The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1854-06-14

preventing his subjects from becoming fa
mliarized with judicial butcheries. Sell
dom has the power and influence OF one
quivocally displayed; and never has 9
Christian set better example than tha
offered by the head Of the Mahometan re-
ligon. We could, had we room, quote
many other instances OF the unwillingness
of Abdul Medjid to shed blood; even when
the criminals had been guilty of deeds o
marked atroci,y, or had grossly violated
the most stringent prejudices and the mos
rooted customs of his subjects; but we
have said enough to satisfy the reader o.
the mildness and humanity Of his charac.
ter. He evidently regards mercy as the
highest jewel Of his diadem. 1t is awful
to think, however. that the practice Of de.
stroying the male children Of the relatives
of the Sultan is still allowed to continue;
and some most shocking accounts Of the
evils that have happened thereupon are re-
lated by respectable writer's. Two sons
Of the Sultan's half sister Ateya (the pure,
wife of Hall Pacha. were thus put to death.
/ They rest in a tourbe in one Of those mag.
ni6cent and ample burial grounds so nu-
merous at Constantinople. 1t is described
as ''rather neat and pretty. A few China
roses, "says traveller who recently saw
it, "bloomed outside the marble walls. In
the interior, the two murdered innocents
lay side by side. under coffin shaped sar-
cophagi of miniature dimensions; each
sarcophagus was covered with rich cash.
mere shawl, and had at its head tiny
scarlet fez, with it's pendent tassel of blue
silk" Ii is probable that this. abominable
custom is supported by the religious influ-
ences Of the country, and that if the Sui.
tan were left TO pursue his own wishes, it
would speedily disappear. The iron.
hearted Sultan Mahmoud was on the point
Of putting an end to this long. g.standing
| atroc,y when his career was cut short by
death. 20
Abdul MedJid has bestowed great atten.
ton on his army. which is now in a very
efficient State, and would doubtless give a
very good account Of itself if brought, into
contest with any force OF Europe or Asia
That superiority which the troops of Ma.
hemet Ali once had over those Of Turkey;
no longer has an existence. Braver ar.
mics than those which Turkey has often
brough, into the field, the world has never
seen; and the present generation has by
no means degenerated from the standard
established by its predecessors. A formi.
dable force might be brought into the field
by the Sultan, such as has not obeyed any
other Sultan for almost century.
The navy. also, has been, to a consid.
cradle extent, regenerated, and has recov-
cred from the disasters which befel it on
several occasions during the reign of Nah
moud H., at Navarino and elsewhere. To
Americans this branch Of the Turkish SER
vice presents points OF considerable inter-
est, as it may be said to have been created
by their countrymen, Eckford. Rhodes.
and Reeves. THE second of these gen.
,lemen was a great favorite with Sultan
Mahmoud. -eis.4
The new Turkish Mint is highly praised
by Mr.. Mac ,Farlane, who will not admit
that anything else is good in the Ottoman
Empire. He says that it challenges un-
qualified admiration.
| doubt whether out OF London and out
of Paris there is such another Mint in the
world.". 81.
| The liberality OF the Sultan was lately
|
the occasion Of the recovery ofthe Sultana-
| Valide, from a severe illness, he not only
pardoned many persons under sentences
of various kinds, but paid the debts of 9th.
ers, and made "a liberal distribution oi
money, TO the poor. The Sultana Mother
is Circassian by birth, and is woman
Of superior intellect. Of much influence
with her son. and very charitable and gen.
erous. She lately erected and endowed a
magnificent hospital for the poor, in Con.
stantinople. .ss,
/ Among other means Of facilitating the
spread OF knowledge throughout his do.
minions, the Sultan has sent young men
Of promise into foreign countries, where
they study such professions as they. are
best calculated to become perfect masters
OF. One of the Sultan's subjects is now
a resident Of Boston, where he is engaged
in acquiring thorough knowledge Of the
important art of scientific dentistry, under
the immediate guidance and instruction o.
one Of our oldest and well-known citizens
DR.. Hitchcock. During his residence a.
mong US, this gentleman has won many
friends, and received many attentions. in
consequence Of his modest and amiable
demeanor, and his intelligence. His Hon
or, Mayor Bigelow, who is ever ready tc
encourage as he is competent to appre
ciate merit, lately invited him to one o
those agreeable parties which have illus
trated his hospitable mansion; to which in
vitation, he received the following reply
which is translation from the writer.
native tongue, in which it was written
! HONORABLE S1R,-It is with feelings o
great pleasure, as well as Of gratitude. tha
acknowledge the receipt Of your kind in
vi:alion TO join In your fes,ivity. Indeed
deem myself highly privileged to hay'
my lot for time. in a spot Of all the eartl
most favored, and especially, to be unde
} the instruction of so worthy and celebra
} ted man, through whom l am brough
} into contact with many honorable and ex
cel,ent persons; but it will be a specia
cause Of pleasure to meet with your Elk
cellency, and spend some pleasant mo
} ments in your agreeable society this even
ing. For the pleasure Of knowing 20,
only by the voice Of fame, will now yiel,
! 10 the higher qualification of meeting yo,
in person. remain. your unworthy ser
! l.