Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-04-10
Wasblngtnn Sentinel.
INTERESTING INFORMATION FROM
TURKEY.

paper Oh. thursday. The writer is young
American, native of Maryland, now tempo
rarily residing in Constantinople. His letters,
descriptive Of the movements of the Powers
engaged in the Crimean war-the character OF
the several parties concerned in it, and the
stimulants which impel them to action-have
elected much Of the public attention, from the
great ability, vigor, and evidence Of profound
thought which they exhibit The letter we re.
publish today, gives vivid description Of the
life, services, and death of one of the most in
auential and remarkable men of his day, with
other matters of interest in the Ottoman EN-
pire. We commend it as worthy of the perusal
of our readers
CoNsTANTINoPLE, Feb IL, 1855
The Death of Koshro,o Pdsha, at the ddcanced
!, age of 95-His Remarkable Career-Lired
uader flee .Sultdns-His Iourbe-His Toli
yipen TO Reschid Pasha-Abairs IN the
Crimea-HumJle Position Of The English
The Fortifcation Of Nicholof-Hs Immense
NaUal Magazine--Hs Dock Kards-Ldrge
number of Bombproof Boats being built
there-A Specimen Of TMkish Paiting--A
Wonderful Production, dc.
To use an Americanism, Koshrow Pasha,
/" one Of the most remarkable men" in Turkey.
died few days since at his yoli, upon the Bos-
phorus, at the advanced age of 95. His career
has been such heightened one, and the role
he has performed SO important in the affairs Of
the government, that brief sketch of his life
may not prove uninteresting. Like most of the
dignitaries of the Ottoman Empire, he was orig
inaly a slave and belonged to Sultan Abdul
Hamd, who, attracted by his shrewdness, raised
him to the position of one of the pages in the
palace; in which capacity he remained during
the reins of Selim and Mustapha. When Sui
TIM Mahmoud ascended the throne, having in
his captivity an opportunity of appreciating
the merit of the young page who had been in
his service, he advanced him to the highest Of
fees in the empire, in all Of which he seems to
have maintained himself with ability.
Daring the war Of the Greek revolution, as
Capudan Pasha Of the Turkish feet, he per-
formed most important services for his master,
by perpetrating unheard Of cruelties upon the
revolutionists His descent upon the island
Ispara, the inhabitants Of which he most wan
tonly butchered, obtained for him the greatest
rewards. On this occasion no less than one
thousand heads, and twice the number of ears
we're sent as trophies to Constantinople. Hav-
4
as Governor Of Egypt, and having been, as he
thought, recalled through his intrigues, he
ever after proved his most bitter and unrelent
ing enemy. During the whole period of the
war waged between that Pasha and the Sultan
he always urged the latter to use the most
strenuous exertions to regain that country from
the grasp of Mahemet, and Mahmoud never
the right of his rebellious vas
sal. In all the reforms which that Sultan en-
deavored TO introduce among his people, he
ever found koshrow one of his most active
supporters; and twas he who advised the total
extinction of the Janissaries as lhe only means
of promoting those measures, and establishing
a stable government. After the destruction Of
those troops, he was extremely instrumental in
and disciplining the Nizam Dejidtt
or regular army.
He was alike popular with the Sultan and
bis subjects, by whom he was familiarly known
and called the "tapal pasha," or lame pasha,
from q natural defect in one of his legs.
Among the many anecdotes told of him, /
shall select one as illustrating his adroiness.
rival pasha and, of course, bitter enemy,
having, as he thought, monopolized too much
the Sultan's favor and the offices in his gift,
became an object Of dread. Koshrow, fearful
Of being entirely supplanted, scarcely dared to
complain to his master lest he should arouse
his suspicious. A distant pet lucrative pashalic
having become vacant, instead of demanding
ii for one of his friends, koshrow asked to
have il bestowed upon his rival, without in
forming him Of it. Mahmoud, thinking it
was done at the instigation Of the other pasha,
and indignant at his ayarishness, Immediately
ordered him into exile, con6scated his property,
and conferred the greatest part upon Koshrow,
whom he supposed had acted from friendship.
No object ever to such degree or for such
a length Of time possessed the favor of his
Sultan, and at his death he was appointed by
him as one OF the guardians of his young son,
Abdul Mejid, the present Sultan. When he
ascended the throne the Ottoman Empire was
in the most wretched and distracted state. 1t
had just concluded an ignominious peace with
Russia, and had not only lost the kingdom Of
Greece, the whole of Egypt and Syria, but even
Constautinople herself was threatened by the
legions Of Ibrahim Pasha. The
people were disaffected and the treasury empty.
In the partial re.establishment of this disor
dered state Of affairs Koshrow evinced the same
ability which had heretofore characterized his
actions, though then at very advanced age
For several years he enjoyed the position Of
Grand Vizier, but the infrmities Of age and the
intrigues Of Mahemet Ali, Pasha of Egypt,
drove him into retirement, in which he re-
mained until his death.
When the war broke out between Russia
and Turkey he sold his jewels and plate, and
gave the proceeds, with the greater part Of his
immense fortune, to the Sultan, TO carry il on
vigorously, Not long since he surrendered a
portion Of the beautiful gardens upon his yoli
upon the Bosphorus for coal depot. His ap-
pearance was exceedingly venerable and his
eye remained undmmed. To have lived as he
did through the reigns Of five Sultans some
most stormy ones, and have enjoyed the favor
Of all, plainly shows that if he did not possess
much ability, he certainly had an uncommon
share Of servility.
Leaving but one wife and no children, by
the Mussulman law, three -fourths Of his prop
erty goes to the Sultan, who has, though the
treasury is entirely empty, already bestowed his
yoli, one of the most magnificent upon the
Bosphorus, upon Reschid Pasha, the presnt
Grand Vizier He was buried with much pomp
and show in splendid tourbe, which he had
caused to be erected during his life in the
sweet suburb of Eyoub. He possessed at one
time or other nearly every minister fthe pres
ent government His two favorite slaves were