New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-07-27
A CURIOUS OLD TRANSLATION.
SOME ODD FACTS IN THE LETTERS OF A TUR

9o"E Odd FACTS IN THE LETTERS OF TURK
ISL SPY OF THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY.
40 me Edttor OF The Tribune.
eir; In reading some old books recently, have
met with several curious statements which think
VIII interest many Of the intelligent readers Of The
iripuhe Ono OF these old works Is in several vol
ume each OF which has the following title page i" Let
'ers writ by Turkish spy, who lived five and forty
years undiscovered at Paris giving an impartial ac-
'o"h 10 the pNan at Constantnople OF the most re-
arhable transactions Of Europe and discovering sew
erai inirignes and secrets of the Christian courts
especially Of that OF France continued from the years
io4S TO the year 1882. Written originally In Arabic,
hrst translated into Italian. afterward into French
ana now into English. Twenty fourth edition. Lon
don, 1852
Inc first letter from which quote gives us a new
'dea respecting the antiquity Of that mschlevous in
striment, the revolver. 1t is:
10 Melac Amot Bassa
sSI eNe Win this letter pistol Of curious workman.
bnps,s which, being once charged VIII deliver SIX
s"n present II VIII be argument OF thy friendship
farls, 18th OF the 9th moon OF the year 1049.
TDe next letter from which / quote points unInis-
'akaby to the earliest ship motor, outside Of sails
VI oars, OF which We have present knowledge, and
gives indication also of the earliest marine ram or
torpedo:
10 sale Ierchen Emin. superintendent Of the Royal
Arsenal at CODsantlnople.
terdam which, they say WIN Guido all the miracles
o o Nesss ark This ship at present all the talk
wonders from the Low Countries concerning this
wnlrisig Of vessel, which is to move without sails
her way through the sea with swifter progress than
r nn moSn gldes along the SKY or bullet out OF can
ils course, watch, depending an internal principle
fb +, perpetual MOTION y to be directed only a,
springs and Wheels. So that the master of this
vessel shall DO able with single touch OF his hand
bo HS TO any point OF is compass IN ne SSl
mendatiou of this wonderful machine 1t Is said that
6y new Invented art It shall secretly, under water.
disable any Ship provided she be within cannon-shot
, 1t Is thought by somo that this engineer will, by
the natural clockwork of his heels be much more
hlmDle than his vessel In flying the disgrace which
VIII attend him II his fantastic project prove unSuc
Paris, 10th Of the sth moon, of the year 1858.
Even the tenement house of all large cities proves
to be other than a modern invention:
To Isouf. merchant at Astracan.
To speak the truth. Paris may be called heap or
aggregate OF cities built one upon another like Pelon
upon Ossa. since the houses here high as the
minarets at Constantlnope and divided Ike the alr
ments; or, rather like the heavens, whose number
astronomers assert to be nine For with as many
lift up their heads, and every story apartment Is
peoped like beehive So that In this infinite throny
OF Inhabitants, and such as come hiher about busi-
breath '''
Paris. 9TH Of the I'd moon, OF the year 1868
And here comes the orr gin OF the Suez Canal:
To the Captain Bassa.
The King Of France Is going TO cut a canal through
part OF his kingdom, BY which the Mediterranean may
be Joined to the main sea. This Is vast design.
and much discussed of in Europe. being parallel
TO what has been formerly attempted by some kngi
Of Egypt and emperors Of Rome TO join the Med
ierranean and Red Sea together, for the sake OF an
easier traffic to the East Indies.
Paris, Sd Of the 9th moon OF the year 1868
Much Of the same sort Is interspersed through
these volumes but the foregoing as Interesting
any. +. W.
Brooklyn, July 10, 1886.