The Express.
London, England, 1856-05-28 00:00:00

TURKEY.

(room ova °int ooaamrolrDENT.)
CONSTANTINOPLE, Nay 16.
Our troops are daily preparing to move homewards,
and their stores, hones, and so forth advertised for
sals.

At. Pisani, this Russian Could, with lie.talk is
expected hers to-day or to-morrow, having ambalited
at Odessa on the lith inst., according to the
It is farther stated that quarantine 'naiades:Mt
ham aaspsn f d for four months at the Russian ports;
their however, bane been subjected, in this
pins% thus far, to a quarantine of observation—five
dem that is to eay--and this measure will continuo
sad sash time as the stets of the public health is
these legalities be fully ascertained and certified by
the Inesian sanitary authorities.

The Rsmaran this year has set in opportunely,
sad teas believer are reposing on their laurels after
a keg and arduous struggle. Business, as usual, is
at a Amid lock ; nay, the government offices in former
times were all closed till nightfall. Conformably
with a late regulation, however, the great funetioaa-
rims are now generally to be found at their posts
about 2 pm., but rather shaky, moody, I may men.
boo, and their tie! sherit, as it is termed, or Ulu-
trios temperament, well-nigh at the freezing point.
From rosaries to street, se you are aware, the inter-
dict on edibles, drinkable., the chibouque, " wine,
woman, mirth and laughter," is a eerier tribulation
at all times, but most especially so during the long
summer days. Hence, under these circumstance.,
suitors, applicants, seldom venter* to approach
SR matters of business. The wise ones wait the
genial hoar of liter, or the evening collation,
when all are sure to meet with a favourable reap.
tiaa, and most hospitable welcome. No sooner bee
the evening gun announced the hoar of sunset than
there ls ObelliTllll36 on all aides an iestantaneousor
aced bustle--all are blithesome, brisk as bees, and
medelouelp intent on making up for past privatises.
Some caw seem to squat in loco. to light their pipes,
aced them pal away with prodigious assiduity; the
ophommier swallows his pill; the redact rests
apse his oar, sad drains at a draught his thrifty
ilenatains, bakers, cook-shops, and
coffee-henees are all in a state of siege. The car-
riages at the grandees rattle on homewards, where a
sumptuous banquet awaits them, and all is decked
out in gayest, gorgeous trim. It is the seasoe of
joviality and gladsome social converse. The high.'
orders all keep open boon, and I availed myself of
this a few nights ago—for strangers and visitors
of all ranks are well received and regaled with every
luxury imaginable in these parts. The Amphitryon,
cross-legged in his poet of honcur on the divan, re-
ceives his guests with a most courteous Moss, and
maaions inquiries into thereto of their "honourable
temperaments" at this " blessed season." In the
halls and lobbies, moreover, it is curious to wh-
ale/ the sone of bustle and activity—cAi-
bore eke, valets, refegis, and divers other
retainers and domestics, are seen darting to
sad fro, all busily employed in their re-
spective avocations. The train of pipe-bearers=
formed, first enters, their arms anistically
and lit, which having been duly consigned and the
bowls deposited in small brae or silver plates forth,
protection of the carpet, the cafriii, in fall fig, briar
up the rear with his pot of boiling mocha, in the entre
of a polished tray encircled by wee cops aed
holders. Then are then half filled adroitly, and
presented to each in the order of hie rank. All sip
emespondly, and somewhat audibly, the grateful bo-
ycott, puffing anon clouds of fragrance with
the most edifying grace and solemnity. Thus coo
mos night after night the revel, of this penitotial
season. The laugh, the joke, the tale goes
round, and half an hour perhaps is thug
whiled away as a preliminary to the -Mar
—a most copious repeat, comprising some
Sheen or twenty dishes, all piping hot, which, clapped
with a 9oilted coverlet and on a wooden tray, soon
appear in the hall, well poised on the head of a stoat
Armenian airier,. The table is laid in a twinkling,
and this primitive apparatus consists merely of a
large polished brass tray, supported by a little
wooden tripod, turned upside down. This done,
the company is instantly seated, and the
dishes, co at a time, are planed in the
goatee's regular encomia° and despatched eagerly
in less than half an hour after the long day's fast.
Then comes the I6riek sad ablutions, which are most
punctiliously performed ; whereon, the company
losing iterated 011 the divan, a sup of coffee crowns
the haat, and, I need scarcely add, the chibooque
the friend, the counsellor, and never•failing boon
companion in these parts. And really it is scarcely
• ratter of surprise, considering the fragrance of the
'tetchier" weed," as well as the exquisite purity of
the loog cherry and jessamine; tube, surmounted with
a splendid jewelled mouthpiece—
tbe lowliest amber
That ever the sorrowing seabird has wept.
This looks 13re civilised smoking all elah is a
mockery, a delusion, and a cheat. Let, therefore,
reersobaunters, cherootere, and A« grass ems., come
hither and learn this truly intellectual art. The
Osmanlee looks upon them all, and perhaps not
without some reason, as a benighted, barbaric host;
lot, above all, is disgusted and shocked at the mode
of their operations, I mean divers concomitant
noises, and the ejection on all sides of cartels
riles so dangerous to perm and property—is de-
Saar, besides. of all the roles of decency and good
maausea.
The fine unfortunately still continue, and the splen-
did barracks of Dewed pathos, converted into a
hospital by our allies, were entirely consumed a few
Am ago, and 2,000 invalids with difficulty mewl
from the flames. This is the mooed widest el did
moan which has befallen the French. Os Nis
troops have been more careful, or had bat* ha
perhaps sod the British military hospitals will be
'swiped io a far different state from that in which
they were reared from the Turkish goonuemat.