The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-03-16
AFFAIRS IN THE CITY.
Lecture On Turkey and Greece--By the Rev.
DIR. Baird.

lures Wa. last Thursday night, March Ill, delivered
st the Female Acad my, Brooklyn, by the Rev. Dr.
Eaird The subieti was Turkey and Greece The
Speaker commenced ~ giving general description
"a these countries Both together. he said, were
hardly as large Spain and Portugal. and were
Scry different in character. Greece. which embraced
about 10000 square miles. is very mountainous and
5ucuding the islands, contains population of sbout
enc million OF inhabitants. The climate. like Spain
and Italy, is very much affected by The mountains
and the waters which surround it, and was owing to
sAeir many excellent harbors that the Greeks became
$ maritime people Turkey il Europe presents
snore diversified surface. II contains q popu
cation of about lOO00.OoO as near n can be
..certained. about one half Of whom are Turks the
remainder Greeks, Arnenians. and Jews. The whole
Turkish empire i supposed to contain ,6 900 900
inhabitants. OF the Greeks. there are at least
1000 900 100000. while Greece itself contains
only about 1000 900, including the twelve islands
constituting the louan republic which j., at present
In the possession 81 the British These islands have
their own legislature. and make their own laws
while England provides them with governor
The fortress Of Corfu, which Is situated on one
0i them. commands the centre Of the Adriatic:
aud were England 10 get into war with
Austria Gan event which the lecturer thought
m,gat take place., they could snnihilate the
Commerce OF tnat nation in one month. The
S'reehs are very anxious 10 regain these islands.
but il is not probable that the British will ever let
lem slip out Of their possession. The lecturer then
entered into general history Of those countries.
The Turks. he said had not improved one particle
since they came 10 Europe their rosds are detesta-
lie, and there is not line of stages. or means of
public conveyance, IN the country. There are some
steamboats, but thcy belong either to France
England. or Austria. In Greece there are three
roads that oleraby good while the others are on
IN equality with those Of Turkey. Neither country
can boast Of any hotels worthy OF the name at least
there were i'll 1876 when the lecturer was
there. If person wishes to travel in these countries
he must get horse for himself one for his attend
snt, and another for his servant and another still
carry all the necessary utensils for cooking, and
other articles indispensable TO comfort The places
OF entertainment are called caravansaras IT. on OK
smining the apartments chosen for nights lodging
ahey should he found to he infested with certain in
sectS 81 suspicious nature. the servant will put you
IN bag and lay you on the hoor--whch ia usually
Oi sonc--and being thus ensconccd. there is some
taance of a tolerablc nights repose. Almost any
One would be satisfied with travelling in Turkey. by
going from Constantmsple to dranople--although
ihe speaker could not hep admitting that this was
no very aterng descript ion of these classical lands
Who the first inhabitants Of Greece were. or what
part of Asia they came from. is not known. They
must have settled there after the deuge. about 900
years before cur Saviour They became a mari
time nation at very early period, and entered
II
great many little kingdoms grew uI-some impor
sani man, settling in the valleys OF Greece, became
- chieftain. and his children princes. Finally. at
she expedition Of Troy. 800 years before the Chris
liam era, these Kingdoms were destroyed. and re-
yubcs arose in their stead--some ten or twelve Of
ihem-two of which only grew to any Importance.
The republic of Attica. the capital Of which was
Athens, became very prominent. In its best days
it contained population Of half million, and
Athens about 100000. This republic had exerted
greater influence over the dcstinies Of mankind
than any other country. Sparta became more
powerful in military affairs than Atica. The Spar
isns were nation of soldiers. while the people of
Attca devoted Themselves to commerce. Untor-
funately, however. III their wars. they ruined each
other, and, with themselves, Greece The Athe-
mans planted colonies, not only in Italy, but in
Asia Minor, all along the shores Of the Dardanelles.
tonstantinope was originally Greek colony. 1t
Is wonderful observed the lecturer TO see how
ihe arts fourished in Greece. The world has never
seen such fine architecture Sparta produced--
such sculpture and such paintings; and. to music
shcy certainly excelled. They had great orators
loo; and, for period Of twenty-five centuries. the
literature of Greece far surpassed that of the Ro-
mans. Their language is the most perfect that the
world has As 10 the Turks they arose in
independent Tartary, in the sixth century, and two
centuries subsequently embraced the Mahomedan
religion AT later period portion Of these people
got into Asia Minor. and established an empire.
Their first Sultan was named OIman, who governed
iron 1900 to 1926 when he died, and succeeded
ty his son Orcan. ny that time they had become
- powerful that they extended their borders to the
Oardanells. In the reign Of the fourth Sultan,
Solomon the Magnificent, they entered Europe.
He was succeeded by Ammat. and he in turn by
hi, son Bejazzet who, in his with the Chris
dams exercised great cruelty. The only Christian
nation that had the courage to oppose the Turks
were the Hungarians, who struggled bravely. but
in vain and in 1926 they lost their independence.
The Sultans numbered thirtytwo in MI: but neither
tonsiantinople. (Which was conquered in ii53) nor
the empire, had improved much under their admin
istratiop Though some ct them were men Of great
ALI The cit l. built almost entirely Of wood
en- houses. and presents most beautiful view
from distance. II Is. however. most detestabe
place when you get into IT, The streets are narrow.
crooked dark and filthy, aud the morals of the
fepple are by no means Of the highest order.
Among the most prominent objects Of interest are
the Palaces Of the Sultan and Mosque Of st. Sophia.
No Europeans Cor Franks. a. they are called,) live
IN Constantinople. They reside N Pera, Oh the Cp
yosite side. The Emperor Nicholas Of Russia, has
built palace in this city Tor his ambassador. which,
tor magnifcepce Of construction eclipses even the
principal palace Of the Sultan. The Turks sagey
suspect that the Emperor Of Russia i, awaiting the
opportunity for taking their country under his own
Jeterllal care. They themselves icel that th--tays
Of their glory have departed, and the wealthy
Turks anticipating the absorption u their country
~ no distant period. make provision that when
death closes their earthly career their remains may
De carried back 70 ASIA the land of their ancestors
The present Sultan ~ years Of age. tall and slen-
ter and stoops good deal, liis conn leSon i dark
and ewes black. His dress with the exception Of
the fc. Ga covering for the head) j after the Euro
pear pattern. and consists Of blue cloth surtout
tuttoned TO the neck. blue panloon., boots and
SPURS. lie also wears sword. The old Turks.
however stick to the turban and bag pantaloons.
The work Of Europcanizing Turkey i progressing IN
various ways: but whether the reformation has not
commenced at too late day 10 save them from uli-
mate national ruin remains 70 be seen. Greece had
beeu governed NY Turkey for tour centuries. but
, ftei 4 struggle Of seven yeaIs-commencing in iS2l
they succeeded. with the aid Of the English and
French in throwing of the yoke Of their oppressors.
hoy arr governed Nv kIuu OtlO a Bqylrlan
here was another revolution in 1913. when they
ore granted constitution. Since then the conn
~ has advanced rapidly in education and agricul-
il is impossible 10 look at these people with
at taking an interest III them. They may be igno
ant, but arc not near bigoted az the Catholics
be lecturer referred to the missionaries. through
/ hose ccaseless exertions nearly 400 schools had
cen established throughout the country. lie had
cLildrnr auxinuA 70 lnarL---t IL.