Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1831-02-19

a
remains Of antiquity greatly disappointed oar ex-
pectations. Gibbon we set down as ''ronan-
cer.n San Sophia, in external appearance, is
decidedly inferior to the mosque o! the Sultan
Achmet and several Others A!thangh the late
events have infused into the character OF the
naughty OsmanIisa certain degree OF courtesy
towards foreigners hitherto unknown, We 'entur-
ed not to penetrate into the interior of anyof the
MOSQUES. Most travellers complain Ot an annoy
ance from the canine race. which infest the streets
of Constantinople. know not whether the COM
plexion of the times had infected these animals
but we certainly did not experience the annoy
ance which the complaints of all visitors to the
Ottoman capital had led Us to expect.
Every officer of the ship feeling the greatest
anxiety to Iionize this celebrated capital. was
obliged to take my turn of duty on board. and
thus lost two valuable days. On the morning OF
the fifth day, started with party onatnp up the
Bosphorus to Therapia, where the Sultan was
encanped with his favorite tactlcoeV Nothing
could surpass the loneliness OF the scenery on ell
Their side of the strait, The defences from the
city to the castles at the mouth are extremely Tor
midable, and had been lately strengthened, In eX-
pectation of an attempt on the part OF the us
slams. British squadron of similar force to Al
mIral Gray's would most certainly have made a
dash: he would have had the advantage OF strong
current, which Admiral Duckworth had to con-
tend against in forcing the Dardanelles. The
Turkish encampment with its varous-colored
tents had most picturesque appearance, Moth
ing could be more beautiful than the settle chosen
for it. We were unfortunately disappointed IN
getting glimpse of Mahmoud, whom we had
been led to expect we should have found eneag-
id IN his favorite occupation of manGvering the
tactiCOes.
There were assembled at Therapia at the mo-
ment of our visit several battallions OF IN
tantry. with some lancers and artillery; the ma
teriai of the latter agreeably surprised US. Upon
the whole the tacticOes, to an eye accustomed 10
the beauty of European troops, cut most sorry
figure. The firing was rapid and we'll concentrat-
ed. but in every other point they struck me as
miserabIy deficient. Nothing can we'll be more
ungracefu than the uniform these new troops.
MANY grave writers have attempted TO impute the
oppositson to the military reforms of the Sultan
to bigotted attachment to the ancient costumes;
for NV own part, am inclined to ascribe 1t to a
very different cause-to the existence o. that all
ruling passion. vanity. The Turks are people
passiOnately fond Of dress, and their standard OF
taste is certainly fixed at an elevated point.
With them. rank, privilege, taste, are all de-
signated bv the colour or cut OF a tarban. A more
dashine uniform would, am convinced, have
rendered the service more popular. What young
effend would exchange his graceful turban, rich
| " embroidered vest, scarlet pantaloons, and
cashmere girdle, with its richly mounted ''hand-
gar, for the red scull-cap and unmartial costume
| Of the tacticoes? Were an order issued from the
Horse Guards. conceived in the economical spirit
of Hume, to dress our guards ga la 1acfico
| Turgue," almost every officer in the brigade
would feel confident, sell out in disgust. The
dashing uniforms of some of our staf-oilicers ex-
cited the admiration of the young Turks, with
whom. as with our young dandies in the west,
there is magic in the glitter of an epaulette, and
music in the Jingle of a spur. Notwithstanding
their defective organization: these new troops be-
hayed extremely we'll in the field, and on several
occasions calamity charged the Russian infantry
at the point of the bayonct. There is much yet to
be effected. The Ottoman army has neither COM
missarait, hospital, or general staff; and they
have vet to acquire the two most difficult points
| of the military art-that OF directing, and the
still more difficult one of subsistlng large masses
We returned at late hour on board delighted
with our excursion.
We had one day left, and there was yet
grea deal to be seen; but the wonders both oil ma
ture and art, which enrich this celebrated CAPITAL
have been too often described to need repet-
ton. Alter pefaInUuidt'DS thc udLdaiS anu !" "a
eptines, tired with our walk, we entered Turk
ish cafe. A cate Turkue has nothing in common
with similar establishments in Europe but the
name They are circular buildings, generally
with porch. Elevated tables are ranged along
the sides, covered with carpets or mats; on which
the Turks sit smoakng, or slipping their coffee
We were sufficiently masters Of the Turkish Ian
guage to order some cups Of. in Turkey, this de-
licious beverage, and its usual accompaniment
the pipe. One of our party preferred cigar.
which he was proceeding to ignite. when he was
politely presented with small amber tube by an
officer of tacticoes seated near US. The Turks
votaries as they are Of tobacco, never allow It's
aromatic leaf to come n contact with their lips.
Our copanion. in return, handed his cigar-case
to the officer, who helped himself. returning, to
our astonishment his acknowledgements in very
good French. Our new acquaintance, we found,
had been for some time an attache to the Turkish
embassy at Paris. He had only returned to the
capital few days before from ChumIa. Contrast
ed with former periods. he said, every thing wore
an air of the deepest gloom at Constantinople.-
We ventured to ask his opinion as to the probable
.k.< ,,,onId atta,d Fl. a xtapciyo cvstem nf