Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1853-06-30
LETTERS FROM EUROPE.
No XII.
ArurNs. April 30. 1853


ATHENS, April 30, 1853.
Ny DEAR SRA weeks cruise along the
coast, hom Beyrout n Smyrna, presented few
Objects worthy of notice. was however much
disappointed in the appearance of the coast of
ASIA Minor and Of all the islands seen in the
eastern part of the Mediterranean they present
only bold submits Of barren rocks The whole
coast has dreary, desolate appearance There
wore no trees to screen the rocks FROM view, no
yordure upon the mountains, and il was only as
approached near to the shore, that | discover
ed green spots on the small plains and in the
valleys extending amid the mountains. A de.
ienti'n of five days in the I.azaretlo at SMYRNA
| am sure did not promote my own health, and
am equally certain that it had no tendency to
proven the spread Of the plague amongst the
people. For fifteen years no presidential disease
lias riged IN this part of the Mediterranean still
during all that time ships and passengers have
bad 10 perform quarantine, for several years for
IRE days, but now reduced to fve--and if the
government acted upon the principles of com
mon ense would be abolished entirely, it yes
sci arrived with clean bill of health SMYRNA
Is sad TO contain two hundred thousand inhabit.
ants, but II covers a small spot to contain SO
large population. There is not a building in
the city worth uotng-the general appearance
Is that Of dllapidatlnn, and especially that por-
ton # 1t which fronts the bay, and is built of
wood. The city has long been noted as a ship
ping port for figs and other fruits, but the trade
is ~ small for the population. The vicinity
Of lie city has been infested for the last year by
small party Of banditt who have from time to
time seized such citizens as were known to be
wealthy, when found alone at any distance from
the city, and compelled their friends to pay a
hea,y ransom. Although the band is supposed
TO be composed Of not exceeding dozen per-
SONS, yet 80 inefficient Is the government that il
has not been able TO arrest them. 1t is the only
city n the east that am aware of where tray
cllng in the vicinity is considered unsafe II
forty hours from Smyrna by steamer / reached
Cons tantnople, called by many the Queen d
Eastern Cities. Its position is most command
u.s. ''Nh'iNu vi AtN SUM ~ iIt ctu OF hhiilu
IA, and ntersected by the Bosphorus and the
Golden Horn; It has an ample harbour for an
Immense fleet. The city itself presents mos,
beautiful prospect from the harbour, but when
seen from the mountain back of Scutari in con.
neei,n with the surrounding landscape, presents
tie finest Panoramic view have ever seen. Al
the distance of few miles appears the sea Of
haulora, with numerous islands dotted upon il.
suriase; the Bosphorus, the most beautiful o
streams, Is seen here and there in its wandering
course as 1t winds its silyery way between the
Black Sea and the Sea of Mormora, studded on
"a her side with villas and country seats. with
their gardens and shrubbery, while the Golden
Horn with It's floating navy occupies a central
position. The city itself with all its hills and
valleys, Ms Mosks with their enormous domes
aud slender mlnsrets the Palaces of the Sui
ton occupying the most commanding spots on
the shore, while the Palaces OF the different En-
oasslas crown higher summit, - all these, as
seen from one spot present view have never
seen eQualled-and seen as OIL as IL may be
would never tire. But once enter the city and
the cnchantment mas all fed. The Mosques the
Palaces and the Embassies are still there. bul
VIXEN seen surrounded by poor miserable wood
en- dwellings, with narrow dirty streets and dark
alleys, where one might expect to meet pesti.
lenoe stalking forth IN triumph, and where the
only promenade left for the people is over Tho
graves Of the dead, the beauty is all gone and
such is Constantnople in the interior For a,
muscment the people 60 to the river, and then
caiqfes OF boats are the lightest and most beau
tiinl things ! ever saw ailoat. They are so igh
you IRE required 10 SIT on the bottom TO keel
them steady, and as they move they seem rattle
20 de over the water thsu through it Tn
best part Of the city is built upon and near tn,
sumiait OF hill so steep as to be extremely la
borious to ascend IL Near the summit are tn,
Embassies Of Russia, Austria, France and Eng
land, each OF which has splendid Palace bull
by their respective nations. If may credit tn,
reports, the different Ministers are extremely zeal
Gus Of each other and are watching the acts O
the Sultan with the same intense interest tbal
-surures do the dying struggles of a kid Tn,