Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1860-03-16
THE GAZETTE.
FRIDAY MORNING, MARCH l6, 1860
THE SULTAN.

The Sultan passes by in his caique. on his
way 10 his devotions, and now the lmperiai
fiotilla approaches Now it is ON line with
Ms. first a large white caique, with upwards
of twenty rowers, all of whom WITH every
stroke If the oar rise up and make DOW 10
the GREAT ruler himself. as if otherwise they
wonId not keen the true course. lie sets
,,non his throne Of velvet and gold, with his
eanonv over his head--a little man, ina dark
go, ard dark red fez Heis In lively con-
versaton with a couple of gentlemen who
attend him. and uses much action OF the
hand. lie casts merely side glance at our
little caiaue, so that can but lndlstinctiy
discriminate his features. No matter; am
sure 10 see him rs he comes out OF the mos
que. The imperial caique, with It's mea-
sured oar strokes. flies over the waves
Seven or eight lesser caiques fellow with
ministers, generals, and the gentlemen ofthe
court
The imperial caique now lies at the shore
empty. The Sultan is in the mosque, which
is small one, with minaret hidden amongst
the trees We land, and place ourselves on
the shore, at the entrance OF the mosque n
military officer points out place TO as, very
politely, and keeps back the people who
press too close TO the steps. Guards are sta
toned between them and the shore. stout
lady, in a European dress and straw hat,
will not. however, he kept back by any one.
She is dressed in halfmourning, and she
holds little boy and girl by either hand. =
She places herself close to the steps OF the
MOSQUE, nor will she be thrust aside by the
guards. who wish her TO take lower place
and they at length leave her where she IS
Who is she! The wife, we are Informed, OF
one of the directors of the Sultan's chapel.
lie was an Italian" continued our intor-
mant. "who, having made present to one
of the ladies of the Sultan's harem, has not
since been seen in the palace. Two weeks are
now past. during which his wife has lnquir-
ed after him everywhere, had him advert's-
ed in the daily paper, and IS now here to
ask the Sultan to what place her husband
has been removed" She is not handsome,
and very corpulent. but her pale Ncounte-
nance, her children, and her story, give her
an interest.
We have stood waiting outside for about
the quarters Of an hour, listening 70 the
murmuriug, halfsinging voices within, when
we perceive indications that the Sultan Is
about to leave the mosque. Military officers
of high rank range themselves on the steps;
the guards draw up closely on both sides OF
the short distance between the mosque and
the shore. 1t is evident, from the expression
ofal their countenances, that they are stand
ing ready to bow their heads before their
ruler Every one is silent and hushed IN
expectation of his approach. And now all
the glances of the noble gentlemen on the
steps are raised, and their heads bow down.
A little man in dark coat, a dark red cap
with long black tassel on his head, and a
pale unpleasing countenance, comes down
the steps with as little dignity as shopman.
Can that really be the Sultan? les, 1t must
be the Sultan, because the elderly military
personages by his side reply with an ex-
preston of deep reverence 10 some remarks
of the little man, and the stout lady with the
children, steps hastily forward into his path,
as if she would stop his further advance.
He starts, makes a half step backward,
and contracts his eyebrows most threatening
". Yet he listens to what she has to say,
but listens with gloomy expression, and
then casts an nquiring glance on his brother
in-law, the High Admiral. He utters a
few words Of explanation. Struggling his
shoulders, and then another word or so, which
seem TO say. What l do know about your
d?"-motions the stout lady out OF tue
way, and walks on to the shore, talking gaily
TO the gentlemen who attend him. lie steps
into the caique, from which the canopy has
been removed, puts on his gloves. dlstorts his
face in looking up at the sun, and IN 50 doing,
exhibits tobacco-stained teeth: while his
plain, uninteresting countenance, assumes
most disagreeable expression. This. then,
is the man who is called Gods Shadow on
the EARTH and who rules with absolute
SWAY over the lives and happiness OF thirty
hye millions of human beings.
have seen many crowned heads, but none
who seem 10 me SO devoid of dignity, so de-
void Of anything remarkable, as this "Shad-
ow of God on Earth" Nevertheless, the
throne must produce an effect either Tor
good or evil. Travellers who see Abdul
Medjid only at public audiences, usually
observe merely the lifelesS, automatic char
acter of his exterior. | now saw him under
other circumstances. He was lively, and
his countenance, although pale, indicated
more youthful strength and health than
had been led to expect. This is | was
told, because within the last few years he
has drank something stronger than Cham
payne, and this has given him strength
Besides, he was to-day in good humor.-
But he generally looks very gloomy"
For the rest, Abdul Medjid has the Turk
ish family features, the oval countenance,
with somewhat prominent cheekbones, the
nose broad at the nostrils and arched, the
dark brown, well cut, but not large eyes;
aud finely -penciled eyebrows. They struck
me as finest when contracted with their
threatening expression, and the countenance
then appeared most significant. If they
could contract with a grave earnestness, Alb
dul Medjid would be & man of high charac-
ter. Naturally mild Of disposition, good
son, good brother. unwilling, although a
despot to sign death warrant, Abdul
Medjid is not wanting in the softer feel
ings.* That which he wants is real earnest
ness, real strength. So, at least, ii seems
TO me. He does not throw himself seriously
into anything, but lets AL 20 as it may, and
will Allah Kerim," God is great, and
dees that which He will Let US enjoy the
day and the hour. And enjoyments for
the day and hour are not yet wanting to the
Sultan.
In his gilded caique, attended by the
white fotilla, the Sultan crosses the opposite
shore of the Bosphorus. where little stream
forms valley, called by the Europeans the
Sweet Waters Of Asia" Here are the