Liberty advocate. [volume] (Liberty, Miss.) 1835-1866, 1839-12-05
MTSCE Ill A N EO u s.
THE RISE OF A PA G ii A.
From the French.1


The annals Of no other country on the face
of the earth, present us with such examples o
men springing at once from low estate 10 the
summit of wealth and power, as those of the
Ottoman Empire. The manners and inStitu
lions of the Turks favor these sudden atera
tons Of fortune; so much so, indeed, that
the majority of the Pachalicks attached to the
Porte, and of all its high offices of state, have
been for the most part filled, from time imme-
mortal, by able adventurers, emancipated
slaves, and men Of the humblest origin. OF
all the instances of rapid elevation, however,
which the history Of the empire exhibits, none
perhaps was so remarkable in its character,
and attended with so many strange circum-
stances, as that of Mohammed Pacha-el Adme,
governor of Damascus for twenty-five years
.of the last century.
Dlohammed and Mourad were the two sons
of a rich merchant Of Constantinople, who
died when they had just arrived at manhood.
The youths inherited considerable wealth, and,
with his Individual portion, Mourad continued
the commercial business Of the father, which
prospered in his hands, to the great increase
of his means Mohammed, on the other hand,
devoted his inheritance to the pursuit of plea
sure He assembled round him a band Of
TO folles and extravaganza of every kind
The prodigious expenses consequent on such
way Of life, swallowed up the fortune of Mo-
manned in a single year, and then the prodl-
gal youth found his associates drop from his
side by degrees. Even his brother, under the
plea of having forewarned him Of ruin closed
his doors against Mohammed, and refused TO
see hun. Although this was bat the usual and
e tI, 81,
man was shocked and Supplied with the treat
ment he met with; but, being of buoyant dis
position, he soon recovered from the lethargy
INTO which he had been thrown, and neryed
himself 10 bear his reverses with PATIENCE
lie saw no way Of sustaining himself but by
accepting the aims of the mosques, and this ac-
cordingly he did for some time, always hoping
that chances would turn up something better in
his favor. And ere long, circumstances did
occur, which led to striking revolution in his
condition
On every Friday, at that time, the Sultan
went TO perform his devotions at midday, IN
one Of the chief mosques at Consontinople.-
lie was accompanied by all his principal ottl-
GERS Of state, dressed in their richest costumes,
and by his side marched two officers, bearing
bags of money, which II was customary Tor the
Sultan TO scatter among the people. The con-
tents Of these bags, nevertheless, were not
wholly composed Of money. Besides the Or
binary gold and silver coins Of the country,
which were all folded up in pieces oil paper,
there were also small bits Of glass wrapped up
in the same way, but with this difference that
The envelopes ofthe bits of glass were one and
and all marked by short sentences in the Sui
tan's own hand writing These sentences were
usually maxims in praise OF Proverty, or short
sayings, in which riches were decred. ltmay
readily be believed that the precious metal was
much more coveted by the crowd that followed
the Sultan's heels than moral bits Of glass
One day after his reduction TO poverty, Mo-
manned Joined the needy train Of attendants
on the rova cavalcade. lie eagerly watched
the Sulton's movements, saw his hand inserted
into the bags, and, when the desired shower
fell around, pounced on one ofthe folded bits of
paper. Mohammed did not open his prize i'm
mediately, but allowed the crowd to pass on,
and then looked at it. His modification was
unspeakable; when, in the place Of gold, he
found only rounded piece Of glass. He was
about to dash it on heIstones at his feet, when
the writing caught his eye. The words were
HArtiGce and address aoiH often lead men 10 dig
mites This maxim by some accident, was
most unlike these usually selected for the same
purposes. Mohammed reflected long upon the
words before his eyes, and he then put the pa
per and glass carefully into his dress. This
done, he moved away with firm and derter-
mined step. lie had conceived project
In Constantinople these are merchants who
make practice OF hiring out all sort OF dresses,
from that of a vizier, gitterng with precious
stones, 10 the modest robe OF the device
Stones Of this seem as if intended for no other
purpose than 10 aid men to accommodate them
selves to the rapid changes OF fortune common
to the land. Nor do these merchants conhne
their traffiickings to garments. They WI
procure at an hours notice, horses, domestlcs,
guards, household officers, and every concelva-
Die appendagc Of great establishment, when
they let out 10 be paid for by the week OF
month. To one Of these dealers, Mohammed
applied himself, and having noble figure ana
commanding air he induced the merchant loI
furnish him on the instant with the rcheS,
dress Of pacha, with a beautiful horse, ana
with spite of splendidly dressed domestlcs,
One hour sufficed to transform the mendlcani
into magnificent dgnitary, who charmed all
eyes by his gracious physignomy, and the ease
Of his manners,