Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1821-11-03
From The Neu. York Commercial ddoe-
tISGr.
TURKISH EMPIRE.

inohS ZIG most Interesting PheuoineId Ill
the history Of modern Europe. Under
any circumstances, we could not behold
with indifference people which seemed
to spring at once, from nothing, to the
summit OF emLire--whose power was eX.
tended over the classic regions Of the
east, in all the rigor of barbarous and un-
relenting despotism, and which, distin
guished from the rest Of Europe by the
character of its religion, its laws, its man
mes and it's customs. has stood an isolated
monument OF the energy OF superstitious
enthusiasm. The Turks are descended
from Tartar horde, who emigrated from
the countries bordering on the Caspian
sea, about the year $50, and who, for sew
eral centuries after interfered, with de-
cisive effect, in the contests and revou-
tions of the Saracen Asiatic States. 9th
man, the chief of the Oguzian Tartars, is
reckoned the real loun der Of the Turkish
empire. He succeeded his father in 1859,
and his dominions were then confined to
the lordship OF Siguta, in Bithynia, and
small tract OF ad Jonlng territory. But
the good conduct of Gilman, and the
bravery and zeal OF his followers, enabled
him greatly to extend the narrow limits
OF his paternal inheritance, and to BE-
queath the whole Of Bithynia and Cappa-
docIa to his son and successor From this
period the tide of Turkish conquest be-
gan to roll forward with force that could
not be checked by the feeble resistance of
the GREEKS. In 1886, the Ottoman troops
first obi aimed footing in Europe; and in
little more than century after, Nl55.)
Mahozed ii. sword in hand, entered
Constan.inOpie, the capital of the Greek
empire. Se!m, tI.s grandson Of Mahom-
ct, added Syria and Egypt to the domln.
ions Of his ancestors; and Solyman the
Magnificent, the co'emporary OF the En-
peror of Charles V, and the most accom-
plished of all the Ottoman Princes, con-
quered the greater part of Hungary, and
in ne East extended his way to the Eu-
pirates. At this period the Turkish was
uuqueStionably the most powerful empire
in the world. But even then 1t had not
reached its greatest height. SoIyman
was succeeded by other able princes, and
the Ottoman arms continued to retain
,neir ascendancy over those of Christen.
dom, until the famous John Sobleski,
King OF Poland, forced them. in 1855, to
raise The siege OF Vienna. This marx ed
The era Of their decline. For while they
continued to oppose the Austrians and
ilungarians with doubtful fortune, and
with various success; bot the victories Of
Prince Z gene gave decisive superiori-
ty to ths Christians. From this blow
they never recovered; their empire con-
tinued ever since to fall, like star which
shoots downwards, through tire expanse
of the heavens; until az last their power
seems totteIing on the very verge of ami
hilation.
The Turks, like their Tartar ances-
tors, are naturally brave, patient, and
hardy race. They were early Injured 70
habits OF pillage and of blood; aud after
embracing the Mahometan faith, they
found in the las of the prophet, not Ii
cense only bu. ccmaioad to desolate the
world, and 70 propagate their RELY ion and
their empire by violence The peculiar
tenets and leading doctrines Of the Koran
harmonlsed in a particular manner with
the ferocious, ignorant, and supcrstitous
minds of the Turks who early became the
most Jealous apostles of religion, of
which implicit faith and uncomfortable
energy are the vital principles Their
f,natlcism knew no bounds. They liter
ally believed that the sword was the KEY
of heaven and Of nell; and that to fall
lighting in defence of the true faith, was
the most glorious of deathJ, and was &C
companied with the largest portion of eter
nal felicity Firm and unshaken 6eliev
ers in the doctrine of predestination--as
sured that no caution could avert, and that
no dangers could possibly accelerate their
inevitable destiny--they met their enc
mics without fear or apprehension.
To the desperate eLergies which would
be exerted by principles like these, wiel.
ded too by succession OF Sul;ans. dis
tinsuished for various and consummate
ability. the Greeks had nothing to oppose
but dlspirited troops, and generals equal
" destitute Of skill and capacity. The
total defeat of Bajazet, the grandson of
Gilman, by Timour, in li0s, presented an
opportunity which, had it been rightly
improved, might have enabled the Greeks
to expel the Turks from Europe. But
they were themselves totally incapable Of
protiting by this or any other event; and
the schism of the West, and the factions
and wars of France, England, and Ger
many. deprived them Of all foreign assist
snce, and enabled tie Turk. to repair