The New York herald., 1868-02-23

Dc SEEN IN any country. THIS takes place at sun
rise anl on this occasion all the chief officers OF
the empire, both Church and State, are assembled
in their richest costumes to escort the Sultan to
the mosque; but this time much of the pomp
and pageantry Of former years were wanting.
Yesterday was the third and last day Of the
feast, and this morning the public offices are re-
opened, and the business of the various depart
ments is resumed after month of almost extreme
ideness.
On Thursday last . special steamer was de-
spatched to Crete with an aide-de-camp bearing
the Sultan's firman granting the concessions pro.
missed the Cretans. After having officially pro-
mulgated them the mission of the Grand Vlzler
will be at an end. and he will return to his post at
Stambou BY this frman the most liberal con-
cessons are granted. Most Of the onerous taxes
complained of by the islanders have been abolished
or temporarily repealed The military exemption
tax has been set aside during seven years, the
salt duty is repealed, agriculture and the
export trade are to be encouraged,
roads are to be constructed and ports
cleared, sub.governors and the chief officials
of the local government are to be Christians, and
wthal fraternity and equality between Moham-
medan and Christian are to be established. If this
programme is fully carried out Crete will become
the elysum of the East How far it will be fol-
lowed up it is impossible to foresee; but SO long
as the Greeks, backed by Russia, continue to TO-
ment discord, fear there is little chance of sue
cess.
The Russian men-of-war still continue to convey
refugees to Greece and return with arms, ammu-
milton and volunteers. One OF these ships was
recently caught in the act of landing contraband
goods on part Of the island closed to shipping
by order Of The Turkish government. The Porte
has demonstrated to the Russian Charge d. Afaires
here, and the incident has been the subject Of q
lively correspondence
In the meantime vessim Pacha, VINO comma6ded
the Turkish ship under tn. guns of which this
branch of neutrality was practsed, has been re-
moved from Office for not having fred into the
Russian.
An English officer, Captain Hobart, brother to
Lord Hobart, director of the Imperial Ottoman
Bank, has been employed in the Turkish naval
service, at salary of f3 900. This gentleman
boasts OF having run the American blockade thir-
teen times, and now promises TO ma Ike short work
with the Greek blockade runners. He visited
Crete some weeks since, and gave his impressions
in letter published in the Lerant Herald two
weeks ago, which you may have seen.
Admiral Wseman, Of the British navy, is also
expected here in March, and is to undertake the
reorganization of the Turkish fleet, in the room OF
Admiral Sade, the author OF some well written
works on the East, who has been in the Turkish
tired on half pay. The latter was for several
years past Captain Of the Port here, and SO zeal
Gus and exacting was he in the discharge of the
duties of the post that he became very unpopular,
particularly with his own countrymen engaged in
commerce here.
Notwithstanding the great exertions which have
been made to place the army on an efficient war
footing, the navy has fallen into a sadly wretched
state since tie sudden and mysterious death of
Mehemet Pacha. THIS officer visited tho United
states in 1855, and subsequently,, in 1868, was ap-
pointed Captain Pacha in the place OF Mehemet Ali
Pacha, tue brothernaw of the Sultan, who was
dismissed. The deceased Admiral having made
great improvements in the navy and the arsenal,
although previously in the cnjoym mt Of the most
robust health died very suddenly about two years
after his appointment. lie bore the reputation of
being an efficient officer and an energetic honest
man, aud was great iayorite with the Sultan.
Admiral Wiseman will find his post no snecure
II he succeeds in introducing the reforms required
to bring the Turkish navy up to the standard of
efficiency, and he will also discover that Turks
make tar better soldiers than sailors. Their
wooden ships are nearly al in bad condition, re-
curing extensive repairs, aud the iron-clads, of
which there are four, having been nearly two
years without docking, have their bottoms SO foul
that they caa only crawl at snail's pace. In
fact, OF the fourteen ships now in the Cretan
waters only two or three are in q condition to be
OF the least service. One OF the latter has re-
Gently come out of dock at Malta, instead of hav
ing the work done at the arsenal here, which could
have easily been accomplished by good manage
ment.
Darbohor Rechd Pacha, an octogenarian minis.
ter, who was put On G retired list ten years ago
w1en the new party came into Office. has just
died. On the occasion OF the Baram the old man
was on his way in full uniform to pay his respects
TO the Sultan when he dropped down dead. He
was the last of class of uneducated ministers
who formerly were appointed TO office, and wno
could neither read, write nor sign their own names,
but affixed their seal 10 public documents. Al
though this fact was well known by all about him,
this man had habit OF pretending TO read care
fully the official papers presented TO hm, some
times holding them upside down, his information
regarding tier contents being subsequently OBJ.
tanned from his secretary. Daroohor Rechd Pacha
was thrice Minister ol War and three times Gene
ral-in-Chef.
Fuad Pacha is again in full favor notwithstand
ing he refused to comply with the Sutans order
10 continue the work OH thc mansion which occa-
stoned Lie imbroglio mentioned in my last. His
Majesty two days ago sent for the architect AMI
ordered him 10 finish the building, and there are
Row several hundred masops al work. Ne hss
also appropriated CO coo from his pryy purse for
furnishing tue house. surely the servant = be
coming richer than his lord.