The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1838-10-10

pected, surprising, and unhcsrd Of effort
h'led the bcsicged with wonder, aslonlsh-
'nen', aud siupor; percelslDg that they
were now exposed to the full FIRE of the
enemy's cannon on that side Of the city,
they determined to man their feet that they
might attack the salcys, and cnhc. destroy
them with arms or with fire. The Greeks
rndeavored To conceal their design that
hey might surprise the enemy, bat the
Turks had perceived their intention, uId
were prepared for the attack. Both sides
bought bravely, the Greeks with more bold
ness than good fortune, not bcing able 10
overcome the superior force of the enetnt.
A Grecinn galley aud Venetian vessel
were both sunk, aud NIL on board, that had
not been drowned in their own blood, per.
lshed IN The water, under the eyes of the
Emperor. Constantine mounted his horse,
nnd rode from post to post to animate ihe
defenders, hui his efforts were useless, in
the decline of empires both princes and
people are seldom celebrated for their mill
inry prowess, while Mahomci, on The con
Wary, impc'"ous, aud distinguished for his
pers""n vnlour, melted the ardour of his
'a",znr'es hy his interchangeable ,iyour ~
WORKING with hs own hands. Alternately
he employed threats and PROMISES, and led
"n IN person his soldiers In the breach.
The hopes of the Ouomans increased DALI
while the confidence Of the Christians, for
want OF necessary assistance, as yslbly de-
clineJi
The Greeks held out f.r mouth. m
hopes TINT the assistance of men and arms
which they were expecting would arrive,
hut IN this expectation they were disap-
pointed. The Ouomnn leader, To animate
hIs soldiers with greater visor, proclni.ned
through h's camp That hc would give ihcn
the sacking of The city for three days. Il
is impossible To express the effee, TINT This
proclamation produced. The Turkish sol
dIcrs performed extraordinary acts of brave
y. They fought all nichl by The light of
lires, and all day amid the darkness Of thu
caunonade, and confidently sung before
l'and the triumph of victory. by order of
the Muiii, solemn fast was observed
throughout tho whole army, and wlii' sG
much sIrictness was the command obeyed,
that for an cnure day not one soldier at
tempted TO taste food. Afterwards, they pre-
pared their macbincs, their sealing lndders,
their sacke, aud all kinds of arms tlrat were
necessary for a general assault. The
Christians within the city with professions
aud prayers implored the assistance Of hea.
ven, while The Emperor cndeavorcd 10 ex.
cne their courage for the defence Of their
their liberty, and their religion.
The conflict was now dreadful. The be-
'ieged, iuilamed will, new yaor from the
'oltlncss of their foes, brnycIy rcpuIsed
hem from the attack, but with obstinate
ury they again rushed To the walls, which
'nd now become shattered from the re-
rented shocks. In this last assault, the
captain Of the forces, Giusiniano,
vas badly wounded, and wished To- rctir.
rom the walls. Constantine begged aud
nifcnicd him To remnin, That his presence
night INSPIRE his soldiers to maintain their
round, but his entreaties were in vain.
The emperor, seeing his soldiers without "a
eader, aud observing tho consternalion aud
despair of all around him, rnn about beg
,lnE some one To Mil him, that he might
Ioi survive the triumph Of his enemies but
io' finding ANY one willing to execute his
Wish, he stripped himself Of his ensigus ~
.":al'y, ana rushed with sword IN his
'ncmy, That were pouring through the
breach. Here bravcIy opposing their IN
rrcss, hc fell with 'rheoph'lus faIcoIogus,
aud on the same spot where he losl his cn-
pirr, he died, after slnort reign Of three
years und three days.
Wilb the death of this emperor the f,i"l
destiny Of ConslanlinopIc arrived. A part
,f the walls being undeGnded, the Turks
rushed ~, and having gained possession
pf The cily, The sacklng commenced. The
women became the prey Of the vloie, ce of
Turkish monsters. The soldiers who de-
fcnded them were slam. The unwsfIIke
equally fell under the swords of these croel
butchers. The temples were profaned--
the sacred relics, The crown al thorns, the
'ppnf that bad pierced the snIe, the sponge
nat had toUcinrd The sacred liI,s, and tho
ean,lc.s garment of The ciuci6ed So,ionr,
we're profanei by sncriIeg,ous hands. The
METAL of The bell. Of Tho Churches was
ost into cdnnons aud epgines of destrnc-
ou, and thus the metropolis Of the Eastern
,mpife bccarne the slaughter house Of Chris
mus, aud the abode of ip6deIiiy. ln the
reat church of Sniot Sophie, the Turks
lew So many Christians, that their heads
,rmed ~ mountain phc, because they al
'mpled to defend, or rather preserve M altar
t gold, from, the bands "f their merciIess
pnquerors. Iu private houses were found
prirJ jcwels and sums of money, suftic-
niIy large even to satisfy Turkish avarice al
r II had rc,ellcd ia The blood Of the un-
,ppy Christians Tie deud IN countless
pnbefs were burnt, among these not few
than sixty thousand slaves. Those that
ii not fall by the sword not knowing wh,,h-
to fec. ran in despair To the port, and
rev themselves in disorder and confusion
to the vessels that they found lying there;
1t the greater part overlooking then, in
Ell haste, sunk or overturned them and thus