Demoine courier., 1854-10-19
From the Christman's Sultan of Turkey.
Justice of Sultan Abdul Med lid.

From the Christman's Sultan of Turkey.
Justice Of Sultan Abdul Med jid.
MOI far from Bebek, a pretty village
on The Bosphorus, there lived, no longer
ago than the spring Of 1854, an Arme.
MIN merchant, a man of wealth. and Of
considerable influence in bis community.
The articles in which he dealt were prin.
cipally such as can be deposited in a
very small space--jewelry, otto Of roses,
perfumery. drugs. cashmere shawls. and
The like. OF these, he had his house
full a, the period ! speak of. He had
been Induced to hear the preaching by
tie Armenian missionaries at Bsbtk, and
tho result had been tina. he left the com
munlon Of The Armenian church and de
clarsd himself a Protestant! The priests
Of his former persuasion Gid all they
could in the way Of argument; they ca.
joled, they stormed, they threatened and
enirea,ed. but all in vain. The mer.
chant had bought the truth and was re.
solved 10 "sell it not" Tire patriarch
was applied TO. II must be remembered
thut there is an Armenian as well as a
Greek pa,riarch; and his holiness tried
all the same means over again and with
no better result; till. worn out with his
t~ruiIless labors, he gave commission to
excommunicate the unfortunate mer.
chant, and to %denouace him as an ex-
communicated person from the altar. A
few days after this an unruly mob Of
Greeks AID A~rmenians, but principally
The latter, assembled IN front Of The cul-
pri,'s house, armed with every species
Of destructive instruments. dispersed the
family, who. for the most, ran away in
terror before The crowd had reached the
building, and then deliberately pulled
down the house. and made q bonfire of
the goods.
The convert goes TO The Grand Vizier.
Il DO not sce, said the sizier. "what l
can do. If | interfere il viii be an ex-
ira Judicial proceeding, and will {, fail
to be made a handle Of by those who
dislike what they call innovations. The
old Turks call me Diaoul Pacha, as i. is;
what will they say if ! set up to be a
Judge among Chris.ainsl Meantime. i.
seemed as though the proceeding Of the
Armenian had opened a channel of tho,
in the mind Of the vizier. Come TO me
again tomorrow; and though | cannot
help you, | will bring you one who can.
A caique was ready. and
to the merchants awe he soon found he
was 10 be Introduced into The Sublime
Presence"
The latter par, Of The preceding day
had been spent in careful investigation,
and the minister had laid a statement OF
the case before the Sultan; who. with a
true Hareunal- Raschid feeling. had de.
termIned on taking the matter into his
own hands. Az as the Armenian
had paid the customary respects, ex.
pressed his delight at beholding the pro.
prietor of the sun and moon, and stated
that henceforth his face, and the face OF
all his descendants would be whilened.
the Sultan plunged a, once in medid res.
i am told said his highness, tina, The
Armcnians at Bebek and hs neighSo.-
hood have pulled down your house and
burned your goods; this is wrong. very
wrong; but now tell me, wha. have you
done! for re man pulls down anoiher's
house for nothing. VIVA, crime bad you
commiued!'
May j. please Your Highness. l CON-
mltted no crime at all; forsook wha, they
call the faith
Iii is q bad hing said the Sultan. ito
forsake the faith; but what faith did you
forsakef'
i forsook the faith which commando
me to bow down and worship the Pana-
gia (.he Virgin Mary and the saints
what! those yellow, painted things
that have been told the Christians wor.
ship!' :
Yes, your Highness; but Christians
do moi worship them. SinceI have been
a Christian | have not bowed down to
the Panagia'
We'll, you are very much in the right;
you have no righ. to worship the nasty
pieces Of painted wood; there is no God