Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1855-06-17
THE PRESENT SULTAN OF TuRKEy.

Wecopy from the Introductory Chapter Of the
History ofTurkey' by Lamartaiue, the following
account of the personal appearance of the present
Sultan, an interview with whom Lamartine de-
scribes. The Sultan had appointed meeting with
the Poet, lat small pavilion or retreat wherein
he loved 10 mediate, remote from the noise and
pomp of his palace at Stamboul." Lamartine was
then on his travels, and he copies this description
made at the time, from his note book The inter-
view took place syeral years after Abdul Medjid
succeeded his father, who died in 1S40 lsls =
On entering the kiosk, Hooked around for the
Sultan. He was standing almost invisible in the
shade between the door and winSow, at the corner
the least lighted in the room The Sultan Abdul
Medjid is ycurg man :wenty-six to twenty
seven years old, Of an appearance rather more ma
ture than his age. His figure is tall, elegant and
slim. He bears his head with that gracefulness at
once supple and noble, which the length of neck
gives to the bust of Alexander in bis early youth.
The features are regular, the forehead high, the
eyes blue the eyebrows arched as in the Caucasian
races, the nose straight the lips well cut and par
ted; the chin that foundation of character in the
human countenance, is firm and well set; the ag-
gregate leaves impression rather attractive than
imposing; you feel man who wishes to be loved
rather than to be feared he has the timdity of
modesty in his general air, melancholy on his lips,
and q precocious lasstude in the attitude; you
preceive that this young man has thought and
suffered before his time. But the feature that
predominates is grave and meditative sensiblity.-
You say to yourself: This man carries something
wtighty and holy in his thoughts like the inte' :
ests of q people, and be feels the weight and sane
tity of the burden. Nothing of youth, nothing Of
levity in the expression. It is the statue of a
young pontiff, rather than young sovereign The
countenance inspires certain tenderness of heart
You are haunted with. the thought, despite OF
yourself, that here is man sacra6ced to supreme
power, who is young, handsome, all powerful who
will be doubtless great, but who will be never free
never without care, never happy. You pity, you
love him, for amid his greatness he feels wildly
his responsibility. Every man in his empire may
be happy except himself The throne has taken
him in his cradle. 10 :. -7
his apparel was simple, uniform, almost mourn
ing suit. A tunic of dark drab reaching down to
the knees, the neck bare, loose linen pantaoons
over dark colored half boots sabre without orna-
| meut on the hilt. His countenance alone could
have discovered him to the crowd. / felt moved
attracted, affected by that melancholy of His Maj
| esty. vNF4 ..EF+
While I was speaking to him he turned sever
| al times the pommel of his sword, upon which he
| was leaning, in his hand. He blushed and looked
down. as if he had the bashfulness of his virtue
| We attended him to the examination that he wen
to make in person. of the military youth in an ad
| Joining institution.