The Express.
London, England, 1853-10-24 00:00:00

GRANTED IN FAVOUR OF 11Is PEOTESTANT BIIEJECTS.

Most honoured vizier, illustrious counsellor, main-
tainer of the goad order of the world, director of public
affairs, with wisdom and judgment, accomplisher of the
important transactions of mankind with intelligence and
good solve. consolidator of th, edifice of empire and of
alory, endowed by the Most High with abundant gifts,
Ltd ;:atishir, at this time, of my gate of felicity, my Vizier
Mehmed Pitch', may God be pleased to preserve him lung
in exalted uig
Let it be known on receipt of this my noble reacript,
that,—

Whereas those of my Christian mil jects who have em.
braced the Protestant faith, have suffaed inconveniences
and difficulties, in consequence of th-ir not having been
hitherto placed under a separate and special jurisdiction,
and in consequence of the Patriarchs and Primates of their
old creeds, which they have abandsned, not being natur-
ally able to administer their affairs.
Whereas, in necessary accordance with my Imperial
solicitude and benevolence towards all classes of my sub-
jects, it is contrary to my Imperial pleasure that any clue
of them should be exposed to trouble. And whereas, by
reason of Heir faith, the anruaaid Protestants form a sepa-
rate community. It is in consequence my Royal pleasure,
that measures he taken for the sole purpose of facilitating
the administration of their affairs, so that they may live
in peace. quiet, and security. Let then a respectable and
trustworthy person, chosen by themselves from among their
own number, be appointed with the title of " Agent of the
Protestants," to be attached to the Department of the
Minister of Police. It shall be the duty of the agent to
take charge of the register of the members of the com-
munity, and which is to be kept at tl.e police department.
The in;ent is to register therein all births mid deaths All
auplications for passports and mull ee lieeuces, and on
those special afftirs of the community which are to come
before the Sublime Porte, or any o her department, are to
be made under the official seal of the ot. rat. The present
royal and august edict has been especially granted and
issued from my Imperial chancery, c,,rryisg my pleasure
into execution. Ilene, thou the ahove indi, ated Moushir,
shalt carry the preceding ortlinanc int. scrupulous execu-
tion, comiormahly with the expl•matioi.s giv, n. As, how-
ever, the assessment of taxes arts the it, livery at oas9porte
are subject to specific regulations, thou shalt not permit
anything to be done in contravention ther,to. Thou shalt not
suffer any tux or haratch to be requirca it the Protestants,
for marriage licences or for re•sistratiou. Thou shalt be
careful that, like unto the other communities of the empire,
every facility ar.d required assistance be afforded to them
in all their affairs, and its all :Hatti.l6 cfn.cerning their
cemeteries and places of worship. Thou shalt not permit
any interference whalsoecer, on (he part of any other com-
munity, with their rights or with their religious concerns,
,we, in short, wi h any of their aaTeire, either secular or re-
ligious, in any manner to ',aerator,. ; in order that they may
be enabled to e.vercise the usages of thew faith in security.
Thou shalt riot suffer theses to be molested one iota in these
or in any other mailers • and thou bloat be careful and
attentive to maintain then; in the desired quiet and security.
They • are to be permitted to nialse those representations to
the Sublime Porte which it may be necessary to make con-
cerning their affain, through their agent. Alt-r thou bast
taken due cognizance of these matters, thou shalt cause the
present noble rescript to be registered in the proper quar-
ter, and shalt cause it to be confirmed in the possession of
the aforesaid subjects, and thou slit be careful that the
high provisions thereof be always earrid into due execution.
Thus be it known unto thee, giving full credence to the
Imperial signet. Done in the second decade of the *acted
month of Moharrem, in the year of the Hegira 1261, at
Constantinople the well-guarded.

(Sultan's Signature.)

LOSS OF THIRTY-FOUR LIVES IN THE
MEDWAY.