Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-07-12
lance Isssa ea,srAal

pAthNA, June IL, 1851
1t would be a heavy task upon me I,
answer your questions about thu
eclipse OF the sun and the phenomenon
of the English stamp on letters cominI
from Turkey, each of these subject.
requiring an elaborate treatment in
order to convey an exact idea. Still,
will try my best-as | always do-tC
instruct your curiosity upon these
themes.
Several years ago the carrying of the
mails from Turkey was exclusively
conducted by the Turkish officials. the
same as it is done in every country.
Turkish trade was then undeveloped,
and very little commercial intercourse
existed between this and other
European States. The chief occupa-
ton Of the postofice was, therefore,
the inland service, a small per centage
of the letters dropped at the postofiice
being addressed for Europe. Itshould
be borne in mind that the Turk in
general, being of sensual tendency,
and much addicted to an easy and
nothing TODD life, is wholly unfit for
intellectual labor. Hence frequent
mistakes occurred in the delivery of
the mails, and often long delay, and
even misoarrisge, was the consequence.
The people frequently complained of
this deplorable state of affairs, but the
sway Of the Turk was there mighty,
and nobody dared give publicly vent to
his feelings. So the rule of the Turk,
with all its imperteetions, was borne
in silence and with Christian resigua-
tion-for the trading class in Turkey
is almost exclusively composed of
Christian races, over which the Turk,
from time immemorial, has been
trained to plumber rather as a bird OF
prey than govern judiciously.
But better era was soon in store
for the much oppressed "Ghiaour.
The rare products OF Asia Minor soon
attracted the attention of European
capital, and with it numerous enter
prising agents, who 10 time settled in
different parts of the country. These
were followed by others, until a strong
colony, from each European State
almost, was formed, to protect which
COnsulates we're established by the
respective European powers. 1t may
be said, therefore, that the population
of the Turkish ports became gradually
cosmopolitan, every nation being well
represented, to the prejudice of Turk
ISL abuse, as the united Consuls were
in no way disposed to tolerate the i'll
use Of the Turk whenever it extended
to the settlers. Little by little, under
protection OF their respective Consu-
lates, the settlers gained immunity
from Turkish blunder and misgovern-
ment, and. through the clemency of
tae sympathiziug European powers, |
the naturalization laws we're so iacili- |
lated as to invite people who had |
been hitherto subject to his |. NJ. the |
Sultan, to throw off all allegiance to |
the Monarch Of the Crescent and es-
poUse foreign subsection. And this
under his very eyes. This and other |
causes so0n brought down the Turk to |
a due appreciation Of European
influence, and enabled the DOW.
ers to impose whatever terms
they thought best for the interests of
their oriental subjects and the devel- |
opment Of the oriental trade. Com |
mercisl treaties were entered into, in |
one OF which it is particularly speci-
fed that Turkey should tolerate the |
existence OF foreign pOstofice agencies /
IN her ports, SO that Smyrna at the |
present day has several postoffices
under the immediate control of their |
respective consulates. Hence we have |
q French postofice, an English, an |
Austrian, Russian, Turkish one.
etc., each operating independently oil
the others. This arrangement is a |
serious obstacle to business, as the
various postohces are scattered far
and vide over the city, and no sue
eessful effort was ever made to bring
them together under one roof, though I
the subject was often brOOded. One 1
great point. however, was gained by /
the multiplicity Of pOstofiees, namely. !
safety and despatch, before which ali |
other Inconvenience are as nothing /
Since the reform era (Which, / would |
here state, exists only on Daper) was
introduced in Turkey, the Sultan has
addressed repeated circulars to the
European powers, demanding the
abolition Of foreign pOstofhces in his
domlniOns, as opposed to the spirit Of
reforms which he was made TO under
take under the clauses of the treaty |
OF Berlin; but the powers have turned |
a deaf ear TO all his instances, and so
the matter remains, and will probably |
forever remain.
The eclipse of the sun was only mar.
tally visible in Smyrna. In ERypt
where astronomers from several parts
OF Europe had gone, some minute Oh. |
seryatiOns Of the eclipse were taken.
and a new comet was discovered which |
was named "TeW6k, " in honor of the
NeJ Itioh iSOiOJ. ne comet was
rapidly nearing the sun, when discoy. |
cred. and was so bright that il led !
several astrOmers to venture the asser. |
ton that when nearest old Sol-Wbicb |
was to have been last Saturday. June |
l0th-it would be plainly visible with
the naked eye in broad day light. But
this was cOntradieted by Mr. Smith |
oil the observatory at Athens.
Great events are now occurring in
Egypt. The political situation is very
alarming, and several hundred families
have fed away to seek safety elsewhere
until the political horizon would clear
up again, Through the stupidity oil
the Turkish authorities, we are Kent
In perfect ignorance Of the serious de.
yelopments now taking place In
Egypt, the press having been notified
not to publish any news from that
quarter until quiet would again be-
restored. But in spite Of all interdic. |