Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1828-06-26
From The Nstc York Courier.
STATISTICS OF TURKEY.


branches of Tar!ar and NoguL The word
0Ji,y.'" an adjective, signifies Sublime AMI
nre-eminent-as a substantive, ii means "a
governor" :,
IYE DvAN.-This State Council meets
twice 4 week in the Empfror's palace, On
Snndtys and Thursdays The Grand Fizier
i the nscsid,rp officer, the six Viziers of the
bench, the Tcsterdar, OF High Treasurer, the
RriS- Ehendi, the Commissioners oil the Tx
ca.quer, and the military leaders (the Agas)
comnc,r the Diyan. The Sui, al does not en-
ter the room, out from an adjoining chamber
be hears AL that passes.
On great occasions a General Council is
convened; all the leading persons Of the en-
pire are summoned the Clergy, the Military,
and other officers, and even the old and most
,xocr,enced soldiers attend. Such Divan is
called All k Divani"
THE GRAND VIzlER.-This officer receives
his appointm"Es from the Sultan. lie has the
care of the whole empire, he manages the rese-
nue., administers JUS ICE, Goth In civil and crl
minal aff,irs) and commands the Armies.
Upon his appointment, the Sultan puts into
his hands the seal OF he empire, which is the
badge Of his Office and which he always wears
on his breast. his income amounts to six hun
dred thousand dollars year, exclusive OF pre-
sents and other per9oisies.
he. ' iZterS on ihG DthCu are SNSitN pa
shaws Of three -tais-three horse.,ails be-
ing carried before them Wien they march.
Begler>bsp.-A Beglcr>heg is VicerSy with
several Provinces under his command.
Pachas.--A Paoua <Bashaw) is a Governor
under Begler-hcg, Sangiac is deputy
Governor.
The REFS. Eff ndi is the Lordachauceilor and
Secretary Of State, the name .iguihes "chi,f Of
the writer's"
The Trste.dari is ne High Treasurer. The
Public Treasury is never touched, even by the
Sultan, except in cases of the utmost emergen-
cy. The Sultan has his Piva'e Treasury,
which he uses at will. Some idea may be
formed of The enc nous wealth IN the Pubic
Treasury, which has been accommodating under
forty Sultsns, from a statement oil Prince
CANrEMlR. lie SAYS that, IL, MS time, thirteen
millions and hall of rix dollars were annually
returned to the two Treasures.
The Mufi is the Chief Ecclesiaslic. His
name signifies ian eXpounder Of the law" he
is consulted. on all emergencies. Should he
complit treason, he is punished in : curious
manner, he is put INFO mortar, In one OF the
Seven Towers, and there the law>expounder is
pounded to death. Such a punishment has
not been IuA ted since the reign Of AMwRATH
w.
Nussulman. This term is corruption OF
"NIoslemiur," which signifies 'persons profess
ing the doctrine Of MahomeI.'
The Horse tails.-Tn1ee horse-tails, sur
nuun.cd by golden ball. form The military
eusign Of the 0 ,omans. Its origin was as
follows: One Gr their Generals was at a loss
how 10 rally his men, their Standards having
been lostin a fierce oorhct. He cut off .
horses till, and elrva;cd i, on he point of a
smear lis troops renewed the EghI, and came
off conquer ors.
The Sublime Porre.-Consta ntinople is styl-
ed "the Sublime Pore, the Pore Of justice,
majesty. and felicity" There have been vari
Gus disputes sbour the origin of tits appella-
ton. Payas, an eminent geosrapher Of the
last century, says tina; il is derived from the
magnificent gate built by Afahomsi H. 81 the
principal entrance Of the S"ragio.
Constan,inoplc.--Iti is Wonderful how little
is eeuerally known with regard to this magnif-
cent city. Its situation is tae most delightful
in the world. With a hatbor affnrding room
for thousand ships, with The Euxine on its
East, the natural 4rrsnt Of the wealth of Asia
is through the BOsphorus; and win Marmora
on its South and Vest, the productions Of A
rabia, Egypt, and Europe, are at the command
of its commerce. In the hands Of CONNER
cial nation, il would soon become the centre OF
the commercial world. II is encompassed by
walls, which have twenty-five gates, six to-
wards the land, six along ;he port, and ten on
the Marmora, these have stairs and landing
places.
Constan,inople, like Rome, is an "urbs sep
,icollis" Its seven hills rise from the shore in
Me form Of an Amphi,heatre; gardens, cypress
groves, palaces, and mosques, riSe one above
the other, aud presen; a view worthy Of all id.
miration. The castle Of the Seven Towers is
used as an honorable prison. A square tower
stands in the sea, memorable as the prison Of
Belisarius Near this are great many can
nov, level with the water, and guarding the
entrance Of the port and The Seraglio.
The Seraglio. This word signifies "a pa.
lace" II is a collection of palaces, mile and
half in compass, enclosed by a strong wall,
on which are several wa,ch-towers, where
guards kept by night and day. The princi-
oaI gate is Of marble, and is called The Porte.
re gardens ara very extensive, the buildings