The Express.
London, England, 1856-05-10 00:00:00

TURKEY.

CONSTANTINOPLE, APRIL 28.
The Russian manifesto has not produced much
sensation here in our political circles. I have seen
some of our Osmanlee friends, after the perusal of
this document, stroke their beards most composedly,
with a 0 Methanol !" which exclamation denotes,
strictly speaking, *Praise be to God," but is used
also, in some oases, to signify "Fudge, humbug,"
according to circumstances. In this latter seise it
will be in all probability most generally accepted—
nay, even by the Caere own most orthodox subjects
and adherents, for whose special comfort and edifica-
tion this imperial effusion is more particularly de-
stined. The emancipation of the eastern Christians
was the sole and exclusive object of the war—and
this his been attained, it is insinuated, wrung, as it
were, from the Satan, by Muscovite valour and mag-
nanimity, after some trivial loam% checks, and con-
cessions sons gravief, as well as a slight indent in
his frontier line. This then is most satisfactory—
and all I can say is with our Turkish friends,
" Mashallah !" thrice " Mashallah !" in the full force
of the term.

I had occasion to state in a late communication,
that the non-Moseulman subjects of the Sultan, is
the capital at least, have enjoyed from time imme-
morial the most perfect freedom of conscience in all
relating to their creed and religions observances--
nay, even that their wildest superstitions have
been respected by Mahometans, and openly practised
withent the slightest molestation. To-day is Easter
Monday with the Greeks, Armenians, and Eastern
Christians in general; but, very fortunately
indeed, the hatti-scheriff has not produced
much addition to the usual amenities of the
capital at this festive season. The streets, however,
are thronged and almost impassable in every
direction—shots and squibs since Saturday night are
continually greeting our ears—the most fantastic
groups in holiday trim, in every imaginable hue end
costume, and innumerable processions, comprising
the worshipful corporations of )(male, and opera-
tives are parading the streets, and figuring away on
the "light fantastic toe" with drum and hautboy,
songs and bacchanalias bluster.
Some French merchants, as mentioned in my last,
have purchased a bath in the neighbourhood of the
Dervish-Tele, at Pere, for the purpose of construct-
ing dwelling-houses, in virtue of the privilege ac-
corded to Europeans by the late spontaneous decree
of the Sultan. This is a profitable mode of investing
cepital—but the right of possessing property in this
country, I may mention, has not been de facto
refused to Europeans for ages, and much misconcep-
tion has prevailed in regard to this as well as •
variety of other matters connected with Turkish
laws, manners, and customs. The greater part of
the household property, for instance, and decidedly
the most valuable possessions in the Frank quarters
of Pera and Galata, as well as in the villages of
Therapia and Buyukdere, are owned by Europeans
in their own name and absolute right. One
item of these possessions is Miasiri's Hotel, rented
I believe, at 1,0001. per annum. There are, besides,
a number of other opulent proprietors, belonging to old
Perot, families of Genoese extraction, officiating
usually as dragsmaas or interpreters at our own and
different ether mimesis,. The various religious
orders of monks and nuns possess their churches,
hole% charitable establiehmsals, and other vale-

able dependencies, also in their own right, and
which is, of course, the case also as regards
the different palaces of the foreign legations.
The only formality required hitherto was, that the
property should be vested in the name of any Euro-
pean lady born in this country, who is, according to
traditions and old-established custom, recognised as
a subject of the Porte, but possessing at the same
time all the rights and immunities of a stranger.
Hence her property descends, as if she were a Itayah,
to her legitimate heirs and successors; and I have
never known a single instance of bad faith, or the
smallest difficulty having arisen, in consequence
such an arrangement.