Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1853-07-30
Constantiuople.

nv Constantine about 324 and completed in ten years
According to Gibbons descripuon-in which all au
thorities concur is too delightful spot for indel
Turks and barbarian Russians
During the ygor of his age, Constantine according to
the various exgences of peace and war; moved with slow
dignity with active diligence, along the frontiers OF his
domnions; ard always prepared TO take the
held either against foreign or domestic enemy But as
gradually reached the summit of prosperity and the de
cline of lite he began mediate the design OF fixing in
station the strength as well a. the ma
Of the throne In the choice of an advantageous sit
Iaton he preferred the confines of Europe and ASIA TO
curb with powerful the barbarans who dwell between
he Danube aud the Tana watch with an eve OF Jeal
the conduct Of the Persian monarch who indignantly
supported the yoke Of ignomncus treaty With these
views Docetian had selected and embelshed the resi-
ience of Nicodema; but the memory OF Diocletan
Justly abhorred by tho protector of the church and Con-
,tantine usensiblc the ambition of founding
which might peTpetuate the glory OF his own name
During the late operations OF the against Lcinus he
lad sufficient opportunity to contemplate, both AS soldier
md statesman. the Incompatible position OF ByEan
ium; and observe how strongly IL guarded by
against hostile attack, whilst was accessible on
very side the benefits OF commercial intercourse Many
ages before Constantine of the udicious hsto
ians OF antiquity had described the advantages Of stu
,on. from whence feeble colony of Greeks derived the
Command OF the aud the honors oil hourshing aud
independent republic.
Ii we survey Byzantum in the extent which acquired
Sth the august of Constantnope the figure Of the
Imperial city be represented under that OF unequal
ange. The obtuse point, which advances towards the
and the shores OF Asia meets and repe the waves OF
he ThracAn BophoruS The northern side Of the city
ounded by harbor and the Southern washed by the
Propons or Sea OF Marmora The basis OF the triangle
opposed to the west aud terminates the continent OF
Europe But Il admirable form and division of the cir
.umjAccnt land and water cannot without more ample
.Iplan alton, be clearly sufficiently understood
The winding channel through which the waters OF the
EuNine flow with rapid aud incessant course towards the
Mediterranean received the appellaon of BOsphorus
anne not less celebrated in the history than in the fables
n A of and Of yOfiya ali
5rousey scattered along its steep and woody banks
eted the unskunes the terrorS and the devotion of the
recan navgators Who after the example Of the Argo
iAuts explored the dangers OF the inhosptable EuNne
IN these banks tradition long preserved the memory Of
he palace of PbjneiS infested by the obscene harpes
and OF the sylvan reign Of Amycus, who deed the OF
eda the combat OF the The straits of the Bos
nors are 10y the Cyanean rocks which, accord
ng to description OF the poets, had oatei the
ace OF the waters and destined by the gods pro.
ec the entrance of the Euxne against the eye of PROBATE
.urosy From the Cyanean rocks TO the point aud har.
,or of Byzanum the winding length of the Bosphorus
xtends sixteen miles and smost ordinary breadth
nav be computed at about mile and half The
aes of Europe and ASA are constructed on either
nent upon the foundations of two celebrated temples
# Scraps and of Jupur Urius The old castles, WORK
# the creek emperors command the part OF the
.hanne in a place where the opposite banks advance with
in five hundred PAGES Of each other. These ortresses
we're destroyed and strengthened by Mahomet Second
When lac meliated the siege of Constantnope; but the
Turkish conoueror probably ignorant that
o thousand years before his reign, Darius had chosen
the same situation connect the two continents by bridge
4 boats At small distance from the old castles dis
over the little ofChrysopols or Scuar which may
most bc considered the Asatc suburb OF Consa' ii
nople The Bosphoru begins to open into the Pro
,ontis passes between byzantium and ehalcedun The
after OF cities built by the Greeks, few years
eore the former and the blindness Of its founders VITO
overlooked the superior advantages OF the opposite coast
been stgmatzed by proverbal expression Of con-
tempt
Ine harbor of Constantnople which may be considered
Of he Rns In
~iod the denomination of the Golden Horn The curve
which describes might be compared TO the horn OF stag
should with more proprety to that OF
The epthct Of golden was expressive OF the riches which
very wind waited from the distant countries into tue
ccure and capacious port Of Constantnope. The River
ycus formed by the conhux Of two little streams pours
INTO the harbor perpetual supply Of fresh water, which
erve to cleanse the BOTTOM aud invite the periodical
.hoa of fish seek their retreat in that convenient
cess A. the ycissudes OF tides scarcely eltin those
seas the constant depth of the haTbOr allows goods be
landed the quays without the assistance Of boats and
has been Observed that in many places the largest
,cls may their proNs against the houses while their
stems floating in the water. From the mouth OF the
ycus that OF the habor this arm OF the BoSphorus -
more than seven miles in length. The entrance j. about
hundred yards broad aud strong chain could be
csOuay drawn IT, guard the port and city from
the attack Of a hostile navy.
Between the Bosphoms aud the elcspont, the shores
Europe and Asia recedng either side, enclose the
sea OF MarmOra which known the ancients by the
denomination Of Proponts The navigation from the j..
sue Of the BO=phOrus the of the ellepont is
about one hundred and twenty miles. Those who
heir westward course through the middle Of the PropOn
It's miy descry the high lands Of Ihrace and Bhy
MIA ami lose sig tot tie lofty summit OF Mount Oyn-
qua covered with eternal SHOWS They leave the left
deep guilt the bottom NJ which Nicodema was seated,
he Imperial residence Of Dpcctiau; and they pass the
small Islands OF Cycus aud PrOcounesus before they cast
inchOr GalpO; where tue sea which separates Asia
Europe IA again contracted into narrow channel
The geogrphcrs who, with the most skiliu accuracy,
rave surveyed the form ami extent Of the cesPont,
49, IlNf,F TIEH.H
for the ordinary breadth Of those celebrated straits.
But the uarowc-t part OF the channel i found TO the
uorthwari of the old Turkish castles between the cities Of
Sesus and Ahyius II was here that the adventurous
lander bravc the passage OF the pod Tor the possession
ID. hi. mistress. IL here likewise IN place where
che distance between the opposite banks exceed
i've hundred PAGES, that Nerzes imposed supendou-
bridge Oi boats Tor the purpose Of transporting into IN
rope a hundred aud seventy nyrii!s OF harbUians. a
contracted within such narrow limits may TEEN but W
20 deserve the singular epthet OF broad which Homer a.
veil Orpheus, has frequently bestowed the liecs
pont BIT ideas Of greatness Of relative nature,
hc traveller and especially the poet who sailed along thc
.lespou who pursued the EudHgs Of the stream, and
contemplated the rural scenery, which appeared every
lc terUinltc the prospect irscusbly lost the re1en-
praucc Of the sea- aud his fancy painted those celebrated
straits with aI the attributes Of a mighty river flowing
with sEif current, ia the midst Of q wood and inland
cJuUtry and atleugh, through vide mouth, discargHg
itself into the Egrlu Archipelago Ancient Troy
cd lu rnuelre the Oot Of Mount liza, overlooked
the mouth of the ilclcspont which scarcely received an
ulet the Snois and Sctuinicr. The Grccitn camp had
stretched twelve miles along the shore from the Sgwin
the Rtesu promDutory and the TANKS Of the army were
guarded by the baycs cef WHO fought under the ban
mere Of Agimcmuon. The hr.i of tho'e prnmouiorcs
.cupird bv Achilles eil iis nyincille myuuilJrs.
sud the launtrss Ajax pitched his the other.
After Ajax had fallen scfro a. disappointed PRIDE nod
% tie ugriutuIe Of the Gresk hs scpulchre erect
e the GROUND where Zee had defended the against
the rage Of Jove and Of Hector aud the citizens Of The
RISING town % RIu'cum celebrated bic memory with divine
hOnors Before Constantine gave just preference Co the
situation ~ Byzlnuuu Doe hal conceived the design oi
erecting r of empire this celebrated spot, from
Nhcucc ttc Romans derived ihrr iibulous origin. The
extensive plain which lo. below ancient Troy toFad The
Epcan pfumontory aud che tomb Of Atx, was fret cho
i,r hs capital; and thong, the undertaking was
reinquishod the stately remains 81 unfinished walls
and attracted the notice Of all who sailed through
tie strait Of tie lIsllc pout
We are 1T present qualified 10 view the advaniagcou'
p1.iGou ~ C0usiautnopl which appears a. have been
formed by Tor the and capital O great mon
srchy. Situated 10 the tyfr.t degree 81 latitude h,
Imperial city commanded from her hiis, The oppo
site shores Of Europe aud Ass the climate was healthy
aud temperate the coil fertile the hlrb0r secure and capt
cous. and the approach the ic ~ the continent VA
Of SMALL extent 1uI casy defence Tho BOsph0r' aud '
q 4 a. 81 f.I Gas