The Sun.
London, England, 1826-08-15 00:00:00

THE JANISSARIES,

The grand area of the Mosque of Sultan Achmed, which. is at
this time the theatre of so many executions, is a noble looking
place, planted with many fine and' venerable trees, that spread
their shade over the fountains that gush out plentifully on the
smooth and marble pavement. The mosque itself, though very
inferior in size to that of St. Sophia, is considered more unique
and beautiful. within. It is adorned with an immense number of
columns, all of white marble ; and though the walls look naked,
as paintings, statues, and every kind of ornament is forbidden
by the,Koran, yet the long rows of lofty columns, their shafts, as
well as the white walls, covered in many parts with sentences in
large letters of gold, from the book of faith, have a fine effect.
The light falls partially, and gloomily also, on some parts of the
building, and the Orientals are fund of this, for they imagine it
favours the aspirations of prayer. This mosque is regarded with
peculiar veneration by the Turks, and it is in its, large and rich
court, that the refractory Janissaries are massacred every hour.
It is well suited for such a purpose, and for the seat of the Sul-
tan, who places himself every day to witness the executions ; and
can thence survey the whole 'Atmeidan, or grand square, in
front, and on each side. This is so large, that a battle might.
almost be fought in. it. vast extent. TR: obelisk from Egypt,
`and the twisted pillar, stand here, and the exercises of the troops
frequently take place. . Times change rapidly, and a very few
years affect revolutions that almost baffle belief. Not very long
ago, I saw the remaini 'of murdered Greeks lying near this *pot,
that served for the sport and laughter of the mob that surrounded
them, and now the bodies of their murderers are stretched in
hecatombs in the same place, and the hour of retribution is come.
Yet this bloody insurrection of the Janissaries, hitherto SO fatal
to themselves, cannot fail to produce the most important conse-
quences to the Turkish empire. These haughty troops have
been, hitherto, the scourge and terror of their Sultans--the 1
flower of the army—the bravest and the most desperate--every
effort to tame their spirit has been in vain, and has caused the
death of more than one ruler of the empire of the Faithful. The
unfortunate Selim perished in the attempt to introduce European
discipline among the Janissaries. Ile had caused extensive bar-
racks at Chalet, the acite of the ancient Chalcedon, on the oppo-
site shore of the Bosphinus, 'not far from Scutari. These barracks
still remain. But he was unable to contend with the furious
and daring spirit of the Janissaries, who had not submitted to
the new exercise a few weeks, before they broke out into open
rebellion. It was impossible the Turkish Power could ever be
formidable, or its troops contend successfully with those of other
nations, while these soldiers kept the Court, the capital, and the
whole nation, in awe. The first tidings of an insurrection' of the
Janissaries carne like the knell of death to the favourite Ministers
of the Sultan, who never failed to tremble himself. Was it the
head of the Grand Vizir, of the Capitan Pacha, of their own
Chief Aga, that these troops demanded---there was no denial.
The ill-fated Ministers submitted without a murmur, for they
kne,w that all resistance was useless; and their Master, however
much be esteemed their services, 'strove in vain to protect them.
The moment their heads were thrown ostr the Seraglio walls to
the mutinous soldiery they dispersed to their barracks, having
glutted their rage and discontent.
It is well known that Maltmond, the present Emperor, has long
desired most ardently to free himself from the yoke of the despotic
Janissaries. Like the Praetorian Guards of ancient Rome, they
make and unmake sovereigns at their will, and here are no hounds
to their lawless demands. Three years ago the - Sultan endear
voured to separate this mighty force, and caused 50,000 of them
to be sent out of the capital, and dispersed in different parts, in
the hope that, by weakening their force, ho might find a favour-
able opportunity of breaking and crushing their power. But the
Janissaries were on their guard, they had some suspicions of the
Sultan's designs, and they kept a watchful eye on his proceedings.
Fifty thousand of them still remained in the capital, and kept up a
constant communication with their brethren who were dispersed
without, and, by acting in union and concert, completely discon-
certed whatever hostile intentions the Sultan might have cherished.
It is regarded as a great privilege by the Turks to he enrolled in
this corps ; it is even dime while they are children, for the immu-
nities attached to it are considerable; and the pay is much higher
than that of any other part of the army. They are in general fine
men, and often have their arms and necks bare, which are very
well formed, and their fine countenances are to be distinguished by
the bold awl lawless look expressed in them. The Red Guards
are a fine body of men, tall and slender, and cloth4d in red front
head to foot, but the handsomest body of all are the White Guards,
the favourite and chosen atteridanti of the Sultan, whose dress, i
front the turban to the sandal, is of a snowy whiteness.
If Mahntoud succeeds in vanquishing these hitherto invincible
troops, it will be the most memorable, u well as fortunate, event
of his reign. But they will not tamely behold their ensigns
trampled on, and their badges dishonoured, while the'very name
ofJanivary,hitherto so dreadful, is given to execration. Their
efforts will be desperate, in order to retrieve the power so suddenly
torn front them; their numbers in different parts of the empire
are still considerable enough to maintain head in the field, and, if
united, to face any army their master may bring against them.
But the unfurling the sacred standard of the' Prophet was an ad-
mirable deed of Malunoud's--it was the only one that could have
secured safety to his throne, and was the last expedient to be re-
lofted to in his critical situation. Had Achim dared to do this, he
would still have p sessed the throne of his ancestors. It evidently
struck the rebellious Janissaries with consternation, for it instantly
identified the cause of the Sultan with that of the people, who no
sooner heard that the holy banner of their Prophet was unfurled,
than they felt themselves bound to rally around it, and fight against
these who were proclaimed its enemies; and while the population
of the capital are ranged against them, the haughty Janissaries are
lost without hope. Hitherto their insurrections have been unop-
posed, the people have beheld them march to the Seraglio, de-
throne the Sultan, or massacre his Ministers, and have stood by
silent spectators, and have submitted tranquilly to the most sudden
revolutions.
The last Emperor, Selim, who lost his life in the effort to im-
prove the discipline of Isis army, was a very young and amiable
man, and distinguished by his personal beauty. He htul, some
years before he ascended the throne, been cruelly injured by a
potion administered to him. It was given at the instigation of
the Sultana, who was the mother of Mahmottd, and who wished,
by depriving him of life, to secure the succession to her son. The
poison, however, was prevented from being fatal, by the timely
and skilful aid of the physician of the Seraglio, but it left such
effects behind it, as no skill could remove, end -the Sultan was
surrounded by the numerous beauties of the Harem, whose attrac-
tions were unavailing, and whose charms were untouched. This
unhappy result of the attempt on his life brought,on an early me-
lancholy on his mind, that was always visible in his pale and
very handsome features.

,
could he accomplish it, they would
into his army, convioceti that,
the world in the field. And in
He was . determined on introducing a new' system of tactics
be equal to meet any troops in
this expectation he was
probably right, for the Turkish
soldiers are, in personal appearance, much ' finer men than
the Russians, and more active In battle; and could they be.
prevailed upon to use the bayonet, it as doubtfid if *the Cross
Would not fly before the Crescent. The troops loved their
el!ted on
Emperor, but they hated innovation on
lydetbronetl and imprisoned
.
the thEmie,
still more, and, rising tumultuous, their ancient habit'
him. But Illalimond bad not long been a ,
ere they reproached themselves for what they,s
r, whom they
had done, and
resolved to replace their amiable Sultan
in power,
bad- but lately cast down from it. But it u ms too late, their
tumultuous
and the still iniprisoned Prince, but with very different lee..
enni
the for Mer saw his sceptre about to fall from hii grasp--the latter
The
evil' Were heard iii the Seraglio, both bynlltlah.mond,.
rejoiced in the hope .of liberty from his •dungeOn walls
Sultan, whose decision of
character is his foremost quality, sent
'
the chief of the 'eunuchs, with some attendants, to dispatch the
unfortunate prisoner, who
made a desperate resiatance, but was at
last strangled, and his body thrown over the walls, to the very
troops who had come to recrown him. The violent excitement
' of feeling, the rage and passion which had a feW Momenta before
urged ou these men, were instantly calmed, and the loud shouts
and imprecations were changed for deep aud bitter lamentations.
They fell on the body of the inurdered Prince, and wept over it,
heating their breasts, and, with clasped hands calling on 'Alla.—
But not a hand was raised to avenge
had been some time indulged, they all dispersed. quietly, and the
it. anal when their sorrow
tumult was quite subdued. Yet these very men, sudden and prone
to violent extremes, - in all their deeds froth long Lndul-
&ince, would the next moment have been ready to uneheath

their sabres, and rush on to slaughter, wbether,of the Greeks, or
the populace with whOn3 they have so lately fought.
Mt Palace of the Janissaries, and where their chief resides,
stands in one of the finest points of Constantinople, and very near
the grand mosque of Sulinut Niel). The gate and portico are of
a very light and elegant architecture of wood, carved, and covered
with gilding. One evening• we ascended the lofty tower of the
Janissaries, the highest summit in the whole city. In the upper
apartment were a number of those soldiers, smoking, and drink-
ing coffee, of which they invited us to partake, as well as of the
pipe. They were tall and stout fellows, and very civil, and ap-
peared to be enjoying themselves quite at their ease. We stepped
out on the parapet, and gazed with rapture on the view beneath,
and on every side. The sun was going down on the Bosphorus,
and the shores of /tele. with their numerous villages, beyond, and
each lofty mosque, with its white and gilded minarets, rose dis-
tinctly and redly at our feet. There was no hum of population,
or noise of equipages, as in other European cities, but a wide
and universal stillness, and even the thin population was
scarcely perceived in the narrow streets of the city. More than
a hundred sails of various nations were passing up the stream of
the Earphone; to Pent and Galata, or farther on to the porta of
the Black Sea. The Turks may well call it the glory of the
world, for no other City can equal it in I►eauty of situation er
splendour of effect. The soldiers put into our hands a small tele-
scope, made in Londorty to examine the view ; they seemed to
consider it a first-rate curiosity, and to guard it with peculiar
solicitude,' and put it to their eyes repeatedly, with as much ar-
dour and wonder as if it had been a magical instrument ; though
whether they saw clearly in it or not, the Prophet only knew, for
the same focus seemed to suit all eyes. A bakeshiesh, or present,
of course, was expected for all this civility, and, after sitting
down and taking a cup of coffee with these true believers, we
took our leave. Infidels, no doubt, they consider us to be,
though, like the rest of their countrymen, they never mentioned
the word in our hearing. Indeed, the feeling of the Turks to-
wards the English is universally favourable, as every traveller in
the country is sure to experience. The Janissaries have excellent
barracks here, and their Aga, or Chief, is lodged like a Prince
' in this Palace, and, like a Monarch too, he often passed judg-
ment on the unhappy Greeks who were taken and brought here ;
they were marched in through the Golden Gateway, as it is
called, between a file of soldiers, and being brought before the
Aga, were shortly questioned respecting their designs, or reasons
for attempting to escape. No mercy was ever shown at this re-
lentless tribunal, where a few minutes were sufficient to decide
the fate of the victim, whose head quickly rolled on the pavement,
and his body was cast aside like that of a beast. But the atrocities
committed by the Janissaries on the Greeks are now visited on
their own heads ; in deeds of cruelty they exceeded all the rest
of the troops ; it was a common thing to hear them boast how
many they had slain ; one claimed ten, another twenty, to his
share, and dwelt with savage exultation on the details of these
murders.

PRESENCE or MIND.-:—At the time of the late fall
of the steeple at Limberg the watchman wasin the ,gallery just
at the moment that the building began to shake. Retaining all
'his presence of mind, he snatched up his speaking-trumpet, and
cried, " The steeple is going to hill."' By this warning he saved
a great number of persons who were at the time near the steeple,
Re himself fell so forttuiately that he received no bodily harms
but lost the use of his speech.

Lammas or:Lomlnms day obtained its name from
a mass ordained to St. Pater, supplicating his benediction on lambs,
in shearing season, to preserve them from catching cold. St. Peter
became patron of lambs from Christ's metaphorical -expressibn,
" Feed my lambs," having been construed into a literal injunc-
tion. Raphael makes this misconstruction the subject of one of
his greatest cartoons, by representing Christ as speaking to Peter,
and pointing to a flock of lambs. .

THE -HIGHLAND ROAD.---It may be useful to
make the public aware, through the medium of our columns,
that a very great undertaking is in rapid progress towards a com-
pletitln, in the excellent road which hits been formed on the
line originally opened by General Wade, with a view to getting
into the fastnesses of the Highlands during the troubles in 1745.
This new road which is expected to be finished in the course oil
the present year, will open a direot communication. between the
north and the south—front Glasgow, Stirling, and Crieff, on to In-
verness; and the line of it runs through some of the bop 4te and
most beautiful scenery of the central Highlands of Perthshire.--
It cannot be too generally known that this great work has been
undertaken by the Heritors, for the public accommodation, with-
out a fraction of aid of any sort, beyond their own individual sub-
scriptions. There are at this moment three hundred men em-
ployed upon this road ; and, as this line to Inverness, will, by
coming through Carlisle and Glasgow, shorten the distance from
London by fifty miles.; there can be but little doubt of its being
made the principal lineof communication ;—good accommodation
too will soon be procurable along the whole line of this new road,
even in its remotest parts, and trustees have been appointed nut
only to See that the work done upon this road is executed in the
best manner, but also to keep it constantly In repair, and for
these purposes a moderate toll qply will he paid by them upon it.
—lnverness Courier.
The weavers of Glasgow, about a fortnight since,
forwarded another petition, or remonstrance, tg Go-
vernment, requesting a definite reply to tne question,
whether they were or were not to expect any legisla-
tive relief? and inquiring if his Majesty or the' Mini-
stry had 'considered the propriety of repealing the
Corn Laws, reducing taxation and ,useless salaries,
and, if possible, the interest of the national debt ? The
accompanying note was received from Mr. Peel in
reply:—
" Mr.- Peel has received the letter from Glasgow, of the 29th
of July, signed John Tint. Mr. Peel deeply laments the priva-
tions of the weavers on whose behalf that letter is written. Ile
has it not, however, in his power to make any farther communi-
cation on the subject of the petition td the King, than that which
he has already made." [Thin communication was, that the pe-
tition was laid before his Majesty.] " The petition was laid be-
fore his Majesty by Mr. Peel.
" Whitehall, let Aug., 1826.
" Mr. J. Tait, Weavers' Call-house, 29, Gallowgate, Glsagow."
THE THUNDER. STORM.—In two minutes it
seems two hours nearer night. Go to the door and say if ever
you saw a ashler sky than that of the growling west. A big,
warm rain drop plashes on your face as you gaze upwards, and
a sultry smell cones from the dusty road and fields, hard in a long
drought. Nothing stirs. The hive is without a bee even on
the front-board, and the swallow sits with her white breast mute
in her nest below the slate eaves. The dog has gone whiuing
into a dark corner—and chanticleer crows not. The growl, as of
a lion prowling here and there through a fbreat, comes and goes,
yet forsaking not the dark sky-bounds that • now emit afar off
forkett'ire. But a cloud right over head, that has been &lowly
sailing thither apparently without wind; flashes, and in a moment,
as if the cope of .heaven were of metal, it rattles with sharp,
P
fierce, and long-continued thunder bounding u and (town, and
giving way to a crash of echoes that with avil, pauses roll cir-
cling along the tops of, the mountains, and die away, one would
almost think, into another world. A deluge drenches the only
part of the vale now visible—that near you. Showers are seen
falling in floods, each a broad broken streak in the grim atom,-
phere at the hidden head of the vele, and in a few_ minutes
nivonince:wflociniwane o,norco.cvhe
hundred, of white torrents are leaping through the mist,
be frightened out of his or her
and the main vale-stream quickeniol its pace, and raising its
:71,1 wwhittllflolaaynt-bells, and crc night-fall will be
in flood.—Nothing can be more absurd than to be angry with„y
wits-end at thunder. The horrible closeness of the grim air op--
prole* the heart and the soul sinks in the disturbance of the
senses. Ich
n su cases it is cruel to scold. You might as well
lose your temper with your wife for being drowned. oe sogoeoted,-
Neither is the danger by any means despicable. Out of a towns
fni of people, SO thousand strong, as many are killed and wound-
ed in a pitched thunder atom, as of the same number of Spa-
niards during almost any one pitched battle—in position' with our
army.--in the Peninsula..-.that is to say—four or five. Each in
dividual, too, feels himself in the -brunt of the action; ad a-
ll
kinds et- accursed conductors are at his car- and Abair.- Every
pew who has behaved himself gallantly fifty great decisive
pitched thunder storms, ought to wear a medal—and belong to the
order of Electricity.—Dachwood's Magazine.