The Sun.
London, England, 1827-11-03 00:00:00

TURKEY.

We extract the following article, containing an outline
of the Torl:islt Government, from the Quntidienne

Past_;, OCT. 30.—At the present moment, when
important diplomatic negotiations attract the atten-
tion of Europe on the Ottoman Empire, it may not
.be uninteresting to give an outline of the interior
Organization of that Government, about which such
exaggerated ideas have been given. In general, flays
a. Greek historian, who wrote in 1757, the Chris-
tian historiographers give two portraits of the Otto-
man empire—the aspect of the one is frightful—that
of the other is brilliant and magnificent. One would
say that they write the history of two different
nations. The first is owing to the high colouring
of the pencil, which was guided by a system gene-
rally received in civilized Europe, and whose dark
tints were derived from the difference of manners
and religion. The colour of the second is obtained
through the prism of truth.
The Turkish Government rests on only one foun-
dation—that of, religion. The whole system, poli-
tical and civil, has this for its .origin._ a The duties of
the citizens take their rise -from.this, as well as the.
.constitution of the state, and ,the.rights of the dy-
nasty. The Sultans are the image of the Divinity.
As Commanders of the Believers, God makes use of
them to reward Mussulmans, and punish infidel
Kings and nations. Whatever may be the charac-
ter Of the Sultan, he is the sent of God, and conse-
quently is inviolable. His orders are considered as
emanations of the Divinity, unless they are opposed
to the precepts of the Koran. This exception ac-
counts for almost all the enthronements of the Chiefs
o Islamism. The Princes who have been sacrificed
have almost all been victims of disobedience to the
laws of this sacred volume. The Mufti and the
Lawyers pronounced—the Janissaries did the rest
before they were destroyed. The successor of the
Sultan is always Chosen froM the Imperial Dynasty.
The Council of Supreme Functionaries is compo-
sed in the following manner:—
The .Sultan; the -.Grand Vizir, the Mufti, the
Calinacan (Governor. of Constantinople), the two
Kadileskers (or Chiefs of the Cadis), the ReitEffendi
• (Minister of Foreign Affairs)s the Aga of the Janis-
saries, the Aga of the Spahis, the Capitan Pacha
(High Admiral.) These compose the Divan, toge-
ther with the six Vizirs of the Benches, Pachas with
two tails, and all the Pachas who may happen to be
•at Constantinople.
The Divan assembles as a Council of State, and
sometimes as a Supreme Court. In the first case
it discusses the interests of the empire, peace, war,
diplomaticsrelations,,plans of internal improvement,
and answers petitions.
When the Council sits as a Supreme Court it
decides appeals; civil as Well as criminal. The Di-
van also gives judgment respecting complaints
beought against the Ministers, the Pachas, and the
Grand Dignitaries, whether of the empire at large
or'of the Seraglio, and against those even who form
the Divan. The accused members cannot sit in
judgment when these accusation are. under conside-
ration. The Grand Vizier presides, and in his ab-
sence the Mufti. The Grand _Seignior has no
visible influence there. He hasaot even a votes al-
though he it almost alWays present at their sittings;
kut he remains, in .a; weals te which,he :comes from
ins apartnients, where he- can see and hear all, but
remains hiniself cOndealed..- The , ,Ministers and
Councillors niustapealsinanttudible voice, so as to be
heard by their Master, in order that he may judge of
the zeal of each: • • •
The finances of theState,:though in general well
: ;
managed in Turkeysaire notsriPh• The regular im-
posts are extremely. moderate-;; The first is raised
from the custom-houses on the frontiers and at the
ports. The second is raised from all the lands, with-
out distinction, situate -in the dominions of the
Grand Seignior—in 'those of the Mosques and the
fiefs. The imposts -nre'fixed by a uniform tariff for
each Government or pakati. The third is a capita=
tion tax, levied from the Giuours—that is to say,
infidels,' Austrians, Jews, Armenians, and others.
Catholics pay more than Greek Christians. The
fourth impost is en provisions, &c. which pass from
one- place' to another. Sometimes, however, the
Sultan imposes particular duties, or allows severe
exactions from the, people. In this way Mahorned,l
the present Sultan, hasissueda decree; ordering his
subjects to carry to thelaintsthe veisels of gold and
silver, And receive in tetnrn 'coin,. inwhielShe wished
to increase the nominal value. This Firman has not
been carried into effect, because the Turks showed
great opposition to it. The Treasury of the Sultan
is distinct from that of the State, and is under an ad-
ministration of its °Wis.
As every thing in the Government takes its rise
from religion, it is decreed that every Mussulman
must fight against infidels, when the empire is me-
naced ; and unless lie obeys, lie shall he deprived,
not only of the joys promised to those who die for
the' faith, but shall incur eternal damnation. It is
easy to imagine -what force such ideas must give to
a government!
The militia, properly so called, of the Turks, does
not present an imposing appearance—they are of two
sorts, the one derives their subsistence from certain
lands granted by the State, the others are paid in
money. The lands granted to the soldiers are called
Timariots, orimilitary fiefs; and according to their
tenure they are obliged to defend the Ottoman
Empire. They are divided into companies called
ortas, like those of the Janissaries, and are under
the command of the Governors of the provinces who
are obliged to march at their head in case of war.
The -Pitches assemble the possessors of these fiefs,
and conduct them to the rendezvous assigned by
the Seraskier-Pacha: The number of fiefs amount
to .385,000. They are obliged W furnish each a man
and a 'horse. The second corps or regular troops
was composed formerly Of the famous Janissaries.
Thev amounted formerly to 40,000 men. Besides
these there are 12,000 spaiiii, or cavalry ; 5,000
topgis, or artillery men ; and in ease of war, 5,000
sailors. These troops are now replaced by the re-
gular militia, disciplined according to the Europeaa
tactics. They probably amount to about 50,000 men.
The total amount of the forces which the Ottoman
can raise has been frequently calculated. It amounts
to 712,000 men, of whom only 62,009 receive
regular pay. The 10,000 which Moldavia affil
Walachia are bound to furnish, are not included
in this calculation, nor the auxiliary Tartars which
the Sultan can-summon to arms. When the empire
is menaced, every Mussulman _must bear arms, and it
is prescribed, • that a Turk ought to kill, at least,
three Infidels. •
On the other hand, the Divan ordinarily condemns
to death the General who loses.a battle, and, at least,
he k dismissed and banished. ,
The Turkish army forms three encampments in
the European! manner. The Tartar auxiliary ea..l
valry ranges themselves in two lines around the
camp. Behind them are ranged the Tintarioto or
possessors of Fiefs, with some field-pieces,. and last
a line of. infantry. The chief camp is in the form
of a square. Each Paella assembles there his dieis
sion, in the middle of which is the tent of the Se-
raskier, or the General-in-Chief.
The Mussulman army was formerly highly distin-
guished, but is now much degenerated. The Turks
are no longer the formidable people who conquered
a part of Europe. For the last century this.empire
has been eaing gradually to decay. Without doubt
a last effort will be made on the present occasion.
It may be violent, desperate; but the formidable
armies of.ltussia are encamped on the frontier. Ha-
bituated to ail the tactics of Europe, they may soon
be' thie-to scatter, these , armies of the East, where
fanaticism unites for a moment under the standard
of the Prophet., However, such an event could
• not happen without awaking all the rivalry and jea-
. lodsy of the other European Powers. It has been
said that the. Turks would embarrass a good deal
the other Cahinets if they were to abandon Con-
stantinople and, their, It
may be conceived possessions in Europe.
..that,Xhisse embarrassments Would
increased if Battik wished to increase her terri-
tory at the expence asm
. the Ott en Porte, and platit
her eagles On the minarets of the ancient city of
Constantinople.