The New York Herald Newspaper, February 10, 1870, Page 4

4 THE PERSIAN GULF The Euphrates Valley Route Be- tween India and Europe. A Coming Triumph of Steam and the Progress of Civilization. Pearls, Pearl Fishing, Slavery, Piracy and Foreign Diplomacy. By the East India mall to England and thence by steamship to New York we have the following special correspondence from Bashire, Persia, tated ‘on the 15th of December, 1869, The communication 1s ample and its contents of great interest and import. ance a3 anticipatory of the effects of the influence of the agencies of steam and personal European exploration in the regions bordering og the Gull. ‘The New Route trom india to Europe via the Euphrates Valley—Steamers to Run up the Euphrates Next April~Disturbed Stato of the Gulf—“Meddling and Muddiing” Triumphs ef British Dipfomacy~Pearl Fishing in the Galf—The Slave Trade~Slavcs Tmported— Slavery Aweong the Arabs—Trade of the Gulf—increasing Export of Opium. BUSHIRE, Persia, Dec. 15, 1869, There are few regions of the wide earth about which so little is Known as the Persian Guif, That in the reign of Nebuchadnezzar (t was the highway of commerce between Assyria and India and the Farther East; that uuder the good Haroun al Ras chid its waters were again waversed by peaceful navies; that on the breakup of the Mussulman empire tts shores passed nominaliy under the flag of the Portuguese; and that since then tt has constantly been declining in prosperity, until 1¢ has been abandoned by everybody except pirates, pearl fishers and sea snakes—this is about um of 1n- formation generally possessed in regard to the classic sea, on whose shores your correspondent Is now sojouruing. But during the past scure of years the prospects of the gulf have been steadily bright- ening, and although it ts still in a sadly confused and unproxperous condiion, another generation will almost certainly witness a revivai of its ancient splendor. Yor it 1s now clear that the long-taiked-of Euphrates Railway, which is to place India within two Weeks 0! of London, 13 soon to become an accomplished faci. The capttal is now being sub- scribed. Tae Turkish governmeat ts very irteadly to the project, and the line between Aleppo and Alexandretia 1s to be commenced immediately. And, pending the construction of ihe rathway from Aleppo down tue valley of the Eup)rates to Bagdad, an attempt is to be made to run steamers up the Euphrates to within a few miles of the former city, Suck an attempt, it is true, was made once before, and miserably failed, owing to the extreme hard and fast on an ob: that It was found impossibie to get her of, and she had to be broken up where she lay. This time, how- ever, the boats are to draw only a couple of feet of water, or even less, aud it Is hoped that they will get up and down without serious dificulty. The first trip is to be made next April. Already, as most readcis of the HERALD are no doubt aware, there are two steamship lines running up the Tigris as far as Bagdad, one of which is maintained by the Turkish government, witle the other is in the hands of an English “limited ability” corporation. In fa.ure letters I will give full information as to the Projected ratiway, but in this I shall simply give such items as | have been able to gather in Muscat, Linga, Bunder Abbas and Bushire as to the PRESENT STATE OF THE PERS % For about a century and a half, and until (he close of the seventeenth century, tie Portaguese held nominal possession of the entrance aud the western shore of the gulf, wogelher with the province of Oman, which forms the southeastern corner of Ara- bia. Muscat, tre ch @ Port of tie latter district, and Ormus. a large city built on a litue isiand which stands tu the very gate of the gulf, and witch com. mands it 24 completely a8 Gibraliar does the Medi terranean, were the main centres of their power, and vast ruins of forts and palaces may be seeu at either place—the mute memorials of thelr 1ormer Bway. Dut tne Portuguese in the gull, as in Ceylon and India, were not so much anxious for the growth of commerce as for the spread of tne holy Catholic faith, Many were the Mussulinan martyrs tu Muscat and Orimuz, who suffercd death rather than ex- change the Crescent tor the Cross; and ag a necessa- Ty consequence Of Unis intolerant policy the whoie gulf was 10 a constant siate of revolt, and when the Portuguese were at length expelled trade had al- ready been rutned and the country pituged into a hopeless state of anarchy. From that anarchy it is only now beginning to emerge. When the Briush power was firmly established in India it wus soon found necessary to interfere in the affairs of the gull, The: ce, frequently amounting to $2,599,000 annually, be- tween India and the gulf, the Arabs exchanging peuris for rice and cotton fabrics, The trading ves- sels engaged im tus trafic were exclusively native craft, aud were frequently attacked and plundered by pirate buegalows. To repress these lawless ovt- rages and protect their Hindoo sudjects the Lngitsh gunboats were occasionally sent up the gulf to inflict a saiul punishment upon the baccaneers. Until a few years ago, when weattes were concluded giving the British government exceptional pow the complete suppressiva of piracy was, Lowe iinpossible. About,a hundred years ago the Saeed family ob- on Of Oman and Muscat, tained absolute poss ud under their wise ruie aifiurs in the gulf specdfy tin- proved, The Sultanof Oman miaistatued a cousid- erable tle: thirty frigates, and as ir numbering at one time no less than ding vessels coming to or going from Muscat were furnished with convoys the latter seaport became the centre of trade. ‘Treaties with Great Britain, the United States and France, granting the citizens of those countries the privilege of what was almost free trade with Oman, imports and exports being subjected only to a duty of tive per cent ad valorem. vrance never availed herself of this coucession, and Great Britain only traded through Hinaoo merchants; but American vessels transacted & regular commerce with Muscat. WhenSsud Saeed died, tweaty years ago, tbis latter trade brought live or six Boston vessels every yeur to Aluacat, wuo exchanged cotton goods tor dat Only a few years ago, just before the outbreak of the rebeliion, 3,000 bales of cheap cotton fabrics were thus anuually solid to Oman. Now, although half a dozen American ships @ year still come to Muscat to load dates, they are unable to dispose of asingie bale. Tiis resuit is not owing to ‘the mcreasea price of such goods nor to British com- petition, but to te decline of Muscat in consequence of the outrageous intermeddiing of Great Britain with tts in al affairs. British interference with Oman and the gulf, which until a few years ago Was to @ certain exten salutary, and was at any rate harmless, has lately assumed a form which is disastrous to those upon Whom 16 18 exercised as weil ag to ali who trade with them. To make the position of ailairs here intelligible tt ig necessary to give some account of tie peop.e who occupy the shores of the gull. Oman, though only @ Smail part of irs territory ts actuujly in the calf, 1s closely connected with {t in interest, and may, for all practical purposes, be reckoned as belonging to it, Oman holds the entrance, Persia the entire east- ern shore and Turkey the Lead ui tue guif. On the western shore the space between Oman and the ‘Turkish country, comprising & coast line of about 6500 mules in extent, together with tite large istand of Babrem, 1s (with the exception of afew miles held by the Wahabee Ameer of ittadh) in the possession of a number of independent Arab tribes. ‘These lat- ter, Owing to the extreine poverty of the soll on which they dwell, are unavie to wring from it even @ bare livelihood, and are almost whole dependent upon the pearl fisuery for their subsistence. PEARLS. A community of goid miners are almost pro- verbially lawless; but pearl fishing, while It involves harder and more perlious labor, is far more preca- rious, and necessarily, therefore, far more demoral- zing, than gold mining. And it must be remem- bered that the people foliowing this pursuit are not Anglo-Saxons, Who have been tamed down by centuries of civilization into respect for law aud order, but are akin 10 blood and identical in nature with the Wlid Bedouins of the desert, who have ever successfully resisted any attempt wade by u settied government to restrain them. Pearl banks arc. found all over the gulf; but the most lucrative fisting ground, aud the one now almost exclusively frequented, is that lying to the aouthwest of the Island of Baliretp, over which the Sheikh of tne latter place bolds sway. The bes ag tr in the fishery and vhels industry are va- NEW .YORK HERALD, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1870.—TRIPLE . SHEET. riously estimated; but there are certainly not than @ thousand boats, producing, al the very least, pearis Lo the value of £190,000 = annum. This would gi average of £300 ($1,500) at boat, and as the fishery can only be carried on mM June jo the end of September that might seem @ very fair return. But none of the boats are mauned with less than eight, and some of them with a8 Many as thirty-five or forty hands, and a great deal of the money made does not ind its Way into the pockeis of te men who earn it, So poor are the majority of these fishermen that they are hope- Jessly in debi to the pearl merchants of Busnire and Linga, who aavance them money during the winter to buy food and vecessaries, and in return stipuiate not only for the repayment of the loan with usurious interest—at least five per cent per month—Dbut also for the frst option of buying all the pearls that may be found the ensuing season by their boat “at the appraised value,”” 18 “appraised value” is gene- rally considered less than the pearls would rea- lize at aucuon. ‘Then, besides suifering heavily irom" the exactions of their “merchants,” the divers uave to pay a tax of from a dollar and a half to seven dollars a head, according to Lhe size of the boat, to the Sneek of Bahren it 18 quite certain that, apart (rom (he drawbacks, the fishery 1s by no means 50 remunerauve as 18 supposed. ‘The diving is done by men who; having weigited themselves with stoues, are lowered to the bottoa by a rope. Most of the banks lay at a depth of from five to eight fathoms, aud as no diver cau stay below water for more Wan a minute tue oysters are gathered very siowly. Generally one day is devoted to collecting the fish and the next to opening them. During the Jatter operation all the men are i each other’s eight; Jor it NOt Unirequentiy happens that one of the fish- ermen atve:pts to conceal an unusually large pearl. But perhaps a whole week's nshing will not produce @ single pearlof any value. When -we English gunboats are cruising about tne banks the sbermen frequently sell buckeis of pearl oysters to the crew at @ keraun, or a litule less than a quarter of @ dollar, a bucket. In taese oysters pearls have been often found, but the specu- lation 13 now looked upon asa bad one by those who have tried it, Ag there 1s no outward distine- tion by which the peari oyster can be picked out from its fellows, and as there is always the chance taut one particular oysver may be worth 6,000 kerauns ($1,25u), its pretty certain that tae Arabs have to opea many nundred buckets before they se- cure @ prize, or they would not be willing Ww sell a whole buc jul for so paltry a consideration. Of late years, however, the pearl market has percep- Uibly improved, especially for pearis of large size and fine quality. for pearis of first quality Thaia is now a better market than kurope, and as pearls are as necessary a part of a Hindoo marriage ceremony asa gold ring 18 among Christians the demand 13 pretty constant for the poorer pearls also, Jn Cen- tral and Mesopotamia and Persia the native physicians still frequently grind up pearis to powder 43 an ingredient ot their potions, Pearls are simply suiphate or line, and are the result of disease im the oysier. Not infrequently there-is an exceptionally bad Season, and wiien the tishing has ended the men are still In debt to the merchants, wno then refuse to make any furiher advances. Widespread distress en- sues; for, alchougn the Arabs produce a few dates ana find occasional employment during the winter in the carrying trade of the guif, tuey are mainiy dependent, as before stated, on the pearl fishery for tie means to tmport from more favored countries the dates and gram and curry which form their daily bread, Untui recently, in’years such as these, they had the untalling resource of piracy, which, indeed, they practised without the special provoca- tion of hunger. When one remembers the wild blood that runs in their veins, Ubeur clironte poverty, their good seawanstup and thei reckless bravery itis by no means strange that tuey saould make an occasional foray upon peaceful traders. PIRACY, At the beginning of the century piracy in the gulf Was at its neight, and the entire coast occupied by the pear! fishers was put down ou the © as tie “Pirate Coast.” One of their great leaders was a man named Kama Ibn Java, whose memory is still green in the minds of all who Jive in ive gull, He Nad been at one time a dealer in horses, but subse- quently bought @ buggalow and turned pirate. He Was so successful that he gathered together a large fleet of buggalows and carried on bis calling upon a& scale which reminags one of tke buccancers. ‘twice ne blockaded Bushire and held it to rausom, But at length the various powers of the gult combined against him and afer a hard ight he was deleated, His end, however, was worthy or him; for, having cuiied tor his chibouque, he coolly thrust it into the powder magazine and blew up the buggalow, with himselt and its Lawiess crew. Ibn Java sell about the begimuing of the present century, and siuce that time the pirates have always been pretty well held tn check; but a’ every sheik amoug the various Arav tribes possessed piratical buggalows, and a4 unless these were detccted in the very act Of plunder tuey could not (being the Sheikh’s war boats) be punished for carrying an armament, the English gunboats were unabie completely to sup- press buccaneering until 143, when the British government Jorced the various sheikhs to sigh a ty providing jor @ “truce of ten years.” By this ped that no Arab boat sbould carry @ tribes should not war even umong themselves upon the waters of tne gulf. in 1855 tuts trace expired, but was foliowed by w treaty of perpetual peace among the trives of the Arab coast, stipulating that at po future time, however remote, Should war ve carried on upon the waters ol the gulf. if any ibe oftends against this treaty the tribe attacked must not retaliate im kind, but may complain to the British Kesideut in the Guu, who will punish the guilty perties as pirates, Since this Lreaty was signed @ couple of british ships have been constantly pt iu tne guif, and piracy bas now pracucaily sed, Uccusivial outrages ‘tuke piace, bub it is since any stance of the kind occu he lus Was perpetrated by a buggalow belonging to Mahomed bin Auivieefa, The Sileiad of Bahrein, and he Was punished by veing turned out oi his sheiktidua, - POWER. J have now shown how it was that the British gov- ernment lirst acquired a sort of vested right iu the uifairs of Lhe gui. Sut a8 far back as Lairty years ago—in fact, lmmediately alter the abolition of negro slavery in Jumaici tion besides piracy which was seized upon as a pre- text for mterfereuce—tie slave trade between Africa. and the gall, An English agent was tor many years stationed at Sharjak, Whose special duty it was to give information as vo expected arrivals of slave cargoes, &c.; and in course of time treaties were made between Great Brivam and Persia, Oman aud the various Arab sheikus, giving the former power and author- ily to Confisvale any vessel carrying slaves. In the suppression of the slave trade, however, the Britisn have been fur less successful than in the matter of piracy; ior te annual import of slaves 15 sull as large as ever, about 3,500 flading their way annually uw various ports, Wherever one goes, imdeed, whether to Muscat, Linga, Bushire or Bussoran, he will fiad abundant evidence that the business is sil briskly carried on, Stroll about tae streets of either piace for baif an hour and you will almost certainly encounter a dealer with two or three siayes i lis wake, for whom, by loud shouung, he endeavors to optain apurchaser. The slaves are not bound, und seeut by no means uuirappy. Now ana th some long-bearded Arab will stop the procession and examme tue hu- man merctandise, carefully lookiug at their teetl, feeling their biceps and putting them sical exercises, such as Jumping runing, &e negroes take Uus scrutiny in per- ect good pari, and appear anxious to secure sone more permanent owner than the dealer, Of course, 1am now speaking only of men; female elaves, who are chiefly sold for purposes of concubimage, are kept in the house of the dealer, and cau only ve ex- amined by persons who are very probable to prove buyers, ‘The enure system of siavery among tne Arabs, however, is of avery mild type. ‘Tne Arab has neituer toe energy nor the ili-nature to be an ex- acing or hard wiaster, and O15 religion, While it eu- courages lumau bondage, restrains it by many merciful provisions. Thus, & slave can complain to cadi if he ig overworked or il-treated, and tne Cad! (unless he 13 bribed to do otherwise) can declare the slave free if the charge be proved. A woman can demand to be sold to a new master even if her dislike to her ow be merely a feminine eaprice. And the Arap and bis slave are of the same faith, for the negro takes to Mohammedunism io Arsbia or Per- sla a3 kindly as he does to Methodism ta the South- ern States, and unity of faith among Mussuimen is in very fact @ bond of brotiertiood. SLAVE FIELDS. Most of the negro slaves are Sidis, and come from Zanzivar, but a good number are brought from Abyssinia and are known as Hubshees. ‘luese latter are very uch the more valuable, on account of their superior totelligence and trustworthiness, The Sidia are all brougit by sea from Zanzibar, but the Hubshees generally come overlaad from Jedda and Mocha as the servants of devotees who nave been to Mecca on pligrimage, and who make money on their return trip by bringing home for sale a few choice darkeys. In Zanzipar there are Jarge slave facto- ries, which are regularly supplied from the interior by victorious chiefs, or, yet more frequently, dy pro- fessional kidnappers. Five out of six slaves im- ported tm the Gulf are boys of tender age. During the voyage from Alrica the siaves are fed as well as the crew, and are not put uuder special restraint. The siayeré usually make taeir trips between July and November, and aituough now and then one fails @ prey to the English cruisers the majority come sately through to Muscat, wnere they dispose of @ good part ol their cargo, and thence make the round of the Guif ports, Linga, sunder Aboas, Busheer aud Bussorah, until their human wares are all sold. Those sold in bussorah are mostly sent up to Bagdad, whence they are dis- tributed ail over furkey. When au Arad has bought a boy slave he at once sends him to schpol and has him instructed in reading, wruing and’the Koran. Side by side, In the mosque, Where school ts gene- rally kept in these countries, the heir and the slave of the Arab are together taught the rudiments of Knowledge. A® soon as the boy can do anything, if he turns out weli, ne is made a clerk or super- cargo, or perhaps even captain of a buggalow ve- longing to his master. When a good Arav dies he frequeatly frees is slaves, and owing to this bene- voient practice not one half the negrues one sees avout the country are bondmen, tough, on Wie other and, it also necessitates the Constant Linpor tation of new captives, The most curious Jeature of Arab slavery, how- ever, ts thelr treatment of negro cuncubines. Most wealthy Arabs keep several left-handed wivey of Alncan extraction, and net uncommouly bave more haif caste children than they tiave iegal and pure blooded ofspriug. When a woman, however, fas had achtid by her master shes at ouce free, and the chiid is recognized as a member or the family and shares equally wita his legul naif brethren La lis father’s estate. Arabs themselves explain this by Saying Cat Uiey are all descended from such @ cou- nection (that between Abraham and Hagar), aud \hat it Would not, therefore, be right for them to make auy invidious disunctions between the chil- dren of @ wife and the childron of a concubine, Sometimes, thougu not very treaueutiy @ Geor- gtan or Circassion ts brought down from Bagdad for Bale, but the price of such * dainty goods" Is too high for their general consumpuou, Five hundred to @ thousand dollars ls the geueral rate for these Slaves, and in such poor countries a8 Arabia and Persia no one buta sheikh ora rich merchant can aiford so large a sum, Not very long ago, one of these Circassians, while belug conveyed in the steamer from Muscat to Buader Abbas, claimed the protection of the British fu, aud, of course, as she Was in a Britiso ship, the claim tad to be allowed, Greatly to the disgust and chagrin of her Arab owner. She was taken down to Bombay, and is now being educated m1 a charitable inatitution. Piracy, therefore, gave the Britiso & vaitd right to interfere in the affairs of the Arabs on the west shore, ana slavery bas afforded a prevext on which ‘Ube other peopies of the gulf have been meddied with, Whatexactly the desizu of such interference may be, ib13 hard so say; unless It ve Lo enjoy pracuically nearly all the sweets of power without aay of its Tespousivility, At present the British President 1s absolute despot of the entire gulf, Persia and ‘Yur. key are of course only occasionally bullied; but Muscat and the Arab coast are practically now under the English flag. Ino previous leiter L showed how Muscat nad oven thrown ito the most lamenta- bie siate of confusion by the imtermed. dling of Colonel Pelly; how the people of Onmaon had been fordidden to piace on the throne Thoorkee, the only man stroug enough and popular enough to rule the country; how, on the otuer hand, &ianatic who boldly detled the British had been permitiea to do what Thoorkee had been prevented irom doing, and now, as the consequence of the latter's accession, the whole country 16 in & chronic state of revolt and only one pass to the mie- mor open for trajtic, sv that an American slip Las bad to walt 1X weeks for dates that she ought to have loaded in a tortoight, But the recent history of Buhrein affords a yet more brilliant exampie of Britash Mntermeddling, while it also iijuswates rather etrikingly Arab character. FOREIGN INTERMEDDLERS. ‘twenty years ago a chief named Mahomed bin Khuleeia turned out tae ruling sheikh of Balrem, Abdoola, and seated himself in his stead, Although only a uaurper Mahomed was, on the whole, a good ruler, tuouga, like all other Arab sheikhs, ne squeezed the last possible cent out of the pockets of his unlortunate people, and, in old times especially, did not scruple to connive at piracy. ‘ine latter criminal weakness Dad frequenuy brought upon him the menaces of the British Resident, aud he had almost rounquisheu the practice, waen, aout @ year ago, Some unlucky opportunity tempted him to send out bis own buggaiow on a spectal bucca- neering expedition. ‘Lhe buggaiow was captured by an English gunvoat and compensation was de- manded from Mahomed. ‘This le agreed to give, but ip towing the buggalow, which was to be re- stored to him, out ot Busheer, where she had been taken, the iutter struck on a sand bar, aud It was Impossible to get ber off. Mahomed was, of course, indignant, and tsolent as well, so Colonel Peily went over to Bahrein, deprived Mauomed of the sheikhdom, put up bis brother, Ali Din Kuulecia, in lis piace, and tnen exiled Mahomed trom Bab- rein. Now, this was clearly a blunder of tne largest kind from begluning to end, Jn tue first place, If Mahomed was to be puaished as sicikh of Bahrein, why did uot Colonel Pelly demand a heavy fine from the town, or, in default, batter 1b down with lus gunboats? And if Mahomed was ouly to be pun- ished as an individual for aiding and abetting piracy, why was he not hanged, or, al any rate, linprisoned asan ordinary pirate would have been? ‘The fact Was that Mahomed’s piratica! exploits were popuiar With Dis subjects, and they as weil as be deserved to be punished, And how Were they punished? By being forced to recognize as sicikh an unpopular man, Wile @ popular man was exiled to a land wituin a Jew hours’ sail of them. What was to be expeciea except an insurrection againsi the new sheikh in favor of the old une? This insu jon came to pass a few weeks ago, Fearing an atiack from lus brother Ali wrote to bin, asking lor a reconcillatton. Matiomed accepted the iuvitation to come to Bahrein, but found out in tame that Ali was playing false and latenaed to make him a prisone: Upon this Mahomed sent a statement of the circuinstances to Colonei Pelly, who Trelused to take any notice of it. Mahomed then accepted tbe profiered assistance of Manomed bin Abddoola, the 8on of the sheiku, whom he had bim- soil turned out twenty years ago, fanded in Bahrein with Avdoola and 500 men and attacked lus brother. -Curiously enough family quarrels had driven Ali's son to become a iollower of Matomed and Ma- bomed’s sou to attuch himself to All, At this juncture, tuerefore, All and Mahomed’s son were Qubting agains! Mahomed, Ali’a soa and the son of Manomed’s old foe, Abdooia. in the ftignt Ali was at drst victorious: but Mahomed’s son turned again tothe side of his father and treacherously aud without warning shot Alin the back, kliling Dim lastantly. Shorty atter, the attic was decided im Mahomed’s favor, but not before Ali's son and Mahowed’s son had both been slain, And now came a curious turn of fortuue. Mahomed, in fits desire to revenge himself upon All, had trusted Ma- homed bin Abdoola implicitly, and, in the moment of triumphh, the latter quicuy seized Mahomea, put him jo irons, aud procialiaed himself saeika. Liere are murders enough, and treachertes enough, to Turalsh out naif a dozen tragedies handsomely. All thig is the resalt of Coionel velly’s blunder in his original settlement of une piratical difliculty. It is quite clear that if he removed Mahomed of the sheikhaom, he ought to have deprived tum from the power of mlischies, But was he justifled ia remov- ing him at all? Ought he not ratuer to have eitner punished Mahomed a3 an individual pirate, or tie entire people of Balirein ag a commiunily of pirates ¥ Bus this 1s only another example of the disorder produced by meudilng im the laveraal aduirs of Lue people of tue gull. COMMERCE. In spite, however, of the general confusion now exisubg in the gilf, its irade1s now rapidiy msing. Many of the merchants who have vecn driven frou Muscat by the intolerance of Azan Vin Gihies have settled in Linga, Bunder Abbas and Bushire, and trade has been benelited by this diifereuce of capi- tal and energy. ‘The Perstan ports are yearly rising in importance, aud Bassorah, the outlet of Turkey in Asia to the gull, is bogimaing to dream of a splendid destiny. There is now a fortnightly steamship line between lidia and the gull, and the steamers always carry full freights and are paying bandsome profits. ‘Ivey are iu correspondence with the Tigris and Euphrates Steamsilp Company, which rua up the Tigris turee times a Month as high as Bagdad, any which are fast developing # Jarge comi- merce. ‘Then there are, aS before stated, five or atx American vessels that visit Muscat annaoally and there are jour or five English vesseis that visit the ports higher up the gulf. ‘The exports from the gull are mostiy grain and horses to Indta, dates to tae United States and pear! tobacco, opium, cotton, Nashish and various small articies to general ports. Lately dates, dried Osh and horses have been largely sent to Mauritius, Sugar generaily being toe revurn cargo. The opium trade 13 the one most likely to prove of impurtance, and it has already occasioned serious dari to tid British indian goverument. In Indiaa very large revenue is raised by tue export tax of 500 rupees a caest on Opium, and taxing into account the fact that the Ingian revenue 18 already $10,000,000 annuaily short of the current expenditure, the joss of this source of mcome would be very serious. The Perslun and ‘Turkisa Oplum 18 Said to be not so weil adapted as the indian to tue Chinese market, but the inferiority is the result of tmperfect maauiacture and is due to no fault 1a the opium itself, Tuis 1s beg remedied, and last year ho less than 2,000 chests were collecied in Muscat from the various ports of the gulf and slipped to Hong Kong. It is only halt the price of the indian opiuu, and the large profits made by the growers, even at Us figure, 18 Tapidly stimulating tts cultivation. Ibis satd that the British government wilt certatniy stop the trade, and Will even hatch a@ quarrel witn Persia and possess: itself of the whole sedboard of te latter country rather than allow ber to ruin the Indian opium rev- enue, Liat 13 iree trade of the moat ultra pattern, Gut will Kussia, Who possesses great influence in Persia, aud 18 practically her uily, and France, who is extremely jJeatous of uny extension of the British possessions 1 cue Hast, allow such a programme to be carried out? Rumored DiMculty Between the Shah and the Sultan—Persinus Probibited from Leaving for a Turkish Port—Cat from Babreii., Busine, Dec. 16, 1869, There is great consternation here among the steamship peopie in reference to @ decree just re- ecived from the Sha at Teheran, prohipiting any of hls subjects from leaving & Persian port for any of the Turkisn cities. This hurts the passenger traMc to Bassorah very severely. But, worse than this, no Persian ia this year to be permitted to make the Haj, or pilgrimage to Mecca. Generally the steamship company runs a spectal boat from Bas- sorah and Bushire to Jedda, and this 1s always the most profitable trip of the year. But Jedda is under the Porte, ana 1t is said that great mtsunderstand- ing exists between tho Saah and the Sultan, and that it 1s doubtful whether here may not soon be open hostility between them, Sucn is the ramor here, but what tile trouble 1s about no one knows. We have iate news from Babrein. Culouel Pelly Went up there a couple of weeks ago, with two gun- beats and two armed despatch boats, His avowed purpose was to bombard tue town of Bahrein, hang Matomed bin Khuileela, aud destroy the town and fortificauions of El Kateef, a place ou the mamland, whence many of the men who followed Mahomed came from. But he has been stopped in his career of general destruction by adespatcn from the British Inolan government. It is now certain that he witi not hurt Bahrein very much, and though Abdooia has yleided up Manomed, tne latter 1s not to be hanged, but to be isken to Bombay as a State prisoner. Colonel Peliy is now arguing with tus government, over the wires from Angaum, as to the propriety of putting Somebody eise in the snelkn- jom of Bahrein in place of Abdoola, and of bombarding Kgteef. But the government remember civarly that three years ago, the people of Kateet ignominiousiy whipped a landing party froma gunboat. aua that it costa number of lives and 4 good deal of money to exact vengeance for the defeat. Underthese circumstances they don’t wish to embro}l themselves again wita those warilke and fanatical Wahapees, tf they can avoid a collision. As to Abdoola, it 1s not unikely that Colonel Pelly will succeod in geiting » Ts sion to oust him and put some one eise up as suelkh, ‘‘nis time, however, he will take Care to make the deposed chief a political prisoner and take tim to Bombay with Mahomed—not leave him at large as he did the latter, to stlr up future troubie. There ig a report that the Persians sent over a few score men to assist Mahomed and Abdoola in tuelr recent attack upon All, aud that these men tiave been seized by Colonel Peily. If so, and the report bas been confirmod, there will be a long dipiomatic dimicuity between Bombay and Leheran, RUPERT'S LAND. Grand Mass Meeting at Fort Garry. The New Canadian Commissioner Before the Convention. IMPORTANT OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS. Fall Report of the Pro- ceedings. St. Pau, Minn., Feb, 4, 1870, ‘rhe mau from Fort Garry arrived this afternoon, bringing advices to the 21st ult, ‘ne only event of importance that has transpired since the last matl has been amass meeting of the people of the Red River settlements to bear what the new Canadian Commis- sioner, Mr. Donald A. Smith, had to communicate. ‘The annexed report of the proceedings of the masa meeting i3 very full and interesting. Most of the parties who figured tn the meeting ure already known to the HeRALD readers, but a word may be necessary in reference to a few. Mr. Smith, the commissioner, is the chief factor of the eastern department of the Hudson Bay Company, and has big headquarters at Montreal. Governor Mactavish is the chief factor of the western depari- ment, and was aiso Governor of the Red River coun- try until deposed by the insurrection, Bishop Machray is the English Cnurch Bishop of Rupert’s Land and presides over the ecclesiasticat affairs of the Hudson Bay Company and the Eng- ush and Scotch settiements. Mr. Black was @ sort of attorney general to the old Hudson Bay Com- pany régime; Mr. Thomas Bunn, who presided, is one or the settlers, and of no particular prominence in any respect in the community; Mr. Bannatyne ia a brother-in-law of Governor Mactavish and one of the dudson Bay Company’s chief traders, and Fathers Leatanc and Richot are the principal Jesult priests in Winnipeg. ‘fhe brief perlod between mails does not allow an opportunity to forward more than the contents of the Red River news- papers. {from the Winnipeg New Nation, Jan. 21.] A grand mass meeting of the iuhabitants of the settlement was held at Upper Fort Garry on the 19th instant. So many were present that the assemoly had to be held dn the open air, and this when the thermometer stood tweaty degrees below zero. The meeting lasted five hours. Un mouon of President Riel, seconded by Pierre Levielle, Mr. Thomas Bunn was cailed to the chair. In opening the mecting the chairman expressed it as his opmion that this was the most important mecting ever held iu the settlement. ‘The most vital interests were at stake, aud he therefore hoped that the utmost order and good humor would prevail. Mr, Kiel was elected interpreter, and on motion of Mr. Angus McKay, seconded by Mr. U’Donoghue, Judge Black was appointed. secretary of the meet- img. Colonel De Salaberry was present both days. ‘The Chairman introduced to the meeting Mr. Don- ald A. Smith, who came forward and read the fol- lowing document, which he said had been handed to him in Canada:— OTTAWA, Dec. 10, 1969. Srm—I have the honor to inform you that His Fzcellency the Governor General has been pleased to appoint you special commissioner to inquire into and report on the cause aud ex- tent of the armed obstruction offered at Red Kiver, ia the Northwest Territory, to the peaceable entrance of the Hon. W. McDougall, the gentleman sciected to be Licutenant (ov: ernor of the Yerritory, and to briug about its union with Canada. Also, to inquire into and report on the cause of the discontent and distatincaction at the proposed changes watch now exist there, Aiso, to explain to the Inhabitants the prin- ciple upon which the government of Canada intends to gor- ern the country to remove uny misapprehensions witch ject. And also to take such steps with ‘and Governor Mactayish for effecting the able trauaier of the government from the Hudson Bay authorities to the government of ihe Dominion. You ave to consiter this communication as a letter of ap- potutment as goverament comtuixioner. With this letter vou will receive a copy of the letter of instructions given to McLougali op soaving Ottawa, dated the 28th of Septem- ber; also a copy of a further letter to Mr. McDougall, dated the 7th {nst., nud a copy of the proclamation issued by hia Kacellency the Governor General, addressed to the inhabt- tants of “the Northwest Terrkory, by command of her ayesty. You ‘will prococd with all despatch to Pembina th Mr. MeDougail as to your fature eourse of action, apy and take such steps as, after such em most expedient.” You will, of Governor Mactavish and endeavor to arrange oae concerted scueme between Mr. McDongali, the Hudson Bay authorities and yourself for the paciicaticn of the country. ‘As the information coming here is necessarily imperfect, and the circumstances at Red River are constantly changing it is not cons! expedient to hamper you with more spe- clic Iustroeions. You wiil therefore act according to the best of your judymont with Mr. McDougall, and keep me fully Informed as to the progress of events there. You will also offer suggestions au to the best mode of deailng with the In- dian trivea in tuecountry. 1 have the honor to de, ec. JOSEVH HOWE, Secretary of State for the Provinces. Mr. Riu, translated the letter into Fren Mr. Suiru thea read the following letter, sent by the Governor General of Canada to him (Smita) per- sonally. It was handed to him at Ottawa :— Ovraw a, Dec. 12, 185% My Dean Mr. S1rH—I learn with satisfaction that you have placen your services at the digposal of the Canadian gov- ernment, and that you are proceeding to Red River to give the parties that are at variancs the benelit of your experience. Mr. Kieh (iuterrupiing)—Is thatletter public or private? Mr. Surru—It is a letter to me as commissioner. Some confusion ensued, several people spoke at the same time and ulttinately the chairman orderea silence, and said that the document was public and ougut to be read. * Mr. Smita continued the reading of the letter:— Give the parties who are at variance the benefit of your ex- perience, influence and mediatt in 2 ps 8 representative in the Ni 01 T have addressed letters to Governor Mactaviah, the Protestant Bishop of Rupert's Land and the Vicar General, who acts in lteu of the Roman Cutnolic Bishop during his presenes in Rome, I have sent throe copies of the message received by telegraph from her Majesty's Secretary of State, which forms the staple of the proclamation addressed to her subjects in the Northwest Territory. You will observe that ft cails for all who have any complaints to make or wishes to ex- press to address thetnaelves to me as her Majesty's represca- tative; and you may state with the utmost confidence that the imperial government bas no intention of acting other- Wwike, or permitting others to act otherwise, than in perfect xood faith towards the inhabitants of the Red River district of the Northw ‘Tue people may rely npon $t that respect will bo extended to the ditferet ih protection fous—(loud rH property will be (renewed cheers)—and that all the fran- bh have existed or which the people may prove ed to exercise shall be duly continued or i. In declaring the desire and determina- westy's Cabinet you may very safely use the terms of the ancient formula that “Right shall be done in all cases.” Wishing you a prosperous journey and all suc your mission of peace and good will, 1 remain, faithfully yours, JOHN YOUNG. Mr. RieL—It is not signed “Governor.”” Mr, Smira—It is written and signed “in my capa- cliy as her Majesty's representative.” Mr. Ricl then translated the letter into French, Mr. Smith then asked Vicar General Thibault for gone leiters Jrom the government of Canada to Governor Mactavish and the Bishop of Rupert's Land, which nad been confided to his (Vicar Gene- ra’s) care. in Canada. “1 said Mr. Sairu, “have been authorized by Governor Mactavish to make this request, The document I ask for {s an official one, addressed by the Governor General of Canada to Governor Mactavish. In explanation I would say that the Vicar General and Colonel De Salaberry preceded me from Canada afew days, 1t was in- vended that we should have nad communication on the way, and that being the case, for convenience sake the letters were given to the Vicar General. The letter to Governor Mactavish is explanatory of the views of the Canadian government, and shows What the Queen wished to say to her faituful sub- jects here.” Mr. RIEL—I do not want the document to be read. (Cries of “We will have it!” and cheers.) CHAIRMAN~Stleuce | Judge Back protested against the document being withheld from the meeting. A Voick—Wnh9 has the documents? (Cheers.} ANOTHER VOICE—Mr. O'Donoghue was there. (Cheers.) CualnMaN—The Vicar General states that Mr. O'Donoghue seized them and has got them. A VoicE—We want them. (Cheers.) Mr. Kizi—I ask the Vicar General if either of the letters alludea to beiong to Mr. Smith? The Vicar ERAL—No. Mr. SmrrH—Governor Mactavish authorizes me to ask for nis letter, Bishop MacHRAY—I will ask my letter from Mr. O'Donoghue, and I think he wili give it. Judge BLACK urged the production of the letters. Mr. RIgL replied that the Judge was ou of lus role ag secretary in addressing the meeting. Judge BLack said that he had no idea that Mr. Riel could teach him his duty. ‘The CHAIRMAN addressed the meeting, and Mr, O'Donoghue protested. Judge BLacK—If business is not allowed to pro- ceed regularly I will resign. Mr. U/DoNOGHUR compiained that the chairman would noi let Lim address the moeting. ‘The CHAIRMAN Said he had no objection to Mr. O'Ponogiiue doing so when tn order. Mr, BANNATYNE—AB a Red River setrler I ask the chairman to put the question to the mecting as to whether Mr. O'Donogaue is to o¢ requested to pro- auco the letters. ‘The CHAIRMAN put the question in the form of a resolution, und it was carried with cheers. Mr. BANNATYNE, in the name of the people of Rod River, then demanded of the Vicar General that be should ask Mr. O'Donoghue for the letters. Mr. RikL seconded the demand, and the Vicar General made the required demand. Mr. O'DonoGuUR—Since the demand is made in its present (orm I may say that I took the lettera by order and delivered them to Secretary Schmidt. Moms devate ensudd a8 to the proprigty of a search for the letters, which waa Onally instithted and they were found in the Seoretary’s desk and delivered to the meeting. Mr, Sa1rd—Ono of the documents I bave ts @ copy ofa paper delivered to me, it is a communication MAN'S INHUMANITY TO MAN. Allegations of Oruelties on the Ship from th oe oar sorere a It ts the bral} message rele one of the papers to me and which was put into my Panda im Canad Teptune. 0 . none x very shortly after being received from 13 8 message from Earl Granville to Sir John Young, dated November 26:— Make what use you think best of what follows:—The Queen bas beard with surprise and regret that certain mis- guided fed together to oppose by force the entry of the future Lieutenant Governor into her Territory of Red River. Her Majesty does not distrust the loyalty of her subjects in that settlement, and can only ascribe to misun- derstanding of misrepresen‘ations their opposition to a ‘change pianued for their advantage. She relies on your gor- ernment to use every effort to explain whatever misunder- ings may have arisen, to ascertain thelr wants ald oon. ciliate the good will of thé pe f the settle- ment, But in the meantine she authorizes you to signify to them the sorrow and displeasure with which sho views the un- roceedings which have taken place, ‘and her expectation that if any parties have desires to ox: How Eight Seamen Say They Were Treatod to Miscellaneous Knock-Downs with Fists, Be- + laying Pins and Capstan Bars, Standing on Their Heads and Other Brutali- ties—Denial of These Statements by the Ship's Officors—Both Sides of the Story. ‘The statements of several of the seamen attached Bromo thuy wil adress respecting thelr condition and | 44 the ship Neptune, of toe Black Ball line, lately eral of Can arrived from Liverpool, published in several of the papers yesterday, are, as it might have been ex- pected would have been the case, most emphatt- cally dented by Captain Peabody, and the denial ts most positively confirmed by the first and second mates of the vessel, These sailors, constituting the alleged complainants, aver a series of most barbar- ous cruelties practised upon them during tho late voyage from Liverpool to this port. The following statements embody both sides of the story as given to our reporter yesterday :- THE SAILORS! STORY. James Brady, who heads the list of complainants, makes out a long catalogue of complaints regarding his personal treatment. He says that the captain found him asleep, which sleep was the result of ex- ‘The Queen expects from her representative that as ho will be always ready to receive well founded grievances, 80 will ho exercise ull the power and authority she entrusted to him in pport of order and the suppression of unlawful dis- turbances. (Cheera,) The Convention then adjourned till noon on the following day, when Mr. Smith proceeded with the reading of the documents. ‘The firat was the letter from the Governor General to Governor Mactavish. GOVERNMENT Hous, OTTawa, Dec. 6, 1869. W. MACTAvibH, aq., Governor of Assiniboin : fin—I had the honor to address you in my capacity as re- resent of the Queen and ‘Governor General of her itisn North American possessions, and enclose formation & copy of a message received from Ear! in reply to the hecount: which 1 sent oflelally of the eventa occuring in the Red River settlement, Tho message contains the matured opinion of the British Cabl- net, ‘The proclamation I have issued is based on ft, and you will observe that it refers all who have desires to express or complaints to make to refer to me as invested with author: lyon babalf of tho British government ; and the {nhabitants ol 08 Rupert's Land, of nd perauasions, may reat easured that ber Maj sty’ government bas A, mtn of | haustion from severe Jabors, and beat him merci. pa teeta lessly with a rawhide, Not satisfled with this, the ti enjoyed or to which they may heroafter provo egal (Loud cheers) Make what ase yen think, this communication and of tho enclosed. Ihave the honor be, &e., JOUN YOUNG. The next document was from Mr. Howe to Mr, McDougali:. Or¥ick OF SEORETARY OF STATE FOR THE PROVINCES, TEAWA, Dec. 7, 1869. Srg—I had the honor to addrews to you despatches on the 19th and 20th of November, but for fear that th mis- carried Tdupiicate them to you, I hai a rin council, passed this You will’ now be in ¢ residents of the Northweat territories — F se fe all their civil and religious liberties will be sacred); ly respected. S-end—That all their properties, rights and privileges of every kind aa enjoyed under the government of the Hudson Bay Company will be continued. ‘hird—That in granting tities to lands now occupied by the sottlers the most liveral policy will be pursued. Fourth—That the present tariff of customs duties will be continued for two years from the Lat of January next, except in the cage of spiritous Hauors, as speciied ih the order in council al ailuded to, Fyth—Vhat in forming your counell the Governor General will wee that not ony the ifudson Bay Company, but the other classes of the residenia are fully and fairiy represented, ‘Sixth—That your coaueil will have power to establish mu- nicipal self-government ut once, and in such manner as they may think most beneiielal for the country. ‘Scwventh-—That the country will be governed as in the past by British law and according to the spirit of British justice. Eighth—That the present government fa merely to be con- mdered provisional und temporary, and that the government of Canada will be prepared to submit measure to Pariia- mons granting a liberal constitution so soon as you, us gover- hor, ahd your counell, have had the opportunity of reporting tully on the wants and requirements ot the Territory. You had, of course, instructions in all the above mentioned potuts exdent the tutif, becore you loft Ottawa. Aut it has en thaght well that "I should repeat them to you in this authoritative form, ‘Trusting that before jong you may be enabled to carry theso liberal propositions into practice in administering the aifaira of tho Northwest, I have the honor to be, dc, 03 HOWE, captain put a broom handle under his knees and doubled him up so that hé was unable to move, and then amused himself by puncturing his back with the pomt of a sharp sword and striking him in the face with 1t, severely cutting his nose. The cap- tain added to these cruelties by beating him several times with an iron belaying pin. The cilmax of cru- elty was perpetrated by Nolan, the second mate, who, he says, knocked him down with alamp, and while down kicked him on the head with his heavy boots, cutting his head and breaking his nose. Seve- ral times while at the wheel the mate struck him, as if finding exquisite pleasure in this diverting amusement, and on one occasion struck him in the face with a capstan bar, The culminating point of cruelty to which he was subjected by this mate was being compelled to stand on his head for about an hour, which laster sem)-acrobatic feat was witnessed and enjoyed by Captain Peabody. 2 Richard Bona had no tntermisston in his beating, he being beaten every day reguiarly. On one occa sion he was nearly knocked overboard. He also was compelled to give a taste of his physical endurance by standing an hour on his head. Willian Carter sustained the weight of the cap- tain’s foot on bis toes to an extent crushing them in afrightfal manner. He was knocked about in a rouglly miscellaneous Mapner by the first mate Witu belaying pias, and the second mate ae a rope around his neck, treateuing to hang him. Thus run on the siatements, Samucl Whitey says he was beaten by the captain with a belaying pin, disiigur- ing his face and breaking his nose, and afterwards was compelled to stand on his head for au hour, Jacob Milear was beaten and kicked by the captain several times during the voyage. The second mate broke his nose with a blow of his fist, then struck bim with a belaying pin, and fnaily compelled bim to stand with lis feet pointing in the direction of the masts, William Giles did not escape a day without being beaten and kicked by the captain. One day while he was on the foretopsail yard the captain tried to twrow him overboard, but did not succeed in his Inurderous attempt. On another occasion while on the main holy the captain fired three shots at him; but, prov! ny oor Marksman, the balls whistled harmlessly by his head. The captain alvernated nis beatings With his fists, @ shovel, belaying pins and brass Kouckles, ‘The second mate, such was the ferocious cruelty of his nature, could not come near him without beating nim, and did not allow a day to pass without giving him a furious flageilation. also stood on his head, but the Ossa on Pelion was compelling him to kiss @ negro or else have his head broken. He preferred the former, and still lives. Corneliug Vinedie had his nose broken at the ee of the second mate, and kewwe stood on his e: Arthur Landy was strack by the capiain 10 the face, cutting his mouth very badly. The second mate beat him nearly every day, and once knocked out two of his front molars, and when down kicked him in the ribs. and back. He also beat him witha chain hook and held him by the throat while another man beat him with a strap. He also stood an hour on lus head, WHAT THE CAPTAIN SAYS. =~ As we have already stated Captain peabody puts in, a8 the lawyers would say, a general dental to all the above statements. Our reporter had an interview with nim yesterday on board the Neptune, now lying at the foot of pier No. 23 East river. “Very serious charges, we see, are preferred against you,” we remarked, after introducing our- selves to him, ‘by several of the sailors coming over with you on your last voyage.’’ - “So 1 saw by reading the morning papers,” he re- plied, ‘thougt I wus glad to notice chat the HkRALD— the only paper J care anything about~did not pub- lisn the charges.” “Tue HERALD Goes not believe in ex parte state- ments,’ we observed as explanatory of the face of the charges not appearing in this paper, “particu- larly in Cases of this side, and will not give one side of the story without the other.” “That's rigot and justice,” he observed in reply. “And now 4 can tell you my story very briefly.” It 1g unnecessary to give this statement in extenso, as to write out all he toid in the bour he was telling vhe story would occupy several columns, In the tirat place he denied tm toto the entire statement as given above and then proceeded to - licularize. The sallors, twenty-four in ‘number, were received on board the ship on December 24, a8 she lay in the Mersey. Asmali boat contain- ing them came alongside, ‘Well, you big-headed 8—n of @ b—h, throw us a rope,” was the first galu- tation he received, which came from Brady, the chief of the present complainants against him. After the man had been taken on board he told Brady that he must abstain from any such language in future on his vessel. The next thing he heara of Brady was tls attempting that evening to stab Nolan, tne chiei mate, with a knife with a blade six inches long, because the latter ordered him on duty. The result Was that he put him in irons and Kept him confined in the cabin twenty-four hours. Brady then promised to behave himself and he released him. When the mate ordered him to work he-wsaid, “Ill be d—d if | do a stroke of work,” and the mate telling him he would have to work or be put in irons again he went to work and there was no more trouble with him. As to his being struck by himself, either with his fist or belayimg pin, or douvled up with a broom hanale, pricked with a sword, or being compelled to stand on his head, he gays there 1s not a word of truthinit. Brady lett the ship with @ cut on his nose, but this was received accidentally, a8 a great many On the ship well knew. He as pointedly dented any of the alieged crueities to any of the other complainants. Instead of being ay, 01 pouition to assure 9. Secretary of State for the Provinces. Hon. Wm. McDovaatt, Pembina, Mr. Smith next read tne following communica- tion to Mr. McDougall: —~ OFFICE OF THE SEORETARY oF SYaTE } FOR THE PROVINOES.S pointed Lieutenant Governor of Sin—As you have been the Northwest Territories, in anticipation of the formal Dominion trai ‘er of those Territories by her Majesty to th of Canada, and as it ie expected that such trani made within the next two or three months, I hay by command of his Excellency the Governor Gent form you that it Is desirable that no time should making the necessary preiim! arrangements for the organization of the government of the Territories. ‘Second-—With this view I am to instruct you to proceed with allconvenient speed to Fort Garry, in order that you may effectively superintend the carrying out of the preliminary arrangements indicated in the preceding, paragraph, and be ready to assume the government of the Territories on their actual transfer to Canada, Third—On your arrival at Fort Garry you will ’e your: self {n communication with Mr. Mactavish, the Governor of Hudson Bay Company, and notify him of your appoint. gent, You will at the same time offer seats In your councll to r. Mact will submit for the consideration of his Excellency the names of one or two other oficers of the company whom you consider eligible to act as members of your council. You will at the same time submit the names of several of the resi- denis and their character and standing in the Territory, un- connected with the company, qualified to act as couacillors, ving particulars respecting them and stating their compara- uve merits. Fourth—You will have the goodness to report with all con- lent speed, for the information of his Excellency, on the f the laws now existing in,the Territories, transmitting of any laws, ordinances or regulations of the com- pany‘now in force there, together with a fuil report as to the method of administering Jase the organization of the courts, number and mode of appointment of justices of the peace and the plans, arrangemcuts and means adopted for Keeping the peace there. ‘Aivth--In preparing the report on the matters referred to jn the preceding paragraph it wil be well that you meet and poe i! the chief judicial ollicer of the company in the rritories. ‘Sizth—-You will hare the goodness to report luo upon the ‘stem of taxation, if any, {a force in the Territories, th ‘stem of Hcensing shops, taverns, & the mode of rej lating or prohibiting the sale of wines, spirituous and mal liquors; further, as to the je of keeping up the roads and generally ou the municipal organization, If any, in the Tor- itor ‘Seventh—You will also make a full report upon the atate of the Indian tribes now io the Territories; their names, num- bers and ciaims, the system herelotore pursued by the Hud- son Bay Company tn deating with them, accompanied by any suggestions you may desire to offer with reference to their protection and the improvement of ther con {itfon. Eighth—You will have the goodness to report also on tha nature and amount of the currency or cli medium now employed in the Territories, and of the probable require- ments of the Territories in that respect in the future. * Ninth—-You will also re,ort on system of education, if any, which obtains in the ‘Tenth—You wil also be pleased to’ report auch lands in the Territories as itmay be desirable to open up at once for rettlement, transmitting = plan of such survey as may bo ry, With an estimate of the cost of survey anda state- ment of (hecondition of the grantsof land and thelr sattle- ment. This plan ould show the number of townships it ts proposed to fay out at once, the size and position of the :own- ships and the size of the lots, making the necessary surveys for churches, schools, roads and other purpose Eicornth—You will Also report upon the regulations at pre- xisting between the Hudson Bay Company and the dif- ferent religious boaies of the Territories. Tmeljth—You wiil also report as to the number of officers now employed by the Hudson Bay Company in the adminis- tration of “thelr government of the Territories, stating the re ch officers, and specifying those who , in your opinion, be retained. You wili also report as to the humber of persons whom it will be necessary to em. ploy hereafter in the administration of the government, and you will report generally on all subjects relating to the wel- fare of the Territories upon which it may seem to you desira- ble to communicate with the government of the Dominfon, Thisteenth—It ts desirable thas you should take Immediate measures for the extension of the telegraph system from the ‘Territories to Pembina, and for its connection at that place with the system of the’ American Telegraph Company or companies, making any provisional urrangement for that purpose which may be necessary, and for copy of stich arrangements to this department for contirmation by his Excellency, [have the honor to be, &c., A. MEREDITH, Secretary of State. Hon. W. McDouGaLt, C. B. Ollawa, On motion of Mr. Rieu it was agreed by the mass Meeting to hold a convention on the 26th, composed of twenty representatives of tue English population | or, to. them he iurnished mi and twenty representatives of the French popula- cloning whica they had not “and Seuuired: tion, to take action on the subject of Mr. Smitt’s | aug had for those on watch beds fixed commission. After the arrangement of a few pre- liminaries to the e:ection of delegates to the conven- tion of the 25th, Father Richor said he was glad to be present with the Bishop of Kupert’s Land and the clergy of various denominations. All, he believed, came there With the best interests of the people at heart. They came there to see that order and good feeling pre- vaiied, and to influence the people, a@ iar as they could, in tne direction of what was right and just. (Loud cheers.) The clergy were also citizens, and as such they were glad to be present aud promote those objects, Bishop MACHRAY was sure that every one would heartily respond to the kind Jeclag expressed and do what was possible to promote union aud con- cord. (Loud cheers.) The rights of all present were the same, and on all reasonable propositions up between decks, so that they might rest when their services were not absolutely required. The inan Carter, he says, confessed that he was a fugitive from justice and that the police were after him when he shipped to go on this vessel. He did all he could to get rid of work, and on one occasion hid himselt under some sails, and another time in che ventilator in the coal jocker in the passengers’ galley, ‘Tne whole gang of complainants were tle roughest men he had ever encountered in his long experience at sea. The other sailors were all robbed by them—one, a French sailor, of $1001n gold. He had to give them & separate place to eat, to keep them from starving, as this crowd of roughs would seize everything, and what they could not eat themselves they would hide away to eat on watch, SECOND MATE'S STATEMENT. An entire corroboration of the captain's state- there could not be very much difference | ment was given by the second mate, Mr. D: aI , Mr. Daley. He oe eee (als Hee ate bar ar fe Says the men could not have been treated in a kinder Py ag AO ope ait a ana os ir ss mt " ‘O- | or more humane manner, The chief mate was not rf that occasion thelr gathering | on board, and consequently his statement was not next week, as proposed, would lead to @ happy set- tlemeut of pubilc affairs, (Cheers.) And, thercfore, he hoped that we woud be as united in the future as we had been im the past. (Loud and repeated cheers.) Mr. KigL then addressed the meeting as follows:— Beiore this assembly breaks up I cannot but express my feelings, however briefly. | came here with fear. We are not yet enemies (loud cheers), but we came very near being 80. As soon as we understood each other we jomed in demanding what our Engilsh feliow subjects in common with us believe to be our Just rights, (Loud cheers.) 1am not afraid to say our rights, for we all have rights. (kenewed cheers.) We claim no half rights, mind you, but all the rights we are entitied to. Those rights will pe set forth by our repreaentatives, and what is more, genticmen, we will get them. (Loud cheers.) ‘The meeting then adjourned. obtained. Several who were on board and who had conversed with him declared that he denied the allegations of cruelty preferred agamst him, and the most, from their own knowledge, endorsed the statement of Genial as true. A WORD FROM MR. MARSHALIA Mr. Charles 1. Marshall, owner of the Black Ball line, to which the ue Neptune beiongs, stated tnat Captain Peabody had been tn his tather’s and his own employ for the past twenty years. He had always borne the Character of beg an exceedingly humane captain, He did not fora moment believe the charges made against him. ‘The chief mate, Nolan, had not veen so long in their employ; but there had never been made against him any accusttions of crueity. It Was @ part of his instructions to the officers of his ships to never deal with anything like harsh severity with the sailors, and it was well known that any who could be proven guilty of any acts of injustice would not be continued in the employ of the iiae. ITEM BY A CUSTOM HOUSE OFFICIAL. Colone! Pell, United States Revenue Oficer, whom our reporter found on the Neptune, velis a circum: stance whicb, m connection with the above counter statements, may have a little weight. He Tne UNITED States SHIP-OF-THE-LINE PSNNSYI- VANIA.—The wreckers are now at Work oa the-re- mains of this mammoti gel, sunk Opposite the Navy Yard. A steam dredge 1s now at work remov- tag the mud which has accumulated in the ship during the past nine years. ‘This ship, it will be recollected, was built in Philadeiphia aod launched | ww, present, he says, when the sailors 10 1837, and at that time was the largest vesselin | were paid. Some had money coming to he worid.—Norsotk Journal, Feb. 4 them and some were in arrears, ‘To the latier he observed Was paid money, so that they Would got go ashore entirely destivute, and this without any idea of these complaints. being brought. It wag an act of kind charity prompted by tue cap- tain’s good heart, and ao unusual ening for captains to do. GISM OF THE AFFAIR. It is believed that tne whole affair of these charges is the work of some hungry lawyer having a douvie eye on fees aud biackmailing. We have given tue statements above, vouching for the correctiicss of neituer side. The whole matter will doubtiess un- dergo a rigid judicial examination, In which the facts will probably be fully developed, pending Which result (he NUbIC GAR EaADARA ite judemant FATAL EFFECTS OF MENINGITIS IN NorTH CARO- LINA.—A Correspondent, Writing from Polk, infurms us of a new and dangerous malady prevailing in sev- eral sections of that county, principally ou White Oak, Greei's creek and North facolet, The disease ig culied cerebro-spinal meningitis, or inflammation of the covering membrane of the brain and spinal cord. It is satd to be the most fatal discase ever Known tn that section, and especially so now, while areas in an epidemic form. When the patients ave een attacked and twenty-four hours elapsed betore a physician was called, it has almost invaria- By broved fatal in three or four days.—Autherjora (M. 0.) Vendioaior.