Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-05-10
L.martin.,s history of Turkey.

Messrs. d. Appleton & Co., of New York,
have published the first volume of transla-
ton of the History of Turkey, by A. de La
MARITIME, author of the Girondists, DC. The
work is to be completed in three volumes. We
copy from the Introductory chapter the follow
ing account Of the personal appearance OF the
present Sultan, an interview with whom La
MARITIME describes. The Sultan had appointed
meeting with the Poet at "a small pavilion
of retreat wherein he loved to mediate, remote
from the noise and pomp of his palaces at
Stambouln Lamartine was then on bis travels,
and he copies this description, made at the
time, from his note book. The interview took
place several years after Abdul-Medjid sue
ceeded his father, who died in 1910.
"On entering the kiosk, looked around
for the Sultan. He was standing almost in
visible in the shade between the door and
window, at the corner the least lighted in the
room. The Sultan Abdul Medjid is a young
man of from twenty.six to twenty-seven years
old, of an appearance rather more mature 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 his
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 parted the chin,
that foundation of character in the human
countenance, is firm and well set; the aggre-
gate leaves an impression rather attractive
than imposing you see man who wishes to
be loved rather than to be feared he has the
timidity Of modesty in his general air, melan-
choly on his lips, and a precocious lassitude in
the attitude you perceive that this young man
4 - 4 Rat
the feature that predominates is grave and me-
ditative sensibility. You say to YOURSELF
This man carries something weighty and holy
in his thoughts like the interests Of a people,
and he feels the weight and sanctity Of the
burden. Nothing of youth, nothing Of levity
in the expression. II is the statue Of young
pontff, rather than young sovereign. The
countenance inspires a certain tenderness of
heart You are haunted with the thought de-
spite Of yourself; that here is man sacrificed
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 visibly his responsibilities.
Every man in bis empire may be happy except
himself. The throne has taken him in his
cradle.
"His apparel was simple, uniform, almost q
mourning suit. A tunic Of dark drab reach
ing down 10 the knees, the neck bare, loose
linen pantaloons over dark colored halEboots,
sabre without ornament on the hit. His
countenance alone could have discovered him
to the crowd. felt moved, attracted, affected
BY that melancholy Of bis majesty.
awhile / was speaking TO him he turned
several 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 exami-
nation that he went to make in person, Of the
military youth in an adjoining institution"
Lamartine can never view things or describe
them but as q romsncer and poet, but his
books are always agreeable.