Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-01-05


ployed, the consononts alone being written. Be-
sides this, the difficulty is much increased in Turk
ish from the structure of the language, which en-.
courages sentences of enormous length so that, In
document of two pages, there is often but one
pause though the key word to the whole sentence
may be at the end For this reason, though most
Turks can read and write little, yet, huency Is
rather rare accomplishment; and message,
which, as matter Of etiquette, is put in writing,
is often accompanied by an envoy to explain its
meaning; therefore, there are many scribes by
profession, whose time is well occupied. Every
gentleman has in his train secretary, and signs
his name with SEAL
Their money is paper, gold, and silver, The
finances Of the government are very much cmbar-
rassed, as is that Of the country generally.
He here gave description Of the st. Sophia
mosque, illustrating by charts and maps. The
Turks are very proud Of It trophy, but il isnot
the State chapel that Is in another part Of the
town. The dome is surinountcd by a. crescent u-
stead ofa cross The other mosques are built in
nearly the same style as the 81. Sophia. They all
have from two to six minarcts, from which the
niosein is called TO prayer fve times during the
twenty-four hours; besides this there are two ex-
ira prayer hours. These mnarets are tall, slender
conical towers ofbeautifl proportions, with one
two galleries. and add much to the general effect Of
the mosque. They have great aversion to thcusc of
bells, and instead, officer called the muezzin,
announces the time for prayer. These men give
notice by voice. and they make their profession.
Most Of them arc blind, being chosen for that pur
pose through charity, aud in order that they may
not sec what is going onn the courts Of the houses
beneath their view.
He now very particularly described The cres-
cent, and its use national symbol. The Sab
bath Of tho Mahomedan comes on Friday when there
is a sermon delivered from the preaching pulpit,
which is richly ornamented.
He closed by giving a translation Of the different
calls to prayer which as they contain the creed of
the moslcm at length, we will give when we can
find room for them.
The whole lecture showed that Mr.. Marsh had
not passed his time in idleness while residing in
Turkey, but had learned all he could of the man
ners and customs Of the people; his researches
have and will receive much attention among our
people. II other foreign ministers would follow
| his example in this particular, we might be sup
| piled with much authentic information in regard TO
foreign countries, which We now sadly need. Eng
land makes it obligatory on her foreign charges to
collect all the information they can, and it Is made
a part Of their duty to depositc them in the ar.
chiyes Of the diplomatic bureau for the of the
nation.
The President of the United States, his lady, and
Hon. Miss Murray, Of England, several Senators,
and Members, Professors Bache and Henry, and
many other distinguished persons were seated on
the stage back of the speaker, and exhibited mare
cd interest during the lecture The hall was crowd
ed TO It's utmost capacity, many persons standing,
and we found that, although the speaker used Il
moderately low tone, he could be heard in every
part of the large hall II Professor Henry and his
colleagues succeed well in the acoustics OF tho
halls of the new Capitol we will have the best rooms
for legislation in the world.
Dcfhlcation OF Sclden, Withcrs, & Co.
The Richmond Enquirer Of yesterday fur
nishes an approximate estimate Of the amount
of Indebtedness Of this firm to the State Of
| Virginia
| We called at the Office of the Board OF Public
Works, during their present session, and were
pleased to learn that various statements which
have been going the rounds Of the papers, greatly
exaggerate the Indebtedness of this deaulting con.
cen to the State II is impossible 70 ascertain the
exact amount until settlement Is had with the VA
rious parties with whom Selden, Withers, & Co.
had contracts for the purchase Of State bonds
| Some Of those contracts have just matured, and
Others have not yet been completed. The Board
are taking active steps to have them adjusted as
| rapidly as possible Selden, Withers & Co, rem
der an account, showing balance of 1880, ,939 0S
due the State. The probability, we learn, Is that
the balance will be something larger than this The
private fortunes Of the partners Withers and Sci.
den, and considered ample TO pay any deficiency
that may accrue after the effects of the firm arc
exhausted. The Board are engaged actively in
prosecuting their claim both against the firm aud
the private partners, and hope soon to be able 10
say that the whole amount which they owe to the
State has been placed beyond doubt
/