The Arkansas banner., 1850-06-25
FOREIGN CORRESPONDENCE.
CoxsrASrrNori.x, Is49.


 10 the true believers and To the dfcrynt of hated inidess. The Franks, the Greeks the Arms- niaDs, and Jews have each their particular quarter of the city allotted to them; aud, although they are admitted into the bazars for purposes of trade and trahc upon something like equality with the Turks, yet they are considered unworthy to dwell among the chosen followers of the Prophet. A Turk may, f ho feels disposed resale ia any of the otller quarters, but their fuhabtxuts not allowed 10 iR trade upon the sacred precincts of the Turks
 That portion Of Constsntiaople which is called by the T0rks ''Oid StAmb0nl" is situated d neck of land formed by ihs magnificent harbor of Inc Golden Horn side and tue sea of Marmora the other, and comprises The ancient city of CoRstanti nople. Ca the hills of the opposite side Of the Golden Horn Is situated that part Of the city desg- mated the SabuTbs, the three principal of which Galata, Pera, aud fophsae. These su5arbs. which connected with Stamboai by bridges of boats although they ferm densely inhabited and busy portion Of Constan,nople as the old city, ertheIess separated from each other by walls, the gates of which closed al night. Galaia, which Is tke largest, was founded by GenOese colony Of merchants in 1926, which increased so rapidly as 10 obtain from the Gr-ek EmperOrs before the end of the century the privilege of being governed by laws of their repubic and of taildug waits and towers, which inclose the suburb at tbs day. In Pera, which crowns the summit of the pFomontory on which the suburbs situated is the especial Frank quarter. although the European population presom- mates in most of tue suburbs which are assigned 10 the Greeks and Armsnians. In Pera the rival hotels, kept in European style; and from my win dow at Hotel Europe each morning 1 gazed out upen the glories of Consiaolinople bsthed in the rich light of the rising And after the first city of oriental sights had passed away have often fingered there, reluctaut 10 lose the msguiicenee of sach a view for the fifth and confusion of the narrow streets below. To look along the blue ters of the Bosphorus upon this lovely boun dsA hvt priara' in nd N Y pus sarkly beautiful in the distance; 10 the slowly rising above the blue hills of Asia and dart ing his red mornng light across the rippled bosoms of the Bosphoras and Golden Horn, which were covered with hundreds Of light caiq1es sk kImmiug along with iheir glaacing in ihe sunbeans, to their different stations for the day; to ths suns bright eeams iuger with luxurious tn,ioencc in the gardens of the sera.sio as if reluciantio quit their dark cypress shades; 10 watch them creep slowly from their cool retreat, first dancing amidst the pagodss and golden crescents o The palace then lending new splendors 10 the white walls. minareis, and the huge dome of SL sophia, and al last pour ing a of sunshine and cheerfuiaess over That vast pile of housetops beyond, was pleasure such as have rarely GU. oyed aud can never forget
 The gardeas of the s-rsg.io or palace Of the O. toman Su tans iaciose1 by nigh stoa- wall, aud occupying Inc entire site o LIe ancient city Of By zaali1m, situated on the extreme point Oi the promontorv ou which Is built the cily of Cons:an- tinople Under the broad protection of drm4a from the Sublime Porte, visited the otif-r day with a large party this splendid and mysterious prison house Of Circassaa beauty, together with ths four royal mosques which are closed 10 franks, except when arlei with the authority ef ,he Sui- tam elaborate cypher or sigualure, which, blythe bve very ne ary resembles the plan of lahy yaiuth The extensive grounds of the seragIio were planted with thick groves Of cypress aud other eyergreens the gardens laid out into formal beds bordereG with box and planted with commou garden-howers which very decidedly disappointed me. The palace itself Is composed of an iTregGisF heap of hoases clustered together p confused masses according to the tastes of the different Snitans who al various times constructed hetn, aud, with it's pago5a-shap~d towers and long coouadvs presents very pictur- esqne appearance. But in the marble basins. bag noIs, and spoutiug fountains. which are the delight of the Orientss, and which "charmed the charm ing Mary Montague" l was much more bitterly disappointed than in the expected ioYeiiness of the gardeus l found the grand state apartments bpt humble limitations of the gided saloons of European palaces. he rooms were generally oval in their form. but the gliding caryiag snt painting of ihe walls aud ceilings were rude and badly executed; and, to render them still meaner in appearance the cushions had been removed from Inc broad diyans which surrou nded three sides of al the rooms, and were carefully folded ap til the Sutal shoud be- come weary of his other palace upon the BosphoFas, and once more honor the ancient sersgiio with his prese and his harem. searched in vain for that luxrioas magnihcence-tbat unsurpassed spiendor, which are tasght 10 expect from those delight. fui letters, written some hundred and fifty years ago, when the serag 10 of the Sultan as closely barred as the Mahommedsn paradis. against the Franks. ABut, in these days of EGropean innova- tions, you can, with firman, which, bv-the- by, costs forty dollars, visit the seragiie during the ab sence of the SuIsas as yoa would the King palace in any other county with the siig ghI difference of the fee paid fOp entrance.
 The entire deserton of the ssrsglio by its o>cu pants-tks absence of those fair ladies, in The gra phic description Of whose gorgeous costumes, Lady Mary shows herself al once the woman and the poet may, and no doubt did, have a very dampehing inffaencs upon my srdor. Bat, in passing through the numerous rooms and passages, l could bal ask myself has the sumPtuous magnihceRce, which decked these roughly gildec walls passed away like everything else that worthy of adni- ration h rufk>yf Or did it only exist thsn by comparisonf During the times of the writers of those immortal letters, EngIand's kings still dweit ia the oJmy nails O. Hampton Court Lady Mon ague had not then vsitea Ffsnce, and l have not doubt thai inc seraglio or ConstatiDope, compared with what she had seen of palaces at home, appeared mach more magnificent thaa t would do aow 10 a man who had become weary of the biszs of elegance and gilded decoration, universal among the pre- sent reyai residences of Earope.
 The famous bagnois for the Sultan and his ladies', where l still hoped iO catch few items ss 10 oFi- entAl laIury, degenerated upon being seen Into mere pocket editions of the public baths in the city fhe walls of the royal baths, 10 be sure, lined with coarse white marble; bat 1 observed in both the description of heor--lhs same frettsd roof the saase carved Lasias for water, and the insupPortabie heat, which have no doubt caused the Grand Sultan 10 psEspiTe freely aud as Hssu rally the meanest of his blects. Bai what shall say of that delicious marble hall. ia which the Sultan is accustomed, of snliry evening, 10 take iced sherbet and make love by the iow maFmars of . foantainf
 had always imagined this favcfite resort of she hArems bearded lord the climax of orienIa, splen- dor. Its walls were in imagination of exquisite white marble decorated wih carved aitches and is black marble floors were richly inlaia with mosaies in precious stones Divans of costii-st silks were ranged around the room, and piles of luxurious cush ions of cider down aud sumPtaous otomans of cloth Of gold were scattered about in rch confusion. An elegant Turkey rag. upon which stood a crystal asrsstee with its amber mouth piece gilering with gems, was already spread as If awaiting the coming Sultan. Fealhered pets from the tropics were trim