New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-03-30
Burned.
Special Correspondence Of The N. Y. Tribune
COysTASTIyoPLE Feb 25. 1865

COSsTASTIyoPLE, Feb. 25. 1865
II is well known to you, presume, that un.
der Mohammedan law it is not necessarily the Oldest
son Of the Sultan but always the oldest member Of the
family, who succeeds to the throne
The last Sultan had several sons but his brother sue
ceeded to the throne in accordance with this law The
eldest son Of the last Sultan Abdul Mediid is now
next heir TO the throne-hc being Is years OF age
while the Oldest sou of Abdul Aziz is only seven or
eight years old.
But the Sultan wishes now TO change this order OF
succession and set aside his nephews lie called upon
Fuad Pasha, not long ago, to draw up memorandum
on the subject for the great powers in which he was
to state that the Empire needed able man at its
head but that the sons Of the late Sultan little
better than imbeciles-that if the great powers would
consent TO the change he would send his to Europe
and give him a thorough European education in El.
gland and France. &c.
1t SO happens that the present Viceroy OF Egypt
wishes to do exactly the same thing. and the Sultan
proposed embody the two schemes in the paper.
1t Is suspected hero that Sir Henry Bllwer has had
some baud in this proposal.
| But Fuad Pashs shrunk from the responsibility
Of drawing up this memorandum. knowing very
well that in case Of the sudden death Of the present
him his head and be firmly declined.
For the moment it is understood that the project is
given up but no one who knows Abdul Aziz doubt
for moment that he will accomplish the thing in some
way
II il true that the eldest OF Abdul Medjd Is a
miserable drunkard and everything which is bad. He
is In fact not allowed TO do anything but destroy him
self With his brothers be is kept in sort Of confne
ment, and il he does not kill himself the Sultan
will be likely TO follow tie example Of his ancestors and
poison him.
Still the plan OF changing the order Of succession
would certainly shock the Mussuman mind and might
lead to seriou, outbreaks and complications Of every
kind.
AIN inclined to think that the plan Of giving the son
Of Abdul A,z European education will be adopted in
some form or other after a time bu, not at present
FIad Pasha continues TO enrich himself and impoyer-
lob the Empire Last week he received from the Sultan
portrait set 10 diamonds. valued at $1,000 sterling.
lie Is hated by the Turks more aud more every day.
and do not see how lie can maintain himself much
longer.
Galata, which burned one whole quarter and caused
the death Of more than 100 persons.
The FIRE commenced in the great Jesuit Convent Of
St. Benolr an Institution which dates back almost geo
years Tie nuns and several hundred scholars barely
escaped with their lives and los, everything. The fire
then spread outside and dced AL efforts to sutdue 1t
for seven hours Had tLerc been high wind, 'hous'
and. Of houses must have been destroyed
About o'clock IN tie morning the walls OF the con
vent 1--WE stories high suddenly fell, without an In
s,ani's warning aud buried beneath their ruins four
engines with all their men, tesdc scrse 20 police.
sod!ers and ookcrson. This sudden and awful calan
NV Amos, paralyzcd every especially as the chief
o, the police force was among those killed.
Another wall Of the building threatened TO fall, and
no one dared attempt the even OF those wlo
- -. r-..,isnJ consumed IN tie burning runs
Theso died IN horrible agony AT length the work was
commenced but after the Turkish custom. il has con
tnued now four days. On the second day one man
was found alive and to-day two children were found
alive In the vaulted cellar Of small house which was
crushed under the falling walls. when found they had
their pet stil In their The other persons In
the house all Killed, AID the whole number exceeds
100 including several military officers.
The buildng which feh built OF alternate layers
Of brick and small stone laid with thick bed Of
tar. Timbers also built into this wall. There
are many houses in Constantnops built in this way.
bat the Turks talk Of appointing; commission to
prevent any further construction Of buildings this
plan.
The whole FIRE department OF Constaptinople is al.
most worse than nothing. Their engines are mere
squirt guns rather small garden engines and the sup
ply Of water is utterly inadequate. This fire was
stopped by pulling down buildings; aud in all large
fires this il the only alternative IL 10 be hoped that
this awful calamity will the Turks 10 do some
lthing better IN future.