The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1828-07-02
STATISTICS OF TURKEY.

substantive, it means g governor"
The DivGn. This State-Council meets
twice a week, in the Emperor's palace, on
Sundays and Thursdays. The Grand Vizier
is the presiding officer: the six Vizlers of
the bench, the Tssterdar or High Treasurer,
the REFS Effendi, the Commissioners of the
Exchcquer, and the military leaders 1.-THE
Agas) compose the Divan. The Sultan
does not enter the room, but from an adloin-
ing chamber he hears all that passes.
On great occasions General Council is
convened; all the leading persons of the
empire are summoned-the Clergy, the Mil
itary and other officers, and even the old
andmost experienced soldiers, attend. Such
asDivan is called Ajax Divani."
The Grand Vi-ier. This officer receives
his appointment from the Sultan. He has
the care of the whole empire he manages
the revenue, administers Justice (hoth IN
civil and criminal affairs and commands
the armies. Upon his appointment, the Sui
tan puts into his hands the seal of the en-
pire, which is the badge of his office, and
which he always wears.on his,breast. His
income amounts to six hundred thousand
dollars a year, exclusive of presents and
other perquisites.
Tie Viziers or the Bench are styled Bas-
haws of three horse tails-three horse-tails
being carried before them when they march.
Begler-beg. A Begler-heg Is Nlceroy
with several provinces under his command.
Pachas. A Pacha (Bashawl is Cover
nor under Begler-beg Sangiac IS
Deputy Governor.
The Refs Efcndi is the Lord Chancellor
and Secretary Of State the name signifies
"chief of the writer's"
The T5stsrdar is the High Treasurer
The Public Treasury is never touched even
by the Sultan, except in cases of the utmost
emergency. The Sultan has his Private
Treasury, which he uses at will Some
idea may be formed of the enormous wealth
in the Public Treasury, which has been &C
cumulating under forty Sultans from a
statement of Prince Cantemir. He says
that, in his time, thirteen millions and a halt
of rix dollars were annually returned to the
two Treasures.
The Mutt is the Chief Ecclesiastic. His
name signifies an exponnder of the law
he is consulted on all emergencies. Should
he commit treason, he is punished in Curl
GUS manner: he is put into a mortar in one
of the Seven Towers, and there the law-ex-
FOUNDER is pounded to death. Such a pun
lSuuleuL Has llOI bCC4l AA1AiSISu SlliOS IhC
reign of Amurath ~.
.MuSSulman. This term is a corruption
of Moslemim," which signifies "persons
protesting the doctrine of Mahomet"
The horse-tails. Three horse-tails, sur
mounted by golden ball, form the military
ensign of the Ottomans. It's origin was as
follows: One of their Generals was at a
loss how to rally his men their standards
l.. l.
cut off horses tail, and elevated it on the
point of a spear. His troops renewed the
hight. ana came OH cOuquUIUIs.
The Sublime Porte Constantinople is
styled "HThe Sublime Porte-the Porte OF
justice, majesty, and felicity" There have
been various disputes about the origin OF
this appellation. Payne, an eminent geog-
rapher of the last century. says that it is
derived from the magnificent gate built by
Alahomet Ii. at the principal entrance of the
Seraglio.
ConStGntiRople. 1t is wonderful how little
is generally known with regard to this mag
nifcent city. Its situation is the most de-
lightful in the world. With harbor afford
ing room for thousand ships-with the
Eurine ON the East, the natural current of
the wealth of Asia is through the Bospho-
rus /; and with .Mormord on its South and
West, the productions of Arabia, Egypt and
Europe, are at the command of its com
merce. In the hands of a commercial ma
ton, it would soon become the centre of
the commercial world. II is encompassed
by walls, which have twenty-five gates
six towards the land, six along the port and
ten on the .Mdrmord these have stairs and
landing places.
Constantine pie, like Rome, is an "urbs
septicollis." It's seven hills rise from the
shore in the form Of an amphitheatre gar
dens, cypress groves, palaces and mosques,
rise one above the other, and present view
worthy of all admiration. 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 cannon, level
with the water, and guarding the entrance
of the port and the Seraglio.
The SerGgtiO. This word signifies I" a
palace" 1t is a collection of palaces,
mile and a half in compass, enclosed by a
strong wall, on which are several watch
towers, where guard is kept by night and
day. The principal gate is of marble, and
is called the Porte. The gardens are very
extensive the buildings are of white stone,
are crowned with gilded turrets and spires,
and shining in surprising splendor.
81. Sophia. The Church of st. Sophia
Divine Wisdom) was built by Justinian, in
the 9th century. The dome is lib feet in
diameter, resting on arches, supported by
immense marble pillars, and the staircase
and pavement are also marble. Here is the
tomb Of the Emperor Constantine.
The Exchanges are splendid buildings,
and the richest and rarest productions Of
the East are daily sold in them, in large
quantities. Add to these the numerous
mosques, the thirty churches of the Greeks,
and those of the Armenians, the many pri-
Yate nalaces and nnhlic huldinrs and Won