Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1851-08-21

Knickerbocker Magazine. The sub
liect discussed was the Turkish gov.
ernment, and very many facts are
related, which, to our readers, will be
matters of interest.
"The present Sultan, Abdul Me
lid, is in his 29th year, and succeeded
his father in 1889, when but seven
teen years Of age. Previous TO his
accession to the throne, but little
was known Of his life, or the way in
which he was brought up. He had
several sisters and one brother, all by
other mothers than his own. The
former have since his accession died,
with the exception Of one, who is q
wife OF the present minister ol war.
His brother still lives, and resides
with the Sultan in his palace. The
mother Of the Sultan was a Circas-
sian slave. She still lives. She is a
large portly lady, yet in the prime of
life, and resides with her son, over
whom she exercises great influence.
In person, the Sultan is of middle
stature, slender and OF delicate
frame. His address, when unre-
strained by official forms and cere-
mony, is gentle and kind in the ex-
treme-more affable and engaging
than that of his Pachas; and no one
can approach him without being won
by the goodness of heart which his
deneanor indicates. He has never
been known TO commit an act Of Sc
verify or injustice; his purse and his
hand have always been open for the
indignant and unfortunate, and he
takes peculiar pride in bestowing
his honors upon men of science and
talent. Among his own subjects he
is very popular and much beloved:
they perceive and acknowledge the
benefit of the reforms which he has
instituted, and he need no longer ap-
prehend any opposition on their part.
In some Of the more distant portions
OF his empire, such as Albania, where
perhaps foreign influence is exerted
to thwart his plans, his new system
OF military rule has not yet been
carried out; but it evidently y soon will
be, especially when its advantage
over the old is felt by the inhabitants.
The palaces of the Sultan, on both
banks OF the Bosphorus, though ex.
ternalIy snowy, are very plain and
simple in their interior arrangement.
They are surrounded by high walls
and guarded by soldiery. The first
block of buildings which the travel
er approaches on visiting them, up
the Bosphorus, are the apartments oil
the eunuchs, the second his harem,
or female apartments, and the thiId
those Of the Sultan. Beyond these
are the offices OF his secretaries,
guard. and band o. music, all beyond
the walls OF the palace. The num-
Der OF eunuchs is some sixty or
eighty, and the females in the harem
are about three 10 four hundred.
The Sultan never marries; all the oc-
cupants Of his harem are slaves, and
he generally selects from four to six
ladies as his favorites, who hear chill
dren to him, and who succeed to his
throne. The remainder Of the fe-
males are employed as maids oil hon
or, who attend upon his mother, his
lavorites, his brothers. lavorites, if
he have one, and upon his children.
Many hold Offices in the palace, and
are charged with the maintenance Of
good order and regularity. Many
Of them are aged females who have
been servants TO his father, his mo-
taer and his sister, and brother, and
have thus claims upon his kindness
and protection. The only males
who have the right OF entrance TO
the imperial harem are the eunuchs,
all OF whom are black. The chief
of their corps is an aged gentleman
of color possessing the Sultan's
confidence in an eminent degree,
and in official rank is higher than any
other individual connected with the
imperial palace. The eunuchs are
assigned to the service of the differ
ent ladies OF the harem, to tneir
shopping in the bazaars, carry their
messages, and accompany them on
their visits. Indeed their duties are
much like those of the well-bred
gallants in our country, without any
Of the ambitious feelings which ami
mate the latter; and certainly they
never aspire to the possession OF
their affections. Some OF them grow
wealthy, possess much property, and
slaves Of both sexes, but as they can
have no females, the Sultan is their
legal beIr. Eunuchs are possessed
by many Of the pachas and other
officers of rank. for the purpose Of
serving their wives, sisters, and
daughters; they cost four or five times
as much as an ordinary black slave,
and the highest officers seldom pos