Alexandria Gazette

So completely are the people of England in the dark about the dispute with Persia, so dense is the mystification, that we are sometimes tempted to doubt whether Great Britain is really at war with that country. When war commenced with Russia, the fact was solemnly announced by a royal proclamation in the Gazette. There has not been any such intimation of the commencement of a war with Persia. Some people entertain, or at least express, the strange idea that India alone is at war with Persia, while Great Britain remains neutral. It is certain that the only proclamation which has been made in the matter, was one by Lord Canning, as Governor-General of India. We do not know that another instance of a declaration of war having been delegated to the governor of a dependency is upon record, unless we place in the same category the conduct of Sir John Bowring towards China. It certainly is a fact, however, that when allusions are made to the probable cost of the war with Persia, the friends of the Government assert that it is an India war, and must be defrayed out of the India revenue. Others say that half the expense will be paid by Great Britain. We shall know more about it at the next meeting of Parliament. There is no doubt about the Persians being in Herat, and that the Persian forces are far advanced on the great road to Candahar. The course which the old Affghan chief, Dost Mahomed, will take, is very doubtful. It matters very little to England where or how far Persia extends her dominions; but since those dominions are, for military purposes, Russian Territory, it may be the cheapest course for England to fight Russia through her Persian allies in Affghanistan. Ten thousand troops and £4,000,000 sterling, would, it is said, arrest the Russian advance to the south, drive the Persians back to their own country, and invade them there, if they would not agree to terms dictated by England. The Princes round Herat are anxious for assistance from England against Persia. The Persian Ambassador, who has lately arrived in Paris, will, we are told, urge Louis Napoleon to side with Russia and Persia—not, of course, by war, but by negotiation—and to use his influence to prevent the English from driving the Persians out of Herat. This is, no doubt, at the instance of Russia, and is unquestionably a good move. Napoleon III. is becoming the great pacificator not only of Europe, but of the world.—Letter from London.