Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-12-05
Lef1er from SNrin.
The following letter from J. G. HARRIS Esq for
mer editor Of the Nashville UNIOE, now Purser in
the Navy, was handed to US FOR publication.
C---..- Er.rc. 49, ". al 1

mer editor Of the Nashville UNIOE, now Purser in
the Navy, was handed to US FOR publication.
U. s. STEAM FRIeATE WABASH
BEYRoUT, Syria, Oct. 20, 1858.
Ny DEAR FRIEND VentuTing on the shore to-day
was invited by J. Judson Barclay, Esq, the Vice
Consul to register my name in book containing the
names of American travellers in the East which is
kept at the consulate. Running my eye over its
pages discovered one Of the entries follows
to wit "Randail W. nc GavOok, of Tennessee, from
Jerusalem bound to Smyrna, April IL, 1852" OF
eourse did not hesitate to place my name in the
book in the hope that perhaps, one Ofthese bright
days of the future stray friend of mine, jour-
neying in these regions, may derive as much pleas
ure from its discovery as I have derived from dis
covering yours, and it reminds of my promise to
drop you line during my bsence. After cruis-
ing in the West Indies during the month of June
and a part of July, we crossed the Atlantic and
came into the Mediterranean. We anchored at Gil
braltar for week. and then cruised leisurely along
the southern coasts of Spain and France to Mar
settles. At Genoa we remained week or two; and
thereafter proceeding to Spezia and taking in sup
plies for the season. We came down through the
straits of AIessena-leaving as you know, scylla
in at ancient Crete Modern Cauda) and passing up
the ,Egean Sea, between the considerable ports of
Syria and the ancient Delos to Smyrna AT Smyrna
was not over,delig hted-iudeed could only ex-
claim with Mrs. Digby, "What place for 6gs"
Our trip up to Constantinople through the Helles
pont and the Sea of MarmOra was in all respects
delightful As we approached the shores of Thraee,
with Mount Ida on one hand, Mount Olympus on the
other and the plains of Troy the foreground Of the
magnificent scene the hour was one Ofthe pleasing
realities of which only dreamed in my bOyhOOd. 1
was astonished to find the HelespOnt 50 marrow.
That was no wonderful exploit of Leander after ALL
or of Byron in his imitation. The distance from
CestOs to the Abydos is certainly not more than halt
mile.
We were most sumptuously entertained st Con-
stautinople by the Pashas, and even by the Sultan
himself digtintaries were coming on board every
day and we were almost constantly ssluting them,
shaking the quiet surface Of the BOphOrus with the
tLunders of our guns. Even the Sultan, himself
honored the Wabash with visit, and then gave US
all handsome reception at his gorgeous palace.
His minister gave excursions by steam up the Bos
phorus to the Black Seattle little Turkish steamer
being under the command of Mehemet Pssha hims
self-ihe Turkish admiral, Who you recolect, visit
ed your country about year ago. The Capidsn
Pasha-one Of the Sultan's chief ministers-gaye US
a magnificent and sumptuous dinner at his palace !
upon the Bosphorus, near 1.-THE sweet waters Of |
Ashland we were all quite weary Of the atteu~
j ms which were paid Us during our ten days stay
It ConstantinOple.
We spent one day at Rhodes, and another at Cy |
,rus on the wsy here. At the former place was /
much pleased with the ancient Notifications and
palaces Of the Knights Templars, many of them still
gell pressrved-and from the latter brought scask
# excellent wine which you know is 80 celebrated
lere in the East.
We shall settle the difficulties here OccasiOned by
he murder of missionary by the Arabs-and then,
n few DAYS we shall proceed to Jaffa, and thence
o Jerusalem. After visiting Alexandria, Cairo and
Malta we shall return to Genoa, our winter quarters
live nv love to your family, and believe me most
i,cerslv ]. Gao. HARRIS
The Jews of Philadelphia recently memOrialized
be President 10 interfere in the case of the boy
Iortars the particulars of which are doubtless
amilisr to our readers. The Secretary of State,
ZEN Css in reply to the application, states that 1t
the settled policy Of the United States to abstain
All interference in the internal concerns Of any
ther country. =