Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1836-05-20

Of music, which her sweet harp has awaken
ed. rest upon the ear; we continue to see
and TO hear, and to feel, till our senses are
called away to the enjoyment Of new beau
| Ties, and our hearts delighted with fresh
images.
THE MASSACRE OF THE JANIZARlES.
The following is from very interesting work
now 10 press. by the author Of" Ship and Shore"
entitled "A Visit to Constantinople."
The present feeble and distracted condi-
ton Of the Turkish Empire has not result,
ed, as many have been led to suppose, from
the sudden destruction Of the Janizaries.
Had that body retained the patriot ism and
vigor which once animated and nerved
them, their absence might truly be deplored
BY every honest Osmanie. But they had
ceased to possess these commendable attri-
butes they had become insoent and re.
fractory-a terror 10 the throne, and TO the
hearth of the quiet citizen. Yet there was
an unsparing precipitancv in their fate,that
must awaken sentiments of commisseration.
Nor can we help feeling bewildering re.
spect for the daring spirit that flashed thro'
their despair.
They had long stood the firm refuge and
defence Of the Empire they had impress
ed the terror OF their arms upon the dynas.
ties of Christendom they had won thou.
nd victories, and as often dictated the
conditions Of peace; they had displaced
viziers, disposed sultans, and set aside the
pashas of the provinces at will they had
recently consigned Selim to a bloody
shroud, and given the present monarch 10
understand, that he owed his involability
to the simple fact of his being the last Of
the Gilman line of an age sufficient 10
reign. Occupying this position, and sus-
tanned by these proud recollections, they
we're naturally intolerant Of any innova.
lions, that infringed upon their privileges or
diMin shed their consideration. Mahmoud
saw clearly that he must raise the quick
hand Of ruin against them, while he had
the power, or submit TO become the passive
instrument oftheir caprice. He preferred
his own life and independence to their
domineering sway; and planned their de.
struction with true Machiavelen policy.
lie thinned their ranks by sending them. in
small dc,achments, into the Morea-expe
dltions in which they were intentionally
unsupported, and from which they never
returned. To the remainder he addressed
himself in different form. To the avari-
cious. he proffered gold to the ambitious,
preferment to the refractory, he gave the
bows,ring ill., by these well adapted de.
vices, the commander.in chief, and NUN.
Der of the master spirits of the order, were
brought firmly into his Interests. TIE
fetva for the organization Of new and dis
tinct army, now made its appearance !; and
produced the expected result. The Jani
zaries instantly rose against il, denouncing
| the spirit Of it's provisions, and demanding
the heads OF those who had counselled their
sovereign TO this disrespec:ful act; and
threatening, in the event Of its not being
immediately rescinded, to force the gate Of
the seraglio.
But Mahmoud was prepared for this
alarming issue. The forces which he had
been secretly collecting in anticipation Of
this event, now surrounded the Etmedian,
in which the Janizares were assembled
An order for the death Of the insurgents,
under the sanction of the Ulema, was is
sued the standard of the prophet unfurlcd
from the dome Of The imperial mosque, and
all faithful Musslemen called upon TO sup
port it's sacred cause against the violence
Of iinpiety and treason. The Jannizaries
soon saw that their condition was hopeless,
their mistake irretrievable yet they de-
terlnined not to disgrace the memory Of
their fathers by airy relenting tears, or un-
availing applications. They forced their
way over many Of their dead companions
to their barracks, where they shut them
selves up, sternlv resolved TO abide the
terrible issue. From this retreat they
could not be forced; and at evening orders
were given to fire their last refuge. The
burning pile sent up its fitful flashes through
the long night; aud the next sun dawned
upon mouldering mass OF embers, bones
and blood Those who had escaped the
tumult and carnsge Of the Etmedian, were
hunted down in every section, street, ant
alley of the city. They were betrayed
overwhelmed, cut to pieces; and their man
glcd bodies cast into the Bosphorus, till thai
mighty current became literally choaked
with the dead.
Thus persisted in a day one of the mos
formidable orders Of men known to this, oil
any other age, they numbered at the time
of their massacre July, I826l 10000
their achievements ore interviewer with
the highest splendo ur ofthe Ottoman name
Their watch fires were kindled from the
mountains Of Asia 10 the centre OF Europe
and their war song seems still to echo from
every torrent and steep. Their chlvalric
valsr, their unshrinking hardihood, and
contempt OF death, will long disturb The
sober pen Of history, and furnish themes
around which the spirit Of poetry will how
er and catch the romance of its wildes
flights.
THE WHITE INDIANS.