The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1846-10-01
Romance and Reality,

We stated, recently, that the Sultan of
Turkey had, on his return from his journey,
authorized the first mixed marriage that has
taken place in Turkey. The following par
%ticulars of this affair, which are of a highly
romantic character, we copy from the Augs-
burg Gazette.
A rich Bey belonging to Constantinople,
observing that his only daughter had been
i'll for some time, and was very evidently fail
ing, he summoned a number Of physicians,
and, as their remedies did not seem to improve
the condition of the y~oung1ady, he himself APP
piled to her and questioned her. She CON
lessed to him that she had conceived a violent
passion for a young Armenian tailor, who was
| a Christian, and that she wished to marry him.
This embarrassed the Mussulman to a great
degree. He had recourse to the physicians,
to learn if a malady caused by love could ever
be fatal; and upon their replyingin the affirm
ative, he thought of reconciling the wishes
of lis daughter with his own religious preiu-
dices. He therefore repaired to the shop Of
the tailor in question, and ordered a suit of
clothes, on the condition that the master ofthe
shop, himself, should bring them. A few days
after the Armenian brought to the Boy the
apparel he had ordered. The latter receiv-
ed, gave him his pay, and made him a pres
ent in addition, requesting him to wait amo-
mcnt, as he had another order for him. The
Boy withdrew, and Immediately after two
black slaves appeared, and invited the tailor
to follow them. They conducted him to the
uarem where the young daughter Of the
Boy resided who, when she first saw the tai
Tor tainted but soon recovering herself, she
threw her arms around his neck with the
warmest illusions The same moment the
Bey entered suddenly, ordered the tailor to
be seized by his slaves, declared that he had
p~rofaned his Harcm, and that, in virtue Of the
laws he must either turn Mussulman, marry
his daughter, or suffer death Tho Bcy sup
posed that the young man, placed in such an
alternative, would prefer marriage and the
remuneration Of his faith. But he was mis-
taken. The Armenian declared, resolutcly,
that he would not abjure his religion. The
Bey, in hope offending the Armenian, kept
him some time a prisoner i'll his house but,
as the young man persisted in his resolution
to remain faithful to his belief, he caused him
to lie arrested and handed over to the tribunal.
There, the Armenian alledged in his defence,
that he was strictly chargcable with no crime,
because he had been compelled to act as ha
had done. The young lady was called as a
witness, &shc confirmed the allegations ofthe
accused. After a long dcliberation, the Judge
urged the young Christian to embrace the re-
ligion ofmahomet, in order not to expose him
self to a clpital condemnation. AS the Ar
menian refused to accede to this arrange
ment, the Judge condemned him to be be-
headed. Nevertheless in consideration of the
circumstances, which operated in favor of the
condemned man, the magistrate ordered the
sentenccofdeath to be submitted to the Sultan
in order that his highncss, ifhe judged it prop
cr, might pardon the culprit, or grant him
a communication Of punishment. The Sultan
not only gave an entire and complete pardon
to the young man, but ordered the marriage
to take place.