The Sun.
London, England, 1863-04-20 00:00:00

THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE.

(From the limes Correspondent.)
CONSTANTINOFLE, April 9.

It is generally conceded by all those who have
visited its shores that there are few sights which
can compete with that of the Bosphorus on a fine
day. The beauty which nature has so lavishly
bestowed upon it does not require the accessory of
artificial display to set off its magnificence; but
when an occasion presents itself which makes
it the scene of a State ceremonial—when to its na.
tural charms are added the gorgeous and glittering
display which attends the movement and progress of
Royalty with all its Oriental ostentation and attri-
butes, it becomes a spectacle which once seen is never
to be forgotten. Such a scene presented itself on
Friday last, the day of the Sultan's depei tare. Tee
sun shone bright and warm upon the expectant
crowds who were waiting on every available point
affording a view of the Golden Horn to see the em-
barcation of the Sultan. Of these the greater pro-
portion consisted of Turkish women, who, on such
occasions, show more eagerness and curiosity than
the male portion of the population. They gathered
themselves together in great numbers, disposing
themselves, as is usual with them, in semicircular
rows, presenting the appearance of an amphitheatre
fringed with the most gaudy colours of the rain-
bow. Below them, at their feet as it were, the
quays at Tophane, Beshiktash, and Ortakoi, at the
Seraglio Point, and those of the opposite shore at
Scutari, were lined with all the troops which the
capital could dispose of, all resplendent with new
clothes and new arms. The clear blue waters of the
Bosphorus swarmed with calques freighted with
eager sightseers. Not a ripple disturbed its surface.
The air was embalmed with the sweet odours of
early spring wafted from the beautiful gardens of
the Asiatic shore. The Imperial ships which were
to form part of the escort were lying in close vicinity
to the Palace of Dolma-bagehe, and foremost of all
was to be seen the splendid yacht which had been
presented to the Sultan by the Pasha of Egypt, and
which has been selected to convey the Sultan to his
destination. At 3 o'clock the Sultan descended the
Palace steps into his State caique, and proceeded
amid the booming of cannon from the land
batteries and the shipping on board his yacht.
His countenance seemed to glow with plea-
surable excitement, and it is said that his joy at
thus breaking loose from his bonds and leaving his
capital for the first time partook of a childlike de-
light and exultation—a startling manifestation in
an Oriental and the ruler of a vast empire. As the
Sultan entered his caique some dismal shrieks were
heard proceeding from the Palace, and, in explana-
tion, people were informed that they were caused by
the real or feigned agony of mind which his depar-
ture caused among the fair members of his house-
hold, and which, accsrding to Oriental practice,
found vent in loud and bitter lamentation. Every-
thing was ready for departure when the State
caique of the British embassy shot through the
hundreds of humbler crafc which crowded the water
and made fast alongside of the Imperial yacht, and
the British ambassador, accompanied by two
attaches, went on board. This created some sur-
prise, as it was known that a week before Sir H.
Bulwer had a private audience of the Sultan, and
the circumstance was immediately seized upon by
the idlers and wonder-mongers among the multi-
tude and made the subject of the wildest conjecture
as to the objeot of the unexpected visit, and the
importance which it might portend. It seems that
this proceedinghas produced among the other mem-
bers of the diplomatic body a certain amount
of vexation, and has been represented as an
attempt on his part to steal a march, so to speak,
over them. It now forms the subject of eager dis-
cussion and comment, especially among the less
exalted members of the craft, to whom in the ab-
sence of more serious occupation, and in vindication
of their injured greatness, it affords a fine opportu-
nity to split straws on diplomatic etiquette, than
which there is not a more persistent or more nau-
seous subject of conversation in Pera seciety, I
understand that the Ambassador dislaims any pre-
conceived intention to see the Sultan , that his ob-
ject was to visit Fuad Pasha, who was on board
the yacht, and that the Sultan hearing he was
on board desired to see him. It would have
been easy, certainly, to foresee that this would
happen, but I am not sufficiently versed on the
subject to determine the rights of the question.
Sir Henry Bulwer remained half an hour on board,
and immediately on his departure the Feizi-Gehad,
closely followed by the Medjidieh frigate, having on
board the Imperial Princes and their suite, and the
other ships forming the Imperial cortege, steamed
out of the harbour amid cheers, manning of yards,
and deafening detonations of the artillery. The
first halt in the Imperial progress was to be made
at Gallipoli, and the sight of this, the first specimen
of a town in his dominions which the Sultan will
behold, is not likely to impress him favourably.
The squadron will then proceed to Alexandria, and
after a stay of some days in Egypt the Sultan will
return, halting at Candia, Rhodes, and Smyrna, to
which several places it is his present intention to
devote a few days.
The intelligence which has just been received
here ( the visit of Prince Napoleon to Egypt,
which is likely to take place during the sojourn of
the S altan in that province, throws some light on
the eagerness which the French Ambassador is
and erstood to have manifested in favour of the
Sultan's voyage. There is no doubt that the object
in ssiew has reference to the interests of the Isthmus
of Suf z Canal. It seems that, in consequence of the
cr pposition which is being actively carried on here,
.ci which the Viceroy on his visit to the capital was
understood so strongly to have participated, a cer-
tain amount of pressure, bordering closely on
intimidation, has been brought to bear on the
Pasha by the French agents in Egypt ; and that,
notwithstanding the instructions which have been
transmitted to him from here, he shows a disposition
to yield, in alarm of French influence. Ismail Pasha
since his accession has not shown that firmness of
disposition and resolve or that eagerness for reform
for which he got Credit before he succeeded to power.
t has often been said that no reliable estimate of
the character of a Turk can be formed until he
is in office, and the general belief is that this must
be considered as a case illustrative of that saying.
When all these things are taken into consideration
there is every reason to believe that a great stirr will
be made by France, while yet the Sultan is on the
scene of the disputed grant, to bring about a favour-
able termination of the affair, and although every-
thing which relates to it is now kept in secrecy, the
time is rapidly approaching when it will again be-
come he theme of public discussion and of political
negotiation. Notwithstanding the mystery with
which the affair has been clothed, it has transpired
that immediately before the departure of the Sultan
a special meeting of all the Ministers was convened,
at which the Shiek-ul-Islam was desired to be pre-
sent. His attendance at the council shows in a
marked manner the importance with which the
question is invested in the eyes of the Turkish
tGo-
vernment.er The question was put by the Minis..
for Foreign Affairs, whether, supposing the
two Governments of France and England were
agreed on the subject, it would be advisable to
sanction the proceedings now adopted ; and the
unanimous decision of the Council was that under
no circumstances would the Government be justified
in ratifying a grant which, as it now stands, cannot
be 0 Ted upon but as disadvantageous and dan er-
cus to Turkish interests. The decision g
of the Counoil,
with further instructions, was accordingly trans-
mitted to Egypt ; and it is affirmed that the Sultan
has determined, under plea that his visit to the
,
Viceroy is one of friendship and goodwill and has
no reference io political considerations, to abstain
from entering into the question during his visit, and
to resist any suggestion made to him to visit the
works of the cinal.
Under the guidance of the promoters of the Im-
perial Bank, which is soon to commence operatioris,
and with the anticipated assistance of the loan
which has been lately concluded, the Turkish
• l'ernment is actively engaged in putting the financem
into something like order; and, if this desirable,
tIC/neutom
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atron is to be achieved,
effected it can only be
by me
exertions and energy
of the constant and unremitting
bank are energy which the founders of the
bringing to bear towards the improvement