Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1851-07-18

promises to pay specie on demand ? Did he not use
all his influence to create disobedence to the laws
Who stood by the laws in those days! Not whg
Law and order with them means obedience when they
choose to obey, to dictate obedience to others.
The Turkish suItam-Hfs Family and his Palaces.
One of the most interesting articles we have pc
rused in long time, appeared in the last number of
the Knckerbocker Magazine. The subject discussed
was the Turkish Government. and very many facts
related which, to readers, will be matters of
interest.
The present Sultan, Abdul Meiid, is in his twenty
ninth year, and succeeded his father in 1889, when
but seventeen years Of age. Previous to his
sion to the throne but little was known of his life,
or the way in which he was brought up. He had
several sisters and brother, all by other mothers
than his The former have since his accession
died. with the exception of one, who is wife of the
present Minister of His brother still lives, and
resides with the Sultan in his palace. The mother
of the Sultan Circassian slave. She still lives
She is a large portly lady, yet in the prime of
life, and resides with her son, whom she
cises great influence In person the Sultan is of
middle stature slender, and of delicate frame His
address, when unrestrained by official forms and
emony, is gentle and kind in the extreme-more at
fable and engaging than that of his Pachas; and no
one approach him without being by the
goodness of heart which his demeanor indicates
He has never been known to commit act of severi
ty I'M Justice his purse and his hand have always
been open for the INDECENT and unfortunate, and he
takes peculiar prlue IN DeSt0Wlng his hOnOrS
men of science and talent. Among his own ubjects
he is very popular and much beloved they perceive
| and acknowledge the benefit of the reforms which
he has instituted and he no longer need apprehend
any opposition on their part. In some of the more
distant portions of his empire such Albania, where
| perhaps foreign influence is exerted to thwart his
plans, his system of military rule has not vet
been carried out but it evidently will be,
pecialy when its advantage the old is felt by
| the inhabitants.
The palaces of the Sultan, on both banks of the
Bosphorus though externally snowy are very plain
and simple in their interior arrangement. They are
surrounded by high walls and guarded by sodiery.
The first block of buildings which the traveller APP
proaches visiting them. up the Bosphorus, are
the apartments of the eunuchs the second his harem
or female apartments and the third those of the
Sultan. Beyond these the Offices of his secreta-
ries guard and band of music all beyond the walls
of the palace. The number of eunuchs is some six
ty eighty, and the females in the harem about
three to four hundred. The Sultan never marries
all the occupants of his harem are slaves. and he
generally selects from four to six ladies his favor
ties, who bear children to him. and who succeed tc
his throne. The remainder of the females are en-
ployed maids of honor, who attend upon his mo-
Their, his favories his brothers mothers favorite il
he have one and upon his children. Many hold Of
fees In the palace and charged with the main
tenance of good order and regularity Many of them
are aged females who have been servants to his ia
Their, his mother and 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 the eunuchs, all of whom are
black The chief of their corps is an aged gentle
man of color possessing the Sultan's confidence in
an eminent degree and in official rank is higher thar
anv other individual connected with the imperia
palace The eunuchs assigned to the service o
the different ladies of the barem do their shopping
in the bazaars carry their messages and accompany
them on their visits Indeed their duties much
like those of welbred gallants in country, with
out any of the ambitious feelings which animate the
latter and certainly they never aspire to the pos
session of their affections Some of them grow veal
thy possess much property, and slaves Of both sexes
but as they have females, the Sultan is then
legal heir Eunuchs possessed by many OF tn
paches and other officers OF rank for the purpose
serving their wives sisters and daughters; the.
cost four or five times as much ordinary blacl
slave, and the highest officers seldom possess NOR
than ten of them ut once.
The Sultan's palace is peculiarly his private home
and no officers Of high rank occupy it with him b
has fonr private secretaries, and as many chamber
Iaius He has also two aids-de-camp, Sho are gen
aIly in command of the body guard which has 1t
quarters in the vicinity Of the palace He seldom
: however commands their attendance: their dute
are to keep watch at the principal entrances, and
salute him or any Of his higher officers who may al
rive at or leave the royal residence. The secretare
write ont his orders and the chief of their numbe
receives all foreign functioDares or Turkish dlgnl
taries who visit the place on business One OF tbeT
is the snItans Interpreter. and translates articles 10
his perusal from the foreign papers received froT
Eurone and America BY the Sultan. All Official doeu
uts are sent 70 the chief secretary BY the difereu
ministers of the Sublime Porte, and those receige
from the foreign embassies and legations are transia
. ted there previous TO being transmitted 70 the ga
tan No foreign legation eyer tTansacts any oiaeia