Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-07-22
FALL OF coNsTANTINoPLE.

FALL OF coNsTANTINoPLE.
Messrs EpIToRs The conquest Of this ancient city by
the Turks in 1853 wildly described in recent work
entitled the Apocalypse UaueiIed The author Of this
work In giving description Of this event. is explaining
the symbol of the third trumpet The language employed
by the Prophet in announcing that trumpet is this;
.sAnd the third angel sounded and there fell great
star From Heaycn burning ss 7 wess. p ssa isli
of waters. And the name Of thestar as called worm
wood &c. which the author explains thuss The star
announced under this trumpet - Q kingdom, political
sovereignty Its fall from Heaven denotes that its sta
tion was ia chrstendom. Its light, shining as lamp
that burseth implies its pre- emnence over the nations
aroundit in arts science, religion, and government.
Macaulay in his late History Of England, had occa-
sion speak of this kingdoms and is remarkable that
he employs the designation as that used by the
Prophet two thousand years before. Macauay
speaks Of it lamp which by its light connects the
past with the future history Of Europe
This is the Grecan Empire or, as some style it.
the Eastern Roman Empire. Its capital is the Roman
Constantinople or the Grecsr Bysantium, holding its
seat on the European side roponts and the images
Of its gorgeous palaces and piles reflected from the
bosom Of its waters.
This shining lamp shed it's ravs upon tho neighbor
ing nations during the ages their darkness The light
Of its laws from the celebrated code Of Jusnian, con-
tnues shine conspicuousy in the systems Of urispru
I dence Of the present enlightened age.
Enriched with the stores Of Attic learning ana the
maxims of Roman law and philosophy, and drawing 10
herself the genius and learning which sparsey scatter
ed amongst the darker nations to common focus,
she shines before the Kingdoms Of Europe as lamp that
burneth.
This Grecian Empire was decidedly the star Of Eu
rope. But the time Of her end had now come and the
last throne of the CAESARS prostrated by the power OF
the Turks under Mohammed II, A. D. 1853.
"The constantly swelling forces Of the Turks came
rolling through the gorges Of the mountains and spread
ing themselves upon the Thracan plain Their ap-
proaches to city that had checked the progress and de-
feated the powers of the Saracen conducted with
caution vast forfcation erected at convenient
distance in order protect their cover
The rocks Of the mountains and the forests
converted into huge timbers for its hasy erection
Constantinople trusted her defences and the valor
Of her people Her massive walls and lofty towers that
looked the plain to the west were her safe
guards the land side; besides these yaWnng chasm
cut in the earth far in advance Of the walls capable
Of enguphng whole army Then on her eastern side
the Bosphors and the Propons with her fre ships and
huge chains swung their channels seemed to rem
der her position inyulnerabe.
!, aBut she to be put upon new trial OF her
skill and valor The combination Of charcoal saltPetre
and sulphur had introduced element in the shock
of war-an element which dispensed with the old and
cumbrous battering used in battering down walls
and demolishng cities.
Mohammed did not possess the requisite skill for pro-
vidng artillery Of suitable caber but his treasures
procured that for him from christian ingenuity and
gun at Adranople by christian TO enaoe tne
Turks to conquer the enlightened christian city IN
Europe. This gun capable Of throwing stone oali
Of elk hundred pounds weight and its first discharge
miles round was shaken and the people thrown into con-
sternaton With incredible exertons this enormous gun
was brought its station The Turkish forces were put
in motion and came like an avalanche pushing oslole
them the aux iaries they had gathered their march,
and driving them into the great ditcn ior tne "
filing it up.
The Greeks were upon their walls, and poured upon
the assaiants every kind Of missile they could command
Their liquid fire destroyed and consumed every thing be-
fore it. Mohammed could not spare men enough 70 MI
the ditch he resorted the of horses dead and
alsv ord uha Qrnp n ".
into the chasm that separated him from the walls OF tne
city. But whatever he placed there through the DAY
the Greeks in their desperate saes OF the night etner
Huge wooden towers placed upon wheels were rolled
up to the DITCH filed with Turks and scaling ladders IN
order reach the walls but the Greek fire tne
walls and speedily consumed them together Wisn tne cn
that were in them.
Mohammed, finding all his exertions counteracted
and his army wasting away under the heroic exerons
the Greeks became furious with anger ana 20
attack the city both Sides For this purpose ne ORDER
ed number Of gaeys be transported across the iand
the upper harbor The mountain forest was nung
and the rven into slabs to construct plank ROAD
miles in length aud the gaeys were transported upon
it by immense numbers Of and launched upon the
Bosphorus above the chains and booms and out OF ne
reach Of the re-ships In the mean time breach nad
been made in the wall To this point the opposing
rushed; here Greek and Turk, hand to hand with cme
and short sword struggled in desperate conflict and
fell together in death The assaiants and the assaed
rushed up and maintained the struggle over the dead
bodies their respective friends until the breach became
choked with the dead the combatants grapped each
other upon the accumulated Of dead bodies until 1t
rose almost as high Us the walls.
"Whilst this terrible strusslo was going on at the
dreens still bravely resisting the Turks
from the remaining ramparts until they discovered the
enemy rounding point Of land above the city in their
crowded gnleys Not expecting attack by water they
had preparation Of to resist it. They were dis
mayed conssDnaon took the psse Of courage and they
gave up all as lost The deadly struggle still kept
up over the dead bodies at the breach until the panic
from the walls reached this point aso and then the rush
ing torrent Of death was stayed The Emperor was bu-
ried in the Of the dead at the breach where he fell
bravely fighting for his and his religion and the
last Of the CAESARS fell in the death Of Paeologus Con-
stantine.
The CONSERVATION the inhabitants finding them
selves capves to the Turks expressed IN groans
and hreks and waings which filed the air with dismal
discord Some rushed to the to part with lie which
It would be than death preserve others new 70
the churches and uttered ncoherent in the wild
scream Of desperaon whilst others again threw them
selves at the feet Of their implorng oemency
and multitudes to escape the horrors Of Turkish cap
tvity renounced the Christian religion and embraced
Mahommedanism. e
Scenes Of the most shocking barbarity followed the
overthrow Of this ancient city Of the C@sars; and the
which shone lamp that burneth after siege Of
nearly two months fell and quenched in the bitter
waters of Turkish oppression.
aThe conquest Of Constantinople was followed by the
science that adorned and enriched the city This foun
tain Of classic knowledge changed into bitter
by those barbares for which the Turks have been
proverbial
sThc star was called wood because Of the bitter
an~u;sb which was the consequence Of its fall.