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

THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE

O'Ago.■.=,‘

(From the Times Correspondent.)
CONSTANTINOPLE, 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
art;ficial display to set off its magnificence; bat
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 departure. The
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-
bareation 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 caiques freighted with
Lager 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.bagche, 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, according to Oriental practices
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 humblercraft 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 proceeding has 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 society. 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 of the visit of Prince Napoleon to Egypt,
which is likely to take place during the sojourn of
the Sultan in that province, throws some light on
the eagerness which the French Ambassador is
understood to have manifested in favour of the
Sultan's voyage. There is no doubt that the object
in view has reference to the interests of the Isthmus
of Stu z Canal. It seems that, in consequence of the
opposition which is being actively carried on here,
in 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 vs 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.
It has often been said that no reliable estimate of
the character of a Turk can be formed until he
is in cffice, 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 SE crecy, the
time is rapidly approaching when it
be-
come the theme of will again
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 Go-
vernment. The question was put by the Minis-
ter 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 loJked upon but as disadvantageous and danger-
ous to Turkish interests. The decision of the Council,
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 canal.
Under the guidance of the promoters of the Im-
perial Bank, which is soon to commence operations,
and with the anticipated assistance of the loan
which has been lately concluded, the Turkish Go-
vernment is actively engaged in putting the finances
into something like order; and, if this desirable
consummation is to be achieved, it can only be
effected by means of the constant and unremitting
exertions and energy which the
bank are triaging founders of the
to bear towards the improvement

of the financial system of Turkey. In applying for
and obtaining a concession for a national bank it
would seem that these eminent financiers, while
keeping in view the advantageats investment of
their capital, have not lost sight of the obligation
of bestowing corresponding advantages on the
Turkish Government in regard to a proper admi-
nistration of the resources of the country. They
insisted upon and obtained such conditions asj
enable them to investigate in the most scrupulous
manner the actual state of the revenue and the
defective manner in which it has hitherto been ad.
ministered. Gradually the Turks have been yield-
!ng to the persuasion which was brought to bear
upon them, and they now show every disposition to
disclose the actual state of their affairs, a process
which wa.s interrupted by the sudden recall of Mr.
Foster to England, where the services of this much
gifted economist were urgently required by his own
Government. It seems that with a judicious em-
ployment of the new loan they may be able to con-
solidate their home debt and to be in readiness to
start fair by the time that the Imperial Bank
commences its functions. It was with this view
that the promoters in Paris, in connection with
the Ottoman Bank in London, have been anxious
to provide them with sufficient means to enab,e
them to act independently of the local bankers,
whose usurious mode of business will be consider-
ably diminished, if not totally wreeked, by the
establishment of this institution. MOibover, by
coming forward at such a moment of need to relieve
the Turkish Government of their difficulties they
establish a claire , not only to advise them in future,
but also to regulate their financial organisation on
principles more in accordance with a European sys-
tem. IN hen this objecti, once accomplished, and
bearing in view the distinct stipulations of the con-
vention for the bank, which prevides that the latter
will " in all things act as the financial agents of the
Government, and receive the revenue," there is fair
reason to think that the bank will be able so far to
control the Government in matters of expenditure
and accounts as to prevent the recurrence of the old
system of irresponsible administration, and the
hopeless chaos into which the Tnrkish Treasury
was plunged. There are elements of prosperity
in the country which even a long course of
corrupt and iniquitous management has not suc-
ceeded in exhausting. I have previously pointed
out the increase which has declared itself in the
Customs' revenue ; and, although I then stated that
this must not be interpreted as implying increased
prosperity, but rather increased taxation, I have
since ascertained, in the most positive manner, that
the Custom-house receipts exceed by 80 per cent.
those of the previous year; and, as this increase con-
siderably exceeds the proportion of the additional
imposts which have been created, it is reasonable
to infer that the present augmentation betokens, on
the whole, a wholesome extension of legitimate trade
and commercial prosperity. The tithes also—which
up to the present were disposed of at a ruinous
sacrifice by being generally made over at a nominal
price to Armenian and Greek bankers in satisfac-
tion of pressing demands, or as a guarantee for
temporary loans in moments of financial destitu-
tion—are now submitted to competitive sales ex-
tending over many days ; and the obvious conse-
quence is that in all cases they have this year, and
under this wholesome system, been disposed of at
double the price previously obtained for them, and
in some of them at three or four times their previ-
ous value. If, therefore, the moral ascendancy
which has been obtained over Turkish administra-
tors by the promoters of the bank has contributed
to bring forth such healthy indications before the
establishment of that institution, it is reasonably
to be expected that when it has commenced its
functions, and can bring into force the stringent
regulations and conditions of the convention, which
will give it considerable power over the Trea-
sury, its influence for good will be considerably
augmented ; and if it perseveres in the energetic
course of which such favourable indications already
show themselves, it would not be surprising if we
were to witness a new era in Turkish financial ad-
ministration. These are the opinions of serious and
thinking men who have given considerable atten-
tion to the subject, who for some time had given up
as hopeless all idea of financial regeneration, and
whose great integrity and perfect independence
place them out of the reach of any insinuation of
partiality towards the Turkish Government. It is
said that on its establishment the Bank will take
the lead in encouraging such legitimate enterprises
as may benefit the country. lam informed that its
interest and influence will, in the first instance, be
directed to the concession of the long talked-of
Adrianople Railway, the opening up of which com-
munication will be a source of incalculable benefit
to the country and of fair remuneration to in-
vestors.