Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1858-12-04
Daily Tir9iaiau.
Correspondence oi tho Boston Traveller.
The Christians In Turkoy.

CoSsraSrINorLr. Oct. ~, 1863.
We henr the most exaggerated accounts fom
Europe and America respecting an excited state
VI the Mussnlmnn mind in Turkey ngninst the
Christians. a late number Of tho New York OBJ
server contains extracts from private letter, in
which the writer gives tho most alarming state.
mcnts in regard to Constantiuoplc ITSELF and tho
dangers Ola Mussumnn insurrectinn here. We
who live upon the ground, happily. are iguorant
OF any such state of things. We mny be in the
greatest danger although We know II not; and this
danger those at distance may discover when
those who arc nenr are blissfully ignorant Of it,
However. think it will bc hard to make any ono
ui us believe 't.nnd expect to sleep ust ns quiet
y since reading tho letter Of the Observers cor
respondent rs before.
In tho same papor II is graycly announced that
nm uprising Of Mussulmans had taken place in
tho city Of Aleppo, and that tho whole city was
,lrs,r,yodl We have heard of thi. for the Arst
time by way Of New York. md rather think
thu. every house IN Alerpo 10 still standing just
Turkish swrit in spirit of ianaticism and Of
b s'ility 10 mon of every other creed; and in
places remote from tho capital nn occasion only
is required to call this spirit into lively exercise
Sur, an occasion wns offered in Je,llah. and oye-
nv and then II is offered in other parts of the
empire; but TINT there is ut present nythng like
n general reviyng Of the old Turkish hostility 10
the Christian races. tn,eboding general uprising
mud massacre, do not ut all believe. And Us 10
the capital, why thcre is not Turk hero bu.
!. kuows tina, in a single day few furegn ship.
could destroy this whole city with the greatest
ensc
saw n scene tho other day which certainly
would have given occasion to an uprise here, il
anything could. The foundation stone of mn
English church wns publicly laid by Lord STRAIT
ford. in the worry midst of II Turkish quarter in
Pcra. If tho distinct object of the founders had
boon to do the greatest possible violence to the
mot sacred feelings Of tho Turks, il really SEEM
cd 10 me that they could not have chosen u more
appropriate sitc for this church. II Is complete
~ nnd closely surrounded by Turkish dwelling
houses; aud un ono side stands u mosque. whose
minarct brushes against tho temporary wooden
fence that has been erected around the church
lot. The other day. when prayers wero offered,
hymns sung and addresses delivered, in tho
md, Of lnrge company of Englshmen, on
that very el'ot groups Of Turkish women werc
rn'hc'cd around. watching with tho most in
tonSc interest and anxiety every part Of tho core
ilony,
la tho midst of one of tho group was n dcrvish,
who wns ns ntcntly gazing upon the scene as tho
lc.t, was seemed to say the glory of Islamism is
departed. While the proceedings were going for.
ward. il came to bc of the hours of prayer aud
tho maum went up on to tho top Of tho minarct
togiyc notice to the nighhorhood, according to in
variable custom. But his ,snng from tho hoc
in the minnret upon the gallery wns observed by
some Ct the Ambas~ndor's Karases (gunrds hon
or below who, putting thor fingers To theit
mouths. lerkoned 70 him to he still; and he re-
mancd silent though sad spectator Of the scene
leaning over the bnlustfade Of the mnaiet for q
full hour!
Tho women below snid TO one another In SUP
pre- 'sel tome, "Scc how our poor Imaum wccps"
few years ago such thing could not be seen
in Turkey; but now things have greatly changed
aud think you will agree with mo in saying that
the minds of tho Turkish popuaco here cannot be
in very intlalnmahlc state or they would not
have allowed vcriinbIe an occasion for rising to
pnsa unmprove1.
The fact is, the Turks nrc dspirited, and they
have occasion to be. In European Turkey, espo.
cially, including, ct course. ConstAntinople they
stnnd on very prccarious ground. Out Of fifteen
of sixteen millions Of inhabitants, not more than
four and half millions even noniinally Mus
sulmnns, and of these not more than one and
haf millions are real O.nanli Turks, the rest be-
ing of Christian origin. ! can well believe that
there may be, before many years something like
II general instruction Of the Christian races
against tho Turks, but nothing of the sort against
the Christians.
There is now II good deal Of talk about Bank
Of Turkey having recently been formed in Eng
land, though by regular treaty with the Porte.
This is tn regulate the currency and the exchange.
and it will solve an important financial problem
Tor this illfated country-if it succeeds, Rakaium
Us the Turks say that is, We shall see.