The Express.
London, England, 1855-12-15 00:00:00

TURKEY.

ORO= OVR OWN OosisorONDNay.)
CONSTANTINOPLE, Nov. S.
I have at length reached my old quarters, and in
resuming to-day my correspondence, after an inter-
ruption of several months, I only regret that there is
so little to eonamaaicate.
The Ministry I am happy to find in full vigour,
firmly installed, to all appearance, and, u a rare ex-
ception to the role, uniting in itself the favour and
confidence of the Sultan with the suffrages of public
opinion. "The right men," I really believe, are in the
right places "—as far, at least, as it is possible in
Turkey to carry out this great and fundamental
maxim of administrative wisdom.
The Grand Vizier, Ali Packs, whose statesmanlike
skill and sagacity had attracted so much attention
during the memorable interval of the Vienna con-
ferences, is here deservedly in high repute among
all classes, and considered the best selection the
Sultan could have made for the arduous past of Prime
Minister, not only as a tribute to his long experience,
varied acquirements, and political knowledge, but as
a distinction due to a man of strict honour and pro-
bity, the integer Vii®, &0., I may say, in its widest

sense.
The &trashier Mehemet Rushti also resembles him
in this and many other respects, and is, besides, the
grand vizier's faithful adherent and ally in all the
laborious duties incident to the present juncture.
Another circumstance of the highest important* is,
that this functionary, having risen from the ranks
to his present high dignity, is necessarily well versed
in all relating to the details and necessities of the
Turkish service; and it is thus anticipated that Omer
Paeha will no longer be exposed to the difficulties
and perphixities which beset him on all sides, and
paralysed for so long a term the ardour of his gallant

Flied Pasha, the chief of the Foreign Department.
is another rare and remarkable instance of true merit

meeting an adequate reward in this country, without
Mends, influence, or court favour. Some five-end-
twenty years ago, this functionary commenced life
by matriculating at Tip-Hand as a medical student e
and having obtained distinctions in that edtablish
mantis *linguist and Oriental scholar, he was trans-
bared at length to the interpreter department at the
1 Pests, before the expiration of his academic course.
Moe also his talents and acquirements soon attracted
sties; and having passed through a aeries of inter-
Initiate grades, he was finally promoted to the rank
d Monstishar, and attached for several years to the
sinwke of Reechid Puha in his various offices, as those
if Grand Vizier, President of the Council, and Minister
he Foreign Affairs. Subsequently Fuad was en-
trusted with some special missions, and despatched
to Spain, Portugal, and I rather think to
Sweden ; and having executed this diplomatic
charge to the entire satisfaction of his sovereign, he
was raised, on returning to Constantinople, for the
first time to his present post, in consequence of some
ministerial evolutions, which were then of too fre-
quent recurrence. . This dignitary speaks the French
language with great fluency, and presque sans accent.
In dress, manners;and general appearance, he has quite
the air of a European; and although much younger,
resembles excessively, some think, Lord Palmerston.
As a man of business, he is active and indefatigable;
and with regard to his political tendencies, the beet I
an say *that he fell heavily the very first victim in
this tremendous struggle; for Mentchikoff, in the atti-
tude of Jupiter Tonane, having deolared distinctly
, that he would "have none of him," Fuad necessarily
was overthrown without more ado, and forced to re-
sign the seals of office into the bands of Rifaat Paoha,
a more congenial functionary, and at that time pre-
ofeely the man of the situation.
Mehemet Ali Packs, the Sultan's brother-in-law,
I is, you are aware, at the Admiralty, his post of pre-
dilesdea, and pursuing smoothly enough" the noise-
Les tuner of his way," having learned, no doubt, at
lasi" wisdom and more skill in navigation from
hieleog series of reverses. Without at all presuming
to enter into the merits of his long and me-
ma cable issue with Lord Redcliffe, I have only
to imprimis • hope that the result may prove a
instal lesson to both; if not, I fancy it will not be
Mehemet Ali's fault, for I am credibly informed that
no other is more friendly to the British residents and
more devoted to the British alliance.
With regard to the Minister of Finances, Mouchtar
Bey, it will no doubt be a satisfaction to all capitalists
interested in the Turkish loan to learn that he is
actively and indefatigably labouriog to perform the
arduous duties of his department; and under his I
direction it is confidently and generally anticipated
that many important and salutary reforms will be
introduced, and the " sinews of war" acquire ere
long some degree of vigour and consistence.
A portion of the allied fleets, for the most part
ships of the line, has returned to this station. Some
are moored in the Golden Horn and along the Bos-
phorus, and others have proceeded homewards. The
cavalry also of the Turkish Contingent, under the
command of General Shirley, has also been forced to
return from the seat of war, owing to the difficulty of
procuring forage, and is about to take up winter
quarters at Tchekenedgeh. This selection for an en-
campment is much to be regretted : there is not per-
haps in the environs of Constantinople a less suitable
locality, and paludian fevers, it is well known, prevail
more or less the whole year round at Makrikioy, St.
Stephen°, and other districts bordering the southern
shore of the Propontis. It is not of course to be
expected that the medical authorities, who are all
=to this climate and its peculiar exigencies,
aware of this circumstance, but they might
at least have made some inquiry on this subject of
1 those who would have afforded them cheerfully all
the requisite information.
In respect to the general condition of the Anglo-
Ottoman force, a variety of statements have appeared,
I see, in the columns of the Express and other
Loudon journals. According to some versions, which
I well recollect, although they are not at this moment
within reach, the troops, it would appear, are "
ill-
disciplined," " the officers in utter ignorance of the
vernacular idiom," " the dragomans a set of scamps,"
"and much insubordination and discontent pervades
the whole corps."
Ido not profess by any means to know much
about drilling, manoeuvres, tactics, and military
matters in general ; but I am in a posi-
tion to state, nevertheless, that when this
force was reviewed, previous to its embarkation
for the sat of war, the British ambassador and many
other high functionaries were present, and will attest,
I fancy, that the general appearance of these troops,
their equipments, martial air, precision of movements,
and high state of discipline, considering the compara-
tively short space in which all this had been effected,
excited universal applause. On that occasion, more-
over, all the officers gave the word of command in
Turkish ; and I am besides informed that, in this
respect, since thee a very considerable progress
has been made, and that most of them express
themselves on common subjects tolerably in that
language.
Respecting the luckless corps of dragomans—ex-
ceptisg three, with whom I have the honour of being
acquainted—l am unfortunately unable to give you
much information. The one is a native of
Syria, a very respectable man, a tolerably
good linguist, and was employed for some
years at the British consulate in Beyrout or
Damascus. The other two are our countrymen, and
both, I believe, have given the highest satisfaction in
their respective posts. The one, however, is a young
gentleman of a highly respectable family, and who
has had all the advantages of a liberal education.
Besides his knowledge of the ancient languages and
his own, he is well versed in French, Italian, Modern
Greek, and Turkish, which latter he speaks with
great fluency and a good accent, and reads and writes
it also with tolerable facility. This, then, is a speci-
men, and all I know on this subject—and you will,
be probably led to surmise that it is merely the
bright side of the medal. Perhaps so—l can only
vouch for facts within my own knowledge.
Lastly, with regard to " discontent" and " insubor-
dination," which, as well as I recollect, have been
stated to exist in the Turkish Contingent, I have had
many opportunities of conversing with boatmen, arti-
sans, and others of the working classes whose friends
and relatives are enrolled in that force, and learned
with the highest satisfaction that they were all well
led, well paid, well clad, and well oared Ihr—in sheet,
esolent and happy in every respect. If, however,
don be still any defects or shortcomings in the
'military organisation of this legion, I do really think
that groat allowance meat be made, sad that it le

dabber judo nor fair play to visit thus yes
with all the severity of censure. Moreover, all
who are the least acquainted with the usages sod
dilutions of Islam consider the formation ce 4
band not merely in a military sense, and with 4.
roses to any importance it may possess in the pea"
struggle, but far more as a great political fast,sii.,
salutary innovation, whereby old sectarian intuit;
have been cast to the winds, and the cross and the
crescent united on the banner of
of progress, and of civilisation. All fAillS
therefore due to our government, I akshissli
for having inaugurated this great and benegeig;'
form in this country—and it is the only imam.
the Ottoman annals, I believe, of a Turkish forl:
within the Sultan's dominions, having been entruas
to the direction and exclusive command of Br
officers—nay, more, the heroes of Hare, and 44
alas! now no more, who mainly contributed to tla
memorable defence of Silistria, although as dm,
leaders, were never, I am convinced, isgazy sag
officially recognised as such.
Not many years since the position of an Europa,
officer in the Turkish service was really bumilisras
and most intolerable. Whatever hie merits and a
votion to their cause, he was in perpetual hot weiss
—the man of all work, the foremost in t1e...4... ii
difficulty, in council,and in the field ; and still, dim.
thing went wrong, the whole blame was on hialW.
while if success crowned his efforts, others were ea;
le reap all the fruits. How often European mem
mints, and most especially our own, have mks
veered to reverse this pernicious order of sod
break down a fanatical barrier which effect sag
thui
eluded the Ottoman empire from all chance Ica
grew as a military or maritime power. How mai
officers of distinction in both services have Me not
out at different periods by our own govunismi
at our own expense, with a view of hers,
dueing a better system into the Turk*
army and navy. Bat all to no purpose wad
Oesaitline, for tartaooo, an officer of rut mi,ft
came out here after the last Russian war, urr;
mained for two years or more without the Corot
result, although backed by all the inflame d tor
government and our embassy. Again, the hood
Ears, then Captain Williams, remained with lira
tenant Dixon some four or five years mpg p at
the village of Orta Bioy, and both win sok I
believe, with the same, orAsretty nearly the en,,
nooses. Sir Baldwin Walker wu hare aka
as is well known, for many years in the receipt d lia
monthly, pay, and living comfortably enough at-to
rapia ; but that gallant officer will also attest, I fess
that he was sub umbra for the most part, sad it ti
utterly false position : and further, perhaps, theta
was unable to render on any occasion the osellet
service to the Turkish government, with the moo
of his gallant deeds at Acre,and which were no more dm
to be expected from any British officer. His tredir
and perplexities were such at last that hem feed
to give up his position as a bad job; or still sum
perhaps, some think, in consequence of a oat ii
toreille from a certain foreign diplomatist to his *ad
Halil Pasha, who was then at the head of the Mai.
1 salty. Admiral Slade, also a most distingeilhal
Am, has replaced Sir Baldwin at the Areal; bet
I cannot say whether his skill and ingenuity, as will
as his knowledge of the Turkish language, may sot
have borne better fruits than the labours of his pre.
decease?.

Captain Boris°e has also quitted his pot et the
Arsenal, and rejoined the British navy--alihmli it
is generally admitted on all sides that Turkish raid
gunnery is signally indebted for many imposition
to that most excellent officer—" Sic vole non robin"

General Jocksum, a German, after the campsite is
Syria, remained here eight or ten years, also is tEs
regular receipt of a high monthly salary, sadlivisg at
the Hotel de Byajnee—but was never, if I am nightly
informed, consulted on any matters coanseted with
the organisation or improvement of the Tarkishaysy.
But more of this another time.