The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1825-06-13
CONSTANTlNOPLE.
BIZ O late T'rareiier.

II WIS CNtHiHS "HsH WI t1lfIFu
the basin of Constantinoplc ; aud il
was like "a sceue OF enChantmcnt.
The %seraglio, in part n range OF
whit, buildings, beautifully figured
in front with hanging roots of lead
colour, but without amy m~agnilcence
Of architecture, stood close 10 the
waters edge !: behind was n rich aud
moyclcss mass of cypress, varied by
the vast domainsof the palace, which
occasionally glittered through or
rose over it.-on the left was Scotia
ri, one of the suburbs on the Asiatie
side. with its white mosque and MS
we drew nearer the landing place,
large boats, with Turks of all ranks
and dresses, passed rapidly by.
We were not aware oil the tnmults
and massaCres Of which Constant.
nopic had been the scene. II Was
not safe in a European 10 pass thro'
rcra or Galata without Il january.
Gu landing Mt the latter suburb, we
catered coffee house !; but the Turks
with impressive gestures. warned us
away. Not only the soldiers, but all
the popnlacc, bore arms, the very
boys had their pistols and attaghan,
and had learned to dip their hands in
blood. Almost query day some
dreadful atrocity Mas committed.
There was no mercy for the
Greek, wherever discovered no
home could shelter him, save the pa
laccs OF the ambassadors. The win
dows of the lofty apartments where
VIC lodged looked down OH Il ccmetc-
ry, with its cypress grove. As soon
IA evening set in, the firing Of mus.
kcts and pistols commenced around
it, aud Was kept up nj intervals tliro'
the night ; this rendered it unsafe To
walk there after sunset. or the
Greek buyars, or noblemcn, scarce
" one now remains. Those who were
not slain in the talnul,s have fled
from their homes, and left ,heir IA
miles and possessions Ut the mercy
of the Turks.
The village Of Therapia on the
Bospliorus, was celebrated alike for
the beauty oil its women and the I'M
common loneliness nf its situation. II
was IA luxury TO Il stranger In the
cool %ofeyening To sec the Greek Ia
dies and princesses walking there,
with their raven hair scarcely oonli-
ned, and the rich veil turned aside,
their classic features and fine forms
harmonizing we'll Will, the exquisite
scenery around-But now every path
is silent there, and their palaces arc
deserted.
We set out carly one morning, a
party of six, to make the tour Of the
walls Of Constantinople. 1t was a
very sultry and cloudless day, bat a
ny fatigue would have been repaid
by such Il promenade. The country
in the immediate neighborhood it is
vain to attempt to describe. Ihes'
ancient walls have a most noble ant
venerable appearance ; they are Il
boat 40 feet high in many parts, will
their towers quite sllrouded with ivy
But it was in vain we attempted t
discover the place of the breach BY
which the Turks entered. The whole
circuit of the walls Is 10 miles; bu'
the line towards the sea il not so tot
ty. About a mile of, IN the plain II
the lofty mound where MahmoaC
planted his standard, and first behelt
the city ; aud transported with III
beauty, swore by the prophet ncse
to stir thence till il Vas his own. !
is directly opposite the gate of To
phcani, whence the unfortunate Con
stantinc made his last sally, and be
ing mortally wounded, was borne Il
"A shaded spot near by, where he es
pred.
There was an Armenian coffee
house at this place, outside the wall
we entered ii, and soon felt the real
ity of oriental luxury. When cx'
lIaustcd by heat and fatigue to re
cline on soft cushions by the side o
a fountain, to dink Arabian coffee %
shcrbet, and take the Argille, wherl
the smol c, after passing through
vase of water, comes cooled through
n soft and curling tube to the mouth
all this acts on the senses with
powerful charm. We alterward
came to the ruins of Il small Grecl
church lately destroyed, that ha'
been held in peculiar y%cneration OF
account Of some sacred fish prescry
ed there in a pool with iniininc care
, At the sturmlng OF the city by Mall
, moud, the wall near which thl