The Syrian question is settled provisionally—very provision- ally. The terms
of the convention to which, after so many formal delays, the Powers have agreed, are not inconsistent with what was generally expected last week. They have resolved that a force of 12,000 men shall be despatched to Syria to assist the Sultan in restoring order ; and the Emperor of the French has been permitted to engage that he should at once furnish one half of those troops. Should a larger number than the 12,000 be needed, a further arrangement will be required between the contracting parties. A naval force will be kept on the coast of Syria to assist the force on shore. The high contracting parties have agreed to terminate the occupation by the end of six months. The commander of the French troops will place him- self in communication with Fuad Pacha and General Kmety ; and as soon as possible they will be operating in protection of the Christians. On their departure, the French soldiers are as- sured by their Commander-in-chief that they are accompanied by the good wishes of Europe to a region where they will find the souvenirs of Godefroy and the Crusaders, of General Bona- parte, and the first Republic.
The Emperor Napoleon is thus suffered to do at last what he proposed to do at first ; the interval of delay which has taken place having been filled by further massacres, further demolition of towns, and outrages still more flagrant and exasperating. For instance, a vast number of Christian women have been sold to Mussulman populations, apparently at a distance, at the rate of about 4s. 6d. a-head. Mach of this might have been pre- vented by a prompter assent to the chivalrous proposal of Na- poleon.
We see it assumed by some of our contemporaries who may be thought to represent the official view, that the task of the Commander-in-Chief will be easy and his burden light,—that the Moslem will disappear at the approach of the European sol- diery, that order will be established forthwith, and that the army of rescue will be able to return punctually to date. In short, the French Commander-in-Chief is supplied beforehand with the motto, " Veni, vidi, vici."
That is a End of bill, however, which it is quite impossible to discount in the present state of the European market, and par- ticularly of the Turkish market. We aro by no means certain that the Crusade will terminate so abruptly. By way of Con- stantinople, we have full confirmation of the reports from the European provinces of Turkey, that a Mahometan conspiracy has been long in .preparation, and is ready to strike. Even in been long in .preparation, and is ready to strike. Even in Scutari there are the greatest fears of a sudden and overwhelm- ing attack on Christians, which the representatives of the Euro- pean Powers are very ill prepared to resist. These reports from Constantinople do not add to the confidence of those who hope that the Syrian expedition may terminate in Syria within six months.
Italy remains in the same state of uncertainty that we have lately described. Garibaldi is still winding up accounts with Messina and Melazzo ; they are still expecting him on the oppo- site main ; the streets of Naples are disturbed by the unconcealed agitation of the Liberal party ; and in the provinces the reac- tionaries, who certainly have the countenance of the Court, take no steps to disguise their active machinations. The chances of an alliance with Piedmont appear to have departed ; King Francis not perceiving that his only chance of saving his crown was to adopt airy terms which could have been offered to him in Turin. In the Riedmontese capital they are ndt without their anxiety ; Bertani having, as ragout for Garibalth, organized on expedition to attack the Papnl territory ; but Tticasoli stands' prepared with a considerable force to back the counsel of Cavour in repressing this ill-advised and ill-timed aggression. Daily, however, we have reports of Garibaldi's arrival in the Neapoli- tan territory.
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