Washington sentinel., 1854-05-10
INTERESTING CORRESPONDENCE.
From the Baltimore Times.

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short time since between the sublime Porte,
France, and England, the general impression
here was, that the government of the Sultan
had conceded certain ameliorafions in the
condition of his Rayah subjects, and that, in
order to have these reforms more fully and ex-
plicitly stated, separate and special conven-
ton would be framed. This mode of proceed
ing was suggested by the ambassadors of the
two western powers, fearful that from the we'll
known dilatoriness of the Turks in all such
matters, there would not be sufficient time to
conclude the treaty, have it sent to their respec-
tive governments for their approval, and CON-
mence the campaign early in spring They
insisted that the Sultan should grant full pow
ers to Reschid Pasha, his prime minister, to
arrange and sign the treaty on his part, with
out having it come before the council OF State,
where it would be, perhaps, detained in discus
sing its several stipulations. Time was too
valuable to be lost at this most important cri-
sis. To this the Sultan readily acceded, and
the treaty was not only drawn up, but ratified
before the other ministers were aware Of its
existence. 1t seems, however, that the articles
OF the special convention, by which certain
privileges were to be guaranteed to his Chris
tian subjects, were not discussed at the same
time of the ratification of the treaty, but after
wards came before the council of State, where
they were rejected, and which is rather to be
deplored at the present time. The Rayahs, or
the native population of the countries con-
quered by the Turks, are mostly Christians,
who have labored for ages under many oppres-
sions.
When Mahomet started upon his religious
crusade, with the Koran in one hand and a
scimitar in the other, proclaiming an eternal
truth, and necessary fction-that there was
but one God, and he was his only apostolic
imposed upon all whom he conquered, and who
were not converted to Islamism, capitation
tax, called the Haratseh. This is levied upon
all Rayahs above ten years of age, and is paid,
as the Koran expresses it, "for permission to
wear their heads for the year." This tax is
divided into three different classes, of eight,
twelve, and sixteen piastres, and amounted last
year to the sum Of eight millions of piastres
From this and other personal taxes the Mus
sulman is exempted. The Rayahs are also
debarred from any participation in the civil
and military employments; and though they are
compelled to pay, beside the odious Haratsch,
large proportion of the taxes of government,
yet they are denied the poor privilege of de-
Tending their country. These were some of the
principal grievances against which the stipula-
tions of the special convention was to have
protected them. The Sultan has engaged not
to enter into any treaty with the Car of Rus
sia without the participation Of England and
France, and he also reserves to himself the
right to regulate the number Of troops they are
to send to his assistance. The treaty was
drawn up and signed by Lord de RedcliAe, for
the British government; General paraguay
d'Hilliers, for the French; and Reschid Pasha,
for the Sublime Porte.
The Sublime Porte has at length broken off
all diplomatic intercourse with the kingdom of
Greece. AS to past offences, it was satisfied
with the answer the Greek government made,
confessing its inability to punish its own sub
jects who had joined the insurgents. But the
Sultan, to guaranty the future, further demand
ed that it should openly declare itself against
those who had taken up arms against his sub
jects; that it should send large force upon
its frontiers to guard the Ottoman territory
subjects of King Otho who had left his king
dom to join the insurgents in Epirus should
be instantly recalled, and in case of disobedience
should be considered as traitors and punished
accordingly. Among those who have gone over
are some of the most noted generals Of Greece
names that were distinguished during the revo-
luton of 1928, when she achieved her inde-
pendence, and of course particularly odious to
the Turkish government. These measures not
having been complied with, and the answer of
Paicos, the Grecian minister OF foreign affairs
being deemed entirely unsatisfactory, Nechet
Bey, the Turkish charge daffaires at Athens,
demanded and received his passports. Upon
his arrival at Constantinople, Reschid Pasha
Immediately addressed note to Metasca, the
ambassador of Greece, notifying him that all
intercourse between the two governments was
broken of, and that all Greeks within the OF
toman empire should leave on the 18th of
April and that those who were found after that
day should be confined in the Bagnio as COM
mon convicts.
Y Many and bitter are the complaints against
the British ambassador here. 1t is generally
supposed that he could have prolonged the time
for the departure of the Greeks, or could have
had the order suspended against those who
could have in no way endangered the peace of
the empire. Naturally a humane man, he is,
however, so vindictive against the Russians, or
any one connected with them, that he refused
to make any intercession in their behalf. His
hatred to the Gear and his people amounts al
most to a monomania, and, it is said, arises
principally from slight the Emperor put upon
him. When he was sent as minister to st. Pc
tersburg, Nicholas refused to receive him, and
he was compelled, much against his wish, to
return to Constantinople There is no doubt
that his influence with Reschid Pasha, whom
he entirely supports, could have mitigated this
severe sentence.
The news from the Danube is anything but
encouraging. The Russians have crossed that
river by bridge of boats at Hirchova near
Trajan's wall. As yet it is not well ascertained
in what force they have come over, though not
less than forty-five thousand. They were
marching upon small town called Karasu,
between Choumula and Varna, for the purpose
of turning the former, and taking, if possible,
the latter. Omer Pasha is now at Choumula,
with about thirty-fve thousand soldiers under
his command, where he will, for the present,
be able to hold his position. A courier ar
rived here the other day demanding for him
twenty-five thousand additional troops. He
has also informed the government that he will
receive no more bashi-banjouks. Instead of
being serviceable, they are detrimental to his
army.
The Car is still rapidly concentrating his
forces upon the Danube, for the purpose of
crossing it at three different points, and march