Carroll Free Press

British Enterprise in the East.—About eighteen months ago a vessel sailed from Liverpool under sealed instructions, having on board two iron steamers and a large cargo. It was at the time thought to be destined to the coast of Africa, and to have something to do with the discoveries of the Niger. But when fairly at sea, on opening his sealed orders, the captain found that the steamers belonged to the East India Company, and that the three vessels were to form a fleet for the purpose of ascending the river Euphrates, in order to discover how far the river was navigable. The fleet sailed through the Persian Gulf, and went without obstruction eleven hundred miles up the Euphrates—an extent not before reached in modern times. Numerous interesting discoveries were made in the passage. The route of the ten thousand Greeks, under the younger Cyrus, was traced: the remains of innumerable water wheels, once used for navigation, were found: and the river was found to be navigable for all purposes, by steam boats and laden vessels. The discovery of this channel of intercourse opens a way to the British possessions in India, independently of Egypt. By roads or railroads from the northern point of the Mediterranean to the Euphrates, a shorter and easier route would be obtained than by the Red Sea. The moral results of such an intercourse, and of the British possession of Syria and the Holy Land, would be most important and auspicious. The movements of the English Government, actuated by a far-reaching and comprehensive policy, give promise that it will be speedily effected. And if so, it will at once change the moral aspect of that whole region, and throw it open to the influence of the gospel, of civilization, and commerce.—N. E. Evangelist.