The Sun.
London, England, 1837-01-17 00:00:00

TURKEY.

CONSTANTINOPLE, DEC. 21.—This evening we are to
have gay doings. It is the Sultan's birth-day, and the whole
city is to be illuminated. His Highness himself is to take
his iftar (evening meal after a day of abstinence) at the
Scraskier's palace, at Eski Serai, and various amusements
are to be provided for the entertainment of the people, who
will throng to the spot in spite of the plague and all its
evils. It will be recollected that the Sultan (who is 53
Turkish years old) wished to celebrate his birth-day accord-
ing to the French calendar ; but he found that the Ulemah
were so much opposed to such an innovation, that he gave
up the point, and adheres to the old Arab calculation. It
being a matter of no importance whatever, he was right in
not creating fresh enemies by his Giaour predilections. The
present fete will last three days.
A Circassian is arrived here, who says that when he
left his country the Vixen had already made the coast, and
that the Russian cruisers got purposely out of the way, so
as not to be obliged to notice her. If this is true, it is no
more than was expected. The Russians in the meantime
arc threatening with destruction all Turkish craft that may
attempt to communicate with Circassia. Should the re-
port about the Vixen be correct, what better proof
is required that nothing but firmness is wanted to put these
Northern upstarts in order ?
The famous Kurdish Chief Ravendouz Bey is expected
to arrive here froni one hour to another. He is accom-
panied by his treasure, consisting of gold, silver, jewels, and
other precious thing, which form the loads of 120 wag-
gons ! The private treasure of the late Commander-in-
Chief of the Turkish army, Reshid Mehmed Paella, is also
on the way, and about to arrive. It consists of 300 chests
of gold and silver coin ! With such facts continually start-
ing us in the face, there are still people who persist in be-
lieving that Turkey is one of the poorest countries in the
world !

The plague is decidedly getting better, as may be seen
by our plague thermometer—the weekly report of the Greek
hospital—or, as it is sometimes called, the Zondano-Ta-
phvean (tomb of the living), which this time shows the num-
ber of the patients admitted to have been only eighty-two
—deaths forty. We have, however, to regret the death,
by the disorder, of Hassouna d'Ghies, late editor of the
French Paper of the Government, entitled- the Moniteur
Ottoman. As an editor his services were not worth a straw,
and the Paper has long been a disgrace to the country ; but

his loss will be severely felt by the Sultan, who was de-
cidedly disposed to profit by the European experience of
Hassouna, in order to introduce into his corrupt Admini-
stration many more reforms of a useful character. It is
likely that the new editor will be Vakouf Bey, now second
translator at the Sublime Porte ; and if he can only suc-
ceed in getting proper assistance for the French depart-
ment, he may do well enough. A good paper is what is
very much wanted here.
I see by the European Journals that the exaggerated ac-
counts once circulated here of the ravages of the plague,
have gained credence. lam assured that, at no time, have
the deaths in Constantinople Proper (i.e. within the walls)
much exceeded 80 per diem, and at present they fall short
of 40, of which, about one-half may proceed from ordinary
maladies. I regret to say that the disorder, which had
nearly ceased at Adrianople, is again spreading in an alarm-
ing way, thanks to the zeal of the Greek priesthood, who
have brought forward the zone of a famous Virgin Mary, at
Mount Athos, and have been collecting all the fanatic
Greeks at the metropolitan church to adore it ! The fools
have an idea that no disorder can be caught in their
churches, and thus they become victims on every occasion
to an absurd credulity, in which they are of course encou-
raged by their para-loving pastors. If the churches were
closed in times of public sickness, Europe would never bear
of such devastation as has been lately recorded.
It appears to be understood that nothing more will be
(lone about the tarif until the receipt of fresh instructions
from the British Government, which cannot be here until
the commencement of February. If England will only
take the initiative, she may do just as she pleases. Want
of decision will, as heretofore, be fatal to the prosperity of
the Ottoman Empire.
Trade is in a most deplorable state. The Persians are
owing enormous sums, which they cannot, or will not, pay.
The market is groaning under a weight of goods fit only for
the Persian market, and not a package can be sold without
an enormous loss, whilst the exchanges are as wild as a
weathercock in a tornado. London has been done to-day
at 1011 1031 1021.