The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1804-05-19

49, N6f
tate the collection, divide il into lesser farms |
which are again slEiivided, even TO the |
smallest villages. The Pachalets these en-
p,oyments TO the best bidder, wishing 70
draw rs much money from them as possible.
The farmers, who, on their side have no ob-
Ject IN taking them but gain, strain every
nerve to auglncut their receipt. Hence an
aVidity IN these delegates always bordering
on dishonesty hence those eXtortions to
which they are the more easily inclined as
they are sure or being supported by authori-
ty; and hence, in the very heart ofthe peo-
pie, faction ofmen interested IN multiply
ing impositions. The Pacha may applaud
himself for penetrating into the most hid
den sources OF private profits, by the clear
sighted rapacity of his subaitcrns but what
is the consequence The people, denied
the enjoyment Of the fruit OF their labour,
restrain their industry 10 tine supply os their
necessary wants. The husbandnlan only
sows 70 preserve himself from starving;
the artist labsurs only to support his family
ii ne has any surplus, he Carefully CON
rea!S II. Thus the arbitrary power of
the Sultan, transmitted 20 the Pacha
and to all his subdeleSates, by giving i free
course to eXtor.ion becomes the main spring
ii a tyranny which circulates through everY
class, whilst its effects, BY Il reciprocal reac-
ton, are every where fatal TO agriculture, the
arts, commerce, population in . word, G.
very thing which constitutes the power Of
the state, or, which is the same thing. tke
power of he Sultan himself.
This power isnot subject % less abuses in
he army. ferpetuaily urgedby The n~ecessi-
~ OF obtaining money, on which his safety
and tranquility depend, he Pacha has re-
5renchsd, as far as possible, the usual militia
nv establishment He d~iIuirishes the nem-
Der ct his troops, lessons their pay, winks at
heir disorders and discipline is no more.
Were 4 foreign war now to happen, W ere the
Russians toappear again in Syria, as in the
year l772, who would defend that province
for the Sultan?
Il sometimes happenettat the Pachas, VINO
are SuiSans IN their provinces, have personal
ha5reds against each o,he:. Togratifv these,
'heY aVah themselves of their power, and
wage secret or open war, the ruinous conse-
quences or whichar sure to be felt b. the sub
jects Ct the Sultan.
1t also happens that these Pachas are
tempted TO appropriate to themselves the
power Of which they are the deposi- arie +.
lhe Pore foreseeing this, endeavours to pro-
VIde against their detection, bv various
meas. The e~mplovmen-s are divided, aud
paricuiar officers maintained In the castles of
lhe cap''als, as A. Alepr", DaTarcus, and
ir'Poll but should a foreign enemy appear,
what benefit would result from this division ;
Every three months capidi.s are sent. who
keep The Pachas in alarm, on account OF the
secret oruers Of which thew are The bearers g.
but not untrequcniy the Pacnas, as cunning
as themselves, get rid Of these troublesome
spies. This Porte, in short. of.en chances
the residence Of the Pachas, that rhev NAV
not have time to form connexions I'm The
country ; but rs all the consequences of \ baj
form OF government have a mischievous ten
dency, the Fachas, uncertain OF tomorrow.
'r''t a'etr provinces as mere transient pos
sessions, aud take care 20 make no improve
ment for the benefit of their successors. On
the contrary, the hasten TO exhaust them of
the produce, and to reap in one dav. Il nc..
s!eie' the truit Of many wears. Il IS
true, these irregularities, every now ard
then, are punished b. the bowstrinr. one ~
the pfacates CT the Pore which bee, dis
pays the %spiritof his government. when
a Tacha haslaid waste = pr1vinc, when
IN consequence OF repeated lcss Of tyranny.
the etarncurs ct the people have reached
C~'ns'annnople, woe be unso him Il he be
""hoAf@ protector, orsraring Of his money !
A' ,ht end OF the year, / Capidii arrives
producing the frman of p~foragI.;on: .o-,e-
times bringing with kim 9 second or ;bird
tan, o. some o'her new mark of favour ..j,,r
whilst the Pacha IS crlebra iuu7 fes,i,,sl =,
the occasion, an order appears fer his deno.
sition, then ano.her for his ev;Ic. and IRE.
qnen'iy q kat-sherif for his head. TIL, "a.
teiSioie reason IS always for having oDDres-
sed the subjects Of the SULTAN hnt tbe
f"r'e, by taking possession 81 he wealth of
we fft'r''oner and restoring nothing % the
people, leaves sufficient room 70 rh;n.c thar
the government is Gar from disapproyjnr \
sysiem Of robbery and pldnder which II 6n1ds
50 Pr'htabie. Every day, therefore, affords
rem examples OF oppressive ana rebelliors
f"claS ana II none Of them have hitherto
succeeded IN forming a stable and inIepen-
cent government, it is less owing TO these
wise measures OF the Diyan, and the viel-
lance Of the Capidiis is, than their own ia1o.
rance in the art Of governing. Tn e.,
'hoSc moral means are never euuloyed.
which, IN the hands of able legislators. haze
frequently raised powerful states ON Gound,.
tiohs al irst extremely feeble. The pacbag
regard noihing but money nor has rerca-cd
experience been able TO make them sensible
th"t this, so lar from being the Jledgc of
uietr security, becomes the certain cause of
inner destruction. They are wholly devoted
toanlass'ng wealth, IS if friends were n b..
purchased. Asa, Pacha Of Damascus lef
eisht millions Of iivrss (above three hrndred
ana thirty thousand pounds(, and v,og he
tTayed by his Marlouk, and s;notherod !,
the bach We have seen what w.s the f,,e
OF ibralim Slbbar with his twenty millions
l~'iezzar is following the same conrs.. ami
WI end m he same way. Not one Of tbsr,
as ever thought # inspiring ami prom9tinr
biat d'sltteresfedlo love of the pE5lic werf,rs
winch IN Greece and Italy, nay, even i, uol.
and Switzerland, has enabled the l,vvsr
classes OF people to enter into a epccessf,t