Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1828-04-19

;iiind oi any impartial person, who will take
the trouble 20 consider them, with the aid of
Il good map before him.
CaP'"Te of Ceastantipoplc By tee YHihS.
Cne OF me most interesting AMI sfacing chapters
Va Hipo0ns teonc Sud Fiil OF the Roueu Etnprr is
tiat 10 ~hIch the historian narrat,s The f
inc see ard capture of the capital cf Inc eastern EN-
IRE o. 'ac urHs rnder the command Of Mahon:e the
III me ever memorable year 1853. The Whole
OF the chapter is too oo Tor Insertion in or cov,ns
nut IN" following extracts viii be read with interest
al the present period. when Coast al:inonl IL menac
! by the great powers Of Europe.
Alter q siege Of forty davS,r' saws the his
| torian, "thc fate Of Constantinopie could no
longer be avcrted. The dininutive garrison
Was exhausted by a double attack; the ioyti-
fications, which had stood for ares against
hostile violence, were dismantled en- al SIDES
ny the Ottoman cannon; many breaches
were opened; and near the gate of ST. Ro-
lnanus, four towers had been loyeiIcd with the
| ground.
several days Wcrc employed BY the Sui
tan III the preparations for the assault; and
respite was granted by his ftvoritee science of
astrology. which had fixed on the goth of
May, ~ the fortunate ard fatal hour. On
the evening OF tho 9th ne issued ,is final er
| dcrs; assembled ia his presence the military
chiefs: and disposed hi; heral,is through the
camp TO proclaim the duty, and the motives
OF the pcfilous enterprise. In this lloly war
iirc, fhe bioslcms were exnertcd 20 purif,
their minds with PRAYER, their be,,ica witt,
seven ahutions, and to abstain from feed till
the close ct the ensuing day. a crowd Of
defVishes visited tic tents, 10 inst;i the desire
OF lnartyrdom, and the assurance Of spending
an immortal youth, amidst the rivers and
gardens ot paradise and in the embraces af
black eyed virgins. Yet -Iahonet prinei-
paily trusted to the efficacy Of TEMPORAL and
visible rewards. \ double pay was pronlis-
Ed to the victorious trocps-'Fhe city and
the huildngs,' said Mahomct, sare mine: but
resign to your valor the captves and the
spoil, the treasures Of gold and beauty: be
rich and be happy. Many are the pyovin-
ces CT my empire: the intrepid soldier who
iirst aScends the walls of Constantinonle.
shall be rewarded with the fsrest and most
wealthy; and me gratitude shall accumulate
MS hoaors and fortunes above the measure
OF ms own hopes. potent motives diff
fused among tho Turks general ardor. re-
e;lfdiess OF ilic, and impatient for action the
camp re-eciloed with the MosIems' shout of
God is God. there is but enc God. and Ma.
honiet IS the apostle of Cod and the sea
and the land, from Galata to the seven tow.
ers, were Illuminated by the blaze of their
nocturnal fires
''ln the confusion of darkness. an assail
ant may sometimes succeed; but III his GREAT
and general attack tie military u<ion,auf
and astrological knowledge of MaIyon3ot ad-
| V'Sed ham to expect TIC morning. tho ,nen,c.
rab'e tIrenty-ninth Of Nav, in the fourteen
hundred and fifty -ti,!rd wear of the Christian
era. The preceding night had been stren,,-
ousiy employed; the troops the cannon. ang
the tascines we're advaDcedtc the c,!.-e Of The
ditch, which in many pa-fs presented q
smooth and level passage to tiic beach: and
ms tour5corc G&llcys almost touched with the
prows and their scaling ladders. The less do
tens,5lc wall Of The harbour 1t dar break.
without he customary siCnal of The rn0rrin,r
gun, the turks assaulted the city by sea ana
lana; and the smiI!tude Of Il twisted thread
has been applied 10 the closeness and con
tInulty Of their attack. Tho foremost ranks
consisted Of the refuse OF fha host. Il yoIr,nta-
~ crowd, who fought Without order or com
H1and, Of age OF childhood. Of tcass.nts and
Migrants, and Of all who had Joined the camp
III Tie bii0d hope Of pldndcr and rnariyrdou
Inc common impulse drove Thorn EDWARDS
TO the wall; the most audacinus 10 climb
were instantly prcci1!t&tci; ard not \ dart,
Tot bullet cf the Christians was idly Wa.
ted on the accumulated tirong. But their
strength and ammunition was exhausted III
fns laborious defence; the ditch was filled
with dead bodies; they supported the foot
steps Of t'cir companions: and Of this devo-
cd vanguard thcTdeatIiwas more scrviceablc
tlan their life. Under, their respective bash
avs ana sanJaks, the troops of ADatola and
h"oanla were successfully led to the
charge; their progress was various and doubt
ju'; but after a conflict Of two hours, the
'Tfeeks still maintained ard improved their
advantage; and voice of the emperor was
neaTd encouraging his soldiers to achieve,
~ a last effort, the delverance Of their coun-
"y' In that fatal moment, the Janizarries
arose arose fresh aud vigorous, and inyincibIc.
I no sultan Himself on horscbacE, with an
ron mace liz his hand, was the spectator and
Judge of their yalor: he vas surrounded bv
ten thousand Of his own domestic troops.
whom lie reserved for the decisive occasion;
ana inc tide of battle was directed and I'M
PEELED by his voice and eve. His numerous