The New York herald., 1868-05-22
TURKEY.


TURKEY.
fa.rr
Wintry Weather and Dull Times-Financial
Dificulties-COnsul Calvert's Case-Amer-
lean Tariff Legislntion-The Provincial
Agitation.
CoNsrANTINoPLE, April I, 1883.
Winter still fingers with us, and we have snow
squalls daily; coming they do, eight or ten times
In every twentyfour hours, they serve to keep up
regular supply Of slush and md In our Streets most
Of which are at best execrable thoroughfares and
anything were wanting to render them the most de-
testabe pavements trodden by the foot Of man it
is precisely the weather that has prevailed here for
some weeks past. What with the bad weather and
the prolonged absence Of the Grand vizIer, who Is
to remain few days longer In Crete to put the last
finishing touches to his work Of reorganization the
stagnation OF affairs at the Porte continues much to
the prejudice of the numerous important State ques
tions which have accumulated during his absence,
and which cannot be acted upon until his return.
About two years since the Porte concluded an ar
rangement with Messrs. Lang Wolf & Merton for
the conversion Of certain bonds issued and payable
at Constantinople, large portion of which were in
the shape Of six per cent coupon bonds, payable
semiannually, with two per cent sinking fund,
which latter was divided by lot among the holders Of
the DOuuS. LII tuiS hduSuCblOu u SUN WaS HiSO dp-
propriated to certain floating debts and obi-
cations Of the different departments. All the shares
were consolidated into five per cent fund, interest
without sinking rund) payable at London, Paris,
Frankfort, &C., as well as at the Imperial Ottoman
Bank here thus changing the character of the debt
from an internal to foreign loan. The bankers
gagged in this operation made capital thing of 1t,
the credit side Of the transaction over ana above the
whole amount OF the government obligations can
ceued exceeded 81 o0o 600 sterling Some time since
the bankers engaged in the operation called upon
Merton, who negotiated the affair here, to account
for deficit In the secret service money Of 100000
francs. Mr.. Merton declined doing so on the plea
that the money was used in distribution of back
shtsh presents, to certain parties here in order
to secure their influence In favor Of the successful
completion OF the negotiation A suit was accord
ingly brought against him In Paris to compel him to
render an account OF the amount in question. The
trial Of this was brought to close few days
since the French court having decided that the affair
is OF an illegal and scandaous nature, based upona
confidential arrangement between the parties con-
cerned, and consequently not a case which could
properly come under the cogniZance Of q court Of
justice and the suit dismissed each party to pay its
own costs. The affair." however, now threatens to
assume new phase, as the Porte has decided to
bring action against Merton in England to compel
him either to disgorge the missing funds or dyulge
the names Of the parties who have received the
6dckshiSh.
The case of ex-Consul Calvert. Of the Dardaneles
been decided In the British Consular Court. He was
found guilty by jury OF five and sentenced to two
o Wsn W.T. % nara LABOR nd In ann94nc ynso
fell that 1t was scarcely heard and the following
evening 1t was ascerained that the sentence as re-
labor' omitted, This Is one Of the most novel and
extraordinary cases Of conspiracy to deraud the un-
nstSsr any SS0RR G
was ordered ever existed. In Short in January,
1881. Mr.. Calvert, then British Consul and Lloyd's
III London to effect insurance on a cargo OF oil val
ued at 3l2 TO be shipped from the Gull Of Adramyt
Hn
to be obtained on bills OF lading, which was DONE
f225 Of which money was paid on account OF premi.
the vessel, to touch at Falmouth for orders. Four
months after the brig not having been heard OF In the
that shortly after the sailing OF the Possidnom YES
Sci had been seen on fire In the Archipelago and this
might account for her non.appearance. The suspi-
clons of the underwriters having been awakened
they sent agent to the Dardanelles to investigate
the affair, who at once satisfied himself that no Pos
sidhom ever existed. AbOut.this time Calvert wrote
to London say he feared he had been the dupe Of
Hassan Aga, the pretended shipper OF the cargo Of
OIL and expressed his belief that the cargo in ques-
tion had never been shipped. He also asked and
obtained leave OF absence from the Ambassador here
TO go to London; but upon the above facts being
ana ne Tas 0sess Ss e
the Dardanelles for parts unknown, and only re-
turned in November last, after an absence of more
than Ave years. As soon as the authorities here
were informed that he had appeared openly In public
his former place of residence he was arrested and
of "a, 900 until his trial commenced. i omitted TO
mention that the defence could neither produce
Hassan Aga any correspondence between him
and Mr.. Calvert. The return OF Calvert to his old
residence is accounted for by the fact that two per-
sons who could have given important evidence
against HIM had died since he absconded
The law recently enacted by Congress providing
that in future no drawback shall be allowed on the
expectation Of alcoholic spirits from the United
states has taken every one by surprise, and shows
policy on the part OF your law makers that Is per-
iectly unaccountabe, as It virtually prohibits the ex
portation Of such merchandise and suddenly annih-
lates important trade thus depriving the country
OF resource from which 1t has heretofore drawn
millions OF dollars annually. Any amount OF rum
and alcohol required by France, Turkey Africa and
other countries can be supplied by the distleries OF
New England, New York and the West There being
dstilleries on large scale in Turkey this cOun-
try has imported from the United states large pro-
portion of the spirits that have been consumed here
constantly increasing anortled employment to our
shipping; In fact no vessel now arrives from Boston
New York at this port or Smyrna unless partly or
wholly loaded with rum. Should this unwise law
not be speedily repealed this rich market will be alb
sorbed by competitors from other countries Already
the Germans stimulated by high prices are taking
measures to supply the Turkish market. Russia,
whose supply or grain Is almost unlimited, mas
already sent some parcels OF good and cheap spirits,
and now that the new railway from odessa IS fast
progressing through the grain districts II IL probable
the Russian distilerie5 viii avail themselves Of the
opportunity to secure q large and profitable trade
An agent ia now here trying TO negotiate sale oi
fifteen thousand American breech-loadng rifles IL
| the government.
Servia still continues its warlike preparations and
has recently sent an agent to Montenegro to see L
they can ind sympahZers there to Join their cause
We hear no more OF the threatened Bulgarian inva
| sion.
1