FOREIGN NEWS.

New Zealand Colonist and Port Nicholson Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 64, 10 March 1843, Page 4

FOREIGN NEWS.

Alexandria, September 6. The Egptian fleet, after making all the necessary preparations, left this harbour on the 2nd inst., towed out by the Pasha’s steamers Nile and Boulac. It consists of five line of five line of battle ships; viz., No. 2, the Mansourah, 102 guns; No. 7, the Homs , 110; No. 8, the Romia, 110; No. 9, the Halab, 98; No. 11; the Fayoum, 110; and No. 12, the Beni Souef, 110: three frigates, the ßehera, 60 guns; the Raschid, 58 guns; the Damanhour, 58 guns; three brigs, the Washington, 16; the Tempsa, 16 ; and Jemed Jehaat, 18. The young admi-ral-in-chief, Said Pasha, joined his ship, No. 12, the day after, when he overtook her in a steamer at sea, about 45 miles distant to the westward, which is the direction the fleet has taken. Our port has now lost the noble appearance all these men-of-war imparted to it, as all the other smaller ships composing the Pasha’s fleet, which did not go out on the 2nd, left some time ago, for the north of Syria, to fetch bullocks. There are still five line-of-battle ships in the harbour, but they are laid up in ordinary, awaiting the finishing of the dry dock, when an attempt will be made to render them sea-worthy ’again, though it is generally believed they will never be able to leave the harbour. The fleet had been in expectation of sailing four or five days before, but owing to a strong wind, there was a very heavy swell in the channel, in which case it is supposed to be dangerous to take large ships out. The Pasha wishes it always to be thought there is not water enough in the channel for large ships to pass through, unless they first take out the greater part of their guns. This time the ships went out with all their guns on board.

The European population of Cairo has been in a great ferment.during the last ten days. A Janissary, who protected his master, the Sardinian Vice-consul, in a fracas at the customhouse, has been arrested, and most severely bastinadoed, in spite of the remonstrances of the Sardinian Consulate. The Government has demanded of the Sardinian Consul-general here the dismissal from his post of the Sardinian Vice-consul of Cairo, who is expected at Alexandria to have the matter settled. On the Ist the Vernon was towed out of the harbour by the Cyclops; her destination was Beyrout, where she is to relieve the Inconstant on that station. On the Ist the Hon. East India Company’s schooner Constance left Suez for Jeddah and the coast of Abyssinia. Mehemet Ali has received intelligence by the French steamer, that the Sultan has conferred upon him the title of Honorary Grand Vizier, which appointment will be confirmed to him by Sami Pasha, expected daily from Constantinople in the Egyptian steamer Haggi Baba. Artin Bey has not yet started on his mission to Louis Philippe, but will infallibly do so on the arrival of Sami Pasha. The Nile steamer, which is to convey him to France, will perform her quarantine at Malta, and, after landing him at Marseilles, will return here at once, which shows that he will stay some time in Paris. The Nile continues to rise rapidly, and the crops this year will be abundant. Two sales, by public auction, have been made by the Government within the last week, at which 5,000 ardebs of wheat fetched 46 piastres per ardeb, equal to 18s. per imperial quarter free on board. 20,000 ardebs of beans fetched 27£ piastres, equal to 10s. 6d. per imperial quarter; and 10,000 ardebs of lentils were sold at 28 piastres per ardeb, equal to 18s. per imperial quarter free on board. . Very great mortality exists just now amongst the cattle in Egypt; and some villages and towns have lost the whole of the animals they possessed; and the banks of the Nile, from Rosetta to Cairo, exhale a most obnoxious smell from the putrefaction of the bodies. The Pasha, has issued a notice that the lease of the monopoly of the nitre of Egypt having expired, it will be open to all such as may be desirous of obtaining it at the price of 477 purses (1,385/.) sterling per annum.