The Sun. — 1860-08-17 (London, England)

YROUT, AUG. 2. I landed this morning from the French steamer Euphrate, of the Messageries Imperiales, which left Marseilles on the 22d of last month ; and, as the post leaves at four o'clock this afternoon, I have had but little time as yet for inquiries, or to do more than faire acte de presence. We had on board the Euphrate an intendant militaire, with his subordinates, 19 in all,.who had bean despatched to prepare for the reception of the French army of occupation in Syria. Colonel Osmond, of the French staff, with whom I travelled from Marseilles to Malta, had previously arrived, and his mission is, I fancy, more diplomatic than military, at least- for the present. As commandesng de la place at Eupatoria during the Crimean War he will be favourably remembered in England, while the success which followed his more recent mission to Nice proves how well qualified he - is for the present purpose. Nevertheless, it will scarcely be deemed a misfortune that he should have arrived after Fuad Pasha's departure for DaMaacus, since whatever the Turkish Minister map do there will not be under the influence of foreiv; pressure, but of his own free will and sense of justice. In saying this I do not allude to France in Particular, but to every foreign Power in general ; for unless the Government of the Sultan can vindicate his authority among his subjects -without being compelled or urgently advised to do so— unless the Porte can exhibit independence and Power of initiative, the integrity of the Ottoman P._ 'Which, for the sake of napire is a mere sham, humanity and civilisation, and even in the interests of the Turkish populations themselves, had better be permitted to cease. It is therefore essential, as a measure of self-preservation, that the Porte should exercise, without control or instigation from friendly States, the high prerogatives of sovereign power by the signal punishment of all among its subjects who, in contempt of its authority, have been guilty of rapine and murder. If I esteem it fortunate that Colonel Osmond should not have seen Fuad Pasha, I conceive it equally fortunate that Major Fraser, who arrived here yesterday morning on a similar mission from the English Government, should likewise not have seen the Turkish Minister; for before England becomes further pledged to maintaining the Ottoman Empire, or involved in measures for its defence which may entail the sacrifice cf English treasure and English livas, let us, in. Heaven's name, have satisfactory evidence that the sovereignty of the Porte can be upheld for some reasonable length of time, and that the process by which it is to be effected is practicable and worth the cost. If not, or if England and the Western Powers are to be called upon to make an armed intervention—at one time against a foreign foe like Russia, and at another against internal enemies like the Moslem  On the other hand, it is said the Turkish Empire possesses elements of vitality little dreamt of in Europe—a vitality as tenacious and invincible as any. Few Western States, it is urged, could have supported a foreign invasion, an armed occupation, and a social revolution, as Turkey did from 1854 to 1856. Persons who take this view argue that—  " Mieua vaut un sage ennemi Qu'un maladroit ami." And all the evils of Turkey, they contend, proceed from the maladroitness of the Sultan's friends, whose representatives or ambassadors at Constantinople lower his dignity and diminish his authority by the imperious tone of their remonstrances, and the de haut en bas style in which they convey the advice of their respective Cabinets. The Porte has undertaken reforms of the greatest moment, which are the object of suspicion and hatred by all " true believers"—that is to say, the majority of the Moslem population. Nothing but the absolute and theocratic despotism of the Sultan can secure their adoption, and it does seem the height of folly to enfeeble his authority in the eyes of his subjects. Such, in a few words, are the rival opinions of persons out here. Which is the right one time will shortly show, for the settlement of the Eastern question is rapidly approaching.  (