The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1827-11-28
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CONSTANTINOPLE.

As this great city is but little known to the
American public we take great pleasure in ex-
tracing from The Missionary Herald for Noy
| an account of this city, given by Professor
King Of Amherst College, who has lately re-
turned from his missionary travels in the East
.NeaoJa'yp0rt Herald
by three great evils Constantinople is
often dlsquieted the plague, the fire, and
the SUord. There had been several in
stances of the plague just before my ar
rival, and five or six days after my departure.
was informed by letters, that two hundred
a day were carried off by it. The fear of
1t was manifest while | was there. from the
continual care that was taken by the Franks
to avoid touching those who passed them
IN the streets. The sword was making its
ravages, and a stiffness reigned in the
streets OF Byzantium as if half it's nhabi-
tants were slain. And since my departure
several thousand houses have been DESTROY
ed by the flames. Thus the Almighty Wis
It's with his judgments the fair city, which,
ike kome, is said to stand on seven hills.
viewed II from the tower of Pera, but
could not trace with my eye the seven hills
mentioned. The prospect from the tower
Is enchanting. Hills and valleys covered
with the habitations of 600,OOO souls: the
mighty domes and lofty minarets of
mosques; the palace of the Sultan, encir-
cleo with gardens, beautiful as Eden: the
waters OF the BosphoruS and the sea of
Marmora, dividing the continents of Eu-
rope and Asia, and whitened with sails :
ana lo1ty mountains, among which is Olym-
pus, with everlasting SHOWS upon his hoary
head all combine to present view per-
maps unequalled for beauty and grandeur
IN any part of the world
According to the estimate given me by a
very intelligent Greek at Constantinople,
1t contains about the number of inhabitants
above mentioned. OF these 10000 are
Greeks, lUU,OO0 Armenians, and 10000
Jews. The Greeks have 4S churches.
There may be 300 or 400 Turkish mosques.
during nay stay in the city. | visited the
patriarch OF Constantinople, and the patri-
arch OF Jerusalem who resides there; con
veFseu with several of the priests, and vis-
lieu IN several Greek families, anon
whom met with the same kind reception,
as among the Greeks III Egypt, Palestine,
Syria, ana Asia Minor
len or twelve days before my arrival.
the patriarch Of Constantinople received
as was told, an order from the Porte to
command the people under his care not to
have any intercourse with the Franks
AS the order of Janizaries was abolish
ed, could not avail myself of the guard
which strangers had before been accus-
toned to have, IN walking about the city.
With a native Christian for guide, Wis
tied the principal bazars of Byzantium, the
Hippodrome, and the Burnt Pillar, passed
by the mosque Of st. Saphia, the Sublime
Porte, and the Divan, without receiving
the slightest insult. Great stiffness reign
ed throughout the city, though armed men
and soldiers were marching in every direc-
ton. Before the Grand Signor's palace. |
saw several bodies of Janizaries, who had
just been beheaded. At the present time
no stranger is permitted to enter the
mosque of St. Sapha, which | was very
DESTROYS of seeing.
After visiting Byzantium, took boat
and rowed up the Bosphorus, till | came in
sight of the Black Sea. On each side Of
tho Bcsphorus, are numerous villages, in