INDIA AND EGYPT. [From the "Britannia."]

New Zealander, Volume 6, Issue 477, 9 November 1850, Page 3

INDIA AND EGYPT. [From the "Britannia."]

The dismembeimeut of the 'Juruibh empire hns been confidently pei d.ctcd by many who huvc li y d oppoi-

tiuiitcs of" obtaining tho most authentic information. ami o( estimating the probabilities to be dcduml tliercf rom. It h s been spoken of as being d'ferred, only for an uncertain and by no means distant, period ; but so numerous mid so weighty arc tho interest s involved in maintaining entire, the dominion 1 ; of the Sultan, that there can be scare ly nny immediate probability of such a momentous occurrence whatever llic course of ycai'3 ni,\y ue effect. In the p res Mil- condition of European uffuin, it is imposiiblo to foretell prccitdy s>hnt would be the effect of the eejuTuiimi of Egypt from the rest of 'I'm key, or whether the dijW. 'ution of that empire would not sppedily oubuc. In tint case, eich perty province of the extensive dominions of Abdul Me'ljid woald most likely become the focus of a serious ot intrigues, promote 1 and opposed, accenting to the .dictates of their respective policies by the several great European Powers. Far wiser, and mote desirable, theiclore, w.»ulJ it be for all to defend and uphold the Sultan, instead oi" linza-ding thf* peace which happily exists now, by adopting « different comsc. Those two mighty nations, ICugliuul and France, whose councils nre poweiful enough lo sway the destiny of the world, are, fortunately, "upon the most desirable international terms. But who c.vi tell how long these amicable iclatio.is nny o.\ist, or what will be the tendency of the next tiemcmlous change that will result from the appionching stoiru which a'ready 6eems to lower over tl>ut ream ? Can it be reasonably cxcpled lliut France should act as it were in opposition to herself, by resit aming Uie express tendency ol her Supposed interests and feelings > Should the wild dottunes of Sochlism, or th>; n\\<\ ruvaigs of democracy, a'ready so rife among; her tneming population, ever infect to an overwhelming extent, the turbulent and discontented masses, what can hinder the ebullition of populur feeling from sweeping all recognised rights mid institutions before it, in its Javalike descent ? Can it be denied, moreover, or does it requite acute discernment to pciceivg, that Fienrh interests on the shores of the Meditciran-ou (already designated the French Lake) s.eadily but assuredly indicate not only u coalition with Russia, but enable us to judge what the effects of that union would be ? England has long excited the heartfelt jealously of many continental nations ; her nuval supremacy, and past triumphs have arousedj their fear, and nvrukened their suspicion. The combination of these sentiments is apt sometimes to engender hatred. The events which occurred in Afghanistan not very long since, tended much to increase the stability of our dominion more secure from nggiessiou than it has ever heietofoic been. Yet this veiy fact is naturally calculated to add to the concealed but widely extending bcnliments of animosity above alludvsd to. Su poking thcic feul» ings to pervade the minds, of a class by fur too numerous in France, who, possibly, ere long may he cnabia to exeicisa a directing influence over her councils, they supply a motive for attempting to cm tail or ciipple the growing power of Britain. It behoves us, therefore, to guard in every possible way those distant settlements which have cost us so much, an.l the maintenance ol which are indispensable lo the existence of the empire of England. We fiimly believe that bo long as u« retain ths power of transit through the pathahk of Egypt, no feun need be entertained on that subject; bit ilu greatest u^pie'iension of an opposite and of a niOit disastrous rehiilt must be felt, if ever thntoountiy bhould assume the posture of an indepen Jent stntc. It is by no means difficult to demon rate, thatsupposing ths above views to be correct — the commercial prosperity of Egypt and the revival of the eastern trade, are mattern of tonic moment to ourselves. Al • though the population of that vast tract of countiy, irrigated by the waters of the Nile, is mainly to bs deemed agricultural, still the buidons which weigh, heavily upon them at times might be alleviated and the revenue* of the Government, at the same time, indefinitely extended, should Egypt beooinj the channel of distribution to the southern states of Europe, of a large proportion of that JS<stern produce wmch they now receive only after it has taken a most cucuitous course. Nor would our merchants fail to be benelitted thereby. It would be more advantageous for commercial houses in London and in Liverpool, to have d rect transactions, as are here suggested, through tbu iut'ivention of agencies, or in other ways, rather than as nfc present, to receive consigments after a lon-f sea-voyage and then to reship the hame meichandiac for the ports of the Mediterranean atul the Levant. Besides saving expensive freights, insurance, &c , they would givu rise to an inctcoßed demand, as the cost oi supply would be diminished. The bulk of trade with In-lii and China is almost exclusively caniud on in English vessles ; y«t the competition now felt, snull aa it 13, is capable of it 1 turthur diminution. The ettabi/sbments of mercantile houses at Caiio would encour.ige an impoitant tiads between Sutz and Bo i>b iy, Mibbar, Ceylon, CalcuUa, anil Eastern Arcl'ip:l'g<>> SitiKftpore, and even with the China ports All the profiits of this enoimous traffic might, by judicious enterprise aii'l capital, be received for lin^lish merchants. Rich argosies, freighted with the costlicat silks, tha most exquis'e porcelain, the rarest apices and wi I) the homelier articles— »uib ab lea, cotton goods, tobacco, and diugs— would cover the w.ituit, ot Ren* Sea in countless numbeiß; and instead ot borne 2,00') ships of fiom 400 to 500 tons which at present annually clear oat ot the Indian poits, bound tor Eu« rope, we should find a vastly-increasing number, and ut the same time a proportionate diminution in the cost of ihe ar icles which they convey. Again, by the same meuni, to tho tiale of the castesn coart of Af/ica, and of the whole of the Arabia, which at present is scarcely developed, might be wonderfully enlarged. Ivory gum«, skin's, the finest colfee, dates, and other natural pioduciions of the sJI, m'ght be obtained in abundance, and lorwarded tlnougli English hands either to the market of Fiance, Spain, Austria, Italy and Turkey. Nor arc Ihrse vibionaiy projic v s; they have resulted from the mutuied reflections of those, who, by an intimate kuoledge of Egypt, her productions and capabili ies, ucquued during u long rewd nee, are tble to bpeak coul'i c itly up n matii'is which as yet excited m this countiy but a em II s'.iaic of that attention which they do pre-emiiun ly dessrvt'.

Military —On Tnurnday last, the troop, in {i,arr son assembled ut the c immandnijj ofhiers' |i,u,»d.j, wiieu Colonel Despnrd for.ned them into a lluee bided Eqture. un:l prebcriled Diijm Mrijor Vullick with a silver medal for good conduct mid lon^ scivici 1 . lie haul I c wus proud to have to present tuch a medal to an old soldier upon letviug ilie HTvico, as it.sjiokj M'uhigh. estimation in wlnuh Ills Giaco ilit Duke of Wi'lhiigtuti, l he Commander ln-Clnel" laid those who hU.ulily , nil ftmhful'y heived their Q'ieen and countiy. 1I U ho,.cd all those present would st r ive to o'itrtiti similui maiKe (if distinction as that now conferred upon Drum M jor Valln-k. Ttie Dunn Wnjor respect tally acknowledged the honour conferred upon him. Ie ib propu here to aid, that he Ins heen twenty ei^ht yeuisin the beivico hi die 45tli, 3()tli, 09Cli rrgimeuti. A snnilai pr«aeutation of a nu'diil wus made the uume diiy to pnvatc Sivag.j, who liiis bi'en in the lPfiiment moio tbdft twenty four years- Dunn M-^or V.illitk on hif> dischiiige will he en itlui (o n (jialuily oi ii( ccii pounds, and ihe p ivale buldier to on«. </ five pounds, _u leaViny the regiment.— liritauiin.