Delaware journal. [volume] (Wilmington [Del.]) 1827-1832, 1828-05-02
FOREIGN.
TURKEY ArJD RUSSIA,

The military state of these countries is thus de-
scribed in Bells London Messenger.
On one side there is power, worn out and fee !
BILE despotism indeed, but larger in the extent of
territory than any Europe which has maintained
its station for near four centuries in one of the most
commanding positions in the world; whose integrity
has been admitted by all the other great Powers to
be essential to the general peace ready, by the ma
ture of its Government, to enter upon at short
notice, and furnished with all the fiscal, military
and naval establishments of monarchy of long
standing 1t is true, indeed, that the inhabitants of
the provinces of this extensive Empire on the con-
fines of Russia, are without any central authority,
without cavalry, artillery, magazines, hospitals or
military chests-whose force consists only of rude
undisciplined infantry, armed with an awkward long
musket, to which are added, according to the cir
cumstances of the individual, pistols, dagger, or
sword-ignorant of the of the bayonet, acknow-
lodging discipline, and more uninsructeh in war
as an art, than the Greeks of the heroic ages but
still naturally warlke, and enthusiastically attached
to their country. In addition to this weakness of
the Porte upon her frontier provinces, may be reck
oned the degeneracy of the present race of Turkish
soldiers in the districts best peoped and nearest
to the capital ;he ignorance and nexperence of their
commanders, often raised from situations the least
fitted to give military knowledge : the total want Of
subordinate staff officers, of officers of any kind
qualified tor the conduct of campaign !; their de-
fciency in any organized system Of supplies in the
field the corruption of the Government in every
graduation, and though last, not least the poverty,
Of the Porte which has long disabled it from sup
porting corps of Janissaries, greater than is
cessary for the garrisons of the empire thus leaving
: an army in the field to depend principally for its
numbers upon the followers of the provincial gov
ernors. If we add to this. the feudal and local mill
tia who, from ancient custom, are exempted IRON
keeping the field between November and May; and
who never fail to return home in the winter. We
j. have picture of the military strength of Turkey
And hence, ithas occurred that for many years past
the Porte has been unable, except perhaps on thu
d northern frontier, where the principal garrsons
the Janissaries maintained to keep together
l. army of 10 900 men for more than six months, o
d even for shorter time, unless when plumber wa
1t Immediately in view.
8. Whilst the Greeks, in the conduct of their wal
,e fare with Turkey, have displayed remarkabl
r quckness in adopting the improvements of Europea
or art and science, of which we have striking exam
pie in the use they have already made of fire ships
I'd the Turks, whose patriotism chiefly developes tse
he in bgotry and the persecution of all other religion
1t and whose Government, however DESTROYS, has a
as ways found it impossible to give the necessary Ell
b. enlargement and protection to Europeans wlir
n to assist them with their military skill, is left to
n own exertions, and the precarious aid Of the Mu
IL suman Powers of Africa.
he Such is the condition of one of the conendir
n, Powers. But if we look at Russia. we behold Il
W. strongest military empire which ever existed upt
n. the face of the earth empire decidedly nvine
d. Bile at home, and though not the most powerful
nd formidable assailant abroad from the imperfectt
is of her Commissarat, and the want of regular rev
st nue., yet still to be deemed an overwhelming enen
le- when opposed to the feeble race of Gilman. ]
as the north east the whole nation is one vast militia
- camp, and the Emperor Nicholas has now in arr
er not less perhaps than six hundred thousand soldiers
m all DESTROYS of distinguishing themselves in the iel
er both for the sake of plumber and promotion, and
tie on by Generals mot indeed of much ability and