they were supposed to be favourable to an amicable adjustment of the quarrel with the Pasha of Egypt; and this was, in all probability, the chief reason of their being recalled to office.

SYRIA. The following account of the state of Syria at this period was written by a British merchant resident in the country; and appeared in the English newspapers. It exhibits a melancholy picture of the effects of misrule, and shows how likely it is that before long some general attempt will be made to bring about a revolution, and throw off the yoke of Turkish tyranny altogether. The letter is dated

Aleppo, June 17th.

"The Government of the country consists of Pashas and Defterdars. A, Defterdar is a "bookkeeper;" the office here is that of a Minister of Finance for a district. There are of course, besides these, Mutzilius (or governors) over every town. The Pashas and Defterdars have been supplied from Constantinople; the governors of towns are partly former governors, confirmed by the Sultan, and partly new men from Constantinople. The general character of the new rulers individually is duplicity and venality; that of the Government feebleness, irresolution, inactivity, faithlessness, and poverty.

All over the country, access to the Pashas, and a favourable decision by them, is obtainable by presents of money to them, and by that means only. If a poor fellow who has supplied the Government with stores, gets an order on the local treasury, he must consent to allow the Defterdar to retain a percentage, or delay after delay is made, amounting almost to a distinet refusal of payment. The Customhouse-officers may be (and

are) bribed to allow goods to pass at lower rates than those in the tariff; and in some cases, without entering them at all in the Customhouse-books, the officers take their present in kind, and the merchant takes them away without paying any duty. The Courts of the Cadi have become so dreadfully venal, that decisions are openly bought; and no man who will not buy the Judge's favour need go to his Court. In cases where disputes have been carried to the Pashas by the English and other Consuls, the most profligate violation of promises and rights is made without shame or fear.

"The feebleness of the Government is seen in the state of Mount Lebanon, many of the Southern districts and all the Northern. The Christian population of Lebanon make no secret of their contempt for the Sultan's authority, and dictate to him the terms on which they will remain at peace, as if they were an independent and more powerful state. The promises and power of the Allies have been able as yet to retard revolution, but there has been for the last three months constant and immediate anticipation of a violent demonstration, The roads in the districts of Naplous and Jerusalem are insecure, from the presence of old marauders whom Ibrahim Pasha effectually kept down.

"In the North, disturbances of a tedious sort took place at Orfa ; and the Arabs, from Hamah to the Taurus, and from Aleppo to the Euphrates, are at enmity with the Government, and command the country. So bold are they, that they were lately encamped within sight of the walls of Aleppo, and nothing was done to

disperse or even check them. The English Consul has been endeavouring to arrange with them; and thus the Government is in such a position, that, through the representative of another power, it has to treat with the chiefs of robbers, who laugh at its pretended authority. As you may imagine, the roads are nearly all unsafe, and robberies are common. The worst is, that these arrangements are defeated by the Government continually changing its views, and acting with bad faith to the Arabs in the face of agreements. The poverty of the Government is so great that no one will trust it unless compelled; and the British Commissary has been employed for some time at Beyrout drawing money to supply its wants. The only improvements that have been made since the occupation of the country are at Beyrout and Acre; and they are made not only at Great Britain's cost, but chiefly with British hands. The effect of all this on the people is deep discontent and contempt. No respect is paid to the Government; and complaints are made by all. Relief has been obtained certainly from the conscription of the Pasha of Egypt, and from some grinding taxes in oppressed localities. The friends of Mehemet Ali cannot deny that the happiness of many of the poorer classes has been increased by the absence of his vigorous Government, which endeavoured to find resources in the country although at the expense of ruining considerable portions of its rural population, and inflicting great hardship on those liable to serve in the army. These evils have been removed, however, by removing all Government, and reducing the

country to a state approaching to anarchy; which, if permitted to continue, will more surely ruin the country. The partial sufferings under Ibrahim Pasha were very apparent, and probably magnified by interested parties: the mischief doing now is far more general, and strikes at the root of civilization and prosperity, though it may exhibit fewer cases of individual misery. This is so evident to every one looking at passing events in this country, that there are no remarks so commonly made by the British officers, as that, We have unfortunately removed all Government from this country,' and 'This state of things cannot last.'

"The European influences now exerted in this country are that of the Allies,' represented by the British officers and Consuls, and that of France, aided more secretly by Russia, which latter influence is directed by the Consuls of these two Powers, through the instrumentality of spies and the Christian clergy. The British influence is employed in pacifying the excited mountaineers of Lebanon, treating with the Arabs, and interfering with the Government in all quarters, to prevent its making, as the Levantines say, Cativa figura.' Indeed, the Government only shows energy under the immediate and severe pressure of this influence; and wherever its abuses are controlled, it is by strong direct interference of the British officers or Consuls. The Consuls are few, and, with one or two exceptions, feeble, and not welldisposed to British interests. One favours Greeks and another Frenchmeu; and they act as if sent here rather for the interest of strangers than of British merchants, whose

interests they neglect or injure. The military and naval officers are very different men. They exert themselves openly and firmly against abuses. The military officers are located over the whole country, which is divided into districts. One is at Aleppo, one at Tripoli, &c. At Beyrout are their head-quarters, where they have improved many parts of the town, and are beginning on the neighbourhood. They are also fortifying Acre. Never had the Sultan such bountiful Allies. His subjects consider them as their rulers at present de facto, soon to be so de jure. May God send more of you!' is a common salutation when an Englishman meets a traveller on the road.

"The French influence employs the native priesthood of the Ma

ronites (and a large importation of Jesuits have recently arrived to their aid) to influence the minds of the people against Great Britain. Over these people they have the most complete control; and consequently the Maronites are all in favour of France and against Great Britain. The Druses alone favour us, and it is probable they may soon formally adopt the Protestant religion and claim British protection. They amount to about one-third of the population of Lebanon. The Russian influence is employed in the same way with the Greek Christians, though not with so successful a result. But the fact that Russia also acts against British views, greatly strengthens the power acquired by France in the mountains.

measure subsided, it is hoped that a favourable period is approaching for its final settlement. Both Governments must now be convinced of the dangers with which the question is fraught; and it must be their desire, as it is their interest, that this perpetual cause of irritation should be removed as speedily as practicable. In my last annual message you were informed, that the proposition for a commission of exploration and survey promised by Great Britain had been received, and that a counter-project, including also a provision for the certain and final adjustment of the limits in dispute, was then before the British Government for its consideration. The answer of that Government, accompanied by additional propositions of its own, was received, through its Minister here, since your separation. These were promptly considered: such as were deemed correct in principle, and consistent with a due regard to the just rights of the United States and of the State of Maine, concurred in; and the reasons for dissenting from the residue, with an additional suggestion on our part, communicated by the minister at Washington, that early steps should be taken to adjust the points of difference on the line of boundary from the entrance of Lake Supe rior to the most North-western point of the Lake of the Woods, by the arbitration of a friendly power, in conformity with the seventh article of the treaty of Ghent. No answer has yet been returned by the British Government to this proposition."

On the subject of the Texan boundary he said.

"The Commissioners appointed in pursuance of the convention

between the United States and Texas, for marking the boundary between them, have, according to the last report received from our commissioner, surveyed and established the whole extent of the boundary North along the Western bank of the Sabine river, from its entrance into the Gulf of Mexico to the 32nd degree of North latitude. The commission adjourned on the 16th of June last, to reassemble on the 1st of November, for the purpose of establishing accurately the intersection of the 32nd degree of latitude with the Western bank of the Sabine, and the meridian line thence to Red River. It is presumed that the work will be concluded in the present season."

The President referred at considerable length to the financial condition of the country, giving a brief recapitulation of its fiscal history during his term of service. Every demand upon the Govern◄ ment, he

observed had been

promptly met. Notwithstanding reductions in taxation and deficiencies arising from private commercial embarrassments, the amount of Treasury notes outstanding was only 4,500,000 dollars-less by 23,000,000 dollars than the United States had in deposit with the States. He had somewhat reduced the expenditure in 1838; in 1839 it was reduced by six millions ; and the expenditure of 1840, exclusive of disbursements for public debt and trust claims, would probably not exceed twenty-two and a half millions. Two of the heaviest charges upon the treasury were the removal of the Indians and the pension-list: the former was nearly completed, more than 40,000 Indians having been removed to the West of the Missis