The Express.
London, England, 1856-06-06 00:00:00

TURKEY.

(120 X ova OWN COWINSPOWDIWt.)
CONSTANTINOPLE, MAT 22.
My last letter announced the expected arrival of
the Russian Chancelier or Consul-General ; who
accordingly reached this from Odessa on the 18th
inst., per Lady Eglinton, British transport steamer.
This is the principal incident which has occurred
here sines the conclusion of peace, representing the
renewal of friendly relations between Russia and
the Porte, and will, I trust, be hailed with satisfac-
tion by all parties. One thing at least is quite certain,
namely, that M. Pisani is highly popular in this
country, esteemed and respected by all classes as a
man of strict honour, rare moderation, and integrity.
Hs is a native of Constantinople—a non-orthodox,
and connected with many old Pere families
of Genoese origin, and whereof some members,
of the same name, have been for some generations em-
ployed in the interpreter department of the British
embassy. M. Pisani's return to the land of his birth
was noiseless, and without display. He landed
without a single attendant at Tophans, and
proceeded straightway', unnoticed and alone,
pour ieriester, apparently, to the house of
a widow lady, Madame F—, whose bas-
band, long since drowsed, had figured conspicuously
as the enterprising Dragoman Chief oT the Hessian
Mission in former days and very troublesome times. 1
There, the Chancelier and Councillor of State was
under the necessity of taking up his quarters ad in-
terins—for, unfortunately, French and Turkish sen-
tries were still posted at the gateways of the Russian
palsies and consulate, and neither would, in all pro-
Debility, have been induced to abate one jot of the
consigns, nay, even in favour of the rightful owners.
T: see edifices, as you are aware, are undergoing
thorough repairs at the expense of the French go-
vernment, and are to be restored in slaty quo ante, and
still better, within a short delay.
Another event has occurred since my last which
merits honourable mention, and has created a consi-
derable sensation among all classes of the native po-
pulations. Oa Saturday last, the spiritual chiefs of
the various non-Mumulman communities, with the
venerable Prince Vogorides, representing the
Greek nation; Michram Dozogloa and Ovanees
Dadian, the two Armenian sects, and M.
Hatim, the Israelite communion, were sum-
moned to the Porte, by order of the Sultan,
and nominated members of the grand council. It is
even stated that the ministers apologised to the great
rabbi and to the Israelite deputy for Caving disturbed
them on their Sabbath day. So much for intolerance
and fanaticism in these parts. Let then our Spooner'
and Exeter-hall orators learn wisdom and magna-
nimity from the Moslem.
I have not time to-day to say more, but shall return
to this subject in my next communication by Mon-
day's post.
It appears that our consular establishment in the
East has at length attracted the serious attention of
the British government. This service, in the opinion
of all competent persons, cannot be maintained in its
present form, and is unquestionably one of the most
singular anomalies of our national institutions. As
• first step, therefore, a reform is in enure. of
•

progress at., 'headquarters—that is to say, the info-
aim: of the law element into the administration of
judos at our consul-geueral's court at Constantinople.
Till February last this functionary was sole judge
and arbiter in his own territory ; and the absurd rule
of compelling all litigants—even if both were British
subjects—to pet in " the pleadings" in Italian, as also
all documentary evidence in the same language, was
i• fall force. In that month, however, Messrs. Horn-
by and Hardy were associated with the consul-general
as assessors or assistant judges, aid a most important
innovation besides introduced, that is to say, to em-
ploy henceforth our own instead of a foreign lan-
guage in statements of claims, answers to ditto,
and other documents. More recently still, Mr.
Horeb has drawn up a brief and simple
form of procedure for the guidance and practice of the
court, based upon the elementary principles of British
commercial law; and a further and more comprehen-
sive cods, similar to that of oar common law courts,
is, I understand, in course of preparation. This
most salutary and much-needed reform will thus
contribute to abolish, as mooh as possible, docu-
mentary evidence, and substitute for it oral examina-
tion. It is intended also to encourage English
practitioners, and assimilate as far as possible the
regulations to those in lorce in our home tribunals.
There will not, however, be the double and dis-
tinct agencies of barrister and attorney, but the
practitioner's duties will be blended, much in the
same manner as, I believe, those which devolve on
the members of the American bar. These important
changes in the administration of justice in
this country will contribute, I need scarcely
observe, to place henceforth on a satisfactory
footing the interests of her Majesty's subjects,
which have been knocked about between Scylla
and Charybdis, without a proper pilot, or even
a plank, from time immemorial. In abort, the upshot
is, if I am rightly informed, that the consuls, not
being educated for the legal profession, will figure
but nominally in all judicial contests, and somewhat
in the shape of the ^ Ko4a rpicrora " of the Greek
theatre. The decision of the case will entirely rest
upon the judgment of the lawyer. Lord Palmerston
says that common sense is quite sufficient in oar con-
sular magistracy, but our noble Premier knows that
though himself possessing this faculty in an eminent
degree, with many other great and noble requisites
in a statesman to boot, still he
perplexity to consult the legal advisers of the crown,
and to abide by their decisions.
The pound steelier: has fallen to 118 pea., and it is
said the Minister of Finances is determined to reduce
it to 110 pre. ss the permanent rats of exchange.
Provisions are pouring in from all sides ; the mar-
ket is beginning to be overstocked, but it is a coneo-
lation to reflect, after such long privations, that the
body politio will soon pluck up and thrive and fatten
in the midst of this abundance.