TURKEY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XII, Issue 746, 31 December 1859, Page 3

TURKEY.

Thb Conspibacy against the Sultan.— There can be little doubt that the conspiracy just discovered at Constantinople was a sufficiently for« midable affair. Though, perhaps, the Sultan's life may not have been really in danger, there was beyond doubt a plot to dethrone him, and place his brother in his seat. To oriental sovereigns the conspiracies of the palace have always been most fatal. A sultan or shah perishes because a wife, or servant, dreads the consequences of some fault, or because a brother too near the throne in ambitious to Beat; himself on it. It is little more than 50 years ago since Constantinople itself was the scene ot'a tragedy of this kind, and even the strong-minded prince who preceded the present Sultan had more than once to be on his guard against similar machinations. But the present conspiracy is more political and perhaps less dangerous. It appears to he of a piece with the s demonstrations which have, especially during the. last five years, been made by the old Turkish party against the supposed heterodoxy of the present Government, and its submission to the counsels of the ambassadors. The spirit of the old Turks has been to some extent broken by the preponderance of Russia, the advance in wealth and power of Christian communities, and the necessity of resting for support on the Christian Governments of England and France. Still the spectacle of the Sultan becoming every year more and more a regular European monarch, and changing his rank from the first prince of the Bast to that of a secondrate member of the royal fraternity of Europe, has been top much for the pride and temper of some of his subjects; and there is little doubt that the plot now discovered is the result of this discontent. It seems to have wide ramifications over the country. Two generals, several colonels, with other officers and priests have been arrested. One of the men, Djafer Pacha, drowned himself in the Bosphorus, while being conveyed to prison. Another, Hussein Pacha, was high in command in the Turkish army during the war. How far private ambition is n^ixed up with religious or political feeling in the conduct of these chiefs of the movement it is difficult to say. It is quite possible that the leaders looked forward to high employment and great gains under the successor of the present Sultan. The brother, who would of course inherit on the Sultan's death, is a man who, though kept entirely away from all political employment, and made to live in complete retirement, is looked up to by a party as possessed of more capacity than the Sultan, a firmer will, and a desire to resist foreign dictation. No doubt, the conspirators expected a total change from the substitution of one brother for the other. A commission has been appointed for investigation into . the conspiracy, and has already made its report. Sentence will soon be passed on the conspirators. i Fresh and important arrests have taken place. The ' Journal de Constantinople ' contains the names of 34 conspirators, amongst whom are Ferij Hussein Pacha and two brothers of the Governor of Yemen. The brothers of the Sultan have not been arrested. [A few additional discoveries have been made in Constantinople concerning the conspiracy; and it is asserted that incendiary machines have been discovered, which were destined to burn the European quarter of the town. The Ambassadors had held deliberations what measures should be recommended for public safety. Two of the conspirators brought before' the Sultan proclaimed boldly the public wrongs they conspired to redress, and accused the Government of wasteful extravagance, of which the people and the army were the victims. The Grand Vizier had offered his resignation, but it had been refused. Evident disunion reigned among the Ministry,. and the fact of a dissolutioa seemed inevitable.]