. tempted their escape are in chains, and the six servants captured with them have been cut up by the King's order. In six weeks his Majesty has butchered 3,000 soldiers and peasants. The villagers in the country attacked were burnt in their houses, and whereever he meets a wayfarer he orders him to be despatched, with the remark " that he has no business to be knocking about."