Arkansas intelligencer., 1848-03-11
From the N. Y. Spectator.
Circumcision.
Correspondence Of the Spectator

''G CoNsTANTINoPLE, Dec 7lh.
E2Sphe dearth of any political news of sufficient
'patdr lance much to interest you in America
eby,Hl mporta nj questions here are at present in
a state Of suspense-I think cannot better en-
.erthin your readers than by sending them some
acei'unt of great festival in honor of the cir
cusaaeision of the two sons of the Sultan which
aasI been recently celebrated here and in other
parts of Turkey.
Eight thousand children and adults, and somo
Ihon in advanced years, underwent the rite at the
srfsss time when the Sultan's sons received the
besfplyed symbol of the Ottoman creed. Not
less ,than two hundred thousand persons, in va
rious parts Of the Turkish empire, were Iavshly
snrertained by express invitation Of the Grand
Selgnor on this occasion, and the immense
,;rowds OF the curious TO gnZe upon this universal
feasffng had gratuitousy offered to them such
Refreshments as fruits, cakes, swcotneats, and
sorbeis of every kind. For the guests more sub
stantnl fare was furnished. For twelve DAYS
consecutiVely sumptous dinners were provided
for rtiem in the neighborhood fall the principal
drrfes of the empire. In tents pitched in wide
olafhs' these banquets were served Up, and you
,gty. Imagine what gay, varied, picturesque.
rialeY and grotesquo shows were then presented
tothe1 eye. Here the festival took place on the
Plaias Of Hyder Ali, near Sculari--,he Asian
fauboprg, as it may be called, of Constan,inopIe.
On the first day of the feast The circumcisons
took place. The ceremony had no environment
OF religious pomp. In u certain large tent set
apnrt for the purpose. the operation was per-
formed; the candidates for 1t, sitting together
mute, frightened, and with forced air Of sulky
devotion, followed each other in succession as
their turns came, and they were called for. bnnds
Of music were playing all The lime, to drown the
cries Of the children. But the scene was utterly
without solemnity; mono Of those forms which
appeal to the Imagination, and which are. in this
rite, one would think. especially necessary, al
all Softened the disagreedbIe (to use the lightcst
word), common place, matter Of fact character
Of the whole procedure. The Sultan reas,ed, on
those days which were devoted to the religious
part Of the fete, his ministers, other Pachas and
civi and military iunctonarles OF ConstuninopIo
all Ouomans.
On the fourth day he entertained the foreign
and ministers at his court the whole
diplomatic corps, and several English, American,
French. Russian and German GENT tlernen attached
to the service of the Porte, or in his own direct
employment. Among these latter was DR.. Davis.
who has the direction Of the model farm a, ST.
Stephano, which the Sultan has recently estab-
lished.
The dinner given to the Ambassadors was in
the most grand and costly style. The board
covered with the richest display Of massive plate
was spread under tent of blue velvet with GILT
borders, fringes and tasseIs aud lined with Grim
son silk; French aud Rhensh wines circulat ted
with a rapdity quite Irish, one might have said
formerly. but quite Oriental one may say now
The Sultan appeared before the banquet was
spread, graciouSy to salute his guests; bot as i,
is contrary to the established law of Moslcu,isn
that this brother of tho sun and the moon, this
shadow of God upon the corlh should ever sit
down with guests, he withdrew aller he had duly
the Ambassadors and ministers al
his court To his private tent into which no proane
Christian glance was suffered to penetrate.
There is political meaning attached to the
celebration Of this festival with so unusual poinp
and expenditure, just at this time. which must
now mention to you. The Turkish government.
and Reschid Pacha in particular. have ever since
tho reformations introduced by Sultan Mahnoud
had the reputation, with the Ottoman people, of
being very Iukewarm in their zeal fo~ Muhome-
dansm. All tho bgotted Turk population, that
is, all really staunch Mussulmans regard the
Porte, especially when under the prime direction
Of the present grand vizer, as disposed to COM
promise their religious faith, borter it in fact
for Western improvements and so to eilace the
which have heretofore given an ex.
elusive superiority and do SO, in a some hat less
degree, still, to Moselems ovor the Christians Of
Turkey.
The twelve days revclry. Of which have given
you slight account, have cost the treasury of
The Porte close upon half n million sterling. OF
his the half may havo been expended in
suPerfuous ealing and drinking, and the other
half, in different proportions, in speculation and
waste.
DEATHS FROM STARvATToN.--No less than three
deaths from want and actual starvation occurred
oh Monday, in the distric; Of Noyamensing, Phil
ldelpha am ong the miserable black population
The names of two were Jane DENIES, very in.
temperate, and Mary Brown. another not known.
fourth death is reported bat under different
The bodies in one two cases,
were distresssingly emaciated
Il MATRIMONIAL ADvERTIsER.-story has been
told me with an assurance that it is literally true,
of gentlemen who, being in want of wife, ad
vertised for one, and at the time and place APP
pointed, was met by lady. Their stations in
life entitled them to be called, and tho gentle
men, as well as the lady was in earnest. He.
however, unlucily seemed TO be OF the same opin-
ion as King Pedro was with regard TO his wife,
Queen Mary Of Arragon, that she was not so
handsome as she might be good, so the meeting
ended in their mutual disappointment. Cmlcb ad-
vertised second time, appointing different
square for the place of meeting, and VARYING the