New-York tribune., 1867-10-10

PGsITIoN RcpuDn.hed from ne French Of A,ES Ai5S
AMBER RrsA RANGABE Greek Minister az ""elns
toni $40. PIP. lC2 G. +. Putnam Son.
The office of Minister of Greece to the United
States Government at Washington, which is now
syed for the first time is held by one Of the most
eminent statesmen and scholars of that country
NJ Alexander Bisa Rangabe, whose name Is Il ulle
of honor with all who familiar with the poilcS
and culture of modern Greece. Tie was iormeIy
professor IN the University of Athens and suose-
Suently Minister of Foreign Affairs under RING
Otho, in both of which positions he galneu "a uisn
reputation for intelligence, capacity, ana an enls"E
ened devotion TO the best interests ot ms county
The present essay therefore, which contains I" SUI
cnct account of the actual condition o. Nl'o'0
under the heads of population, agriculture com
nerce. manufactures, finances government educa-
tlon. and the church, may be taken as an au'heH'iC
statement and furnishes a mass OF Information "a
singular interest and value to all who wish TO oO'a
q clear and intelligent view of GToclan affairs
The kingdom of Greece contains within her present
boundaries 800 600 souls while the number oil Greeks
kyipp in the adjoining provinces In Turkey proper
hut under the jurisdiction of the Greek church, and
forming the Greek nation, is 100000 more. In the
erst ten years after the accession OF King OHIO lSb
the increase of population was 3-9 per cent; III the
second il was about % per cent and IN the last thr
teen but 16 per cent average OF LA per cent IN
rs.
has doubled itself IN that period. This increase IS by
no means slow when compared with that OF the chei
European nations the average rate exceeding the
rate of Austria England, France and Prussia, during
the last ten years,
The agriculture Of Greece has made rapid progress
since her emancipation from the Turkish YOKE
Nature seems to be regenerated with the people
Fields of grain cover the sides Of the mountains and
IN some places crown their SUBMITS The olive ana the
eurrant of COrinth everywhere replace the OIahOie
and the thistle. The entire extent OF Greece Is less
than 45 100000 acres, of which about 3COQOOV are
under annual cultivation The rocks, forests
marshes routes of travel and other grounds not sus
oeptible of Improvement may be reck0ned at some
h.OOO,OOO acres. Next to Russia, Greece has the
largest proportion Of uncuvated lands of any cOun-
try in Europe Her actual population is not onehfth
part of what the soil can noursh, and which 1t prob
ably has nourished in ancient times Nearly one
quarter OF tie people are employed in agriculture,
kheuch the occupations of maritime life are
mere productive, and call into activity more
than thirty thousand families. portion
pf the country is covered with extensive
vineyards, and rich plantations, where the
grape the olive the fg and the orange, minge their
Verdant shades charming the eye of the traveller WIN
she appearance Of vast and beautiful gardens. Inc
humber of foreign trees, intended for new planta-
Athens alone, amounts 10 many millions. In some
places, the most improved plow is adopted, and in
stheIs the ground is cultivated 10y steam power
The possession of liberty has given a powerful
ming to the work OF public improvements No
fewer than eleven new cities have been built on
deserted sites. More than forty towns, rednced to
rpins by the war, have been restored, and now
present the aspect of prosperous cities In the Greek
Islands of the Archipelago six hundred villages have
been entirely reconstructed. The City of Athens
tan boast Of its sngularly light and airy streets ITS
houses built in the elegant simplicity OF Italy, and
decorated with arabesques copied from Pompen and
It's fragrant gardens periuming the air OF Spring
Her public edifces are remarkable for their beauty
tnd the whole city does not contain house winch
existed forty years ago
During the empire of the Turks, the magnificent
seaports which were the cauSe of such pride and
wealth to ancient Greece were for long period in
accessible II was with difficulty that few fishing
boats obtained shelter where in former times large
galleys found safe and cOmmOdiOuS barboIage Since
Greece has become free, eight Of these ports have
been opened TO navigation and five others have been
newly constructed -Four lighthouses established by
the State render important service to the coastng
trade of Greece, and to the general navigation Of
foreign countries. One of the most important mari
time works is the opening Of the Straits of EunpHs
The Government has completely cleared this chan
mel so that a short and safe navigation has been
tablshed from the middle to the north of the Agean
sea An iron revolving bridge connects the island
with the mainland without interTuptmg the passage
Of ships.
Commerce was entirely suspended under the Turk
h rule but now the principal ports of Greece present
Forests OF masts and glitter with the coors Of all
nations In 1862 there entered the ports OF Greece
1880 vessels, of total tunnage OF 2S2SOo9 tuns.
During the same period there cleared sos vessels
of 25l q2j tuns of which than 110OO were for
foreign ports. The commerce with America IS still
mail Some colonial products, as coffee and sugar,
are imported into the kingdom, and dried currants
arc exported to this country The produce OF Greece,
which is consumed in the United States, is procured
through the English markets. but direct trade would
largely increase the commercial intercourse tWoud
be an advantage 10 both countries for Greece 70 send
her oil currants, fgs wine, and the marble Of Pen
tlicus and Paros to the United States, and receive
our staple productions in return instead Of buying in
England as she now does. A moderate tariff is I'M
oosed on imports but exports free Of all duties.
The association of capital has produced the most
beneficial results to the country. The National
Bank has sustained its credit in the midst of all the
financial crises of Europe and pays large dividends.
MANY Greek commercial houses of great wealth. and
nigh reputation are found in the leading commercial
cities Of the world. They almost exclusively occupy
the delta Of the Danube, they flourish in London, in
Liverpool in Odessa, in Trieste, and in Marseiles
and have their counting houses at Calcutta rs well
Hs at New-O Orleans and NewYork Both commercial
and maritime pursuits in Turkey entirely i'll the
hands of Christians.
Nor have domestic manufacturers been entirely
neglected Although now in their infancy, they give
promise of future enterprise and success. There are
to-day twenty-five factories in Greece which employ
.taau mower The fouudery and the marble manu-