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Constantinople. The grandees about the person of Selim III. soon perceived that the energy he at first manifested, and of which even ordinary men are susceptible when circumstances inspire them with enthusiasm, was foreign to the character of the sultan, and they turned the discovery to their advantage. Affairs soon went at Selim's court, as they had done at that of the weak and good-natured Abdul Hamid. New intrigues, new changes of ministry, new movements of parties under foreign influence, new systems, and an everlasting fluctuation of principles in the divan!

Selim Gihandari is more entitled to respect as a private man than a sovereign; his ideas are more enlightened and more free from prejudice than those of his predecessors; and his sentiments are tolerant, and accommodated to the present times. He is even reported to possess a happy talent at poetical composition in the Arabic language. The Turks, however, have greater need of a man of strong mind, than of a belesprit, to conduct their affairs. Selim is indeed charged with being very fond of money, and with hoarding it more than any of his predecessors; but, on the other hand, he displays great generosity in the distribution of rewards.

His present conduct forms a striking contrast with the character which he at first assumed. He then appeared as the professed enemy of the Franks (or christians). This antipathy impelled him to issue, among others, the severe edict, prohibiting all Franks and Jews from wearing the Turkish costume, and commanding them to dress in clothes after the French fashion. This ordinance was extremely mortifying to them, as it

exposed them to the contempt and derision of the Turks throughout all Constantinople.

On the contrary, Selim now treats the Franks, and particularly those resident at Constantinople, with great indulgence and humanity. On this subject, anecdotes are related con cerning him, for which a parallel would be sought in vain, in the his tory of his ancestors. The sultans have, for example, considered it as beneath them to look at a Frank as they rode past him. They either looked down, or turned their faces another way, with contempt. Sultan Selim, however, is said, when riding in procession and in solemn pomp to the Dschamie, to have of ten looked with an air of benignity at the Franks standing by the wayside, and even to have sometimes bowed to them, when they respectfully uncovered their heads; which, being against the custom of the East, might, on the contrary, have drawn upon them a reprimand.

It is well known, that he has had many interviews with Franks at Dolma Backdscheh, and that he has verbally communicated his pleasure and his orders to those whom he has taken into his service. On certain days in the week, he has even caused the ladies and gentlemen belonging to the French families settled at Pera and Galata, to assemble and dance in a saloon in his seraglio; and he generally watched them, while engaged in this amusement, through a lattice.-On such occasions, one of the company, by his desire, plays on a small organ his favourite tune, the well-known Marlbrook s'en vat-en guerre, and the others accompany the music with their voices.The celebrated Lullaby-song of the late dauphin, formerly sung all over

Europe,

Europe, from the Seine to the Oby, and now almost forgotten, has at length completed its tour of the world, having penetrated to Constantinople. It has there maintained its ground longer than any where else; for, as it pleased the sultan, it became almost a national air, and you may still hear it sung by many a Tschaikschu; but somewhat mutilated, it is true, and only to be recognised from the beginning of the

tune.

The following true anecdote evinces the politeness of the emperor towards the Franks. One fine summer's day, many of the Frankish families resident at Constantinople had assembled at Buyukdere on some festive occasion. The fineness of the weather, or perhaps curiosity to see so many Franks together, likewise enticed the grand signior from his water-party to the same place. The sky was suddenly overcast, and a heavy shower of rain fell, just when all the company were walking in an extensive meadow. The ladies, who were provided with umbrellas, put them up; but as the grand signior alone has the privilege of employing this kind of defence either against sun or rain, and no person is allowed to use it in his presence, they immediately let down their umbrellas while the sultan passed by them on his return to his gondola. No sooner did he perceive this mark of attention, than he sent a message, granting them permission to make use of their umbrellas even in his presence.

The emperor frequently goes about in the capital, incognito, and in various disguises. Sometimes he wears a green turban and an Albanian dress, or an Arnaut cap, and wide red cloak, with gold clasps,

after the manner of the Bosniaks. On these occasions, he is generally attended by no more than four persons, all dressed in the same manner as himself, so as not to be distinguished. One of these attendants is the executioner, who always follows the grand signior, in all his excursions, both on horseback and on foot. It is well known, that for any instance of speedy justice, there is none to call him to account, nor need he even assign a cause. This privilege the sultans have always made use of, and so did Selim in the first years of his reign.-Now, however, he forms an honourable exception in the exercise of this barbarous prerogative; conformably to custom, he still retains the terrific attendant, but without calling for his professional services. In these excursions, he often visits the schools, the barracks, the coffee-houses, the academical institutions, and the guard-houses; and he not unfrequently distributes, with his own hand, gratuities among those who have either obtained his approbation, or whom he wishes to encourage.

According to the laws of the Turkish empire, every male must learn some business; and from this, the sultans themselves are not exempted. Selim learned the art of painting on muslin; and during his reign, it has come so much into vogue in the seraglio, that a great number of sofas and divans, in the interior of the palace, are now covered with this kind of muslin.

The superior understanding of his mother, the sultana Valide, gave her a great influence over the emperor. She had formerly been the slave of a Mussulman, named Velizade, and was brought up with Murat Bey,

who

who has since acquired such celebrity as a chief of the Mamelukes, and who was likewise purchased in early youth by the same master. Arriving in the seraglio in the very flower of youthful beauty, and a proficient in all the little arts that are practised in the Haram, she was fortunate enough to gain the favour of sultan Mustapha, and to become the mother of a prince of the race of the Osmanides. The affection of the sultanas for their children, whom they suckle themselves, is almost always peculiarly strong in the seraglio; and the attachment of the latter to the mother, is not less remarkable. The sultana mothers have, therefore, from a remote period, enjoyed the privilege of acting important parts at the Ottoman

court.

Sultan Selim cherished the highest degree of veneration and gratitude for her who gave him life. The sultana Valide, (who died in October 1805, in her 73d year) always manifested a particular kindness and regard for the French; and even during their invasion of Egypt she never abandoned their cause. France and the Porte are now again intimately connected; and the former has declared itself the protector and defender of the Turkish empire.

Sultan Selim has three sisters, daughters of sultan Mustapha, but by a different mother. They are all living. The eldest, who has the title of Schack Sultana, or Imperial Princess, is married to Nuhandschi Mustapha, formerly Pacha of Salonichi. As he is not a man of much ambition, and his character excites no suspicion in the court, he is suffered to live peaceably with his wife, in a palace contiguous to the suburb of Eyub. As far as respects him,

a custom, that no Pachia, whether in office or not, shall reside in the capital, unless he occupies a place in the divan, or fills some of the high offices of state, has been dis pensed with. The second sister, known by the name of Beiham sultana, is the widow of Selikdar Mus tapha Pacha, formerly Kai-Makan, or deputy of the grand vizir, who died Pacha of Bosnia. The third is called Hedischa Sultana, and is the widow of Seid Achmed Pacha, who died Pacha of Wan, on the frontiers of Persia.

Sultan Selim has, as yet, no issue; and such is his neglect of the women of the haram, that it is scarcely expected that he will ever become a father. The heirs apparent to the throne are his first cousins, sultan Mustapha, and sultan Mahmud, sons of the sultan Abdul Hamid, the elder of whom is 27, and the younger 22 years of age. Both of them are very kindly treated by the present grand signior, out of gratitude for the kindness he himself experienced from their father, his uncle. theless, they are, according to custom, obliged to live secluded from all society, in the inmost recesses of the great seraglio; and they are permitted, but very rarely, to leave their quarters, in order to kiss the hand of the reigning sovereign. With no other companions than women doomed to sterility, and no other attendants than black eunuchs, are these princes obliged to pass their lives.

Never

Such are the successors of the celebrated Ottoman heroes of past ages; of those mighty and warlike sultans, who, bred in camps, struck terror into all Christendom: these are imbued only with the precepts of the Koran, and the sentiment of

hatred

atred to the christians: without the rast knowledge of the world, from hich they are totally excluded; nd ignorant alike of the business f war, and of the important duties mposed on the sovereign of so imnense an empire.

Russian Soldiers Characterized.

In their discipline and tactics, the Russians are the disciples of the Prussians, and adhere strictly to the school of Frederick the Great; they practise what the Prussians did 30 years ago.

The Russian soldier is deficient in instruction rather than intelligence; the servile obedience, to which he is accustomed from his birth, the rigorous discipline of the army, and his absolute separation from all other nations (whose language and manners are totally unknown to him) make him more obedient to his officers, and more patient and hardy, than the soldiers of any other service. Courage is the general characteristic: it is, if we may so express ourselves, the faith and creed of the Russian soldier. Implicit obedience occasious in him the same effects that enthusiasm does on other nations. The effect which servitude produces, is, in this instance, the same with that of the most ardent patriotism; it is more sure and durable than that of enthusiasm, the artificial warmth of which cannot be long kept up. Thus, what by philosophers is called the last state of degradation, places man in the same level with heroism. The Russian soldiers do not conceive it possible to give up the contest, so long as they have life to

continue it. The officers are in general very ignorant, for this reason strangers are in high esteem among them; they are brave in the ranks, but, like the soldiers, they are so from the effect of discipline. The same horror is conceived in the Russian armies of cowardice, as is entertained in other countries against irreligion and villainy. Bravery is a duty from which nobody considers himself exempt. A Russian camp resembles a horde of Tartars. In the same manner that a people accustomed to obey the laws, mechanically observe them; so do the Russians constantly follow the rules of discipline, without daring to depart from them.

Their method is to engage the enemy with the bayonet, at full speed, crying Owri, Owri; no troops in the world can withstand this charge: the firing does not abate their impetuosity; they attack a battery in front, if that be a readier way than to attack it in flank.

To withstand this shock, the enemy must not wait for it, but proceed to meet it with the same resolution. The French are more remarkable for boldness and rashness, than intrepidity; the approach of the long and broad Russian bayonets always alarmed them, and the grenadiers could never stand their impression. The courage of the Russians is proof against every thing; they know how to die to insure victory, and to die rather than be beaten. They will beat all other troops, if they can but bring them to action: they are moving machines of fire, that consume all in their way. No troops in the world are so careless of being attacked in flank, or turned; they think, let the enemy be where he

will,

will, if he can but face about to meet him, that he is in front and regular array before them.

The Russian discipline is extremely rigorous, and has all the ingredients of an autocratical government. The subordination amongst the officers of different ranks is almost as great as that of private soldiers to their officers in other services; they are sometimes treated in the same manner as the privates. Their bravery, is the effect of discipline, more than of elevated sentiments.

Each company has its hero; it is a distinction he obtains from the suffrages of his comrades: he has no pre-eminence determined by order, though he has in effect a very great one; he is the example, the model, and the chief of the mess; he enjoys great consideration among his comrades, and never fails to give them an example of bravery, firmness, and good conduct.-When men are accustomed to any thing, it is sufficient for one to give an example, to induce the other to follow it: this it is, that renders the hero in question so useful in action. Few persons are capable of setting an example, though almost all of following it.

and insignificance of the remaining princes, whose collective force was great, but whose powers could not be brought to act in harmony, or on an emergency be called into exer tion. The greater part of those princes were philanthropic admis istrators of their little territories; but few of them possessed that dignity and those energies of character which their exalted rank demanded, and their high titles imported. Hence we cannot wonder that, when the mighty foe advanced, and the concentrated power of France pressed upon them, they soon shrunk from the conflict, and yielded to the victor almost without opposition. But there were splendid exceptions to this general debility, and an heroism of character was sometimes found in the minor princes, which, had it subsisted in the breasts of the still powerful sovereigus, might have preserved from violation the august memorial and shade of Roman dominion; nor would the Teuton then have lain prostrate before the Gaul.

Among the few who retained the elevation of the ancient German character, even at the moment of its lowest degradation, was the reigning duchess of Saxe Weimar, Louisa, daughter of the Landgrave of Hesse Darmstadt. Her consort, as is well known, was one of the generals of

Buonaparte and the Duchess of the king of Prussia, in the ever

Weimar.

The recent annihilation of the German empire is, above all things, to be attributed to the wretched absurdities of its constitution; to the establishment of the power of Prussia as a balance against Austria, by which dissention and division were organized; and to the weakness

memorable campaign of 1806. When the allied armies collected themselves in the little territory of the duke, where it was resolved to wait the arrival of the French; when it was determined to hazard the battle which was to decide the fate of all Germany, in the vicinity of Weimar, the duchess resolved to abide in her residence. The

aged

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