The New York herald., 1869-12-27
GREECE.

From CONSTR ntlnopie to Athens-NIetropolitan
and National Consrasts--t'reck Entertain
mcns for T0urists-American Celebrities.
ATHENS, Dec 8, 1869.
After wandering through the crooked, irregular,
narrow and filthy passages Of Constantinope 1t is
pleasant 10 walk and drive about the clean, broad
streets Of Athens ana breathe the bright and sunny
air OF Greece. TO enjoy Athens 70 the full extent
one should come here from Constantinople.
The Turkish capital Is the political and commercial
centre OF an empire extending over great portcn
Of the Continents OF Europe and ASIA OF an empire
which comprehends within Its boundaries some Of
the finest and richest lands in the world. Turkey Is
supported and upheld by the moral and physical
force OF western Europe. England. France, Italy
and indirectly Austria, poured out without stint
the blood or their subjects in order to
secure the fabric of the Ottoman Empire
from final ruin. After the Crimean war
money was lent in large sums to the Turkish gov
ernment by the capitalists OF the West. Everything
was done to put fresh blood and life into the be.
numbed and motionless body OF the "slck man."
What are the rcsuss Not a road or single i'm.
provement has been made. In all C0pstantinople
there Is not street or a promenade In the Euro.
pean sense Of the term. Even In Pera, the European
quarter the heaviest and coarsest articles OF mer
chandise are transported on the backs OF men,
donkeys and mules. Not wagon Is to be seen and
1t may be truly said that the greatest possible
amount OF power Is expended in obtaining the
smallest possible results. With all the support
which Europe is able TO give her Turkey seems to be
declining every day. Finances are becoming more
anu hopeless Instead Of reducing Its debt the
government Is making new loans 10 pay the interest
on old ones. Constantinople occupies the most
beautiful and comnodious site In the whole world.
Notwithstanding this 1t woud be difficult to nnd o
more filthy dsagreeable and unpleasant city to live
IN. No one who passes in steamer from the Black
Sea to the Marmora can help feeling sad at seeing
sue b advantages thrown away.
Ii has been OF late the fashion In western Europe
to decry Greece ana to dwell with as much emphasis
as possible on her faults and shortcomings, without
saying word about her good qualities or taxing
INTO consideration the difficulties OF her position In
writing Of Turkey the opposite course is pursued.
Laws and reforms existing on paper, but unhappiy,
when after years OF misrule it ia found that the
country is gong on from bad to worse the want Of
success Is asorlbed to Russian lntrigues The most
eloquent commentary the state OF things IN
Turkey s the fact that European residents are sub
Ject, not to the authorities and tribunals OF the
country, but to their own consuls If the protecting
Powers had any belief in the reality Of Turkish
forms they would certainly show It by leaving to
Turkish laws the task or protecting foreign citizens
as Is the case In every country claiming TO be
civilized.
Neither France nor England would for moment
q hs ne sasess they iSs ss
lions OF Christians to obey the caprice OF Iurh sn
officials and be satisfied with such government as
these gentlemen may think Mt TO administer.
In treating Of the condition OF Greece II is always
necessary TO bear In mind that at the close of the
war for independence tue whole country was ruined
the cities destroyed and industry completely dls-
organized. WIN the advent of King Otho a Ba-
varian army OF 6,000 men was quartered upon the
country, anu served to impoverish 1t without per-
forming any material service. Notwithstanding all
these drawbacks Greece has kept continually ad-
vancing. Athens, from having been wretched
village, has become q pleasant city, with broad,
clean streets, comfortable hotels and many nne pri-
vate residences. No man coming from COnstanti-
nopie can avoid making q comparison between the
two cities, much in favor OF Athens
ConstantnOple in the hands of civiiziug people
might become whole empire In ITSELF In its pres
interspersed with mosques palaces and barracks.
Athens Is not rich city and never will be- but with
It's slender means in the course OF forty years has
become a pleasant residence, has organized uni
versity having 1000 students, library OF 100,O
volumes, well supplied with all the important pc
riodcals OF Europe. In short the moment you en-
ter Athens you feel that you In city Of civilized
people. OF Constantinope the contrary may be con-
hdenuy asserted.
on arriving at Athens few days ago found
considerable number OF Americans. among others
Legation at Rone Mr.. Reverdy Johnson Jr son OF
the late American Minister IN London; Professor
Tyler, OF Amherst College. Dr. Lyman has been In
vited TO preach In the Royal chapel on sunday
next.
have inst received notice that the King will
grant me audience tomorrow. | am besides to
have an interview with one OF the ablest and best
Informed political men IN Greece. or the results
shall give \ full account