The Sun.
London, England, 1854-05-02 00:00:00

CONSTAIN TINOPLE.

CONSTANTINOPLE, April 17.—Yesterday was the
Latin Easter, and the Frank population were as
joyous as the snow and sleet would permit. The
Poles, who number about 60 souls, principally
refugees, had an entertainment of their own in the
style of the Jewish Passover. They met in the
house of one of their principal countrymen, and ate
a meal standing—a custom among them of great
antiquity, and a bond of union to a people scattered
abroad over the face of the earth. The Easter of
the Oriental Church falls on Sunday next. Some
danger of tumult is annually feared at this season ;
and this may have been one of the reasons which
induced the Porte to hasten the expulsion of the
Hellenic residents. However, all will probably
go off quietly. Panics are periodical in the Turk-
ish capital, and during the last week it has been
whispered that the Mussulman population are in a
very uneasy state, that they regard with fury the
concession of rights to the Christians, cry out that
the country is betrayed, and contemplate some-
thing like a popular rising ; but there is not
more danger from the Turks than from the
Greeks. The former are no doubt desponding
as to the fate of their race and nation ; they are
extremely mortified by the sight of European
troops in their capital, and dread the changes of
manners and the decay of religious usages which
such an influx of strangers must produce. But
they are on the whole resigned to the acceptance of
a new order of things, and their dissatisfaction is
more expressed by a sullen demeanour than by all
active tokens of dislike. Au Englishman may walk
alone into the most remote lanes of Stamboul, far
from a Christian habitation, without the slightest
danger of insult or ill-treatment.
In the fleet there is a great desire that a military
force should be sent to assist the admirals in their
operations. According to the naval critics, 10,000
men would enable them to destroy Sebastopol and
capture the entire Russian fleet, to besiege Odessa,
and cut off all communication between the Russian
armies and their supplies of grain ; or, on the other
side of the Euxine, to annihilate the fortresses of
the Circassian coast, and overthrow the Muscovite
power south of the Caucasus. The principal regret
is, that so fine a squadron should have nothing on
which to exercise its strength, and should be reduced
to the dreary necessity of a permanent blockade.
A firman is immediately expected, couched in the
strongest terms, on the subject of the Bashi-Bazouks;
They are to be placed under stricter discipline, and
every offence against property is to be punished
with unsparing severity. This is a measure.of the ,
greatest importance, as they are driving to despe-
ration the Bulgarians, a people naturally well dis"
posed to the Turkish rule.
The great barrack of Scutari, which is capable
of containing 18,000 men, is situated on an env-
nence not 100 yards from the sea coast, and is only
one of the many others that surround Constanti-
nople. Everything had, some days before, been
got ready for the reception of our troops ; great
supplies of corn and other provisions having been
bought up by the commissaries, and contracts en"
tered into for the daily delivery of many thousand
pounds of meat, bread, dr,c. The troops were
formed into small detachments as they stepped on
shore from the Himalaya, and at once marched 013
the hill to their new home. A regiment of Turkish,
infantry was drawn out in front of the principal
entrance of the building, and the Turkish band
played a hearty welcome to the British allies 0.3
they stepped past. Turkish officers and interpre-
ters were in waiting to receive the troops. The
Paella of Scutari was also in attendance, whil4
others had gone on board to welcome thei net
comers. Our soldiers were looking well, smart and
active, and seemed glad at exchanging the close
steamer for the clean and roomy accommodation of
the Turkish barrack. The first hundred men had
scarcely entered the building before British sentries
were already parading up and down at the four
gates. This metamorphosis seemed much to puzzle
the population of Scutari. Hamals (Turkish por-
ters) and carts with oxen were ready waiting at
the landing-place, and took up the luggage. It
cannot be said that the Turks had assembled ill
very great numbers to witness the landing of the
British troops. Had they been quartered at Con-
stantinople, they would have created a much greater
sensation. There were, however, some hundred
men, women, and children on the heights near the
great barrack, mostly of the lower orders, and the)
stared with unfeigned curosity at the red coats of
our soldiers. Scutari is the most genuine Turkish,
suburb of Constantinople. It is entirely inhabited
by Mahomedans, and the people are not a little
dumb-founded at seeing 2,000 red-jacket giacors
suddenly quartered amongst them. They know that
they come as friends and allies, and as such they'
. receive them. The Turkish women's curiosity i 5
greatly moved, and those assembled were pattering
about in their yellow morocco boots and slippers'
• their eyes peering out with dark lustre fora
' under the white yastmuth. " Inglis askier ei
Yusel" (The English soldiers are well-looking)'
J was said by one near me ; to which another re-
plied, " Sakallaro yok " (They have no beards).
The day cleared up very fine. Constantinople 1;4
to the left, presenting a magnificent pauoraniat
with its domes and minarets glistening in the sun'
which must have struck the newly arrived. The
Sea of Marmora was calm, and the waters stir"
rounding Seraglio point, and stretching up the
Bosphorus, but slightly rippled by the northern
breeze. The soldiers, who on first landing had oa
their great coats, soon put them aside, the rays 0f
the sun becoming too scorching. An April sun
at Constantinople is very powerful, and you Lull
have winter one day and warm summer the next'
The barrack at Scutari is certainly the best at Con-
stantinople, independent of its excellent position,
being very easy of excess. That of Doud Pasha
over at Constantinople, which will be occupied hY,
the French, is equally good, but very much out OI
the way, and the road leading to it very narrow,
uneven, and scarcely practicable for heavy artillery'.
We are' hourly expecting fresh arrivals of both
British and French troops at Constantinoplt
Everything is in readiness for them. They will
only have, to land.