Star.
London, England, 1828-11-19 00:00:00

FRENCH PAPERS.

PRnN Till OAZILTTE Di FRANCS, NOV. 15.
• TOULON, Nov. 10.
EXTRACTED PROM OUR PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE.
We hear of a goat deal of disorders which have
manifested themselves in a silicon degree in the Morn.,
and by which our troops have suffered mush. Captains
of ships also have come from that country give hot
few details, and we are in general in pain fer them,
though the Medical Department appears to he well or-
ganised, though our troops no longer bivouac, and
hitherto at least they cannot be in want for any thing.
It it usual almost every where in the Levaat„ especially
in the autumn, for strangers to be attacked by tertian
and quartan agues, which are not dangerous—excedt
for persons of intemperate habits—if they we judici-
on,ly-triated, but the young soldiers and many Offier-rs
have ne►ertheless reason for alarm. We hope at lea,t
that else troops have-not been suffered to take up their
latigiag in-tab places evacuated by the Talks ,without
gteat precautions, far the garrisons were mote or less
iivected with contagious diseases, and piecipit tion
might he attended with very serious consequences.
It is affirmed that the English have objected to Ge-
neral M +ism) going beyand the Pa loponnesus, and that
the Greek State is to be limited to that country easy
but ii, on the one band, that General has enough to do
to flccupy what has been given up t r him, and cou'd
not do any more even if he wished it ; on the other
h Ind, it is clear that the Geeeks, left to themselves,
w ,uld never be able to maintain t'temselves in the
Peninsula, wliwe, without a marine, the Turks can
come from many points of the Gulf if Lepanto. even
though the Isthmus should be well f tidied. What
still be done? This is what remains to be seen; mean-
tinte troops are sect, and pr partitions are making to
send more. o.;e regiment is already gone, beside. the
ammunition and provisions, which are sent under con•
coy of the Tridera.
novisions have also becn sent lately to the Mock 4d-
log squadr.o before Algiers, u hit h blockade does not
ear likely to finish, and which is the most illusory
thing in the world, for we hear of Algerine corsairs
whith meet with nn obstacle-, and go in and out as if
there were neither blockade nor cruizers.

THE HISTORY OF THli SACRED STANDARD.

Farb( A COKI INENTAL PAPER.

The sacred standard (.sandschf,ki-shc4o, vAls;el) is
never ut.1.11-d but in times when imminent danger
Curate is the empire of the Crescent, has been castled
by the Sultan to the camp of Ramis-Tchefliak, under
the stalls of Consta tinople, where he at pry sent resides.
It has tint as yet been drawn from the c Inch en•
selopes it, for beto:e the standard it raised the invading
army of the Russians must pass Adrianop.e.
We have thr.ught it would be gratifyii:g to our
readers to collect a few historical anecdotes resi ecdug
this palladium of the Mu.sulmatis.

I. is an article uf faith with the Tusks, to ham
that the Sinifschalci-shetif was borne by the victurious
hinds of Mohamed (Mahomer) himself. by the Caliphs,
his first successors, who transmitted it hs the dyna,ty of
, aramjadcs. at Dimas, is the 661st sear f the
Hegira, and afterwards to the Ahhasides at Iligclid and
Cor.;, in the 750th yea of the same era.
Wher I. conquered Egyl t in 1517, and over-
turned the Calivhat, this sranda.d went into the pos-
session ot-the line of Vie o.ftrarlis, since which time it
has been considered an At k of safety to the State. At
first the Sindschaki was plated under the ca!e of the
Pashaw of llamas, as tieing chief conductor of the
carav n of prigrim* who merit every year to Mecca.—
In 1595 it was carried to Europe under the responsi-
' tidily of the Grand V.zier, Sian Pasty* w, and di.played
in the war of Hungary, as the talisman de•tined to se-
vise the courage of the Mustulinans, and restore to
their rarllts the ch,ci2lirie which hid been entirely de-
strove.).

111ahontel 111. confided this holy banner to the cus.
(..tly 41 three hundred Emirs, and it remained uncle.
du-ii title loin 1505 to 1603, under the surrintendence
ot thAr Chiet Naki-bol-Elchruf; and at present 40 en-
.;gn beaters ate chosen from the porters (.f the Seraglio,
*hose nay it is to bear it by tutu., white its safety is
confided to the care of all the MI ._..ussu.mans armed. The
tour tttwisi Its of cavalry, disting.iistied by the name of
Bo:uki Eibsa (as we night call them, the Royal
Guard). ate especially appointed for the detente
of this :acted banner.

The word S indsehaki-sherif signifies "• standard of
go ee.i silk," SLI4:I as tie G 0,0111016 of provinces usu 41Iy
be Ir.

Tire sacred standard of the Prophet is enveloped in
40 coverings of green tiffeta, and is enclosed in a case
if green cloth, wirer also contains a small Koran (the
Bo k of the Law), written by the hand rf the Caliph
0 oar hintseif, and the silver keys of the Kaaba, which
Seiim I. received from the Sherif of Mecca. The
standard is 12 feet high, and the golden ornament (a
ctosed ha ,d) which sorm :urns it contains anr ther copy
I,t the Koran, written by the Caliph Osman 111. the
successor of Mahomet. In time of ve.!ce this precious
standard is guarded in ;he hall of the " Noble Vest-
ment;" thus is styled the dress worn by the Prophet.
lii the same ball in which this tunic hangs are also pre-
served the other venerated relics of the empire; the
sacred teeth, the holy beard, the sacred stirrup, the
sabre and the bow of Alahomet, and the arms and ar-
mour of the first Caliphs.
' In ear a magnificent tent is erected far receiving the
Sacred Scasdard, which is attached by silver rings to
a lance rt ebony. This custom bi inAs to recollection
tie little temple, in which was deposited the Eagle
of the Roman Legions, as related by DronysiosCassius.
At the end of every campaign, the sacred piece of
green silk which forms this stai.dard is replaced with
great solemnity in a richly ornamented chest.
Down to the present epoch, this standard has always
been a real talisman to the Tut kt, and has served to
rally the defenders ti Islamism, and to inflame their
courage in battle again►t the Chiistians.
In 1648► at the accession of Mali met IV. to the
dim", the Grand Vizier had only to plant the Sand-
schaki to attract to his interest the corps of Janissaries.
Recently, in 1826, the present Sultan Mahmoud had
displayed it to destroy that formidable corps.
Thus sacred banner is, however, never displayed ex.
cept in time of war at a last extremity. It is the signal
for instantly exerting every effort to save the empire.—
Every Christian is prohibited from stopping before, or
even casting, a prefane look on, this sacred plede of
safety.

PRICE SEVENPENCr.

On the 27th of March, 1169, when At:Smet 111. de.
elated war against Ens4a, and displayed tie S and-
schaki-sherif, the Austrian Internuf.cio. at Conitanti-
nnple hired an apartment from a Moliah at a high rate,
in order to view the ceremony, but finding another
apartment that suited him better, he removed to it.—
To be avenged of him, the Mollah info' med the Emirs
and the Janissaries of the AmbAs,ador's curiosity. The
latter hastened with a fanatic rage to the hoose, whale
the imprudent diplomati,t and his family we,e con-
cealed behind thick Velietian window blinds. They
broke open the door, and though they did not venture
to lay hands on the person of the Mtniwer,. who repro.
'ented the Emperor Jo,eph 11. their brutality did not
respect rank, age, and sex. They cruelly maltreated
the wife and daughters of the Internunco, M. de Brog.
nart, and they massacred in the ,tieets a weat member
of Chtktians entitely innocent of this act indisere.
tit n. The Divan endeavoured, by rich presents, to re.
pair this aggressidn, and the Cabinet of Vienna recalled
its Prenipotentiary.
Nothing f this has recently taker, place. Nor Rank
showed himself in the streets on the dep inure of the
Sultan, hot malevolence might have sarprised more
than one profane eye intrenehed behind the Persian
window curtain s certain houses.

Upon the whole, times are greatly changed.

PHILADELPHIA, Om 18.

:

A sennde.ful change has taken place in this beautiful
city wilnin a few years. It was the quiet abode of un-
portending, active industry—it has Lecome the seat of
luxury and splendour. How surprised I feel at the
improvement! Those whom 1 visited a few years az,
in their plain and modest abodes have tiensplantei
themselves amidst the adornings of civilization, and
filled their dwellings•wilt furniture which would not
misbecome Grosvenor.square. The ol .1 and the ri-
deot are crying out against the extravagance of 'he
times, and prophesying hendreds of dowi falls. You
have heard wh..t a sober. Qaakerly spot is v.a. ii the
ol.len days, when the" brown sobriety" of "the Fiends"
seemed to iinge the whole population. But the gay
ones have shooed Out the grave—and all that is smolt
and attractive in Lyndon is speedily imported
Old Philad Iphia has pasted away, and a new 'lilts-
delphia, smart awl siti lag. has b• en called into /ping.
Numerous streets, winch were telly dreamt of, have
been successfully born, an I thickly-congrega ed houses
cover the ci devant green fields. Thee late invertions
are mostly soacious, experoive, and coy venieot maw ions.
Philadelphia is truly o-e of the la eeroeoest-haud-
somest"(Anicricanice) cities on tt is or t'a, er si.he of
the Atlantic. Theodor. (Anglice, s' op.) are gating
to be as flashy as their plot, types in kegenostrect or
Ludgate-bill. They hate a fine sh ,at in the wiindrises,
and goo:I books in the hack ground. Dulness has b en
jostled out by bu tie, ant silt; licity sent to tlie.tigl t-
oorbue by modishness. Of cttokse wealth is increasing
—lcor its increase will always demandesomethisig new.
Fm mei 1 y dames and dams, Is wore dresses of- uo.le rr ity
ow every one for eisell—aed the last touch for
ail. They were once 44 drab' ish." like hen pheasants, -
or " darkish" as crows; ton now they are many-
coloured as peacocks or birds of paradise.
But there are better things. too, going on, and a con-
-toot and busy improvement. Every where a demand,
and, I.aopily, a supply of kuowledge. It is pouted o. t
on all ,ides, running through all channels. lei iroluence
is to improve, moderato wid soften the Ainecic an
char ,cter. There was formerly a blunt, disagreeable
rougheeso which, being proud and vain of she poll.
tical institutions of the court y, used to sex visitors
giowiing :g onst Yankee has bat ism. But the Yankees
are unending daily. Their cnmplaceircy is founded
how on better knowledge, and they beg n to estimate
t'le value • f h, sa accompiisho cuts aid that civ:.
lizAtion, wt ich they deemed it so tine, and su he-
roic, and so pat iotic, to sneeze and sneer at. The
Lancaster schools are proceeding admire 13—white the
founder of the dote•' i. paying the too-trill deserved
prod yof his vaeity,folly, aid a xtra 'raptor, raising
miserable existence Out ad pittioc charity. Woiide. f.l
is the improvement in the mans.ess and k emorals of
the children, to which improvement the Infan• Schools
have, perhaps, more contributed than any othi r eircum..
stance. Suu.lay Schools, t o, are much ia vogue; and
it is a very agreeable subject to trace the com-
munication of all improvements in echoortion to the
New World. Vigorous is the wing and swiot'o fl ht
of the Genius of Go id over the Atlantic a ter s.
Yuu would not lancy that relign n wa ted any State
support were you to see the ntimier of churches. siring
one after another, and the crowded congregations
which fill them hese. Though ton to be ca./spared to
some of the English Episcopal CI u ches, )et they Ate
far tome handsome than most of the Dioc,olobt Cha-
pels in England. To me these decorations seem a poor
struggle after what is unattainable—a vain .otempt to
make the building worthy of Riot to whom it is oedi-
cated. Better to be satisfied with the simplicity of an
unpretending temple than seek to propitiate Him with
tl.e hs uses ° we have budded," and in 'which we more
consult our vanity than 1113 true glory.
Science is making daily ciuquests. here. Lectures are
constantly delivered on all the !stanches of natural phi
losophy. They are well attended, and their harpy in
&mice r bvious. The taste fOr positive knowledge, as
contrasted ith 'speculative—for exyerin:ertal instead
of dogmatical philosophy—is descending deeply and
spreading widely among our people. Out cf this grow
the improvements in communication. Our steam boats
bear up against our most rapid rivers. • Canals of vast
ateet intersect the country horn river to river. Our
loadsodaily improved, are busy with life and motion.
With so wide and wonderous a field, what may not
America become ?

The President question occupies all minds. The
wisest and the calmest judges, who feel alarmed lest
Jackson's precipitancy should (in case of his :.success)
invr•lse the c• unity in difficulties, sincerely re*ret the
short sighted, silly, anti commercial policy f 41.1incey
Adams in his Tate Miff regulations. ..While alie ma-
-I:ufacturer and the merchant are figl.ting about it, on
the score of their separate and sinister inieretts, the
philanthropist sees in these mistaken measures seeds of
discontent at home, and if deeper enmity abroad.
America has yet to learn the peat lesson that s ►e can
only advance tier own permanent prosperity by advanc-
ing the prosperity of other nations. She may cut away
this or that colopetitnr, but she wounds herself At every
blow, and the weapon she hurl, at et'iers will tecoi on
the heads of her children.

' 't.

aK ~~
.j