Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1853-11-24
6ensral yntslIigents.

OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES city occupies a trangu-
lar promontory of land between the Bosphorus
miles and half in length, and from one TO four
miles in BREADTH and is enclosed in q triple range
of walls twelve thirteen miles in circumference,
and entered by twenty-eight gates. II is built on
an undulating declivity, rising towards the land
side. Externally it, has an imposing appearance,
with its mosques, cupolas, mnarets, and Expresses
and its ports crowded with shipping but Internal
ly il mostly consists of labyrinth OF lll-paved,
crooked, dirty lanes, and low built small houses
Of wood or rough hewn stone. There Is number
of public fountains, which amply supply the city
with water. Its population is estimated at 40O,0OO
including Gelata and Para and il is composed OF
about 10000 Greeks and Armenians, 10000 Eu-
ropeans, 10000 Jews, and the remainder Turks
and Armenians.
There are between 300 and 400 mosques in the
city and suburbs, 40 Mahommedan colleges, 81
hospitals, 90 Christian churches, $50 public baths,
and $50 khans or inns, besides numerous ba-
zaars, coffee houses, and caravanseries. The
serago is to the east of the city, and comprises
of about three miles. separately enclosed
by walls, and extending down TO the sea OF Mar
mora. The Golden Horn is fine harbor, deep
enough to koat ships Of the largest size it can
receive 200 sail of the line and is always full
of mercantile and other vessels. On the north
shore of the Golden Horn are the imperial dock
yards. There is always strong garrison OF
troops in this city, and many new barracks have
been built by the late and present Sultan. The
commerce Of the port is extensive but not so
great as might at first sight be anticipated. The
city is the see Of the Greek, Armenian, and Catho-
lco-Armenian patriarchs
The Prophet at NiblO's.-Thsre was an I'M
dress rehearsal Of the Prophet at Niblos last even
ing, which we had the pleasure of Witnessing II
may be proper to inform our untheatrical readers
that an undress rehearsal simply means that tho
performers appear in their every day costume
regardless of the characters they represent. Savl
for instance wore his sporting hat and coat Stef-
anone was dressed like an every day woman, IN
a velvet pardessu and red rigoette and Bertacca
as plain Mrs. Maretzek; while the chorus IN hats,
bonnets, cloaks aud umbrellas, looked like an or
binary group Of citizens. The orchestra played
with their hats on their heads; some OF the female
choristers employed their leisure intervals IN sew
ing and knitting and MaretzeE, minus craval,
worked himself into 81 ate of excitement quite
in contrast with the usual decorous placidity
which characterizes his leadership
The principal performers were seated around
tables with books in their hands, like school chill
dren at their lessons while, in the background,
cene-painters were busy, with their big brushes,
at work upon huge pieces Of canvass upon the
floor Of the stage. OF course, under such circum.
stances, Justice could not be done to the music OF
this world-famous opera. When any part went
wrong, it was repeated again and again, with
sort Of scoding accompaniment from the conduc-
tor, vociferated in German, English, French, and
Italian with now and then the smashing ola baton
by way of emphasis. We, therefore, forbear crit
icism further than to cay, that certain passages
struck us as being very grand and the whole very
to beat all its sublimties into the orchestra and
chorus; and to do the opera justice on Wednes-
day evening next would be utterly impossible
The manager has done wisely to postpone the
first public performance until Friday evening, and
we are happy learn that the tickets for the first
representation are nearly all sold, and that the
seats are being taken for the second and third
representation The Prophet cannot fail TO draw
succession Of good houses, as everybody will
see it once, whether they like it or not. Noopera
of recent date has made so great sensation IN
Europe as this; and no opera has ever been pro-
duced in this country with so great an outlay Of
labor and expense.-N. 4 Mirror, 2lss
Railroad Accidents.-Ra travelling is
reduced to perfect system in England, like
nearly everything else in that exact and matter-of
fact country. document has lately been made
public, which tells the rates Of fare of each class,
The average distance travelled by each class, the
total number Of miles travelled by all tho passen-
gers, the total number Of passengers, the number
of accidents, the proportion of killed and injured,
and variety of other information in respect to
the whole railway system in the kingdom, from
1910 to 1852. An abstract Of this paper in the
London Athenenm contains SO much that Is inter-
esting, that we copy portion of II, as follows:
"In the period Of 1S40-51 the number of rail-
way passengers was 47S4sS,607, of whom 237
were killed and 1,416 injured, showing ratio Of
1 killed in 2,01s,939, and one injured in 337,9l6.
OF engne-drivers, stokers, and guards, the mum.
Der killed was 275, and the injured 274, out Of
4O4S6 showing ratio ofone killed in LII, and one
injured in 14S Number Of porters and other
servants, $780, $50, Of whom 6S3 were killed, and
343 injured the ratio being killed in 527, and
injured in 1858. During the years 1S44-'51
7O44 46o 4S4 miles have been travelled by passen-
gers and 176 deaths have happened through acct
dents from all causes Hence one passenger has
been killed for every 40,025, 395 miles travelled,
Surprising person TO be always in motion on q
railway, and travelling at an average speed OF ~
miles per hour, including stoppages he would
travel 200 miles yearly and he must constantly
travel 22S years to be killed by accidents from all
causes. The period for which he must constantly
travel TO be killed by accidents from all causes
under the control of the companies is 400 years;
and he must be constantly travelling 426 years to
be killed by accidents from causes beyond the
control of the company; but if the person is dis
posed to travel 10 hours only per diem for each OF
the 365 days in the year, then in 456 years he will
be killed BY accidents from all causes; IN 9eo
wears he will be killed by accidents from causes
under the control of the companies; and in S52
wears he will be killed by accidents from causes
beyond the control Of the companies or the 237
passengers killed in the period Of 1840-'31, l03
were killed by causes beyond, and ia by causes
under the control Of the companies Of the
1,416 persons injured, 1SS were injured by causes
beyond, and 1888 from causes under the control
of the companics'-Sonh Cayolinian.
A Smoked R0bber.-Night before last Rev.
Mr.. McCarer was aroused from sleep by hearing
q noise about his house, which led him to suspect
that all was not right. He arose from bed and
made search, but could find nothing wrong, and
again retired. He was, however, soon awakened
again by his wife, who had heard the same alarm
ing noise again. Mr.. McCarer again made a
thorough search, and finally traced the noise TO
the chimney. A close examination convinced
him that some live animal was there, which he
supposed to be an owl or live animal. He threw
an armful of shavings the hearth and set fire to
them, which developed nothing further and he
proceeded to repeat and increase the dose, by
raising big smoke and some fire. The chimney
tenant finding his berth too hot, called out for Mr..
McCarer to ''make out the fire." Mr.. M. de-
manded his business, and If he wanted to rob
him, at the same time telling him that he had no
money. The thief replied-"you have fine
watch, and want that" The city marshal was
appraised in the mean time of what was going on,
and called and helped him out Of the chimney by
means of a rope, and took him off TO Jail