The Sun.
London, England, 1854-10-24 00:00:00

Turkey ; ifs Ilistory (00 Progress. From the
Journals and Correspondence of Sir James Por-
ter. Continued to the present time by his
grandson, Sir George Larpent. 2 vols. Hurst
and Blackett.
This work commences with a memoir of Sir James
Porter, who was British Ambassador at the Porte
from 1747 to 1762, where he made himself
thoroughly
acquainted with the national character,
customs, and prejudices. He was subsequently
appointed Minister at Brussels. The papers which
he left, containing his observations on Turkey as it
was a century ago, have been incorporated in the
first volume of this work ; and though some por-
tions are manifestly inappropriate to the present
condition of Turkish affairs, it has been justly
thought best to present them entire, that the reader
might be able to form a comparison with the exist-
ing state of Turkey ai described in the second vo-
lume. The remarkable changes which have re-
cently taken place arc thus clearly shown, and the
enlightenment of the people and the gradual pro-
gress of reform made evident. A brief account of
Turkish sufficient to acquaint the
reader
withh i s ttohr
ey
main facts ; but the principal por-
tion of the work is occupied in endeavouring to
give a just idea of the country
itself,
and the pecu-
liarities and characteristics of its inhabitants. Of
the first volume it is sufficient to say that it serves
chiefly as a landmark to show how far the nation
has advanced from that time, though the descrip-
tions it gives of the natural features of the country
are of course equally applicable to the present day.
It is the second volume that contains the intorma-
tion now most eagerly sought for, namely, a full
account of the legislature, the progress of educa-
tion, the financial system, the military and naval
establishments, and the social condition of the
Turks. It also presents us with a sketch of the
career of the most eminent men of the present day.
The account of Reschid Pasha is very interesting.
Amidst the general disorder on the death of Sultan
Mahmud, when the empire was left with " the
Sultan dead, the army annihilated in the course of
a few hours at Nisib, and the fleet carried into
a hostile port by their awn Capudan Pacha,"
Iteschid Paella, who had been absent on a diplo-
matic visit to Paris, returned to Constantinople :
" As a thorough statesman, he clearly perceived that
the first condition for the future existence of Turkey
was the restoration of that unity which had rendered
the empire so strong during the earlier period of its
career. In his opittion the only possibility of regenera-
tion lay in the amelioration of the principles of Go-
vernment, and their assimilation to an European and
constitutional model. To carry this into effect, the first
step was to reconcile the Christian subjects of the Porte,
by making such concessions as would insure them
against the arbitrary proceedings of the Osmanli, and
by giving them a guarantee that these concessions would
be maintained.
"To Reschid Pacha the Ottoman empire is indebted
for the organic law of equality, tolerance, and personal
freedom and security, for the abolition of mercantile
monopolies, for the establishment of sanitary regulations,
for the submission of the provinces, for the concentration
of political power, for the advantageous stipulations of
1840 with the great Cabinets of Europe, and for the com-
mercial treaties which have been concluded with most
of the foreign States."

In his political career he has met with many
vicissitudes ; but since 1847 he has been continually
in office, first as Grand Vizir, and subsequently as
Minister of Foreign Affairs. The former office,
however, does not appear to be a very enviable
dignity, for though his power is very great, so also
is his responsibility. He is the supreme chief of the
administration ; nothing is presented for the sanc-
tion of the Sultan except through him ; he presides
over the Privy Council ; appoints to a majority of
the offices, and commands the army ; but his posi-
tion is full of danger. "Ho is accountable both to
the Sovereign and the people for the acts of injustice
which he commits, for the unfortunate result of his
administration, for the extortions which he does not
repress ; he is accountable, above all, for the unex-
pected dearness of provisions, for too frequent fires,
and fur the defeats of the armies. All the misfor-
tunes of the Sultan are attributed to him. The
sword continually suspended over his head strikes
him whether he displease the people or disoblige
the Sultan." A full account is given of the Turkish
army and navy, the military administration and.
establishments. The natural resources of the coun-
try are described as offering the greatest advantages
to the enterprising capitalist. The mining ad-
vantages appear to be great, though the natives
want energy or capital to avail themselves of
them. The favourable contrast afforded by
the present state of the empire to the descrip-
tion given of it by Sir James Porter cannot
fail to strike the least observing. The apathy, self-
conceit, and prejudice then general appear meet
discouraging ; but if we turn to the narrative of
the present time, we find a wonderful enlighten-
ment and awakening. The author of the second
volume, Sir George Larpent, is hopeful as to the
future of the Turks. He says :
" A mere comparison of the condition of Turkey in
1339 and in 1854, will show how much has been already
done. We do not pretend to deny that much is still left
for quieter times ; but we may accept the present ame-
' lioration as a very valuable instalment of the great work.
If the Allied Powers only recognise the duties which
have devolved upon them through their interference is
the present war, we may fully anticipate that Turkey
will eventually become a great and prosperous country.
The raw material is ready to hand, and by skilful
manipulation can be rendered most valuable ; bat it will
be a work of time. Many will turn back with disgust
from the task : but whenever our Government once per-
eeives the importance of Turkey—not merely as a Euro-
pean necessity, for the purpose of maintaining the
balance of power—but as a country, which presents the
finest field for religious and commercial enterprise, we
feel assured that the labour bestowed will be abundantly
repaid.•
Those writers who have represented the Turks as
utterly effete, and as only encamped in Europe, natur-
ally ignore any hope of regeneration ; but such is not
the case.
" Turkey was not a corpse, but a body paralysed : it
revived as soon as the enlightenment of the present gene-
ration recalled it to life, and the rare and interesting
spectacle is presented of a country having totally altered
its political condition in the short space of sixteen years,
through the spirited and patriotic) exertions of a few in-
divieuals, while that salutary change promises to be per-
manent, because the system will be continued by the
pupils and imitators of those few eminent Statesmen,
each of whom is surrounded by a chosen band of disci-
ples brought up in their principles."
And, again, after giving an account of the pub-
lic schools, he observes
" By raising public education to the rank of a State
institution ; by creating it, where it is not yet in
existence ; by correcting all it possesses that is of a
dangerous and exclusive character, and, more than all,
by summoning females to participate iu the benefits of
an intellectual life, Turkey would be drawn from the
isolation and individualism by which her strength is
exhausted, and the way would be paved for her social
regeneration, which is the crowning work of her
political transformation. Education would effect the
ruin of the old Mussulman fanaticism, which has lost
its strength, but by substituting for it patriotism,
hitherto unknown to the Mussulinan peoples, accus-
tomed as they are to form a collection of individuals
rather than a people, a sect rather than a nation. In
exchange for the faith which it destroys, it would give
them a country. It would do more: by the establish-
ment of universities, where students of different faith
and creed, collected from- the most distant points of the
empire, would live in the unity of discipline and instruc-
tion, it would cause a hearty amity between generations
till new isolated by their enmity or their pride, and
would thus prepare the reign of that great national unity,
for which the Turkish administration, policy, and,
Legislature are striving."
We must not omit to mentibn a curious and
valuable paper which is appended to the first
volume. It consists of a journal, kept by Sir James
Porter, of the negotiations between Austria and
I:hreu s
rest
ieas int o the
h time
IF,urtcliaoris cskirconnectethjeamGerseaptoartnedr
d with
f
Maria Theresa. It is in no way
employed in these diplomatic
transactions, and as his narrative, which has
been hitherto unpublished,
is possessed of great tework o
was personally
in-
terest and value, the editor did not consider him-
self justified in omitting such au important docu-
ment. The appendix to the seco d
n- volume relates
the progress of the war, and contains a very useful
assistant to the historical student—a comparative
chronology of the Turkish Empire. Among all
the numerous works \V ieh have appeared on Tur-
key, its history, its inhabitants, its environs, its
past and its future, since the discussion of " The
Turkish Question," few possess the value of the
present volumes. Most of those works have been
superficial in their character, seeking rather to
entertain than to instruct. The volumes before us
are not of this description. To those who desire
an amusing book of travels they offer no attrac-
tions. It is to those who desire to analyse the
constitution of the empire, to read the history of
the future in the annals of the past, to gain a tho-
rough acquaintance with all the peculiarities of the
social system, both as they were and as they are,
that it is calculated to afford every assistance
in acquiring a complete and authentic knowledge
of Turkish history and progress.

THE LATE LIEUT. SINGER.—This artillery officer, who
lost his life in collision between a French and an English
steamer in the Sea of Marmora, was a son of the Bishop
of Meath. This young officer had highly di
stinggiehei
himself in the Kaffir war, alid bad served in several
actions. He returned to Ireland at the beginning of the
present year, and was immediately offered by Sir H. . D.
Ross, as a mark of approbation, an appointment in the
Horse Artillery. On the declaration of war he volun.
teeredlur service in the East, and
in consequenc
ranted , e of
and
his
previous high character his applicaion 7as g
a preference given him above his seniors in years and
Lieut. Singer was but 26 years of age.
standing.