The Sun.
London, England, 1860-10-09 00:00:00

LITERATU.RE.

Mac3lillan's Magazine.

The Rev. H. G. Robinson, Of the Training Col-
lege, York, furnishes some very sensible remarks
on the neglect of English Literature in Schools in
general. He maintains that it is the fashion in
schools and colleges to seek fine composition and
grand ideas among the writings of the Greeks and
Romans to the prejudice of English authors, in the
same way that the Scotch peer visits Switzerland
in search of scenery, when he has as fine if not
grander at home. There is much truth in his re-
marks, but we have no reason to complain with the
instruction imparted by the schoolmasters of the
present day. If we only look back some thirty
years we will see that a long step has been made
in the right direction, and we must have patience
until time and common sense complete the neces-
saryary reform. " The Fate of Xyloe Jock and the
v rd of Wanton Walls" is continued. A chapter,
lentitled " The Christian Subjects in Turkey, is
full of interest, and the reader will feel indignant
at the writer's persecution to which Christians are
subjected by their Moslem rulers. The Sultan
may desire to protect them, but he has not the
power. It is not to be expectedb that religiostaana-
tism can be held in check by ap
rweak and sinking
elsewhere area Government like that of
reanadsutil:ace
sign
ne
massacres in Syria and
What followers
oofd.hla-
that the days of the rule of the
nc h , orby gßu'otues Russian
hornet in Europe are numb,erpedr.e
been effected by English
intervention is pretty clearly shown
fol-
lowing extract
"The systematic abduction and ill-treatment of Chris
tian women.—lt is only in Turkey that outrages of this
description either meet with no punishment or are actually
rewarded. Some years ago considerable attention was ,ex-
cited by the case of Saleh Pasta, Governor of Varna. He
caused to be removed to his harem the daughter of on() of
the chief men at Toulcha.. Some time elapsed before the
father discovered what had become of his child. When he
attempted to procure her release he was arrested, and his
property confiscated. But Varna was then garrisoned by
an English force, and the case was so notorious that our
authorities are understood to have remonstrated. The re-
sult was that the dead body of the girl was found some
days afterwards. An inquiry took place respecting Saleh
Pasha's concern both in the abduction and in, the murder.
He was removed from his post and sent to Constantinople
to be formally tried, and the father was released. But we
believe that we are perfectly correct in stating that Saleh
Pasha was at once set at liberty, and has been since living
in the capital, not having undergone even the semblance of
a trial, and that the fathr's property has been retained by
the Government. Outrages of this description are extremely
frequent in the rural districts of Europe, and are never
punished.

" It is not uncommon to quarter troops on houses only
inhabited by female Christians. In these, as well as in
other instances, seldom does a male relative, who interferes
on their behalf, escape alive.
" Forcible abduction is encouraged by the following
means. In Albania the prestige which it confers leads to
personal advancement in Government employment. In.
Bulgaria it is facilitated by placing the relatives of a Chris-
tian girl who becomes a Mahometan on the same footing as
Mahometans with respect to protection from fiscal oppres-
sion. In Monastir, and we believe elsewhere, a Turk who
carries off a Christian girl and causes her to become a
Mahometan, is exempted from military service.
" The conduct of the Ottoman authorities in this respect
is most reprehensible. The theory is that, on any case of
abduction being made known, the girl is to be placed under
the care of the chief of the religious sect to which her
parents belon,,, at the place where they reside, until the
case is decided.. This done at large commercial ports where
a European element compels the observance of some form
of law and justice. In the interior another mode of pro-
cedure is adopted. Such cases are declared by the Govern-
ment of Constantinople to be religious and civil cases, not
criminal ones. The girl is brought beforo the Medjlis and
asked what her religion is. If she replies Mahometan, the
case is of course at an end. If she declares herself a Chris-
tian, the result is the same. The Medj lie quotes the Hatti-
Humayun of 1556. In this much-vaunted edict, which
has everywhere and in every respect proved to be a ' delu-
sion, a mockery, and a snare, it is only provided that
Christian evidence shall be received in commercial, correc-
tional, and criminal•cases. The Medjlis decides that the
case before it is a civil question. It consequently refuses
to hear the girl's statement or that of her relatives ; and un-
less a Mahometan comes forward to give evidence against
his co-religionist in a matter which his creed regards as
meritorious—an extremely rare occurrence—the Medjlis
decides against the Christian plaintiff."