The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1820-06-15
MISCELLANY.
TURKEY.

The following letter from the Rev. Mr.. Fisk
with whom many Of our readers are personally
acquainted, contains the latest intelligence re-.
ceived from him since his arrival in Turkey, in
Asia. II would appear from il that deplorable
degree Of moral gloom ovsrspreads the land to
which his Missionary excursion has led him, and
in which, from variety of circumstances, we
should have hoped that brighter prospects might
have been presented. Smyrna, from whence Mr.
Fisk dates his letter. 10 one Of the richest cities in
the Levant, an important sea port, the fendez-
vous of merchants ON all parts Of the world, and
the whole town Is represented as - . continual
fair, where nothing is wanted for clothing, susie
nance or pleasure, as the best commodities Of Eu-
rope and Asia are brought here and vended at
cheap rates" The city is recorded to contain
" Is 900 Turks, 5000 Greeks, and 1000 Jews
besides Armenians, Franks and Others" The
Turks have 10 mosques, the Greeks two chur-
ches, and the Jews eight synasogues, the Arme-
mans one chur h, and the Latns three converts .
Smyrna is eight days journey from Constanti-
nopls, and a number Of christians Of all nations,
and languages, are said to dwell there, and the
christian religion has been alledged to " fiourish
there more than in any Of the ancient churches
Of Asia Minor" and il such be the fact, il is
greatly to be apprehended from Mr.. Fisk's let
ter that its state in that quarter Of the world ia
such As to excite the COMMUNICATION Of consider
al0 mnuss MT. We OsneVe, designs 10
make jerusalem which is still "trodden down
by the Gentiles," the theatre Of his missionary
abors for some time to come.
The following letter was addressed rather to
the members Of Social Lodge, Of this place, than
to any individual, as from that body Mr.. Fisk, we
have heard, received handsome donation in aid
Of his pous undertaking Georgia .4dreriiser.
Smyrna. FEB. 8, 1920.
w. SIR AND BRETHREN--It gives me
pleasure to address you from this land, so in.
lerestiDg to the historian, the poet and the
warrior. but especially TO the christian. II is
but a short time since my arrival, and have
not YET had time TO learn much OF the country.
Every thing, however, indicates to me, the
political, the literary, and, above all the re-
ligious wretchedness oftbe people. Here the
combined influence OF barbarous despotisn
and superstiious ignorance has been felt in
all lis desolaing and degrading force. II is
affecting 10 see the Jews, who have been the
means of the greatest religious blessings to the
world and the Greeks, who have stood fore
most in arts and in arms: now all held in a
degrading and protracted serviiude. This is
! the land Of darkness and disorder. There is
not such thing as a newspaper or periodi-
cal work OF any sort published in all Turkey.
Female education is scarcely thought Of
Many Turks and others have no education al
all The Greeks have some schools in which
their sons are taught merely the first rudiments
OF learning, seldom any thing more.
Such is The despoism OF the supreme and
the subordinate governments that private pro-
perty is very insecure, and there are few in.
due ement, to enterprise and industry
Could the benign influence of unadulterated
christianity be felt here, who can estimate the
happy effects which would result from il /?
You will rejoice with me that the prospect
increases. Among other methods adopted TO
effect this, Twill mention particularly Bible