diff options
Diffstat (limited to 'old/68612-0.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | old/68612-0.txt | 6742 |
1 files changed, 0 insertions, 6742 deletions
diff --git a/old/68612-0.txt b/old/68612-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index fd359a9..0000000 --- a/old/68612-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,6742 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook of An account of the principalities of -Wallachia and Moldavia, by William Wilkinson - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you -will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before -using this eBook. - -Title: An account of the principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia - with various political observations relating to them - -Author: William Wilkinson - -Release Date: July 25, 2022 [eBook #68612] - -Language: English - -Produced by: Richard Tonsing and the Online Distributed Proofreading - Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This book was produced from - images made available by the HathiTrust Digital Library.) - -*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK AN ACCOUNT OF THE -PRINCIPALITIES OF WALLACHIA AND MOLDAVIA *** - - - - - - AN - ACCOUNT - OF - _THE PRINCIPALITIES_ - OF - WALLACHIA AND MOLDAVIA: - WITH - VARIOUS POLITICAL OBSERVATIONS - RELATING TO THEM. - - - BY WILLIAM WILKINSON, ESQ. - - LATE BRITISH CONSUL RESIDENT AT BUKOREST. - - Dobbiamo considerare queste due provincie, Wallachia e Moldavia a guisa - di due nave in un mar’ tempestoso, dove-rare volte si gode la - tranquilita e la calma. DELCHIARO—_Revoluxione di Wallachia_. - - - _LONDON_: - PRINTED FOR LONGMAN, HURST, REES, ORME, AND BROWN, - PATERNOSTER-ROW. - 1820. - - - - - Printed by Strahan and Spottiswoode, - Printers-Street, London. - - - - - PREFACE. - - -Amongst the nations of Europe most given to letters, none have so -largely contributed to the general list of publications, relating to the -condition and progress of the different countries of the world, as the -English; and no travellers possess to the same degree as they do the -love of describing them, however numerous the accounts that have -preceded the period of their own experimental observations. Their -journals, nevertheless, hardly ever fail to create interest, and the -least share of novelty in form or matter induces the less travelling -class of their countrymen to read them with pleasure. - -Turkey and Egypt in particular have long been favourite themes; and -indeed the Ottoman empire in every point of view, whether topographical, -historical, administrative, religious, moral, political, military, or -commercial, offers an inexhaustible subject for investigation, and an -endless excitement to curiosity. No regular and minute description has, -however, yet been undertaken of two of its most important and curious -provinces, those which divide the principal part of the ancient kingdom -of Dacia, under the modern denomination of Wallachia and Moldavia, -although in the renewed existence of Greek governments exercising most -of the prerogatives of independency, in the struggles of two nations -between a strong remnant of Dacian barbarism and the influence of modern -civilisation, and in a country comprehending within its own boundaries -all the productive resources which fall but separately to the share of -other countries, sufficient matter may be found to render them a subject -by no means unworthy of notice. - -These considerations have encouraged me to write the following pages -with the view of laying them before the public. An official residence of -some years in the principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia, afforded me -the most ample opportunities of observation on every thing they contain -most interesting, and I have endeavoured to make an accurate and -satisfactory description of them. With regard to their history, I have -only dwelt upon the most remarkable events, and have merely given it -that extent to which its degree of importance seems entitled. I was -apprehensive that longer and more minute details might be found tedious -and unnecessary. - -I regret, however, that at the time I wrote this account, I was not -sufficiently prepared to enter into further particulars with respect to -the minerals with which those countries abound; I intend, if I return to -them, to bestow as much attention as possible to that particular object, -and to make it the subject of a future separate treatise. - -I am aware that my present undertaking is deserving of an abler pen; but -as the character of nations can only be properly understood after some -length of residence among them, I trust that the circumstances which -place it to my lot, will make the apology of my intrusion, and become a -motive of indulgence to its deficiencies in literary merit. - -As Wallachia was the country of my fixed residence, I naturally chose it -for the principal scene of my observations; and indeed the history of -the two principalities is throughout so intimately connected, the form -of their respective governments, the language, manners, and customs of -the inhabitants, have ever been so much alike, that a description of the -one renders a distinct account of the other superfluous. - -The political importance to which these two provinces have risen since -the reign of the ambitious Catherine, has given them a place of no small -consequence in the general balance of Europe. Most of the European -cabinets keep an eye upon them from the same motives, though with -different views; but politics alone have hitherto brought them into -notice, and philosophically or philanthropically speaking, it must be -confessed that a share of attention, directed by common justice and -humanity, was equally due to their definitive fate. - -I have taken an opportunity of introducing into my appendix, a very -curious account of the military system of the Ottoman empire, translated -from a Turkish manuscript by an English gentleman, who possesses a -perfect knowledge of that language, and who has favoured me with it. I -have added to it some explanatory notes, rendered necessary by the -metaphorical, and in many parts, obscure style of the original writing, -and which my friend has purposely translated in a literal sense, in -order not to divest it of that originality of narration which -constitutes a great share of its interest. - -The work was written in 1804, by order of the then reigning Sultan, -Selim III., with the view of explaining the important advantages of the -new military institution, called Nizam-y-Gedid, by which the Ottoman -armies were trained into a regular form of discipline. - -This institution, however necessary, and although strongly supported by -all the higher classes, was so violently opposed by the clamorous -janissaries, that at length it became impossible to continue it, and -since the year 1805, the former regulations, or rather irregularities, -have again been prevalent in the Ottoman armies. The same disorders -which the Turkish author so faithfully describes as having existed -before the introduction of the Nizam-y-Gedid, have necessarily followed -its abolishment, and Turkey will no longer trust to her own means for -salvation in future war. Her last one with Russia has made her feel but -too sensibly how far the present form of discipline of her armies may -prove fatal to her existence, if ever she is abandoned to herself for -defence. - - - - - CONTENTS. - - - CHAPTER I. - - - Geographical position and extent of Wallachia and - Moldavia—historical remarks from the decline of the Dacians to - the last century Page 1 - - - - CHAPTER II. - - - Inauguration of the Hospodars.—Present form of government.—Local - laws.—Tribunals of justice.—Members of the divan, and other - public functionaries.—Districts.—Caïmacam of - Crayova.—Ispravniks. 46 - - - - CHAPTER III. - - - Population.—Tribute and taxes.—Other branches of - revenue.—Metropolitan dignity.—Monasteries. 60 - - - - CHAPTER IV. - - - Gold and silver mines.—Productions.—Restrictions on their - exportations.—Navigation of the Danube.—Trade of importation. 72 - - - - CHAPTER V. - - - Bukorest and Tirgovist, the capitals of Wallachia.—Yassi, the - capital of Moldavia.—A description of them.—Mode of - travelling.—Breed of horses. Page 86 - - - - CHAPTER VI. - - - Observations on the Greeks in general.—Their introduction to the - government of the principalities.—Their political - system.—Causes of the declaration of war between England and - Russia, and Turkey in 1806.—Those which occasioned the failure - of the English expedition to Constantinople.—Subsequent change - of policy of the Ottoman government.—Peace with England.—Peace - with Russia, and circumstances which mostly contributed to - it.—Hospodars, Callimacki and Caradja.—Prince Demetrius - Mourousi’s death.—Caradja’s flight from Wallachia.—Reflections - on the conduct of the Porte relative to the two - principalities. 95 - - - - CHAPTER VII. - - - Climate—its influence.—Education of the - Boyars.—Schools.—Wallachian tongue.—Modern Greek.—National - dress, music, and dance.—Amusements.—Holidays.—Manners of - society.—Marriages.—Divorces.—Religion and - superstition.—Authority of the church—its independence of the - patriarchal church of Constantinople. 126 - - - - CHAPTER VIII. - - - Peasants.—their manners and mode of - living.—Emigrations.—Agriculture.—General aspect of the - country.—An account of the Gypsies Page 155 - - - - CHAPTER IX. - - - Intercourse of foreigners.—Foreign consuls.—How far the natives - are benefited by their intercourse with foreign residents. 177 - - - ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - - GENERAL OBSERVATIONS ON THE POLITICAL POSITIONS OF THE - PRINCIPALITIES 187 - - APPENDIX 199 - - - - - AN ACCOUNT - - OF - - _THE PRINCIPALITIES_ - - OF - - WALLACHIA AND MOLDAVIA. - - - - - CHAPTER I. - GEOGRAPHICAL POSITION AND EXTENT OF WALLACHIA AND MOLDAVIA—HISTORICAL - REMARKS FROM THE DECLINE OF THE DACIANS TO THE LAST CENTURY. - - -The principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia, situated between 43° 40′ -and 48° 50′ north latitude, 23° and 29° 30′ east longitude, occupying a -space of 350 miles in length, and 160 in breadth, are separated from the -Austrian provinces of Temesvar, Transylvania, and Boukovina, by the -Carpathian mountains; from Russia, by the river Pruth; and from Bulgaria -(the ancient Mœsia), by the Danube. - -It is sufficiently ascertained that these two provinces, joined to those -of Transylvania and Temesvar, composed the kingdom of Dacia, finally -conquered by the Romans. - -The Dacians were originally a Scythian or Sarmatian tribe, resembling, -in language and manners, the Thracians; the Greeks, indeed, considered -them as a part of the Thracian nation. - -They were a sober and vigorous people, capable of enduring any hardships -and privations in war: they did not fear exposing themselves to the -greatest dangers, because they looked upon death as the beginning of a -much happier life; and this doctrine, according to Strabo, they held -from a philosopher named Zamolxis, who was held in high repute by them. - -The progress of the Roman arms, which, under the reign of Augustus, were -carried to the banks of the Danube, brought them into contact with the -Dacians, who were at that time governed by a warlike prince named -Bærebestes, who boldly set the Roman conquerors at defiance. After his -death, they were divided into four or five different principalities, and -their strength was a good deal broken by the Romans; but their last king -Decebalus, one of the ablest and most enterprising warriors of his time, -re-united them into one body towards the 87th year of the Christian æra. - -The first irruption of the Dacians into the territory of the empire, -took place during the latter part of Augustus’s reign; and, at times -repulsed, at other times successful, they continued to annoy the Romans -without any decisive advantage taking place on either side. At last the -Emperor Domitian, determined to put a stop to their depredations, -marched in person against them. - -The particulars of the war which ensued are sufficiently detailed in the -Roman history. The result of it having been such as to compel Domitian -to sue for peace; he consented to pay to Decebalus an annual sum in the -shape of a pension, but which, in fact, was nothing less than a tribute. -It was regularly paid by the Romans until the year 102, when the Emperor -Trajan declared his resolution to discontinue it; and the Dacians -thereby considering themselves no longer bound to observe the treaty of -peace, crossed the Danube, and laid waste the Roman territory. Upon -these acts of hostility, Trajan put himself at the head of a numerous -army, and marching against them, forced them to retire, passed the -Danube in pursuit, engaged and defeated their successive forces, and -finally compelled Decebalus to acknowledge himself his vassal. Trajan -then returned to Rome, where he received the honour of a triumph, and -the title of _Dacicus_. - -But not long after, Decebalus, eager to shake off the Roman yoke, -invaded and plundered the territory of his neighbours the Iazygæ, who -were also tributary to the empire, on their refusal to join him against -the Romans. Trajan again took the field at the head of a vast army, -determined to chastise and subdue the Dacians. He reached the banks of -the Danube in Autumn, and he thought it prudent to wait there the return -of the fine season, that he might carry on military operations with more -facility and success. It was during this interval, that he caused his -famous bridge to be built over the Danube, under the direction of the -architect Apollodorus of Damascus; and its present remains are -sufficiently visible to verify the ancient accounts of this stupendous -work. When the water is very low, some of the piles stand two or three -feet above it, and render that part of the river difficult of -navigation; they are looked upon as rocks by the natives of each side. - -At the return of the Spring, when the bridge was completed, the Roman -army marched over it, and commenced hostilities. The war was long and -difficult, but it terminated in the complete subjugation of the Dacians, -and in the death of their king, Decebalus, who, finding it impossible to -avoid being made prisoner, killed himself that he might not fall alive -into the conquerors’ hands. - -Dacia was thus converted into a Roman province, and Trajan shortly after -sent colonies to increase its population. New cities were built, and -pavements were constructed on the high roads, for the greater facility -of communication.[1] It was governed by a Roman pro-prætor until the -year 274. - -Under the reign of Gallienus, when the empire was already declining, -various parts of Dacia were seized by the Goths, and other barbarous -nations. - -A few Roman legions yet remained in the country, under the reign of the -Emperor Aurelian, who, returning from Gaul, came down to Illyria, and -finding a great part of Dacia in the hands of the barbarians, foresaw -the impossibility of maintaining any possessions in the midst of them, -and he withdrew a good number of the Roman inhabitants to the other side -of the Danube, and settled them in Mæsia. - -During the space of a hundred years from that period, those of the -natives who had remained behind, and their descendants, were incessantly -exposed to the rapacities of a variety of barbarous tribes, who came -into the country for plunder. - -Towards the year 361, the Goths, more powerful than the rest, seemed to -have been left in exclusive possession of the province, and were -inclined to make a permanent stay in it. They embraced the Christian -religion, and established it in Dacia; since when, to the present -moment, it has never ceased to be predominant amongst its inhabitants. - -In 376, the Hunns, having over-run the countries possessed by the Goths, -forced Athanaric, King of the Vizigoths, to retire with all his forces -to that part of Dacia, situated between the rivers Dniester and Danube, -now called Moldavia. He raised a wall between the latter river and the -Pruth, by which he thought himself sufficiently protected against the -attacks of his enemies. The Hunns, however, were not stopped by it; and -their approach spread such consternation among the Goths of the -interior, that those who had the means of escaping, to the number of -some hundred thousand, fled for refuge into the Roman territory, and -were permitted by the Emperor Valens, to settle in Thrace, upon -condition that they should live peaceably there, and serve, when -required, in the Roman armies. - -The Hunns having penetrated into Dacia, were left masters of it until -the year 453, when Ardaric, King of the Gepidæ, a people previously -conquered by Attila and the Hunns, revolted against them, in consequence -of Attila’s death. His son and successor, Ellach, marched against them, -but being defeated and slain, the Hunns were driven back into Scythia, -and the Gepidæ remained masters of all Dacia. They entered into a sort -of alliance with the Romans, who agreed to pay them a pension. In 550, -their first quarrels with their neighbours, the Lombards, took place; -and being sometimes assisted by the Emperor Justinian, they carried on -frequent hostilities against them, for the space of eight years, at the -end of which both nations resolved to decide the fate of the war by one -great battle. The Lombards, under their King Alboin, had previously -formed an alliance with the Avars, a people of Scythian extraction; and, -assisted by them, they marched to action. Both sides fought with equal -valor; but at last victory declared in favour of the Lombards, who, -pursuing the Gepidæ, made a great slaughter among them. The Gepidæ, -either destroyed, dispersed, or subdued, never after had a king of their -own, and ceased to be a nation. - -Alboin’s achievements in Dacia attracted the notice of Narses, sent by -Justinian to conquer Italy: he made offers to him, and finally engaged -him to join the expedition with all his forces. The Lombards thus -abandoned their possessions in Dacia and Pannonia to their friends and -neighbours the Avars. These, also known by the name of White-Hunns, -remained in them until their own destruction by the Franks and -Bulgarians. In the 7th century, being joined by other barbarous tribes, -they pushed their incursions as far as the gates of Constantinople, -where they were so completely defeated by the Emperor Heraclius, that -they could not recover the blow: it was the original cause of their -rapid decline. - -Towards the close of the same century, a nation, known under the names -of Slaves and Bulgarians, came from the interior of Russia to that part -of Mæsia, which has since been called Bulgaria. Soon after a great -number of Slaves, headed by their chief Krumo, crossed the Danube, and -settled in Dacia, where they have since been known under the name of -_Wallachs_. Opinion varies with respect to the origin of this name. Some -historians pretend that the Slaves distinguished by it the Romans of -Mæsia; whilst others maintain that they meant by it a people who led a -pastoral life, and had given it to the inhabitants of Mæsia, most of -whom were shepherds; and that a great number of these, having joined the -Slaves in Dacia, the name by degrees became a general one amongst its -inhabitants. The modern Wallachians, however, exclude it altogether from -their language, and call themselves “Rumunn” or Romans, giving to their -country the name of Roman-land, “Tsara-Rumaneska.” - -Some former inhabitants of Dacia, joined by a number of Slaves and -Bulgarians, separated from the new settlers, and went to the lower part -of Dacia lying between the rivers Olt and Danube, where they fixed their -habitations. They formed themselves into a nation, and chose for their -chief one _Bessarabba_, to whom they gave the Slavonic title of _Bann_ -or regent. The country within his jurisdiction was called _Bannat_; and -it retains to this day the name of Bannat of Crayova, the latter being -that of its present capital. Several other petty independent states -arose at the same time in various parts of Dacia; but they were -frequently annexed to the same sceptre, at other periods dismembered, -according to the warlike ardour or indolence and incapacity of their -various chiefs. Their general system, however, consisted in making war -against the Romans of the lower empire, in which they were seconded by -the Slaves and Bulgarians of Mæsia, whom they looked upon as their -natural allies. This state of things continued to the close of the 9th -century, at which period the Slaves having fallen into decline, various -hordes, originally Scythians, successively undertook the conquest of -Dacia, driving each other out of it, according to the momentary -superiority of the one over the other. The most remarkable of these were -the Hazars, the Patzinaces, the Moangoures, the Ouzes, the Koumans, and -other Tartars. - -The natives were treated as slaves by all these hordes of barbarian -intruders, and great numbers of them were continually retiring to the -other side of the Carpathians; where they settled under their own -chiefs, sometimes independent, at others tributary to the kings of -Hungary. The most conspicuous and thriving of these colonies were those -of Fagarash and Maramosh. - -The devastations continued in the plains finally drove out all the -natives, and in the 11th century the Tartars retired, leaving the -country a complete desert. It remained in this state until the year -1241, when the inhabitants of Fagarash, conducted by their chief Raddo -Negro (Rodolphus the Black), crossed the mountains, and took possession -of that tract of country, which is now called Upper Wallachia. Nearly at -the same time, the inhabitants of Maramosh under their chief Bogdan, -came and settled in that part which is by some called Moldavia, from the -name of the river Moldau, which crosses it to fall into the Danube, and -by the natives and Turks, Bogdania. Raddo Negro and his followers halted -at the foot of the mountains, where they laid the foundation of a city, -to which they gave the name of Kimpolung. At present it is reduced to an -indifferent village; but its original extent is marked by old walls in -ruin; and some inscriptions in its cathedral church attest it to have -been Raddo’s capital. His successors transferred their residence to -Tirgovist, more pleasantly situated in the plains. - -Some Wallachian, Transylvanian, and Hungarian authors differ in opinion -with respect to the exact period of Raddo’s and Bogdan’s establishment -in Wallachia and in Moldavia, and fix it at a different year of the -early part of the 13th century; but as they give no satisfactory -explanation on the subject, I am disposed to differ from them all, in -placing that event in the year 1241, on the strength of the following -considerations:—1st. It does not appear probable that the kings of -Hungary, who, at the commencement of the 13th century were very -powerful, and who looked upon Fagarash and Maramosh as dependencies of -their crown, would have suffered their inhabitants to desert them, in -order to settle in foreign countries: 2dly, It would seem strange that -Raddo, Bogdan, and their followers should have quitted their homes in a -prosperous country, and come to inhabit a desert, without some -extraordinary event had necessitated so remarkable an emigration: and -3dly, the best Hungarian historians place in the year 1240 the invasion -of Battou-Han in the northern countries; and add, that having crossed -Russia and Poland at the head of 500,000 men, he entered Hungary in the -year 1241, where he staid three years, during which he put every thing -to fire and sword, and finally retired because nothing more was left to -satisfy his thirst of blood.[2] It appears, then, extremely probable -that the ravages of Battou-Han, and the terror he spread in the adjacent -provinces, were the only causes of this emigration, which no historian -has yet otherwise accounted for. - -Bogdan and Raddo assumed the Slavonic title of Voïvode, equivalent to -that of commanding prince. When tranquillity was restored in Hungary, -they acknowledged the supremacy of the Hungarian king; but it does not -appear that the formalities of the recognition had been such as to bind -their successors; for, at the early part of the principalities, some -Voïvodes disputed it with success; and from the commencement of the 14th -century, their independency was acknowledged by Hungary. - -The Bannat of Crayova had been little molested during the great -incursions of the barbarians: in the 9th century it had become tributary -to the kings of Hungary, who afterwards held it as a sort of refuge for -the knights going to, and coming from, the Holy Land; but soon after -Raddo’s arrival, the Bann submitted to him the supreme sovereignty of -the Bannat, and it has since then been annexed to the principality of -Wallachia. - -During the latter part of his life, Raddo raised another city, distant -about thirty miles south-west of Kimpolung, on the borders of the river -Argis: he gave it the name of Courté d’Argis, and resided in it -occasionally. He also built a church here, which, two hundred years -after, one of the Voïvodes beautified in a very conspicuous manner. The -whole of the exterior work is entirely of carved marble, something in -the style of the steeple of St. Stephen’s church at Vienna, but far more -elegant. The whole produces a very striking effect; and, as it has -perfectly preserved its original beauty, it is certainly a monument that -the Wallachians may boast of in any part of Europe. - -The Voïvodate was not made hereditary; and although it devolved -sometimes from father to son, the successor was obliged to go through -the formality of being elected by the chiefs of the nation. - -Several successors of Raddo strengthened the government, the population -increased, and a great number of small towns and villages were built in -the country. Frequent hostilities against the Hungarians, arising from -the claims of sovereignty of the latter, accustomed the Wallachians to -war; and in 1391 the Voïvoide Mirtza collected a numerous force, and -attacked the neighbouring possessions of the Turks with the view of -rescuing them from their hands. The Sultan Bajazet being at that moment -employed in Asia in a troublesome war with the Prince of Castomona, had -left his conquests near the Danube without the means of defence. But -when the news of their invasion reached him, he suspended his operations -in Asia, and returned to Adrianople, from whence he sent a numerous army -to Wallachia. The Voïvode marched to meet the Turks; and, after a bloody -battle, he was defeated, and compelled to become tributary to the -Sultan. The annual amount of the tribute was fixed at three thousand -piasters.[3] - -Wallachia continued to pay it until the year 1444; when Ladislas King of -Hungary, preparing to make war against the Turks, engaged the Voïvode -Dracula to form an alliance with him. The Hungarian troops marched -through the principality and were joined by four thousand Wallachians -under the command of Dracula’s son.[4] - -The Hungarians being defeated at the celebrated battle of Varna, -Hunniades their general, and regent of the kingdom during Ladislas’s -minority, returned in haste to make new preparations for carrying on the -war. But the Voïvode, fearful of the Sultan’s vengeance, arrested and -kept him prisoner during a year, pretending thereby to show to the Turks -that he treated him as an enemy. The moment Hunniades reached Hungary, -he assembled an army and placed himself at the head of it, returned to -Wallachia, attacked and defeated the Voïvode, and caused him to be -beheaded in his presence; after which he raised to the Voïvodate one of -the primates of the country, of the name of _Dan_. - -The Wallachians under this Voïvode joined again the Hungarians in 1448, -and made war on Turkey; but being totally defeated at the battle of -Cossova, in Bulgaria, and finding it no longer possible to make any -stand against the Turks, they submitted again to the annual tribute, -which they paid until the year 1460, when the Sultan Mahomet II. being -occupied in completing the conquest of the islands in the Archipelago, -afforded them a new opportunity of shaking off the yoke. Their Voïvode, -also named Dracula[5], did not remain satisfied with mere prudent -measures of defence: with an army he crossed the Danube and attacked the -few Turkish troops that were stationed in his neighbourhood; but this -attempt, like those of his predecessors, was only attended with -momentary success. Mahomet having turned his arms against him, drove him -back to Wallachia, whither he pursued and defeated him. The Voïvode -escaped into Hungary, and the Sultan caused his brother Bladus to be -named in his place. He made a treaty with Bladus, by which he bound the -Wallachians to perpetual tribute; and laid the foundations of that -slavery, from which no efforts have yet had the power of extricating -them with any lasting efficacy. The following is the substance of the -treaty:— - -1. “The Sultan consents and engages for himself and his successors, to -give protection to Wallachia, and to defend it against all enemies, -assuming nothing more than a supremacy over the sovereignty of that -principality, the Voïvodes of which shall be bound to pay to the Sublime -Porte an annual tribute of ten thousand piasters.” - -2. “The Sublime Porte shall never interfere in the local administration -of the said principality, nor shall any Turk be ever permitted to come -into Wallachia without an ostensible reason.” - -3. “Every year an officer of the Porte shall come to Wallachia to -receive the tribute, and on his return shall be accompanied by an -officer of the Voïvode as far as Giurgevo on the Danube, where the money -shall be counted over again, a second receipt given for it, and when it -has been carried in safety to the other side of that river, Wallachia -shall no longer be responsible for any accident that may befall it.”[6] - -4. “The Voïvodes shall continue to be elected by the archbishop, -metropolitan, bishops, and boyars[7], and the election shall be -acknowledged by the Porte.” - -5. “The Wallachian nation shall continue to enjoy the free exercise of -their own laws; and the Voïvodes shall have the right of life and death -over their own subjects, as well as that of making war and peace, -without having to account for any such proceedings to the Sublime -Porte.” - -6. “All Christians who, having once embraced the Mahometan faith, should -come into Wallachia and resume the Christian religion, shall not be -claimed by any Ottoman authorities.” - -7. “Wallachian subjects who may have occasion to go into any part of the -Ottoman dominions, shall not be there called upon for the haratsh or -capitation tax paid by other _Rayahs_.”[8] - -8. “If any Turk have a lawsuit in Wallachia with a subject of the -country, his cause shall be heard and decided by the Wallachian divan, -conformably to the local laws.” - -9. “All Turkish merchants coming to buy and sell goods in the -principality, shall, on their arrival, have to give notice to the local -authorities of the time necessary for their stay, and shall depart when -that time is expired.” - -10. “No Turk is authorised to take away one or more servants of either -sex, natives of Wallachia; and no Turkish mosque shall ever exist on any -part of the Wallachian territory.” - -11. “The Sublime Porte promises never to grant a Ferman[9] at the -request of a Wallachian subject for his affairs in Wallachia, of -whatever nature they may be; and never to assume the right of calling to -Constantinople, or to any other part of the Turkish dominions, a -Wallachian subject on any pretence whatever.” - -This treaty in many respects advantageous to Wallachia, still forms the -basis of its constitution. The first, third, fourth, and latter part of -the fifth articles only, have since undergone alterations, which have -proved in no small degree detrimental to the liberties of that country. -The remainder have been, and are to this day, punctually observed. - -The qualification of a mere tributary prince did not, however, appear to -the Sultan Mahomet as implying sufficient submission; and, in order to -place the person of the Voïvode under a more immediate dependence, he -gave him the rank and title of a Turkish Pashah; a dignity, which has -ever since been inseparable from that of Voïvode or Hospodar. - -The principality remained in a peaceable state several years after its -war with Mahomet, and the weakness and incapacity of several of its -princes afforded to the Ottoman court the means of ruling over it with -increasing power. In 1544 portions of territory bordering on the Danube -were ceded to the Turks; the fortresses of Ibraïl, Giurgevo, and Tourno, -which have much figured in all the subsequent European wars of Turkey, -were raised upon them, and were garrisoned by Turkish soldiers. Having -gained so strong a footing in the country, the conduct of the Turks -became more and more overbearing: its rights and privileges were no -longer respected; and the Porte countenanced, or connived at, every sort -of depredation committed by the soldiers of the garrisons beyond the -boundaries of the fortresses; and soon treated the principality and its -inhabitants as on the same footing with all its other Christian -conquests. - -This state of things continued to the year 1593, when an individual of -the name of Michael was elected to the Voïvodate. He no sooner held the -reins of government than he determined to deliver his country from the -Turkish yoke, and restore it to independency. Circumstances soon -afforded him an opportunity of putting this plan into execution. The -Prince Sigismund of Transylvania, also tributary to the Turks, revolted -against them towards this period, at the instigations of the Pope and of -the Emperor Rodolphus. With him and with the Voïvode Aaron of Moldavia, -Michael formed a league against the enemies of Christianity. But in -order to give a greater appearance of justice to their proceedings, the -allies sent a long list of grievances to the Porte, demanded redress, -and insisted that some satisfactory guarantee were given of a change of -system for the future. These representations not only remained -unanswered, but, shortly after they were made, a troop of three thousand -Janissaries came into Wallachia, and went about the country, levying -contributions on the villagers, and committing all sorts of outrages. A -Wallachian force was at last sent against them, and they were all put to -the sword; after which, Michael, at the head of an army composed of his -own troops and those of his allies, marched against Giurgevo, and -compelled its garrison to retire to the other side of the Danube. - -The threatening attitude of Michael and his allies induced the Sultan -Amurat to desist from further provocation, and to wait for a more -favourable moment of imposing again his yoke on the principalities; but -he died suddenly in 1595, and his successor, Mahomet III., no sooner -ascended the throne than he resolved to carry that plan into execution -by the means of an overpowering army. Forty thousand Turks and twenty -thousand Tartars, under the orders of the Grand Vezier, invaded the -Wallachian and Moldavian provinces nearly at the same time, and a long -war ensued. The invaders suffered a series of defeats: for five years -they renewed the campaign with no better success; and the Sultan was -finally compelled to relinquish his claims. - -In 1600, after the abdication of Sigismund of Transylvania, that -principality became tributary to the Emperor Rodolphus; and as the -Voïvode Michael, whom the emperor had engaged into his interests, had -assisted him in defeating the schemes of Cardinal Battori, pretender to -the Transylvanian sovereignty, Rodolphus, to reward him, left him the -government of Transylvania. The Voïvode fixed his residence in that -province, and appointed a lieutenant in Wallachia. But in the following -year the Transylvanians, not satisfied with his administration, -revolted, and sent invitations to their former Prince, Sigismund, who -was living as a private individual at Clausenburg, to come and resume -the supreme authority. An Austrian army, under the command of General -Baste, was hastily dispatched to stop the progress of the rebellion; and -Michael, who had repaired to Wallachia, returned with some troops, and -joined the imperial general. They marched together against the rebels, -who had formed an army of equal strength, and an obstinate battle took -place, which terminated in the entire defeat of the insurgents, and in -the subjection of the whole province. When events had determined the -fate of Transylvania, the two allied commanders quarrelled in a -discussion concerning the ulterior measures of administration; and -Baste, resolved by some means or other to get rid of Michael, whose -pretensions appeared to him to have become of a dangerous tendency, -caused him to be assassinated. The Wallachian troops were sent back to -their country, and they carried away with them the head of the Voïvode -Michael, which was buried in the monastery of _Dialloluy_, near the town -of Tirgovist, where the monument that was placed over it at the time, -with an inscription alluding to the principal events of his life, and to -the circumstances of his death, engraved in Slavonian characters, still -exists. - -The death of Michael, which took place in 1602, spread great -consternation and confusion in Wallachia. The Primates[10] lost time in -deliberations on the measures that were to be pursued; and the Turkish -Pashahs of the neighbourhood sent a strong body of troops, which, -crossing the Danube at different places, occupied the greatest part of -the principality, and put it out of the power of the Wallachians to make -any effectual resistance. The sultan’s orders for the election of a -Voïvode of his own choice were soon obeyed, and the principality resumed -its tributary character; the treaty of Mahomet II. was renewed, but the -amount of the tribute was fixed at a much higher sum. From this period -forward, Wallachia remained under the power of the Ottoman Sultans; and -although its inhabitants, in the course of the 17th century, made -frequent efforts to throw off the yoke, the success of such attempts -always proved momentary, and consequently more injurious than beneficial -to them in the sequel. - -With regard to Moldavia, the first act of its submission to the Turks -was not the effect of conquest, but a voluntary measure of precaution -and security.[11] It was only in 1536 that this principality consented -to become tributary to the Sultan, and the event is thus explained by -all the Moldavian historians. - -In 1529 the Voïvode Stephen, being on his death-bed, called to him his -son Bogdan, who was likely to succeed him, and his principal nobles: he -addressed them at length on the political situation of the country, -representing the probability of its being soon attacked by the Turks, -and the insufficiency of its means to make any effectual resistance -against their power. He dwelt on the ferocious character of the reigning -Sultan Suleÿman I., and recommended to them in the strongest manner, -rather to seek his clemency by the voluntary offer of a tribute, than -expose themselves to his vengeance in resisting his attempts to obtain -it. - -After Stephen’s death, Bogdan neglected some years his father’s advice, -till at last he saw the necessity of following it; and he sent, in 1536, -ambassadors to Constantinople to offer the tribute. The Sultan then -entered into written engagements with him, by which the same privileges -as those of Wallachia were granted to Moldavia; but in which the tribute -was merely called a _Peshkicsh_, or present. - -Moldavia was governed on the same plan as the sister province, and -frequently shared the same fate in war; sometimes ravaged by the Turks, -at other times successful in resisting them. Towards the close of the -16th century, after its successful co-operation with Wallachia, -Sigismund of Transylvania seized it, deposed the Voïvode Aaron, his -friend and ally, and appointed a man of his own choice, whom he bound to -pay him tribute. But in 1597, a Polish army invaded the province, and -rescued it from the hands of Sigismund. In 1602 the Poles restored it to -the Turks, against whose power the Moldavians never after struggled with -any permanent success. Their frequent and fruitless efforts to regain -independency, exhausted their means and patriotic ardour; and by degrees -they became accustomed to the Turkish yoke. The appointment of the -Voïvodes was left to the pleasure of the Sultans, although the formality -of the election continued to take place a long time after; but the -tribute was no longer called a present, and its amount was increased at -almost every new appointment. - -As far, however, as the end of the 17th century, intervening political -motives still induced the Porte to show some deference to the privileges -of the two principalities; but at the early part of the 18th century, -the Ottoman Court became less constrained in its policy, and in assuming -the right of punishing by death the Wallachian princes, laid the -foundations of that system by which both have been governed to the -present moment. The event which proved so fatal to the respective -constitutions of those states, will show at the same time how far their -public spirit must have been subdued, and how rapid appears to have been -its decline. - -During the reign of Sultan Ahmet, the Porte had, in 1695, declared war -against the Emperor; and the Voïvode Constantine Brancovano Bessarabba -of Wallachia was directed to form an army, and to march into the -Austrian states, in order to second the operations of the Grand Vizier -who was to commence hostilities from the frontiers of Servia. The -Voïvode partly obeyed; but, either from a secret hatred to the Turks, or -from being bribed into the Emperor’s cause, probably from both these -motives, he abstained from taking any active part in the campaign, and -by that circumstance alone, favoured the operations of the Austrians. At -the conclusion of the peace of Carlowitz, the Emperor Leopold rewarded -the Voïvode’s services by conferring on him the title of Prince of the -Roman Empire, together with the gift of some landed estates in -Transylvania. These circumstances could not remain hidden from the -knowledge of the Ottoman court, who, however, found it necessary to use -dissimulation; and some years elapsed without any notice being taken of -them. - -In 1710, Bessarabba was drawn into a secret correspondence with the Czar -Peter the great, the object of which was to obtain his co-operation in -that sovereign’s projected war against the Turks. The Voïvode promised a -contingent of thirty thousand men, and an ample supply of provisions and -other necessaries for the Russian army. - -The purport of this correspondence became known to the Porte, and the -death of Bessarabba was immediately determined upon; but at the same -time it was deemed adviseable to use stratagem instead of open force, -and it was resolved that he should be drawn into a snare by the Prince -of Moldavia. Nicholas Marrocordato then governed that province, but he -was thought unfit for the execution of the plan; the Porte therefore -recalled him, and appointed to the principality Demetrius Cantimir, -whose fidelity had been frequently tried both in peace and war. Cantimir -set out from Constantinople for Moldavia, having instructions and -positive orders to seize Bessarabba under the colour of friendship, -alliance, or any pretence which he might think proper, and send him -alive or dead to Constantinople.[12] - -But Cantimir, who, it seems, had neither the ambition nor the desire of -being made Voïvode of Moldavia, having twice before procured that -principality to his younger brother Antiochus, accepted it with the -express condition that he should not be called upon to pay any tribute, -or to make any of the presents customary at the new nominations. But -when he reached Moldavia the Grand Vezier wrote to him by the Sultan’s -order, not only to send immediately the usual tribute and presents, but -also to prepare provisions for a numerous Turkish army, to throw a -bridge over the Danube for their passage, and to join the Turks in -person with Moldavian troops, besides other intolerable burthens.[13] -Cantimir says, that perceiving now how little faith was to be expected -from the infidels, and esteeming it far better to suffer for the -Christian cause, he resolved to detach himself from the Turkish -interest, and sent a faithful messenger to the Czar, with an offer of -his services and principality. - -With these favourable prospects in Wallachia and in Moldavia, the Czar -advanced towards the Ottoman frontiers. In 1711, he arrived with all his -forces at Yassi, where he remained some days in expectation of the -contingent and provisions promised by the Voïvode of Wallachia. But it -seems that Bessarabba, as the rupture between the Sultan and the Czar -drew near, alarmed at the great preparations of the Turks, and the -approach of their army, composed of two hundred and twenty thousand men, -thought it prudent to take no part in the war, and the subsequent -disasters of the Russians are in a great measure attributed to the -failure of his former promises to the Czar, who had placed too great a -reliance in them. The events of this war are too well known to need any -further explanation here. When peace was restored, and the Voïvodate of -Moldavia had remained vacant by Cantimir’s defection, Nicholas -Marrocordato was again appointed to it. Bessarabba remained unmolested, -but not without the fear of early vengeance. Eager to regain the favour -of the Ottoman government, and to obtain the assurance of oblivion on -the past, he sent large supplies of money, and considerable presents to -the Turkish ministers, and to the public treasures; he repeated them so -often, as to convince the court that he possessed immense wealth, and -the Grand Vezier, Ally-Pashah, who was his personal enemy, obtained from -the Sultan a formal order for his recall, and for the seizure of his -treasures. The Vezier then formed the plan of enforcing this order, and -it was carried into execution in the following manner:— - -In 1714, at the beginning of April, being the week of the Passion, when -the attention of the Wallachians and their occupations were entirely -devoted to the long ceremonies of the Greek church, a Capigee-Bashi[14], -of the Sultan, arrived at Bukorest with a suite of a hundred men; he -sent word to the Voïvode that he was on his way to Hotim upon very -pressing business of the state, and that he should only have time to pay -him a visit on the next morning, after which he intended to take his -departure. Accordingly, he went the next day to the palace, and, on -entering the closet of the Voïvode, who stood up to receive him, he -placed a black handkerchief on his shoulder, conformably to the then -usual method of announcing depositions to persons high in office in -Turkey. The Voïvode was confounded by the unexpected compliment, but the -moment he recovered from his first emotions, he burst into a long strain -of invectives against the Sultan and the Turks, for treating him with so -much ingratitude after the many services he had rendered to the Porte. -The Capigee, however, placed a guard about his person, and proceeded to -the divan chamber, where he read a _Ferman_, which contained the decree -of Bessarabba’s deposition, declared him a traitor, and ordered him to -Constantinople with all his family. After the _Ferman_ had been -published, the Capigee secured the public treasure, and all the -Voïvode’s private property. The frightened inhabitants of Bukorest -remained tranquil spectators of all these acts of violence, and made no -effort to release the Voïvode from his imprisonment. With a nation more -awakened to its own dignity, and to the value of independence, an event -of this nature would not, perhaps, have taken place without the support -of an army, and the shedding of blood; and, indeed, the circumstances of -this very occurrence would hardly appear credible, if they were not -almost fresh in the memory of the present generation. - -Two days after Bessarabba’s deposition, one Stephen Cantacuzene, of -Greek origin, and calling himself a descendant of the imperial family of -that name[15], was, by the Sultan’s order, raised to the Voïvodate. - -On the 14th April, the Capigee-Bashi left Bukorest with Bessarabba, his -wife, four sons, three daughters, and grandson, and escorted by the -Turkish guard. They soon reached Constantinople, and the Voïvode, with -all his family, was immediately confined in the state prison of the -Seven Towers. His treasures not being found so considerable as had been -expected, his sons were put to the torture for three successive days, -that they might confess where their father had hidden the rest; or that -the latter, being a witness to his children’s torments, might come -forward and make that confession himself. But as these cruelties did not -produce the intended effect, the Sultan, exasperated at the apparent -obstinacy of the sufferers, ordered them to be executed in his presence. -The prisoners were conducted to a square, under the windows of the -seraglio, and a long list of accusations was read to them; it alluded -particularly to the treachery of Bessarabba in the Austrian war, and to -the indignant expressions he had made use of against the person of the -Sultan, when his recall had been signified to him. The four sons were -first beheaded, one after the other, and the execution of the father -closed this scene of butchery. When the Sultan withdrew, the five heads -were put upon pikes, and carried about the streets of Constantinople. -The bodies were thrown into the sea, but they were picked up by some -Christian boatmen, and conveyed to a Greek monastery in the little -island of Halcky, in the Propontis, where they received burial. - -As to the unfortunate princess and the remainder of her family, they -were shortly after exiled to Cuttaya, in Asia Minor, but three years -after they were permitted to return to Wallachia.[16] - -The Voïvode Cantacuzene only remained in office two years, and he was -the last Wallachian prince, whose nomination was effected through the -formality of election. This important prerogative of the inhabitants had -been abolished some years before in Moldavia. The Porte found it -unnecessary to suffer it any longer in Wallachia, and indeed it had, -since more than a century, become merely nominal. - -Nicholas Marrocordato was transferred from the government of Moldavia to -that of Wallachia, and proclaimed by a Turkish Capigee-Bashi in 1716. At -this time the Porte was preparing to carry on a defensive war against -Austria; and had the primates of Wallachia felt the courage to protest -against so manifest a violation of their privileges, they would, most -probably, have succeeded in securing a better observance of them. - -Since the commencement of the decline of the Turkish power, the Ottoman -court has made it an invariable policy to infringe little by little on -the privileges allowed to foreign nations by treaty; and to conduct, by -systematic stratagem, an administration which has been constantly -falling in vigour and energy. If any infraction is left unnoticed by the -party it concerns, and the article of a treaty, in its modified state, -is once applied with success to any case to which it may relate, it -becomes a precedent which the Porte will obstinately refer to at any -other time that the strict interpretation of the article is insisted -upon. - -Thus, without assigning any satisfactory reason, and without repealing, -in a plausible manner, the Wallachian law of election, the Sultan took -to himself the exclusive right of appointing to the two Voïvodates. The -measure was not opposed, and its repetition became habitual; and if, at -the present moment, the inhabitants of the two Principalities were to -recall their right to memory, and claim the enforcement of it, the Porte -would consider and treat the proceeding as open rebellion on their part. - -No prince of Wallachian or Moldavian birth or origin, was ever appointed -after the recall of Bessarabba, and the Porte would have been willing to -govern the principalities through the means of Turkish Pashahs; but the -intrigues of the state-interpreter, Alexander Marrocordato, who was then -endeavouring to secure either of the Voïvodates to his son Nicholas, -induced at the time the Ottoman government to introduce another system, -which subsequent motives have contributed to support to the present day. -The Porte selected the new princes from the Greeks of Constantinople, -whose long habit of obedience and servile degradation, appeared to -render them suitable tools for the new policy adopted, relative to the -government of the principalities. From that moment the princes have been -appointed by _Beratt_, an imperial diploma, in which the Sultan, in -proclaiming the nominations, commands the Wallachian and Moldavian -nations to acknowledge and obey the bearers of it, as sole depositories -of the sovereign authority.[17] - -They were instructed to pursue the plan, of administration of the -Voïvodes, and thus they were suffered to hold a court, to confer -dignities and titles of nobility, and to keep up a show of sovereign -splendour, circumstances which were most flattering to the vanity of the -Greeks, and proved useful to the interested views of the Porte. But they -were most strictly forbidden to maintain troops, or to collect any, -under any pretence whatever. This precaution was indispensable, as it -prevented the princes from acquiring military power, and the natives -from aspiring to independency. - -In the course of the last century, a variety of Greek princes succeeded -to each other in the government of the principalities. One alone, -Constantine Marrocordato, appointed in 1735 to Wallachia, devoted -himself with zeal to the welfare of the country. Some wise institutions, -to which we shall have occasion to advert in the sequel, attest the -liberality of his views, and a generosity of character which is not to -be traced in any of his successors. But he was twice recalled, because -he refused to comply with demands of the Ottoman government, which -appeared to him incompatible with duties he owed to the Wallachians. The -other princes, less scrupulous, and more careful of their own interests, -marked their administration by the most violent acts of extortion, and -an invariable system of spoliation. Few of them died of natural death, -and the Turkish scymetar was, perhaps, frequently employed with justice -among them. In a political point of view, the short reigns of most of -these princes offer nothing of sufficient importance or interest to -deserve a place in history. - - - - - CHAPTER II. - INAUGURATION OF THE HOSPODARS—PRESENT FORM OF GOVERNMENT—LOCAL - LAWS—TRIBUNALS OF JUSTICE—MEMBERS OF THE DIVAN AND OTHER PUBLIC - FUNCTIONARIES—DISTRICTS—CAÏMACAM OF CRAYOVA—ISPRAVNIKS. - - -The princes of Wallachia and Moldavia, since the choice of them falls on -the Greeks, receive their investiture at the Porte, with the pomp and -ceremonies usually observed on creating _Pashahs_ and _Veziers_. The -_Kukka_, or military crest, is put on their heads by the _Muzhur Aga_, -and the robe of honour is put on them by the Vezier himself. They are -honoured with the standards and military music, and make their oaths of -allegiance in the presence of the Sultan, to whom they are introduced -with the ceremonies usual at a public audience. From the seraglio, they -go in solemn and ostentatious procession to the patriarchal church, -where prayers and ceremonies are performed similar to those which were -formerly observed at the inauguration of the Greek Emperors. They are -accompanied to their principalities by the Turkish officers appointed to -install them. They make their public entry into the capital of their new -sovereignty with a great display of magnificence, attended by the -metropolitan and dignified ecclesiastics, the members of the divan, and -the chief Boyars. They assume, from the ceremonies which are practised, -the title of “God’s Anointed.”[18] - -The general form of government in both principalities has undergone -little alteration since the exclusion of the native Voïvodes. The prince -is invested with absolute authority, and, till lately, was only -controllable in his financial operations, by the divan, representing the -senate; still, in levying extraordinary contributions, and in fixing the -mode of raising them, the signatures of a majority of members are -required as a mere formality; and, although the want of these would -render such acts illegal, they would not thereby be put with less vigour -into execution. - -The executive administration is divided into various regular -departments. The divan, composed of twelve members, is the supreme -council, and is presided by the Prince, who appoints to it new members -every year, with the exception of the metropolitan, whose ecclesiastical -dignity entitles him to a permanent seat. It is convened at least twice -a week, to receive, examine, and decide upon appeals in judiciary -matters. - -A Voïvode of the name of Mathew Bessarabba, who governed Wallachia from -1633 to 1644, instituted laws which he drew from Justinian’s code, and -modified by the customs of the country. His example was soon after -followed in Moldavia. Several princes made alterations in the original -codes, and the late princes, Caradja of Wallachia, and Callimacki of -Moldavia, have made them undergo a new revision, and have published them -under their own names.[19] It is in conformity to these laws that all -suits are said to be judged, and the sentences framed; but the prince -interprets them in his own way, and his will, in fact, is the only -predominating law. - -The princes’ decisions are without appeal for the natives of the -country; and, however irregular or unjust they may be, they cannot be -revoked by their successors. - -In any case of moment, where the opinion of the members of the divan -happens to be unanimous against that of the prince, or contrary to his -wishes, the decision of the question is postponed, and the members are -privately desired to pronounce according to the views of the prince. As -they are aware that non-compliance would be attended with dismissal and -disgrace, it is common enough, on similar occasions, that at the next -sessions they all declare an opinion directly opposite to the one they -had last given. - -At Bukorest, and at Yassi, where the princes reside, there are two -particular tribunals appropriated to the revision of commercial and -other differences existing between the natives and foreign subjects. -They are called the Foreign Departments, and are each directed by a -Boyar, who has the title of chancellor of foreign affairs, and two other -judges. The business that comes before them is examined and discussed in -the presence of an officer attached to the consulate, by which the -foreign party concerned is protected. The decisions are, conformably to -the general sense of the treaties existing between the Porte and foreign -powers, made according to the local laws; but they are not valid without -the prince’s confirmation, which can be withheld, and a timely appeal -made either to the Grand Vezier’s tribunal at Constantinople, or to the -prince’s own judgement, should the nature of the department’s decision -bear the appearance of partiality or injustice against the foreign -party. Cases of this nature are so common, that the consuls are -frequently obliged to act the part of attorneys in defending the rights -of the individuals who are entitled to their protection. - -There are also separate departments for the police, the treasury, and -criminal cases, as well as a variety of petty offices for the different -business, most of which report directly to the prince, and receive his -instructions. - -The following is an exact list of the chief dignitaries, and the other -officers of state, according to their respective ranks and precedence, -beginning with the twelve members of the divan. - -_The Metropolitan_, or archbishop. - -_The Banno_, a title taken from the former Banns of Crayova. - -_Vornik de Tsara de Suss_, or judge of the upper country. - -_Vornik de Tsara de Joss_, or judge of the lower country. - -_Logothett_, or chancellor and keeper of the great seal. - - _3d Vornik_, Common judges at the divan. - _4th Vornik_, - -_Logothett de Obichëy_; his particular business consists in assembling -the divan. - -_Vornik de Couttee_, or treasurer for the pensions of the widows of poor -Boyars. - -_Vornik de Polittia_, or collector of the capitation tax within the city -of Bukorest. - -_Clutshiar_, or keeper of the code of laws. - -_Clutshiar d’Aria_; although he has a seat, he is not allowed to vote. -He is a kind of sergeant-at-arms. - -According to old custom, an individual, who is not born or naturalised a -Wallachian or Moldavian, cannot be admitted member of the divan. - -_The first Postelnik_ is principal minister and master of the ceremonies -at court. His office is of the most confidential nature, and only given -to Greeks, near relations, or intimate friends of the prince. - -_The Spathar_; his office formerly corresponded to that of minister at -war. At present he is director-general of the police throughout the -principality. In Moldavia he is more properly called _Hetman_. - -_The Vestiar_, or treasurer of the principality: he must be a native. - -_The Hetman_; in Wallachia his business consists in carrying into -execution the prince’s sentences in matters of judicature. He takes 10 -_per cent._ on the value of the objects to which they relate. - -_Camarash_, or first chamberlain; the prince’s private treasurer, and -judge over the Jews. He levies a duty upon all merchandise sold by -retail for his own profit. - -_Armash_, or judge of criminal causes relating to the lower orders; he -has the superintendency of the public prisons, and collects the tribute -paid by the gypsies to government. - -_Agga_, or chief of the police within the city of Bukorest. - -_Portar-Bashi_; he directs the correspondence with the neighbouring -Turkish Pashahs, and other governors. He also attends upon all the Turks -of distinction who visit Bukorest. - -All the preceding offices give the rank of Boyars of the First Class to -the persons who are appointed to them, and as such they wear their -beards; they are all removed every year; but as they retain the titles -until promotion, those in activity are distinguished from them by the -additional one of “_great_,”—“_maray_,”—such as _Logothett-maray_, the -Great Chancellor, &c. - -The Boyars of the Second Class are as follows:— - -_Caminar_, or collector of duties upon wine, brandy, tobacco, and snuff, -brought to Bukorest for sale. - -_Paharnik_, or cup-bearer. At state dinners he stands behind the -prince’s chair, and offers him to drink. - -_Comisso_, or master of the horse. - -_Stolnik_, chief steward at court. - -_Sardar_, chief or colonel of the guards. - -Third Class:— - -_Medelnitsher_; he receives the petitions addressed to the Hospodars, -and reads all the papers at the divan. - -_Pittar_, superintendent of the prince’s equipages. - -_Sludgier_; he was formerly commissary to the regiment of body-guards: -it is now an empty title. - -_Shatrar_, keeper of the prince’s tents. - - 2d Logothett All these are public clerks - 2d Postelnik attached to the offices from - 2d Vestiar which they derive their titles. - 3d Logothett - 3d Postelnik - 3d Vestiar - -The renewal of public officers every year naturally creates great -confusion in the transaction of public business. The custom arises from -the circumstance that the Boyars, whose number in Wallachia amounts to -nearly thirty thousand, claim public employment, at least, for a time, -as a right to which they are each entitled. The first families, in -particular, consider it as their birthright; but as their chief object -is gain, they scramble for places with the most indecorous avidity, and -never regard their want of capacity for any branch of public service. - -As every Boyar has some title or other, he is never addressed by his -name in common intercourse, but by his title preceded by the ancient -Greek one of “ἄρχον,” such as “Archon-Banno, Archon-Shatrar,” &c. - -A certain ceremony is practised at court upon all promotions and -nominations. It takes place once or twice every month, when the prince, -seated on an elevated throne, verbally notifies to the candidate, who is -introduced by the First Postelnik, the rank or office to which he raises -him. A robe of honour is then placed on his shoulders, and he advances -in the most respectful attitude, and kisses the prince’s hand. He is -then conveyed home in one of the state-carriages, or on one of the -prince’s horses (according to his new rank) and accompanied by a great -number of Chiohadars, or livery-servants of the court, to whom he pays a -considerable fee. - -The Boyars of the First Class look upon their titles as corresponding to -those of Count and Baron in Germany, and their rank to that of -Major-general in Russia. It is true that the Empress Catherine, at the -period of her first war with Turkey, issued an Ukase to that effect; but -her successors have set it aside. Although most of the principal -families indulge the idea that none in Europe can boast of more genuine -nobility, there are very few who can trace their origin any farther than -a century back.[20] The present descendants of Bessarabba and -Cantacuzene are amongst this number. A family in Wallachia bear the name -of Paleologos, and confidently assert being descended from the race of -the last Constantine. It would not be very material to attempt to refute -such pretensions; few could be imposed upon by them. They appear, -however, the more absurd, as the persons who make them cannot in any -manner explain upon what grounds they are assumed. - -Wallachia is divided into seventeen districts, including the Bannat of -Crayova composed of five. They are called _Rimnik_, _Buzéo_, _Sakoyéni_, -_Prahova_, _Yallomitza_, _Ilfov_, _Dimbovitza_, _Vlaska_, _Telly-Orman_, -_Mousstzello_, _Argis_, _Olt_, _Romanatz_, _Vultza_, _Doltz_, _Gorge_, -_Méhédintz_. Each of them is governed by two _Ispravniks_ or deputies, -whose appointment is renewed every year by the prince. Their business -chiefly consists in collecting the tribute and other contributions, -which they send to the _Vestiary_, from which they are in a great -measure dependent. The _Ispravniks_ of the Bannat are under the -immediate orders of a lieutenant of the prince, who resides at Crayova, -under the title of _Caïmacam_. The Greek princes have substituted this -appointment to that of the _Banns_, taking the title from that of the -Turkish minister who fills the office of the Grand Vezier at -Constantinople during the latter’s absence. - -The situation of _Caïmacam_ at Crayova is very lucrative, and generally -given to some of the Greeks who follow the princes into Wallachia with -the hope of enriching themselves. - -The Ispravnicates are also given to persons of that description, jointly -with the sons of Boyars, who, at a very early age, commonly make their -_début_ in public career by those appointments. They receive a salary of -five hundred piasters per month, besides which they have perquisites, -which, in some of the richest districts, they extend as far as twenty -thousand piasters a year. - - - - - CHAPTER III. - POPULATION.—TRIBUTE AND TAXES.—OTHER BRANCHES OF REVENUE.—METROPOLITAN - DIGNITY.—MONASTERIES. - - -The exact number of population in the two principalities has never been -properly ascertained; but the nearest calculation approaches to one -million of souls in Wallachia, and five hundred thousand in Moldavia, -since the last peace of Bukorest. - -This population is, in each principality, divided into three distinct -classes; the Boyars, or nobles, of the different orders; the tradesmen -of all descriptions; and the peasants, with others, who are liable to -the common taxes and contributions. - -All the male peasants are, by their birth, subject to the capitation -tax, from the age of sixteen; with the exception of some few who compose -a privileged body called _Sokotelniki_, they are divided into -associations called _Loods_, each of which is composed of a certain -number of individuals, from five to ten, according to their respective -means, and pays a fixed sum of six hundred piasters every year to the -prince. According to the registers of the Wallachian Vestiary in 1818, -the total of the _loods_ in the seventeen districts, amounted to -eighteen thousand, which, at the rate of six hundred piasters, gave an -annual income of 10,800,000 piasters.[21] This amount of revenue is -considered as becoming the property of the reigning prince, and not as -due by the inhabitants to the Ottoman government, as some writers have -represented. - -The treaties made by Mahomet II. and Suleÿman I. in leaving to Wallachia -and to Moldavia the power of choosing their own princes, bound these -alone to pay an annual tribute; the amount of it was at different -periods increased; but it is now fixed at two millions of piasters for -Wallachia, and one million for Moldavia. The Porte has indeed broken its -original engagements by assuming the exclusive right of giving to those -countries Greek princes instead of their own; but in doing so, the -Ottoman court did not degrade the character of sovereignty inherent in -the native Voïvodes; and if the present princes did not bear that -character, their decisions would not be, as they are, without appeal for -the natives. - -The policy of the Porte, and the precarious position of the Greek -Hospodars, have, however, for a long time rendered the fixed amount of -the tribute due to the Porte merely nominal; and it is perfectly -understood that the latter, on receiving their appointments, engage to -satisfy any calls of the Turkish government, of money and other -necessaries. - -Besides the _loods_, there are in Wallachia about one hundred thousand -individuals, and a proportionable number in Moldavia, who do not belong -to the class of peasants, but who pay taxes at an equal rate. These are -the tradesmen, Ottoman Jews, and other Rayahs. - -The privileged class called _Sokotelniki_ is composed of fifteen -thousand individuals taken from among the peasantry, and who were, till -lately, perfectly exempted from every kind of contribution levied by -government; but within a few years the greater number of them have been -made liable to an annual capitation tax of twenty piasters each. - -Their institution dates its origin from a remarkable reform made by -Constantine Mavrocordato, in 1736, when he had the government of both -principalities at the same time. - -Until that period, most of the peasants were slaves of the Boyars: -Mavrocordato abolished the system, and no attempt was ever made since to -renew it. In order, however, to indemnify in some measure the Boyars for -the loss of their slaves, he regulated that each should be allowed to -exact from a limited number of his peasants an annual tribute, in any -shape whatever; and that this class of peasants, to whom he gave the -name of Sokotelniki, should be entirely exempted from the burthen of -public imposts. - -Every Boyar of the first rank is now entitled to eighty Sokotelniki, -each of whom pays him the annual sum of eighty piasters; some few, -instead of receiving money, employ their Sokotelniki in the cultivation -of their lands, and thus derive a much greater advantage from them. - -The privilege, however, is not hereditary either with the possessors, or -the private tributary. Every rank had a fixed number; and by the -inattention and neglect of many princes, as well as by the unceasing -increase of titles of nobility, the Sokotelniki became so numerous, that -in 1814 the government in Wallachia determined to allow no longer to -private individuals a considerable amount of revenue which could be -appropriated to its own use. A new law was therefore made, which formed -into government-loods all Sokotelniki who were not attached to the first -class of Boyars. The institution of this law was warmly supported by the -members of the divan, who, with their equals, had no loss to apprehend; -but it created great discontent in all the other classes affected by it, -and particularly with the Boyars of Crayova, who being more given to -agricultural occupations than the other land-proprietors derived great -advantage from the employment of their Sokotelniki; and they unanimously -determined to oppose the new regulation, as far as it related to -themselves; they threatened to complain to the Porte through the channel -of the Pashah of Widdin, who appeared willing to second their -representations with all his influence. The ferocious Haffiz-Alli[22] -had at that time the government of Widdin; and as he was the prince’s -personal enemy, he would have profited with eagerness of any opportunity -to do him injury. The prince therefore modified the law relating to -Sokotelniki, and those of the Bannat of Crayova were excluded from it. -The following year he succeeded in compelling them to submit to a tax of -twenty piasters each. - -Another privileged class exists in both principalities, and is called -_Poslujniki_; its number, however, is far inferior, and it is composed -of some of the foreign peasants who come from Bulgaria, Servia, and -Transylvania, to settle in the principalities. - -The Poslujniki are given to the Greek Boyars, and to foreign residents -of distinction; a custom which has become habitual since upwards of -fifty years. They pay no money to the persons to whom they are attached; -but it is their business to supply them with provisions of wood, barley, -hay, poultry, eggs, butter, and game, in consideration of which they are -exempted from government imposts, and receive some protection from their -chiefs when they experience any vexations from the Ispravniks, or their -subalterns. - -Constantine Mavrocordato did not include the gypsies in the abolition of -slavery; we shall place our remarks on this curious people in a more -appropriate chapter. - -At the last peace concluded at Bukorest between Russia and the Porte, it -was stipulated that, in consideration of the two principalities having -borne all the weight of the war, they should not, during the first two -years after the day of their restitution, pay any tribute. The agreement -was in the sequel merely observed with regard to the lood-system, -through which it had been always customary before the war to collect the -imposts; and, under a variety of other forms and denominations, -contributions were paid to the Ottoman authorities of an amount -proportionable to the present rates. - -The most important regular revenues of the princes, after the _loods_, -are derived from, the following branches:— - - PIASTERS. - - In Wallachia, the salt mines, which annually give 600,000 - - The Vamma, or Customs, 380,000 - - The Port-Establishment 420,000 - - The Vinaritt, or tax upon wine; Oyaritt, or tax upon sheep; 1,330,000 - Dismaritt, or tax upon swine and bees; and a tax upon - cattle feeding upon heaths and commons without licence - - ————————— - - Total 2,730,000 - - ————————— - - In Moldavia their annual amount is 1,400,000 piasters. - -The administration of these branches of government is always sold to -private speculators; and the above-specified sums have been paid by them -in advance the last six years. Some merchants, and others possessed of -considerable fortunes in the country, have acquired their riches by -these speculations. - -In Wallachia it has become customary that most of the public officers -give a share of their profits to the prince, who, according to the -estimate of their amount, receives it in anticipation; the whole -together, with the value of the presents made to him on conferring -titles of nobility, secure to him a private income of about two millions -of piasters. - -The metropolitan dignity, and all other sees, are in his gift. The -former is usually granted for life, or for the time of the giver’s -reign. Its revenues amount to four hundred thousand piasters. They are -derived from landed property bequeathed to the metropoly by deceased -boyars and others, and from an annual capitation tax of fifteen piasters -levied on the priests of the lower order, whose number amounts to -fifteen thousand. The claims of the prince on this important revenue are -not so openly avowed as on the civil offices; but they are understood -with the person who is raised to the situation, or is confirmed in it by -the successor. - -The bishops of Argis, Rimnik, and Buzéo, are the next ecclesiastical -dignitaries in rank, and the only qualified candidates for the metropoly -among their numerous colleagues. They reside at Bukorest, and they form -the supreme council of the church under the presidency of the -archbishop. This council is the most corrupted tribunal of any in the -country, and its acts and decisions, which proceed from any motives than -those of moral tendency, would seem calculated for no other purpose than -the encouragement of profligacy, and other disorders in the society. The -will of the metropolitan, or that of the prince, is the only rule by -which its concerns are conducted. - -The constitution of Moldavia does not permit the prince to interfere -with the affairs of the ecclesiastical council, nor with the financial -concerns of the metropoly. The archbishop is elected by the nobility, -and must be a native. The bishop of Romano, next in rank, is usually -chosen to that dignity. The same regulations ought to exist in -Wallachia, but a series of abuses have there rendered many evils -irremediable. - -Both principalities abound with monasteries originally established by -different Voïvodes, and it was a long time customary with the -inhabitants to consider as great acts of piety bequests of lands, -houses, shops, or sums of money, made to them, insomuch that hardly any -rich man died without having allotted a portion of his property to such -a purpose. - -These voluntary gifts had so accumulated, and the value of land has so -increased, that some of the monasteries are now the richest -establishments in the country. The greater number are in the gift of the -reigning princes, who let them out for a space of time to the highest -bidders. Others, being dedicated to the patriarchs of Constantinople and -Jerusalem, are disposed of by them; but although the princes cannot -appropriate to their own profit any part of their revenues, as they have -the right of imposing taxes on them upon certain occasions, they -frequently put them under contribution. - -Besides the various important branches of revenue hitherto specified, -the reigning princes possess many other means of raising money. The two -principalities are an inexhaustible source of riches to them, and their -proverbial appellation of ‘Peru of the Greeks’ is verified by -experience. - - - - - CHAPTER IV. - GOLD AND SILVER MINES, &c.—PRODUCTIONS.—RESTRICTIONS ON THEIR - EXPORTATION.—NAVIGATION OF THE DANUBE.—TRADE OF IMPORTATION. - - -The chain of Carpathian mountains which separates the two principalities -from the Austrian dominions, abounds in a variety of minerals. Gold, -silver, quicksilver, iron, copper, pitch, sulphur, and coals, are to be -traced in many places; but although there is strong reason to believe -they exist in abundance, no attempt is made to render them available, -and this neglect is attributed to various motives, some of which would -appear sufficiently justifiable.[23] The inhabitants maintain, that to -undertake a work of a similar magnitude, the employment of a -considerable capital and of a great number of men would be requisite, -and consequently the country would have to support many heavy burthens -long before it would begin to reap any advantage from their intended -object; and that even after consenting to any necessary sacrifices, as -the fruits of them would only serve to benefit the coffers of the Grand -Signior, it is thought prudent to abstain altogether from creating so -powerful an attraction to the leaders of the system of rapacity already -too prevalent in the country. - -On another hand, it is supposed that the precarious position of the -Greek Hospodars, who live under the incessant apprehension of sudden -recall and disgrace, induces them to bestow their whole attention to -such resources only as are most immediately within their reach, and to -neglect any plan that merely offers a remote prospect of gain. - -The Porte then seems to be the only party much interested in this -affair, as the only one capable of setting it properly on foot, and -reaping a lasting advantage. Yet the Turks evince the same indifference, -and political reasons are given in explanation, which, however, are by -no means satisfactory; for surely no such considerations could prevent -them from availing themselves of treasures which they have certainly -assumed in every way the right of calling their own. - -From all these conjectures, however, this conclusion can be drawn,—that -as long as the principalities remain under Turkish influence, their -mineralogic riches will be buried in obscurity and oblivion. The rivers -Dimbovitza and Argis, taking their sources in the Carpathians, and -crossing Wallachia to fall into the Danube, carry along a considerable -quantity of grains of gold. The gypsies that belong to government are -employed in picking them out of the sand when the waters are low; and -they are allowed to pay their tribute partly from the fruits of this -labour. - -The trade of Wallachia and Moldavia, notwithstanding that it labours -under a variety of restrictions and partial prohibitions, is one of -their most important sources of opulence. Its details are little known, -and less noticed beyond the neighbouring countries, although they are by -no means deserving of inattention. - -Of the common productions of the soil, the most abundant is wheat, of -which the two principalities are supposed to give an annual return of -ten millions of killows,[24] although hardly one-sixth part of their -extensive and fertile plains is cultivated, and that a certain space of -this is sown by Indian corn, barley, and hemp. - -The other productions, proportionably important in a commercial point of -view, are the bees-wax, honey, butter, cheese, hides, timber, staves, -and ship-masts of all sizes and descriptions; and an annual supply of -five hundred thousand hare-skins, six hundred thousand okes[25] of -yellow-berries, and forty thousand kintals[26] of sheep’s wool. - -The three last-mentioned articles are alone perfectly free of -exportation; the remainder are kept at the disposal of the Turkish -government; and it is only in times of abundance, after the usual -supplies have been fixed upon for the granaries and arsenal of -Constantinople, that leave can be obtained to employ in foreign trade -any portion of them. The exportation of wheat alone is considered as -under a permanent prohibition; it is not in the power of the Hospodars -to suffer any of it to be taken out of the country on private -speculation; they must be authorised so to do by Ferman, a permit which -is never granted to Rayahs, and very seldom to other Europeans, as the -foreign ministers accredited at the Porte, aware of the difficulty of -obtaining it, and the value that the Ottoman government would set in the -gift of it, prefer abstaining altogether from applications on the -subject, more especially as their success would only be profitable to -some individuals, without being productive of any permanent good to the -trade at large. - -The quality of the Wallachian wheat is inferior, but it is far from -being bad; that of Moldavia is better, and not differing much from the -Polish wheat. Their ordinary price stands between 2 and 2½ piasters per -killow. As an article of general trade, the charges upon it from the -Danube to Constantinople, would hardly amount to one piaster more. The -Turkish government send their own ships every year to transport their -share of it, which is each time fixed at 1,500,000 killows, as well as -the other articles necessary to their use, the quantity of which is not -fixed, though generally very considerable. - -The Moldavian timber is far better than that of Wallachia; it is of the -finest oak, and perfectly well calculated for the construction of -vessels. A great number of ships in the Turkish fleet are built of it, -and fitted out with masts and ropes of Moldavian growth and origin. In -the two provinces, these articles are sold at the lowest possible -prices, and indeed the same thing may be said of all the prohibited -articles; which, restricted as they are, from the monopoly arrogated by -the Porte, have but little demand, except for the local consumption. - -The hare-skins commonly stand at 35 paras[27] each, in large purchases, -and the yellow-berries may be had at 40 or 45 paras per oke. The usual -method of securing any quantity of these two articles at the lowest -prices, is by bespeaking them at the different villages, and paying -something in advance; the villagers engaged in such contracts never fail -to fulfil them in proper time. - -The hare-skins are of the first quality, but the yellow-berries are -inferior to those of Smyrna, and only demanded when the crops in Asia -Minor have proved deficient. - -The sheep’s wool is considered to be very good: cleaned and washed, it -is sold at about 60 paras per oke, or 66 piasters per kintal, when in -its original state, it is offered at 35 to 40 paras. - -The principalities abound also in cattle and poultry of all -descriptions. Every year they supply Constantinople with 250,000 sheep, -and 3000 horses. They send, besides, a great number of these, and oxen, -into the surrounding provinces, where they are usually sold at great -profit. - -All the productions and commodities that are employed for the exigencies -of the Ottoman capital, are bought by the local government for about -one-fourth of the prices current in the market, and one-sixth of their -value in Turkey. They are paid for by a deduction from the common -tribute, and, sometimes, by an extraordinary imposition of an amount -equal to their cost. - -Before we proceed to any remarks on the import trade, it is necessary we -should say a few words on the town and harbour of Galatz, which may be -called the seaport of the two principalities. - -Galatz is in Moldavia, but nearly touches the frontier of Wallachia: it -is situated at the beginning of the broadest and deepest part of the -Danube, distant sixty miles from the Black Sea, sixty-five from Yassi, -and seventy-two from Bukorest. The river is so far very navigable for -ships not exceeding three hundred tons burthen. Its principal entrance -from the sea is not very easy to make, owing to the islands which divide -it into three great channels, two of which are very shallow and -dangerous. But ships bound hither take pilots on board, and with this -precaution, very few accidents take place, particularly in the fine -season. - -The navigation of the Danube closes in the month of November; and in the -severest winters, even this part of the river is completely frozen over -for the space of five or six weeks. In the month of March, ships begin -to make their appearance again, and as they have not the inconveniency -of a tide against them, they are enabled to come up close to the wharfs, -and to remain there until their business is finished. - -Galatz is the great market for the produce of the two principalities, -and the only landing-place for some principal articles of importation. -Having all the resources of a seaport, it is apparently a very -flourishing town. Its market is always well stocked with the productions -of the interior. The timber, masts, and staves are conveyed to it along -the small rivers, that come from various parts of the country, and fall -into the Danube nearest to it. There are public granaries for the wheat, -and a great number of large warehouses, belonging to private merchants, -for all articles. It is chiefly inhabited by commercial men, who, -notwithstanding the rigour of the prohibitive measures, often find the -means of exporting some quantity of wheat, and other contraband -articles; but their principal trade is that of importation. The town and -its dependencies are governed by two deputies of the Prince of Moldavia, -called _Percalabi_. The number of the fixed inhabitants does not exceed -seven thousand, but the great concourse of people occasioned every year -by commercial pursuits, gives it the appearance of being very populous, -and all the bustle of a place of great trade. The presence, in -particular, of a great number of commercial vessels, increases -considerably that appearance. - -Although Galatz is the general _depôt_ for many goods of importation, it -is not the principal market for them: they are conveyed to those of -Bukorest and Yassi. Coffee, sugar, pepper, rum, lemons, oranges, and -foreign wines, are the principal articles of this description. The local -consumption of the first, in both provinces, is calculated at 800,000 -okes every year; of the second, 900,000 okes; and of the third 35,000 -okes; that of the others is merely eventual. Their importation, however, -surpasses this quantity, and might be still carried to a greater extent, -as the provinces of Galicia, Boukovina, Transylvania, Temesvar, and -Servia are partly supplied with those articles by the markets of -Bukorest, Yassi, and Galatz. - -The general system of this import trade is ill contrived, and it is -subject to many inconveniencies. The purchasers have recourse to the -markets of Smyrna and Constantinople, where, of course, they buy at high -prices. The goods, which have already paid custom-house duty in Turkey, -are taxed with a new duty of the same kind, of three per cent., on being -landed or brought into the principalities, as well as with other charges -of an arbitrary nature, which amount to as much more. The latter are -not, indeed, established by the local governments, but merely exacted by -their officers, and as they are tolerated, they become unavoidable, -unless the proprietors of the goods happen to be subjects of European -courts, and as such, receive protection and assistance from the consuls -residing in the country. - -Wallachia and Moldavia are at present supplied by Germany with all kinds -of cotton and woollen manufactures and hardware, either by land or by -the Danube. - -The plain and printed calicoes, the chintz, glass and earthenware, -brought to their markets, are, without exception, German; but they are -called English, and as such sold at higher prices than they would fetch -were their origin made known. - -The consumption of the woollen cloths is very extensive; that of the -superfine qualities alone is valued at 200,000_l._ sterling every year. -Some French cloths are brought into the country, but as their prices are -considerably higher than those of Germany, they do not meet with much -demand. French cambrics and English muslins are always profitable -articles to speculators, and never remain long on hand. - -As furs of all kinds form a part of the national costume, and are, -besides necessary, owing to the natural rigour of the climate, they are -an article of vast importation. Russia supplies the principalities with -it, and takes in return brandy and wine, and imperial ducats. - -Most of the merchants carrying on trade in these countries, are natives, -or Greeks. Some have been naturalised in Russia or in Austria, and -receive protection from those powers; an advantage which is of no small -consequence to their affairs. Of late years, some natives of the Ionian -islands have began to trade in the principalities, and the English flag, -borne by their vessels, is now frequently displayed on the Danube. - -Some overland expeditions of goods coming from Smyrna, are now and then -made by way of Enos and Adrianople; but they are attended with risk and -difficulty; besides which, the amount of charges surpasses by eight per -cent. those incurred by way of Galatz. - -The natural richness, and the various resources of Wallachia and -Moldavia, are such, that if those countries could enjoy the important -advantages of a regular government and a wise administration, under -which industry and agriculture should receive their due encouragement, -the trade of exports laid open, the commercial intercourse with foreign -nations set upon a proper footing, and finally, the mines explored, they -would in a short time become the most populous and most flourishing -provinces of Europe. The harbour of Galatz would soon stand in rivalship -with all the ports of the Black Sea, not excepting Odessa. - -The fertility of the soil is such as to procure nourishment for ten -times the number of the present population, and leave wherewith to -supply other countries besides; the common return of cultivation being -sixteen-fold, and in more favourable seasons, twenty-five. - -Nature has furnished them with every possible means of becoming -prosperous; men have ever proved themselves the determined enemies of -their prosperity. - - - - - CHAPTER V. -BUKOREST AND TIRGOVIST, THE CAPITALS OF WALLACHIA.—YASSI, THE CAPITAL OF - MOLDAVIA.—A DESCRIPTION OF THEM.—MODE OF TRAVELLING.—BREED OF HORSES. - - -Bukorest, the present capital of Wallachia, is an extensive dirty town, -situated on a low and marshy ground, and containing eighty thousand -inhabitants, three hundred and sixty-six churches, twenty monasteries, -and thirty large _hanns_ or caravanserays. - -About four hundred years back it was but a small village, belonging to a -person called _Bukor_, from whom it derived its name, and retains it to -the present day. By degrees it became a town, and it continued -increasing, until it surpassed the former capital, Tirgovist, in size. -The Voïvode, Constantine Bessarabba, made it in 1698, the permanent seat -of government; abandoning with all his nobles the city of Tirgovist, -most delightfully situated further in the interior, having on one side a -beautiful range of hills, and the other a very fine and extensive plain. - -The Greek princes having continued to reside at Bukorest, probably on -account of its being nearer to the Turks, Tirgovist was by degrees -deserted by the remaining part of its inhabitants, and it is now reduced -to a mere village. It contains many ruins of ancient edifices, amongst -which those of the Voïvodes’ palace are the most conspicuous. The river -Dimbovitza runs alongside of it. - -Yassi,the capital of Moldavia, is a smaller but better-built town, -containing many elegant houses built in the most modern style of -European architecture, forty thousand inhabitants, and seventy churches. -One part of it stands upon a fine hill, and the other is situated in a -valley. The prince’s palace is the most extensive edifice in the whole -town, and is surrounded by gardens and yards. It is furnished in a style -which is half Oriental and half European, and has room enough to lodge -conveniently more than a thousand people. - -The palace of Bukorest was formerly a large building, standing on an -eminence at one extremity of the town, and commanding a full view of it. -In 1813 it was accidentally burnt down, and it has not been rebuilt. The -late prince had, since that time, resided in two private houses joined -into one. - -Both capitals occupy a great extent of ground, the houses being separate -from each other, and surrounded by yards or gardens, and trees. All the -buildings are made of brick, and their walls, outside as well as within, -are plastered and whitewashed. Tiles are seldom used, and the roofs are -generally covered with wood. - -The streets of the two capitals, and indeed of all the provincial towns, -are, without exception, paved with thick pieces of timber, thrown -across, and made tight to each other. In some, the surface is made -smooth and even, whilst in others, the logs of wood are almost left in -their natural state. In the rainy seasons they are constantly covered -over with a deep liquid mud, and in the summer, with a thick black dust, -which the least wind renders excessively injurious to the eyes and -lungs; besides these great inconveniences, a complete renewal, at least -once in every six years, is absolutely necessary. - -At Bukorest, under the wooden pavements, to which the natives give the -more appropriate name of _bridges_, there are large kennels, which -receive the filth of the houses, and are meant to convey it to the river -Dimbovitza, which runs through the town. Hardly any care is taken to -keep the different passages open, and the accumulation of dirty -substances frequently stops them up; in this state they sometimes remain -for months in the hot season, during which they produce the most noxious -exhalations, and occasion fevers of a putrid and malignant -nature,—diseases to which the natural position of the town must alone -dispose a great part of the inhabitants. - -It has been long supposed, and it is still considered impossible to pave -the streets with stone, not so much on account of the scarcity of the -material, as owing to the ground being of a soft clay, which offers no -hold to it. This idea, very prevalent among the natives, is certainly -erroneous, and there cannot exist a more convincing proof of it, than -the stone pavements constructed by Trajan and the Romans, which have so -firmly withstood the destructive hand of time. - -From a certain distance, and on elevated ground, the city of Bukorest -offers itself to the view with great advantage; the mixture of the -houses and trees give it a peculiar beauty; but it is like the fine -scenery of a theatre which charms the distant eye, and on being -approached is found to be a coarse daub. - -As late as thirty years back, the Boyars were in the habit of visiting -each other, and going to court on horseback, and the women of the most -opulent only, went in coaches. Within that period, the fashion of riding -in coaches has so increased, and it is now so universal, that no person -of either sex, who has claims to respectability, can pass the gates of -his house otherwise than in a coach, even in the finest weather. The -Boyars consider it derogatory to their dignity to make use of their -legs, and leave to the mob the vulgar practice of walking. The -consequence is, that the streets, about seven or eight yards wide, are -always full of carriages, and frequent accidents happen to the -unfortunate pedestrians. - -The kind of carriage most in use, is the German calèche; and the Boyars -have introduced the fashion of having theirs ornamented in the most -gaudy manner; but as they do not so much regard the beauty of the horses -and harness, nor the dress of the coachman, it is very common to meet in -the streets a carriage glittering with gold, drawn by a pair of -miserable hacks, and driven by a gypsy in rags. - -There are many coachmakers, both at Bukorest and at Yassi; but the -carriages sent from Vienna are preferred to theirs, and much higher -prices are paid for them. The Boyars are indifferent as to their -solidity, and buy any old vehicle that is made up to deceive the eye, -and is offered as new; fine ornaments being the only quality in -estimation, every twelve or eighteen months they are obliged to purchase -a new carriage. On another hand, their own inattention, and the lazy, -slovenly, and careless habits of their coachmen, render this annual -expense indispensable. - -No coaches of any kind are to be hired, so that travellers, and other -non-residents, must submit to the necessity of going on foot. Private -lodgings are also seldom to be had, and it was but very lately that a -public hotel was set up at Bukorest, which, being well furnished, and -provided with every requisite commodity, has become very useful to -travellers. A German is the proprietor and director of it. - -The mode of travelling in the two principalities is so expeditious, that -in this respect it is not equalled in any other country. Their post -establishments are well organized; there are post-houses in all -directions, and they are abundantly provided with horses. Every idea of -comfort must, however, be set aside by those who are willing to conform -themselves to the common method of riding post. A kind of a vehicle is -given, which is not unlike a very small crate for earthenware, fastened -to four small wheels, by the means of wooden pegs, and altogether not -higher than a common wheel-barrow. It is filled with straw, and the -traveller sits in the middle of it, keeping the upper part of his body -in an erect posture, and finding great difficulty to cram his legs -within. Four horses are attached to it by cords, which form the whole -harness; and, driven by one postilion on horseback, they set off at full -speed, and neither stop nor slacken their pace, until they reach the -next post-house. Within the distance of half a mile from it, the -postilion gives warning of his approach by a repeated and great cracking -of his whip, so that, by the time of arrival, another cart is got ready -to receive the traveller. - -The Boyars, and other people of respectability in the country, travel in -their own carriages, and at their own pace. In winter, as the snow lies -about two months on the ground, sledges are generally used, as well in -town as in the country. - -The Wallachian breed of horses is of a peculiar kind. Their stature is -very small, and they have no spirit; but they are strong, active, and -capable of enduring great fatigue. Those of Moldavia differ only in -being a little larger in size. Some of the richest people have their -horses sent them from Russia and Hungary; but they are merely meant for -their coaches, as, from an aversion to every exercise that occasions the -least fatigue, hardly any of them ride on horseback. Handsome -saddle-horses, consequently, are seldom seen in the country; the prince -is the only person who keeps any; but they are chiefly used by his -Albanians, or body-guard. - - - - - CHAPTER VI. - OBSERVATIONS ON THE GREEKS IN GENERAL.—THEIR INTRODUCTION TO THE -PRINCIPALITIES.—THEIR POLITICAL SYSTEM.—CAUSE OF THE DECLARATION OF WAR -BETWEEN TURKEY, RUSSIA, AND ENGLAND IN 1806.—THOSE WHICH OCCASIONED THE -FAILURE OF THE ENGLISH EXPEDITION TO CONSTANTINOPLE.—SUBSEQUENT CHANGES - OF POLICY OF THE OTTOMAN GOVERNMENT.—PEACE WITH ENGLAND.—PEACE WITH - RUSSIA, AND CIRCUMSTANCES WHICH MOSTLY CONTRIBUTED TO IT.—HOSPODARS - CALLIMACKI AND CARADJA.—PRINCE DEMETRIUS MOUROUSI’S DEATH.—CARADJA’S -FLIGHT FROM WALLACHIA.—REFLECTIONS ON THE CONDUCT OF THE PORTE RELATIVE - TO THE TWO PRINCIPALITIES. - - -None of the events that had influenced the political existence, and -undermined the public spirit of the Wallachian and Moldavian nations, -proved more ruinous to them than the system of policy introduced by the -Greeks of the Fannar[28], when they were placed at the head of the -principalities. - -Humiliated, degraded, and oppressed as the Greeks were, since they had -ceased to be a nation, civilisation degenerated among them, in -proportion to the weight and barbarism of the yoke that had been imposed -on them, and they had insensibly contracted those habits of corruption, -and servile obedience, which must be inseparable from a state of slavery -similar to theirs. Dissimulation and falsehood became the most prominent -features of their character; and, in short, the force of the causes -which acted upon them incessantly, familiarised them, by degrees, to -every thing that could be degrading and humiliating to man. - -The ambition of certain Greeks, leading an obscure life at -Constantinople, was, however roused, when the office of -state-interpreter at the Porte, assumed an important appearance under -the direction of their countryman, Alexander Mavrocordato, who, from a -petty merchant at the island of Scio, rose by degrees to that station, -and was sent in the quality of Ottoman plenipotentiary to the congress -of Carlowitz, where he distinguished himself as an able negotiator. He -caused his son Nicholas to be raised to the governments of Moldavia and -Wallachia, and he suggested to the Porte a new mode of appointment to -those principalities, after the elective right had been entirely set -aside. The Ottoman court thenceforward appropriated those two dignities -to individuals who had once served in the quality of state-interpreter -to its satisfaction, not so much as a reward for their services, as on -account of the knowledge obtained of their personal character and extent -of abilities. - -On another hand, the repeated demonstrations of servitude on the part of -the Greeks, and the apparent impossibility of their ever becoming a -nation again, seemed to render them the fittest tools of the Porte’s new -system of government in the principalities; for, although it could not -trample upon the whole of their privileges at once, yet, in giving them -princes who should be entirely devoted to its interests, and slaves to -its will, the existence of those privileges was rendered nugatory. - -No sooner was the possibility of sharing in the public administration -manifested to the Greeks, than such as were versed in the Turkish and -European languages, abandoning all other pursuits, formed themselves -into a distinct class, which assumed the title of nobility, and the -exclusive right of being called to the service of the state. - -In a short time, however, the number of competitors increased -considerably; all equally eager and impatient to reach the same objects, -they introduced a system of intrigue and bribery, which gave rise to -continual changes in the government of the principalities, and -accustomed the Porte to look upon these as farms which were to be let -out to the highest bidders; the farmer-princes were therefore deposed -and recalled, whenever the offers and promises of others of their -countrymen appeared more advantageous. - -From the period at which this system was introduced, to the beginning of -the present century, being a space of ninety years, Wallachia alone has -passed through the hands of forty different princes, independently of -the time it was occupied by the Russians, from 1770 to 1774; by the -Austrians and Russians, from 1789 to 1792, and by the Russians again, -from 1806 to 1812. - -The evils which naturally arose from such a state of things, weighed so -heavily upon the two nations, that the court of Russia, already -authorised by the treaty of Kaïnargik[29], to interfere in their behalf, -insisted at the peace of Yassi in 1792, that the Porte should engage to -maintain the princes of Moldavia and Wallachia in their respective -stations, for the space of seven years, and not to molest them in any -manner previous to the expiration of that term. This agreement was then -legally entered into by the Ottoman plenipotentiaries, but in the sequel -it was not regularly observed by the Porte, whose frequent infractions -of it became the subject of continual remonstrance on the part of the -court of Russia. In 1802, however, Prince Ipsilanti was appointed to the -government of Wallachia, and Prince Alexander Mourousi to that of -Moldavia, with the express condition which was obtained through the -negotiations of the Russian minister at the Porte, that neither of them -should be removed from office previous to the term stipulated in the -treaty, if they were not proved guilty of an offence that the Russian -minister should allow to be of a nature which justified their -deposition.[30] - -In 1805, the intrigues of Buonaparte, who sought to involve Turkey in -his continental system, prevailed upon the Porte to adopt a line of -conduct which Russia could not otherwise interpret, than as a systematic -violation of its existing engagements, and an approaching alliance with -France, notwithstanding that a public audience of the Sultan was given -to the Russian envoy, Mr. d’Italinsky, in which a formal exchange of -ratifications took place of a late treaty of defensive alliance -concluded between the two powers. - -The Hospodars, Ipsilanti and Mourousi, were suddenly recalled, without -the participation of the Russian embassy; the latter was replaced by -Charles Callimacki, and the former by Alexander Sutzo, a man who was -looked upon as a partisan of Buonaparte, and who had always been -obnoxious to the interests of Russia. - -Previous to this circumstance, a certain degree of coolness already -existed between the courts of St. Petersburgh and Constantinople; it -originated in the Porte’s sudden resolution of suppressing foreign -protections, in abolishing all letters-patent, until then granted to -individuals, natives of Turkey, who were authorised by such letters to -place themselves under the protection of foreign courts, although -residing and trading in the Ottoman dominions. More particularly in -carrying that resolution into effect, by forcibly and publicly -compelling all such individuals, protected by Russia, to give up their -titles, without paying the least regard to the representations of the -Russian embassy. - -Ipsilanti’s and Mourousi’s deposition brought things to a crisis. A -Russian army was immediately sent to the frontiers to enforce the -treaties, and having occupied the fortresses of Bender and Hotim, the -Porte looked upon the measure as a declaration of war, and the Mufti -issued his _Fetvaa_[31], which declared it legal to repel force by -force. - -The rupture was soon followed by another with England, who had joined -Russia to oppose the increasing influence of Buonaparte over the Porte. -When, in 1805, the English ambassador, Mr. Charles Arbuthnot, arrived at -Constantinople, the Porte expressed a wish of renewing the treaty of -accession made in 1799, the term of which (eight years) was drawing to -its end. That treaty, framed upon the wisest principles, completed the -triple alliance between England, Russia, and Turkey, from which so many -important advantages have accrued to the common cause. - -Mr. Arbuthnot not being invested with full powers for that particular -object, wrote home for instructions, and received them a short time -after; and when on their arrival an offer was made to the Turkish -ministers to commence the work, they very unexpectedly began to draw -back, and an actual recantation took place, which naturally created the -greatest surprise. - -The intrigues of the French ambassador, and Buonaparte’s progressive -encroachments in Europe, had made on the minds of the Sultan and his -ministers such an impression, that no remonstrance, no threat could now -induce them to perform what they themselves had shown so much wish for -before. - -On the other hand, the British embassy could not remain indifferent to -the recall of the Hospodars, and to the manner in which the foreign -protections had been suppressed. - -From an impulse of official regard to the complaints and interests of -those individuals who were patentees under the English protection, and -in consequence of the Russian envoy’s solicitations that their efforts -might be joined for the purpose of resisting the violent measures -pursued by the Turkish government, the British ambassador made many -representations to the Porte against its proceedings, and although -impartial in principle as to the practice of granting protection to -natives of the country, he, at all events, recommended moderation, and a -less offensive mode of carrying the new system into execution. But -having soon discovered and ascertained beyond a doubt, that all -interference was of no avail, that the resolution of the Turkish cabinet -was such as to hazard all, sooner than withdraw from the adopted plan, -he deemed it expedient to advise the British patentees to proceed, as if -from their own accord, and give up their titles to the Porte, and in the -mean time recommended in a private manner, the property and personal -safety of such individuals, who, by this means, not only avoided the -resentment of the Turkish government, but were all well treated, and -some taken into favour. - -The British ambassador, however, showed less disposition to compliance -with regard to the other proceedings of the Porte, and having insisted -with Russia on the immediate reinstatement of the Hospodars Ipsilanti -and Mourousi, the subject was discussed at the divan, where the general -opinion inclined to a firm resistance of those pretensions; but the -Sultan finally declared, that however humiliating might be the -alternative of ceding to them, he was resolved to recur to it rather -than break with England. - -This decision was at the time carried into execution, to the extreme -disappointment of the French ambassador, Sebastiani, whose great object -was to kindle the fire he had raised. But very soon after, advices being -received that the Russian troops had already entered the Moldavian -territory, affairs underwent a total change; the Russian envoy was -dismissed, and the Grand Vezier took the field. - -To represent these events in a more proper point of view, it is -necessary to observe, that it was neither the intention of England, nor -the wish of Russia, to engage in a serious war with Turkey. Their object -was to bring the Porte to a sense of its true interests, in diverting it -from a line of conduct which bore every appearance of a change in its -political system, and was every way calculated to confirm the suspicion -that the Sultan was contracting an alliance with Buonaparte. - -In order to separate the Porte from the French party, and induce it to -return to the connexions which had formerly existed with the allies of -Turkey, a plan of coercive measures had been found necessary; and, to -give them a greater weight, it had been determined that Russia should -send an army from the north, and England a fleet from the south. - -When the English fleet appeared before Constantinople, it naturally -occasioned the greatest confusion and alarm. The Sultan lost no time in -sending on board to offer terms of peace, and negotiations were -commenced with Mr. Arbuthnot, who was in the flag-ship, the Royal -Sovereign. But they were carried on with much less vigour than it was -necessary to give them, and left time to the French intrigues to gain -the advantage. Buonaparte’s active agents, General Sebastiani and -Franchini[32], were the more anxious to counteract the operations of the -English plenipotentiary, as they were aware that the first result of his -success would have been the expulsion of the French embassy from -Constantinople. They employed for that purpose every means in their -power, and they succeeded by the following stratagem. - -The chief of the Janissaries, Pehlivan-Aga, had formerly been colonel of -a regiment, which had acted once as guard of honour, given to a French -embassy at the Porte. Having remained some time in that station, he had -contracted a lasting connexion with the French, to whose party, since -that period, he devoted himself. When General Sebastiani saw that peace -with England was on the point of being concluded, he sent Franchini to -him to suggest a plan which the Turkish officer carried into immediate -execution. He went to the seraglio[33], as if in great haste, and having -obtained audience of the Sultan, he thus addressed his imperial chief:— - -“May God preserve your sacred person and the Ottoman empire from every -possible evil. A pure sense of duty brings me before your Royal Person, -to represent that so strong and general a fermentation has arisen -amongst my Janissaries since the appearance of the infidel’s fleet -before your royal palace: they express so great a discontent at the -measures pursued by your ministers in negotiating with the English, from -a shameful fear that the appearance of that fleet has thrown them into; -that a general insurrection is on the point of breaking out, unless the -negotiations be laid aside, and all offers of peace be rejected with -scorn. They declare that it is beneath the dignity and fame of the -Ottoman empire, to submit to such an act of humiliation, as to sign a -treaty, because a few ships have come to bully its capital, and dictate -their own terms to the Ottoman sovereign. Your brave Janissaries will -not suffer so disgraceful a stain to tarnish the splendour of the -Ottoman arms. They are all ready to sacrifice themselves in defence of -your residence, and in vindication of the honour and faith of the -Ottoman nation. But they can never consent to stand tacit witnesses of a -submission so ignominious to the Turkish name.” - -Sultan Selim, a prince naturally timid and credulous, no sooner heard a -message of this sort delivered in the name of the Janissaries, then in -good understanding with the chiefs of government, and apparently united -with the troops of the Nisam-y-gedid[34], than he ordered all -communications with the English fleet to be suspended, and immediate -preparations of defence to be made, in the event of its commencing -hostilities. - -This manœuvre, unknown at the time, and with which very few persons are -yet acquainted, was the true cause of the failure of the negotiations -which, at the commencement, bore so sure a prospect of success. - -The fleet returned without even having made a show of hostile -intentions, and left to the triumphant French party the most decided -influence in the Seraglio. - -Before we enter into further observations on the events which followed, -it may not be amiss to make a few remarks on the character of those who -were then at the head of the Turkish administration, as it is to them -that the whole change of system of the Porte is to be attributed. - -Haffiz-Ismaïl Pashah, Grand Vezier, appointed early in 1805, was a -low-bred, ignorant man, so poor and thirsty after money, that the moment -he was elevated to his station, he formed the plan of operating a change -in the principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia, although the time -prescribed by the treaties was not yet near, with a view of getting a -subsidy, and securing to himself an income which the candidates, who -took no small advantage of the Vezier’s inexperience and selfish views, -had promised to allow him when the appointment should have taken place. - -Ibraïm-Aga, Kiaya-Béÿ, or minister of the interior, a man of little -experience and great ambition, under the idea of ingratiating himself -with his master, and rendering, as he thought, a signal service to the -state, undertook the affair of protections which he treated in a manner -so insulting and provoking, that it was impossible for any foreign -power, jealous of its own dignity, to suffer it to remain unnoticed. - -The Mufti, Sheriff-Zaadé-Attaa-Effendi, and the chief of the -Janissaries, Pehlivan-Mehmet Aga, were entirely devoted to the French -party. They willingly seconded the adoption of any measures which tended -to alienate the Porte from England and Russia, and appeared calculated -to promote Buonaparte’s scheme of overthrowing the triple alliance. - -Galib Reïs-Effendi, minister of foreign affairs, and Yussuf-Aga, -Validay-Kiayassi or chancellor to the Emperor’s mother, were the only -two men in power friendly to the common cause. They disapproved of the -measures pursued, but their opinion was over-ruled, and they both -thought it prudent to retire from business, in order to screen -themselves from responsibility with respect to the consequences they -foresaw. - -The military operations on the Danube be between the Russians and the -Turks, which followed the first acts of hostility, were not more -successful with regard to the object that brought them on, than the -threats of the English fleet. - -The peace of Tilsit took place; and the Porte, which had reason to -expect an effective interference on the part of Buonaparte in behalf of -its differences with Russia, gained no other advantage than the -conclusion of a long armistice, the first condition of which was the -retreat of the Russian armies from the principalities, whence, however, -they did not remove. Negotiations for peace were, notwithstanding, set -on foot; and the great revolutions, which overthrew the Sultan Selim, -and consigned him to death, finally established a new order of things at -Constantinople, and operated a complete change in the political system -of the Turkish cabinet. The Porte remained no longer blind to the -equivocal conduct of Buonaparte since his reconciliation with Russia, -and began to look upon its state of hostility with England not only as -useless, but even injurious to the interests of the country. - -In 1808, an English[35]plenipotentiary had been for the second time[36] -sent to treat at the Dardanelles, and peace was definitively signed in -the month of December of the same year. - -At the same time the Turkish plenipotentiaries, sent to Bukorest during -the armistice, were endeavouring to adjust the differences with Russia; -but the interview of the Emperor Alexander with Buonaparte took place at -Erfurth, and the failure of their joint proposals to the court of -London[37] was followed by instructions to Prince Prosoroffsky, -commander-in-chief of the Russian armies in Moldavia and Wallachia, to -signify to the Ottoman plenipotentiaries that, as the Emperor Alexander -had acceded to the Continental System, the chief object of which was a -continual state of warfare with England, he could no longer enter upon -terms of peace with Turkey, unless the English ambassador, lately -admitted at Constantinople, were sent out of the Ottoman dominions. - -The Turkish ministers expressed astonishment at the versatility of the -court of Russia, which, having made the first overtures for a -negotiation, had not then in any manner alluded to England; they -demanded time, however, for the arrival of instructions which were -necessary to regulate their official reply to a communication so -unexpected. They dispatched a messenger to Constantinople for that -purpose, and he was accompanied by an aide-de-camp of Prince -Prosoroffsky, Colonel Bock, who, on his arrival, signified to the Porte -the Emperor’s ultimatum, through the channel of the French minister -Latour Maubourg. - -The Ottoman government, without much hesitation, recalled the Turkish -plenipotentiaries from the congress of Bukorest, and hostilities were -renewed. - -A plan of partition had been formed at Erfurth between the emperors -Alexander and Napoleon, by which the Turkish provinces were to fall to -the share of Russia, and Spain to that of France. It was after this -understanding between the two sovereigns that overtures were made to -England. The English negotiation took time, and before it came to a -decided issue, Buonaparte declared to his senate that the principalities -of Wallachia and Moldavia were annexed to the dominions of his friend -and ally the Emperor Alexander. When, however, Buonaparte found England -determined to treat upon no basis which did not expressly admit of the -evacuation of Spain, and that by entering into such terms he left a -decided advantage to Russia with respect to Turkey, without reaping any -benefit to himself from the political bargain made at Erfurth, he -changed his views. The continental system, which he endeavoured to -justify in attributing the general calamities of Europe to a tyrannical -perseverance in war on the part of England, furnished him with a -sufficient pretext for engaging Russia to continue her war against -Turkey, who had just entered into terms of friendship with England. On -the other hand, he prevailed upon the Turkish government to insist on -the restitution of the principalities occupied by the Russian armies, -and to continue hostilities so long as the Russian court should withhold -its consent to that measure. His desire of keeping these two powers at -variance with each other could not but increase when he had subsequently -formed the plan of invading Russia, who, molested on one side by the -Turks, and on the other by the Persians, was thus forced to employ -considerable armies on distant frontiers. - -The exhausted state of Turkey, the mediation of England, and the -impatience of Russia, who was pressed by the hostile preparations of -France, evidently intended against her, hastened the conclusion of peace -in 1812 between the Mussulman powers and the Russians; but, critical as -the circumstances were, the Court of St. Petersburgh signed a most -advantageous treaty with both. - -Galib Effendi, who, since the great changes of government at -Constantinople, had resumed the functions of minister of foreign -affairs, was chief plenipotentiary at the congress of Bukorest in 1811 -and 1812; but the Greek prince Demetrius Mourousi, who, in his quality -of state-interpreter, was present at the negotiations, conducted the -greatest part of them, and was indeed intrusted with extensive power. He -had, with his two brothers, been invariably attached to the Russian -party since the beginning of his public career, and his hopes of being -appointed to one of the principalities, the greatest objects of his -ambition, after the restoration of peace, appeared grounded upon the -best foundation. His office, his services at the congress, and the -support of the court of Russia, were, in fact, considerations which -appeared to render his nomination certain. - -The cession of Wallachia and Moldavia could not, therefore, by any -means, suit his views, and he combated it with energy and success; but, -in rendering so important a service to the Porte, some proof of -attachment to Russia was also necessary on his part; and although by -insisting on the entire restitution of the principalities, no doubt but -the Russian plenipotentiaries, who were instructed to hasten the -conclusion of peace upon any terms not beyond that restitution, would -have consented without hesitation, Mourousi, who was aware of it, -finally settled the conditions by ceding to Russia the finest part of -Moldavia, that which is situated between the rivers Dniester and Pruth, -thus fixing the future line of demarcation of the Russian frontiers by -the direction of the latter river. - -The vigilant agents of Buonaparte at Constantinople did not suffer the -conduct of Mourousi to remain unnoticed. When, after the signing of the -treaty, they saw themselves frustrated in the hope of inducing the Porte -to continue the war, they sought to bring the Mourousi family into -disgrace, that they might, at least, prevail upon the Ottoman government -to place at the head of the principalities persons of their own -choosing. They represented the Prince Demetrius as a traitor who had -been bribed by the Russians to serve their interests, at a time when it -was in his power to obtain the most advantageous terms of peace. - -Meanwhile hostilities commenced between France and Russia, and the Porte -having evinced a resolution of remaining neutral, unwilling to give -umbrage to either of the contending powers in the choice of the new -Hospodars, resolved to fix upon two individuals whose political -principles had never been connected with foreign parties. A great number -of candidates offered their services, but none of them being qualified -for the appointments, their claims were rejected. Halett-Effendi, -intimate counsellor of the sultan, was instructed to make a choice, and -he fixed it on the prince Charles Callimacki[38] for Moldavia, and Yanco -Caradja for Wallachia. Halett-Effendi had been several years before -Turkish secretary to Callimacki’s father, whilst at the head of the -Moldavian government, and on terms of intimate friendship with Caradja, -who had also a subaltern employment under the same prince. Being -perfectly acquainted with the personal character of both, he recommended -them to the sultan as the fittest persons in those circumstances, and -they were appointed in August 1812. - -Demetrius Mourousi, who, with Galib Effendi, had not yet departed from -Wallachia, received the news of the nominations at a time that he -expected with confidence that of his own. He was at the same time -secretly informed that his return to Constantinople would expose him to -the greatest dangers, and advised to retire into a Christian country. -Offers were made him of an asylum in Russia, with a considerable pension -from the government; but, fearful that his flight might direct the -vengeance of the Porte on his family, who had remained in the power of -the Turks, and in the hope of justifying his conduct, since the whole -responsibility of the transactions at the congress ought properly to -have fallen on Galib Effendi, he made up his mind to accompany that -minister back to the capital. He little suspected, however, that the -Turkish minister, whose conduct had been disapproved of, had removed -every unfavourable impression relative to himself from the mind of the -Sultan, by attributing the conditions of peace to which he had -subscribed, to the intrigues and treachery of Mourousi; and that he had, -in consequence, received secret orders to arrest the Greek prince the -moment they crossed the Danube together, and send him prisoner to the -Grand Vezier, who had not yet removed his head-quarters from Shumla. - -Mourousi, still more encouraged by the friendly assurances of Galib -Effendi, left Bukorest in September, and from Rustehiuk was conveyed -under an escort to Shumla, where, on entering the gates of the Vezier’s -dwelling, he was met by several Chiaoushes[39] who fell upon him with -their sabres and cut him in pieces. His head was sent to Constantinople, -where it was exposed three days at the gates of the Seraglio, with that -of his brother Panayotti Mourousi, who, during the absence of Demetrius -had filled his place at the Porte, and was accused of having been his -accomplice in betraying the Ottoman interests. - -The Hospodars Caradja and Callimacki took possession of their respective -governments on the 3d of October, 1812, the day fixed for the -restitution of the principalities; and the Porte, whose present security -on the side of Russia, in a great measure depends on the strictest -adherence to its treaties with that power, has made no attempt of -removing the princes previous to the expiration of the seven years. - -The Hospodar Caradja, however, having in the course of six years’ -residence in Wallachia, amassed immense wealth, apprehensive of being -called to account on his return to Constantinople for laying aside so -many riches for his own use, judged it prudent to make a timely retreat, -and to settle in some Christian country of Europe beyond the reach of -Turkish influence. He remitted all his money to European banks, and one -day in October, 1818, he assembled some of the principal Boyars, -consigned to them the reins of government, and left Bukorest with all -his family for Kronstadt in the Austrian dominions, where he arrived in -safety after a short journey.[40] - -After his departure, the Boyars petitioned the Sultan that he would no -longer appoint Greek princes to govern Wallachia, but confide the -administration to the members of the divan, who engaged to accept and -maintain any tributary conditions that he would think proper to -prescribe to them. The Ottoman cabinet, however, did not conceive it -prudent to listen to the proposal; and after communicating with the -Russian ambassador, appointed to the principality the same Alexander -Sutzo, who had been so strongly opposed by the Russian Envoy in 1805. - -Russia had no longer reasons to object to his nomination; and no doubt -but the Prince Sutzo, who is an enlightened and well-thinking statesman, -will acquit himself of his charge as well as the circumstances in which -he is situated, will permit. But the harassing and ruinous system of -government, still maintained in the principalities, offers, it must be -confessed, no small matter of regret on the indifference of the Porte -with regard to the adoption of measures better calculated for their -welfare and prosperity. - -The Ottoman court has often witnessed the consequences of the dread with -which the Greeks employed in its service are impressed, and has felt on -various occasions how much its policy must tend to alienate from the -Turks every sentiment of good-will of the inhabitants of those -provinces, and make them desirous and ready to throw themselves into the -arms of the first nation whose armies approach their territory to make -war on Turkey; and yet it continues in the same system. Greek princes, -however devoted to the interests of the Porte, would certainly do little -without armies, in the event of an unexpected revolution in Wallachia -and Moldavia. Their presence alone is by no means sufficient to maintain -in them the Turkish authority. The fortified places on the Danube, are -the only guarantees of the fidelity of the principalities. In suffering -the two nations to be governed entirely by their own natural -authorities, would the Ottoman supremacy incur the least diminution of -power? and would it not continue to maintain the same commanding -advantages? - -The inattention of the Turkish cabinet is not to be exclusively ascribed -to the general system of governing the empire, but chiefly to the -selfish views and personal avidity of the ministers who compose it. They -have accustomed themselves to look upon Wallachia and Moldavia as two -rich provinces over which they have but a momentary authority; and, -instead of seeking the means most calculated to secure a permanent -possession of them, they shorten the possibility by a systematic -devastation of all their resources. - -The Sultan himself, who takes a much more active part in the affairs of -state than many of his predecessors have done; whose talents and liberal -sentiments would claim equality with those of any other sovereign, were -they not so much restrained by the religious prejudices and stubborn -ignorance of his Mahometan subjects: and whose chief attention has of -late years been directed to a new organization of the empire, -unfortunately seems equally averse to any changes which might tend to -improve the condition of Wallachia and Moldavia. - - - - - CHAPTER VII. - CLIMATE.—ITS INFLUENCE.—EDUCATION OF THE BOYARS.—SCHOOLS.—WALLACHIAN - TONGUE.—MODERN GREEK.—NATIONAL DRESS, MUSIC, AND DANCE.— -AMUSEMENTS.—HOLIDAYS.—MANNERS OF SOCIETY.—MARRIAGES.—DIVORCES.—RELIGION - AND SUPERSTITION.—AUTHORITY OF THE CHURCH.—ITS INDEPENDENCE OF THE - PATRIARCHAL CHURCH OF CONSTANTINOPLE. - - -The proximity of the Black Sea and of Mount Hæmus on one side, and that -of the Carpathian Mountains on the other, render the climate of the -principalities variable, and subject to sudden changes from heat to -cold. - -When the wind comes from the north-east, even in the middle of summer, -it cools the atmosphere to such a degree, as to force the inhabitants to -cover themselves with additional clothing. The southerly wind brings -heat and fine weather; but it seldom lasts any length of time. - -A great quantity of rain falls during the summer, and in the months of -June and July it is always accompanied by storms of wind and thunder, -which regularly return every day at the same hour towards the evening. - -The winter is almost always long and tedious, and the summer heats set -in all at once at the beginning of May, so that the beauties of a -regular spring are little seen or known. - -The severest part of the winter begins early in December, and the same -degree of cold, with little variation, lasts until the middle of -February, when a damp and unhealthy temperature succeeds, and continues -until May. The Danube and all the rivers that fall into it from the -principalities generally remain frozen for six weeks, and the ice is -thick enough to bear with perfect safety the heaviest artillery. The -snow lies on the ground the whole of January and February, and -communications with every part of the country are carried on with -sledges. - -From the latter part of September to the middle, and frequently to the -end of, November, the days are the finest in the year. But the nights -are excessively cold, and the night air particularly unwholesome. -Travellers who do not take care to guard against its influence by -flannels and thick clothing, are exposed to the danger of various kinds -of fevers, and of the pleurisy. - -The irregularity of climate, the damp quality of the soil, and an -abundance of marshy places throughout the principalities, produce a -visible influence over the animals of the various sorts which are common -to them, as well as over the vegetation. The bears, wolves, and foxes, -are of the most timid nature; hardly any danger is to be apprehended -from them, unless they are met in numerous flocks, as is common enough -during the coldest winter nights. - -The domestic animals are also remarkable for mildness. The beef, pork, -mutton, poultry, and game, have rather an insipid taste; the vegetables -an inferior flavour, and the flowers little perfume. - -Finally, man, the chief work of nature, is here of a dull and heavy -disposition: with weak passions, no strength of mind, and betraying a -natural aversion to a life of industry or of mental exertion. Moral -causes may indeed produce such effects upon the human frame; but here, -those of a physical kind evidently act in unison with them, and with -equal force. - -The education of the Boyars is usually confined to the mere knowledge of -reading and writing the language of the country, and the modern Greek. -Some few add to this superficial stock of learning, a few of the -rudiments of the French language, which has been introduced by the -Russian officers among them. Many more understand and speak it without -the least knowledge of its letters or grammar. If any are able to talk -familiarly, though imperfectly, of one or two ancient or celebrated -authors, or make a few bad verses that will rhyme, they assume the title -of literati and poets, and they are looked upon by their astonished -countrymen as endowed with superior genius and abilities. An early -propensity to learning and literature receives but little encouragement; -and, at a more advanced period in life, the allurements of public -employment, the petty intrigues at court, and the absence of every -obstacle to pursuits of gallantry and pleasure, induce even the best -disposed to set aside every other occupation. - -Public schools have, since several years, been established both at -Bukorest and Yassi. They are supported at public expense, and attended -by masters for the Wallachian, ancient and modern Greek languages, -writing, and arithmetic. The number of students at each school amounts -at the present moment to about two hundred. They are the sons of -inferior Boyars and tradesmen. The children of the principal Boyars -receive their education at home from private tutors, commonly Greek -priests, who are not natives of the principalities. - -The education of the women is not more carefully attended to than that -of the men; sometimes it is inferior, on account of the prevailing -custom of marrying them at a very early age. - -Neither sex is regularly instructed in religion, and it is by the mere -intercourse of life that they derive their notions of it, and by the -examples of their elders that their principles in it are regulated. - -These circumstances, naturally arising from the discouragement given by -the government to every improvement in civilisation, keep the state of -society very backward, and are productive of the most pernicious -influence over its moral character. - -The Boyars, indeed, although so little susceptible of great virtues, -cannot be taxed with a determined propensity to vice. Established -prejudices, which the general state of ignorance has rooted in the two -nations, and a universal system of moral corruption, render them, -however, familiar with it. - -Money is their only stimulus; and the means they generally employ to -obtain it are not the efforts of industry, nor are they modified by any -scruples of conscience. Habit has made them spoliators; and in a country -where actions of an ignominious nature are even encouraged, and those of -rapacity looked upon as mere proofs of dexterity and cunning, corruption -of principles cannot fail to become universal. - -The prodigality of the Boyars is equal to their avidity; ostentation -governs them in one manner, and avarice in another. They are careless of -their private affairs, and, with the exception of a few more prudent -than the generality, they leave them in the greatest disorder. Averse to -the trouble of conducting their pecuniary concerns, they entrust them to -the hands of stewards, who take good care to enrich themselves at their -expense, and to their great detriment. Many have more debts than the -value of their whole property is sufficient to pay; but their personal -credit is not injured by them, neither do they experience one moment’s -anxiety for such a state of ruin. - -The quality of nobility protects them from the pursuits of the creditor; -and the hope of obtaining lucrative employments, by the revenues of -which they may be able to mend their affairs, sets their minds at ease, -and induces them to continue in extravagance. Some bring forward their -ruin as a pretext for soliciting frequent employment, and when the -creditors have so often applied to the prince as to oblige him to -interfere, they represent that the payment of their debts depends upon -his placing them in office. The office is finally obtained, and the -debts remain unpaid. When a sequester is laid upon their property, they -contrive to prove that it came to them by marriage; and as the law -respects dowries, they save it from public sale. - -The Wallachian or Moldavian language is composed of a corrupt mixture of -foreign words, materially altered from their original orthography and -pronunciation. Its groundwork is Latin and Slavonic. For many centuries -it had no letters, and the Slavonic characters were used in public -instruments and epitaphs. The Boyars, whose public career rendered the -knowledge of a few letters most necessary, knew merely enough to sign -their names. The Bible was only known by reputation. In 1735, -Constantine Mavrocordato,who had undertaken the task of replacing -barbarism by civilisation in both principalities, made a grammar for the -jargon that was spoken, in characters which he drew from the Slavonic -and the Greek. He caused several copies of the Old and New Testament in -the new language to be distributed, and he ordered the Gospel to be -regularly read in the churches. He encouraged the inhabitants to study -their language according to the rules of his grammar, and in a few years -the knowledge of reading and writing became general among the higher -orders.[41] - -The modern Greek, introduced by the Hospodars, is the language of the -court, but it is perfectly understood by the Boyars, with whom it has -become a native tongue. It is spoken in Wallachia with much greater -purity than in any other country where it is in use. In many parts of -Greece, different dialects have been adopted, some of which have but -little affinity with the Hellenic, whilst in others the greater part of -the words have been so disfigured as to render their origin difficult to -trace. The Greek spoken in Wallachia differs but little from the -Hellenic. The Moldavians are less in the habit of making use of it; and -the study of French and other foreign languages is more general among -them. - -The national dress of the Boyars does not differ from that which belongs -to the higher classes of Turks, with the only exception of the turban, -to which they substitute a kind of cap of an extraordinary size called -_calpack_, made of grey Astracan fur, in the shape of a pear. It is -hollow, and the largest part of it is about three feet in circumference, -with a proportionable height. It is altogether a very ugly and -ridiculous head-dress, and not at all adapted to the beauty and -magnificence of the rest of the costume. - -The ladies dress entirely in the European style; but they combine the -fashions with oriental richness and profusion of ornament. Their -persons, in general, have not much beauty; but this deficiency is made -up by a great share of natural grace and pleasant humour, and by a -peculiar neatness of shape. - -The Wallachian music has some resemblance with that of the modern -Greeks, although more regular in time, and altogether more harmonious. -Its style has hardly any variety, and all the tunes are uniformly played -in minor keys. Some would produce good effect if played with proper -delicacy and expression. The instruments mostly used are the common -violin, the Pan-pipe, and a kind of guitar or lute peculiar to the -country. The bands are composed of these three kinds of instruments, all -of which play the leading part without variation of accompaniment; they -are only introduced on occasions of mirth or festivity. The Boyars, -being no admirers of music, never make a study of it, and their gypsy -slaves are the only persons who profess it. Their women, however, are -partial to the German style of it, and several of them perform on the -pianoforte; but want of perseverance keeps them from reaching to any -degree of perfection, and want of emulation from persevering. - -The dance, formerly common to all the classes of the natives, and which, -at present, is the only one known to the lower orders, is of a singular -style. Fifteen or twenty persons of both sexes take each other by the -hands, and, forming a large circle, they turn round and round again, at -a very slow pace; the men bending their knees now and then, as if to -mark the time of music, and casting a languishing look on each side, -when holding the hands of women. This kind of dance has some years since -been thrown out of fashion in the first circles of society, and English -country-dances, waltzing, and the Polish mazurka have been introduced. -Most of the ladies dance them well, but the men very indifferently, -their dress being a great obstacle to perfection in the accomplishment. - -In the daily occupations and pastimes of the Boyars, little variety -takes place. Those who hold no place under government, spend their -leisure in absolute idleness, or in visiting each other to kill time. In -Wallachia, the management of their estates and other private concerns, -which do not relate to public appointment, does not occupy much of their -attention, and sometimes the finest of their lands are left in total -neglect, or in the hands of mercenary agents, who enrich themselves with -their spoils. They hardly ever visit their country possessions, which -some let out for several years, for much less than their real value, -when they find customers who are willing to pay the whole amount of rent -in advance. They build fine country-houses which they intend never to -inhabit, and which, in a few years, fall into ruin. The most delightful -spots in their beautiful country have no power to attract them, neither -is it at all customary with them to quit the town residence at any -season of the year. - -The Boyars in Moldavia, like those in Wallachia, are the great -land-proprietors; but they bestow much more of their attention and time -to the improvement of their estates, which they make their principal -source of riches. The revenues of some of the most opulent, from landed -property, amount to two or three hundred thousand piasters, and their -appointment to public employment is generally unsolicited. - -During the winter, the chief amusements of the Boyars at Bukorest -consist in attending public clubs, established on the plan of the -_redoutes_ at Vienna. Masked balls are given in them three or four times -a week, which attract great numbers of people. There are, however, clubs -adapted to the different ranks; the principal of them, to which the -court and first Boyars subscribe, is distinguished by the appellation of -_Club-noble_; it is very numerously attended towards the end of the -Carnival, and although its title indicates a perfect selection of -society, it does not the less allow entrance to people of all -descriptions under masks. The most genteel do not dance here, unless -they are masked; but they play at the pharao-table, and at other games, -of which the place offers a variety. - -Private balls are also given sometimes, but no other kind of regular -evening parties are customary. Formalities of invitation, however, are -never expected; and the tables of the Boyars, and their houses, are at -all times open to their friends and acquaintance. - -The summer evenings are generally spent at a place called _Hellesteo_. -It is a lake situated about a mile’s distance out of town, on the -borders of which, the company walk or sit two or three hours. Near the -most frequented part is a coffee-house, where ices and other -refreshments are to be had. On Sundays, the number of carriages coming -to this place, amounts sometimes to six or seven hundred; and the -multitude of fashionables, as well as the great display of dress and -jewels of the ladies, certainly render it a gay and pretty scene. The -walks are not shaded by trees, and the only advantage they offer, is an -extensive view round the country. - -At the distance of a mile from the _Hellesteo_, is situated a beautiful -little grove called _Banessa_, to which a part of the company frequently -drive. It is the property of a Boyar of the name of Vakaresko, and forms -a kind of park to his country-house, situated behind it. This gentleman -is not only good enough to keep it open to the public, but even makes -every possible improvement for their accommodation, at his own expense. -Both he and his lady do the honours of it to their friends, in the most -obliging manner. - -All the company return to town from these places at the same time; the -line of calèches, endless to the sight, raise clouds of dust, to the no -small derangement of the ladies’ toilets. Some spend the remainder of -the evening in riding up and down the principal streets, and others -assemble at different houses to play at cards. - -In winter, the afternoon rides are confined to the streets of the town, -where the number and splendour of sledges is equal to that of the -calèches in the fine season. - -Last year a company of German actors came to Bukorest, and after some -performances, were encouraged to establish a regular theatre. They gave -German operas, and comedies translated into Wallachian, and the first -two or three months they attracted crowds from all the classes, who, -without exception, seemed to have taken a true liking to the new sort of -amusement; but latterly the charm of novelty had begun to wear off, and -the Boyars of the first order, with some of the principal foreign -residents, seemed to be the only persons disposed to support the -continuance of the establishment, more with the view of making it a -place of general union of the society, than from the attractions of the -stage. - -The days of Christmas, new-year, the prince’s anniversary, Easter, and -some others, are chiefly devoted to etiquette visits at court. From nine -o’clock in the morning to one in the afternoon, the prince and princess, -seated at the corner of a very long sopha, and covered with jewels and -the most costly apparel, receive the homage of all those who are -entitled to the honour of kissing their hands, an honour which the -foreign consuls, their wives, and officers attached to their suite, -alone, think proper to dispense with. No other persons residing in the -country can be received at court on gala days without going through that -formality. The wives of Boyars are allowed to sit in the presence of the -prince and princess; they take seat according to the rank or office of -their husbands, who without exception are obliged to stand at a -respectful distance. On similar occasions, the crowd at court is -immense; the whole of the outer apartments are filled with persons of -every description, and the audience-chamber is not less so by the number -of visitors. On new-year’s-day it is customary to make presents of money -to the servants attending the court; they have no other pecuniary -allowance for their services; and the bustle and confusion occasioned by -the avidity of this crowd of harpies is as difficult to be described as -it is inconsistent with the dignity of a court who expects and ordains -universal homage to its chiefs. - -About two hundred and ten days of the year are holidays, and they are -strictly observed by the inhabitants, as far, at least, as relates to -the exclusion of all kinds of work. The public offices, although they -have so great a portion of the year to remain inactive, are allowed, -besides, a fortnight’s vacation at Easter and during the hottest days of -summer. In these useless and pernicious days of idleness, whilst the -Boyars’ chief occupation consists in seeking the means of killing time -out of their homes, the lowest classes spend it with their earnings at -the brandy-shops, where prostitutes are kept for the purpose of -attracting a greater number of customers, and of propagating with vice -the most horrible of all the diseases with which human nature is -afflicted. - -The number of this disgraceful class of females is so great at Bukorest, -that the late Aga, or police director, suggested to the prince the plan -of levying a capitation tax on each, whereby he would create a new -revenue of some hundred thousand piasters. This plan, contrary to -expectation, was not put into effect, though it was not likely to meet -with obstacles. - -The manners of society among the Wallachian Boyars are not remarkable -for refinement. The general topics of social conversation are of the -most trivial nature, and subjects of an indecent kind frequently take -the place of more becoming discourse; they are seldom discouraged by -scruples of any ladies present. - -In the habitual state of inaction, brought on by a natural aversion to -every serious occupation which does not immediately relate to personal -interest, both sexes, enjoying the most extensive freedom of intercourse -with each other, are easily led to clandestine connexion; the -matrimonial faith has become merely nominal. - -Various other customs contribute to the domestic disorders prevailing in -a great number of private families. Parents never marry their daughters, -to whatever class they may belong, without allowing them dowries beyond -the proportion of their own means, and to the great detriment of their -male children, who, finding themselves unprovided for, look upon -marriage as the means of securing a fortune, and consequently regard it -as a mere matter of pecuniary speculation. Feelings of affection or -sentiments of esteem are therefore out of the question in the pursuit of -matrimonial engagements, and money remains the only object in view. - -When a girl has reached the age of thirteen or fourteen, her parents -become anxious to procure a husband for her. They do not wait for -proposals, but make the first offers, sometimes to three or four men at -a time, stating with them the amount and nature of the dowry they are -disposed to give. They enter into a regular negotiation when a greater -amount is required, and finally settle with him who remains satisfied -with the most reasonable terms. The inclinations of their daughter are -never consulted on the occasion, and too great a disparity of age, or -other personal defects on the part of the future husband, never appear -to them objectionable. The girl is sometimes perfectly unacquainted with -the man of her parents’ choice; and, at her tender age, unable to form -any judgment on the state of matrimony, she submits to their will with -indifference. Not long after the nuptials, she is left perfect mistress -of her actions, her domestic affairs are entirely put into the hands of -the servants, and she never interferes with them. Neglected by her -husband, and at full liberty to dispose of her time as she thinks -proper, she forms connexions of intimacy with women more experienced in -the world than herself. The attractions of pleasure and society become -too strong to be resisted, and the example of others, with the numerous -temptations that surround her, prove, sooner or later, fatal to her -virtue. To the harmony which may have subsisted between her and her -husband, succeeds disgust; quarrels soon follow, and blows sometimes are -not spared on her. Her condition becomes at last intolerable, she quits -her husband’s house, sues for a divorce, and generally obtains it, -however frivolous the plea in the true sense of the law. Her fortune is -given back to her, and enables her to live single, or to attract another -husband, if she feels again an inclination to matrimony. She is now -allowed her own choice of one; but, once accustomed to the agreeable -paths of diversity, she seldom remains more faithful to the second than -she had been to the first. - -The church of Wallachia and Moldavia is the only one professing the -Greek religion that authorises divorce; or more properly speaking, the -only one that abuses the power of pronouncing it, the authority being -granted to the patriarch of Constantinople on occasions of the most -particular nature, and indeed never made use of. - -In the principalities, the sentence of divorce is pronounced so -frequently, the motives alleged are sometimes so frivolous, that it -never affects the reputation of a woman, so as to degrade her in her -ordinary rank of society; nor does it in the least become a scruple to -the delicacy of the men, whatever may have been the nature of its -motive. - -There are but few families at Bukorest who have long continued in an -uninterrupted state of domestic harmony, and fewer still who can point -out some relation who has not gone through a divorce. - -Sometime back, a Wallachian lady of quality, who had brought but a small -fortune to her husband, became desirous of fixing her residence in one -of the principal streets of the town, and she pressed him to lay aside -his accustomed system of economy, to sell his estate, the revenue of -which gave them the principal means of support, and to build a fine -house in that street. The husband, more reasonable than herself, -positively refused to listen to her extravagant proposal; and the lady, -incensed at his upbraiding her for it, quitted his house, and shortly -after sued for divorce, which she obtained. This lady, who has since -remained single, professed great piety, and is still considered as a -very pious woman. - -Not long after, a young Boyar, contrary to custom, fell in love with a -very beautiful young woman, of the same rank and age. The parents of -both agreed on their union, and the nuptials were celebrated by public -festivities. This couple was looked upon as the only one in the country -whom a strong and mutual attachment had united. At the end of the first -year the husband was suddenly attacked by a pulmonary complaint, and -induced by the physicians’ advice to separate himself for some time from -his wife, and go to Vienna in order to consult the best medical men. -After eighteen months’ absence, finding himself perfectly recovered, he -hastened back to Bukorest impatient to see his wife, to whom he had not -ceased to write, but whose letters had latterly become much less -frequent. On his arrival he found the most unexpected changes in his -family affairs. His wife had gone to her parents, refused to see him, -and had already consented to marry another! Her father, who was the -chief instigator of her sudden resolution, had negotiated the second -marriage, because it suited his own interests. - -The legitimate husband claimed his spouse through every possible -channel; but he was not listened to, and government declined -interfering. - -The sentence of divorce was pronounced by the metropolitan; and, -although the husband’s refusal to sign the act rendered it perfectly -illegal, the second marriage took place; the ceremony was performed by -the archbishop in person, and public rejoicings were made on the -occasion. - -The circumstances of this adventure were the more remarkable, as the -second husband had been married before, and divorced his wife after six -weeks’ cohabitation, when he saw the possibility of obtaining this -lady’s hand. - -Another lady of the first rank separated her daughter from her husband, -with whom she had lived six years, and caused a sentence of divorce to -be pronounced. She gave for reason, that her daughter’s constitution -suffered considerably by frequent pregnancy. The husband, who was by no -means inclined to the separation, and who knew his wife to enjoy the -best health, made remonstrances to no effect: and he was condemned by -government to give back the dowry, and to pay damages to a considerable -amount, for having spent a part of it, although he proved to have -employed the deficient sum for the use of his wife and family. - -These three instances of the degraded state of morals in these countries -are selected from numerous others that occur daily. They are such as to -excite astonishment, and appear almost incredible; yet they created no -other sensation at the time than other common news of the day, deserving -but little notice. - -It is customary in Wallachia for parents to interfere in their married -children’s family concerns, and to exercise nearly the same authority -over them after marriage as before. They are often seen as busy in -intriguing to bring on a separation, as they had been active in seeking -husbands or wives for them. - -The absurdities of superstition, which form so great a part of the -fundamental principles of the present Greek faith, have gained equal -strength in Wallachia and in Moldavia: even the most precise doctrines -of the Christian religion are there corrupted by the misconceptions or -selfish views of low-bred and ignorant priests, a set of men, indeed, -who have here made themselves a manifest disgrace to the sanctity of the -Christian name. - -A celebrated writer has said that ‘Climate has some influence over men; -government a hundred times more, and religion still more.’[42] This -observation is particularly applicable to these countries, and its truth -illustrated by their present condition. Either of the two last-mentioned -causes, separately, would have acted with force upon the morals of their -inhabitants. Intimately connected as they are, the evils that result are -most deplorable. - -The mode of instructing the Wallachians and Moldavians in the precepts -of religion, is not, however, calculated to animate them with excessive -zeal and to propagate fanaticism. They are merely taught to plunge -headlong into all the ridicules of superstition, the inseparable -attendant of ignorance; and it is probably owing to the total absence of -fanaticism that the priesthood exercise a less powerful influence here, -than they do in other Greek countries. All the ecclesiastical -dignitaries being of obscure origin, and mostly of the lowest -extraction, they are personally despised by the Boyars. Their spiritual -power is alone respected. - -The rites ordained by the established church are the same as those of -the patriarchal church. Persons who have not received baptism in it, are -not considered as Christians, nor even honoured with the name of such. - -Frequency of confession and communion, and the punctual observance of a -vast number of fast-days, during the year, are prescribed with severity. -They have become the most essential points of faith, and the people -believe with confidence that an exact adherence to them is sufficient to -expiate the heaviest crimes, particularly after the confessor’s -absolution, which, in most cases, is to be obtained by the means of a -good fee. - -Attending divine service at a very early hour on Sundays and other -holidays, and three or four times a day during the week of the Passion, -is also required and observed; the signs of devotion performed in it, -consist in making crosses and prostrations before the images, kissing -them, and lighting a candle to some favourite saint. The Gospel, when -read, is heard with indifference and inattention. Preaching is not -customary. - -The laws of the church strictly forbid matrimony between persons who are -in any degree related to each other: they even go so far as to prevent -marriage between people whose parents may have stood godfathers to -either in baptism. The severity of the matrimonial laws is still greater -with respect to the difference of religion, when one of the parties -belongs to the Greek church. A transgression would be followed by a -sentence of divorce, and punished by excommunication, if the marriage, -already concluded, were persisted in. The dread of this last evil is so -great to all the natives, that every sacrifice is made in preference of -being exposed to it. - -The patriarch of Constantinople, although acknowledged as chief of the -religion, has no controul over the church of the two principalities and -exercises but little influence over its chief dignitaries. - - - - - CHAPTER VIII. - PEASANTS—THEIR MANNERS AND MODE OF - LIVING.—EMIGRATIONS.—AGRICULTURE.—GENERAL ASPECT OF THE COUNTRY.—AN - ACCOUNT OF THE GYPSIES. - - -There does not perhaps exist a people labouring under a greater degree -of oppression from the effect of despotic power, and more heavily -burthened with impositions and taxes, than the peasantry of Wallachia -and Moldavia; nor any who would bear half their weight with the same -patience and seeming resignation. Accustomed, however, to that state of -servitude which to others might appear intolerable, they are unable to -form hopes for a better condition; the habitual depression of their -minds has become a sort of natural stupor and apathy, which render them -equally indifferent to the enjoyments of life, and insensible to -happiness, as to the pangs of anguish and affliction. - -Hence it is in a great measure inferred that they are a quiet and -harmless people. Their mode of living is, indeed, with regard to the -intercourse among themselves, an uninterrupted calm. Although the male -part are given to drinking, quarrels and fighting are almost unknown -among them; and they are so much used to blows and all kinds of ill -treatment from their superiors, that they approach with the greatest -respect and submission any who bear upon themselves the least external -mark of superiority. - -Their religious notions, grounded upon the most ridiculous superstition, -are extremely singular. They firmly believe in all sorts of witchcraft, -in apparitions of the dead, in ghosts, and in all kinds of miracles -performed by the images of saints, and by the virtues of the holy water. -In illness, they place an image near them, and when they recover, though -it were through the assistance of the ablest physician, they attribute -their return to health to the good offices of the image alone. Their -observance of Lent days is so strict, that the threats of instant death -would hardly prevail upon any one to taste of the aliments specified in -the endless catalogue of forbidden food. Their other Christian duties, -although similar to those of the superior classes of their countrymen, -are carried to greater excess. Invoking the Holy Virgin or any saint, is -always substituted to regular prayer. Divine Providence is never -directly addressed. - -The villages throughout the country are principally composed of -peasants’ huts, all built in the same style and of the same size. The -walls are of clay, and the roofs thatched with straw, neither of which -are calculated to protect the lodgers from the inclemency of the bad -seasons. The groundfloors are, however, occupied as long as the weather -will permit, and in winter they retire to cells under ground, easily -kept warm by means of a little fire made of dried dung and some branches -of trees; which, at the same time, serves for cooking their scanty food. -Each family, however numerous, sleeps in one of these subterraneous -habitations, men, women, and children, all heaped up together; and their -respective beds consist of one piece of coarse woollen cloth, which -serves in the double capacity of matrass and covering. - -Their ordinary food is composed of a kind of dough to which they give -the name of _mammalinga_, made of the flour of Indian wheat, sometimes -mixed with milk. The first two or three days after a long Lent, they -sparingly indulge themselves in meat; but the greater part cannot afford -even so great a treat, and content themselves with eggs fried in butter, -and the milk to their mammalinga. - -They continue the whole day out of doors at work, and they bear with -indifference all the extremes of the weather. Their industry, however, -is not of a very active kind, and they take frequent rest. - -Notwithstanding this mode of life, and the supposed influence of an -ungenial climate, the generality of the peasants are a fine race of -people. They have no peculiar turn of features which may be called -characteristic; from long intercourse with foreign nations, their blood -seems to have become a mixture of many. The Eastern black eye and dark -hair, the Russian blue eye and light hair, the Greek and Roman nose, and -those features which distinguish the Tartars, are equally common amongst -all the orders of these two nations. - -Both sexes are in the habit of marrying very young. They are not given -by inclination to sensual pleasures; but as religion does not teach the -women the propriety of virtue, excessive poverty induces them to grant -their favours for any pecuniary consideration, frequently with the -knowledge and consent of their husbands, or parents. - -In the holidays, they spend most of their time in the village -wine-houses, where they eat and drink, and sometimes dance. At other -times they enjoy the spectacle of bear-dancing, a very common amusement -throughout the country, conducted by wandering gypsies, who teach the -art to those animals while very young, and gain a living by exhibiting -them afterwards. - -The dress of the male peasants bears some resemblance to that of the -Dacians, as represented in the figures of Trajan’s pillar at Rome. Their -feet are covered with sandals made of goat-skin. They wear a kind of -loose pantaloon which is fastened to the waist by a tight leather belt, -and closes from the knee downwards. The upper part of the garment is -composed of a tight waistcoat, and a short jacket over it, of coarse -cotton stuff, and in winter is added a white sheep-skin, which is hung -over the shoulders in the manner of an hussar’s pelisse. The head is not -deprived of any part of its hair, which is twisted round behind, and a -cap is used to cover it, also made of sheep-skin, but which in summer is -exchanged for a large round hat. The beard is shaved, and the whiskers -alone are left to their natural growth. - -The women are clothed from the neck to the ancles with a long gown of -thick cotton stuff of a light colour, made tight at the waist in such a -manner as to render the whole shape visible. They generally go -barefooted, and they cover their heads with a common handkerchief, -merely meant to keep up the hair. On holidays they add to their common -shift a coloured gown of a better sort: they button it up from the waist -to the neck, round which they wear as ornament, one or more strings of -beads, or _paras_, pierced through for the purpose. - -Since their emancipation, the peasants have not been fixed to particular -parts of the country, and they are at full liberty to change their -habitations at the end of their engagements with the landholders. But -those of a more respectable kind seldom quit the spots where chance has -once placed them, unless they are driven by imperious circumstances. - -Notwithstanding the unfortunate position of this people, by no means -enviable to their neighbours, the miseries of famine in Transylvania -sometimes cause considerable emigrations of peasants from that vast -province into Wallachia and Moldavia. All the best lands in Transylvania -being in the hands of Hungarians, Szecklers, and Saxons, the others who -form the bulk of the population are driven into hilly and barren -situations, where at all times they subsist with difficulty; and of late -years the more than ordinary scarcity that prevailed has driven about -twenty thousand peasants, subjects of the emperor, into the dominions of -the Hospodars, where the great disproportion between the number of -agricultural hands and the extent of arable land, renders such -emigrations extremely useful. They are placed on the same footing as the -native peasants with regard to tribute. - -The changes of residence that sometimes take place among the peasantry -are not detrimental to the collection of the imposts, as it is the -business of the Ispravniks of each district to ascertain, every six -months, the number and means of the individuals living within the limits -of their Ispravnicates, and amenable to taxation. The deficiency of any -particular district being made up by the increase in another, no loss -accrues to the treasury. - -There is no regular system exercised with respect to the arrangements of -the landholders and peasants. In general, however, the latter are -allowed a share of the produce in kind, with an understanding that the -burthen of the taxes and impositions falls upon them; not that the -former would be averse to taking upon themselves the payment of their -tenants’ contributions, but because government is decidedly against the -introduction of a similar regulation, the amount and nature of the -imposts being nominally fixed, but always exceeding the regular rates. - -As the Boyars proprietors of land in Wallachia never cultivate the -estates for their own account, but merely rent them to those who can -make the greatest offer of ready money, the less valuable are sometimes -given to the whole body of peasants, residing in them when the advances -are made by them. The richest estates give an income of fifty or sixty -thousand piasters: but they are divided and subdivided for -marriage-portions for the proprietors’ daughters; and if the custom -continue for a few generations longer, a system, something similar to -the agrarian law, must be the future consequence. - -The manner of tilling the ground does not materially differ from that of -other countries in Europe; oxen are employed instead of horses. - -The wheat is sown during the Autumn; the barley and Indian corn in -Spring. The harvest of the two first generally takes place in the month -of July; that of the latter at the beginning of September; and as this -article is required for the nourishment of so great a portion of the -population as the peasantry, the quantity of it sown and reaped every -year is equal to that of wheat. Barley being only made use of for -feeding cattle and poultry, it is sown in a much smaller proportion. - -The vine is always planted on the sloping of hills, and in situations -where it can receive some protection against any sudden severities of -the weather; the grape is seldom gathered before the end of September; -and as it does not come to a perfect state of maturity, it makes but -indifferent wine, of a light and sourish taste. All other kinds of -fruit, common to Europe, come here in great abundance at their usual -seasons. - -The great waste of land left in both principalities in a state of -nature, and the universal custom of not cultivating the immediate -vicinity of the high roads, give to the country, in many parts, an -appearance of desolation; and a traveller, who only judges by the -scenery within his view, is apt sometimes to think himself in a -wilderness; he meets with few habitations on his way, except those -attached to the post-houses, and hardly perceives any other population. - -But of all the sensations of delight produced by the beauties of nature, -none can surpass that which is raised by the aspect of the more interior -parts of this country. Romantic hills and dales, rivulets and streams, -fields adorned with verdure and flowers, present themselves in a -successive variety of beauty during the fine season, particularly within -twenty or thirty miles of the Carpathians, from the Pruth to the Danube -at Orsova. The inner parts of those mountains themselves offer the most -magnificent scenery; and their summits, the most beautiful and extensive -views. Those who have seen the romantic parts of the Alps, cannot help -recalling them here to their remembrance; the impressions of the moment -are such that they feel at a loss to decide which deserve the -preference. Whilst the impatient courier, going over the rough roads -through the Carpathians, bestows curses on the dangers that slacken his -pace, and impede his progress, the voluntary traveller and lover of -nature stands lost in admiration, and finally quits with reluctance and -regret scenes which nature has formed in her most romantic mood. - -The aspect of the Carpathians is very different in winter: all the -heights are covered with snow, and the narrow roads with mud and large -stones, rolled in the midst of them by the torrents, so as to render -them almost impassable; mostly situated on the brinks of dreadful -precipices, at the bottom of which rivers or torrents have formed their -passage, one false step of the passenger is immediate death. - -The Hospodars purposely neglect to repair these roads; the fear of -creating suspicions at the Porte that they wish to facilitate the -passage of foreign troops into the principalities, induces them to -abstain from an undertaking, which in other respects has become so -imperiously necessary: they do not even venture the slightest -representation to the Porte on the subject. - -Few peasants inhabit this part of the country; during the summer they -cut down wood, and supply with it the inhabitants of the plains, who -burn nothing else. The most stationary are attached to the post-houses, -situated here and there for the purpose of assisting the necessary -communications between the Austrian and Ottoman states. Their long -residence in this neighbourhood is generally marked by the glandular -accretion, common to the inhabitants of the Alps. It grows sometimes to -an immense size; its appearance is then most disgusting, and it absorbs -almost all the faculties, moral and physical, of the unfortunate beings -afflicted with it. The natives believe the cause of this evil to proceed -from the qualities of the snow-water always drunk by those who inhabit -the mountains. - -Every village throughout the country has a small church or chapel -belonging to it, and one or more priests who act as curates. The -ecclesiastics of this order are chosen amongst the ordinary peasants, -from whom they are only distinguished in appearance by a long beard. -They lead the same life, and follow the same avocations when not engaged -in the exercise of their clerical functions; but they are exempted from -the public imposts, and pay nothing more than their annual tribute of -fifteen piasters to the metropolitan. The generality of them can neither -read nor write; they learn the formule of the service by heart; and if a -book is seen in their chapels, it is very seldom for use. The priests of -this order are, in each district, dependent on the _Archimandrites_, or -Vicars, of the parishes nearest to their abode. - - * * * * * - -That class of the human species comprehended under the general -appellation of gypsies, seems to be, like the Jews, spread in most parts -of Europe, and in many other parts of the world; like them having no -admissible claims to any country as exclusively their own, and -distinguished from the other races of men by physical and moral -qualities peculiar to themselves. The different gradations of climate, -and the state of civilisation of the countries in which they are born -and brought up, do not seem to affect them in the same manner as the -other classes of human nature, and in many respects they appear little -superior to the brute creation. - -Wallachia and Moldavia contain about one hundred and fifty thousand -gypsies, and make a more profitable use of them than other countries do, -by keeping them in a state of regular slavery. The period of their first -coming there is not exactly ascertained; but there is every reason to -believe it dates with the irruption of the gypsies from Germany in the -fifteenth century; and they are mentioned in some manuscripts, possessed -by Wallachian and Moldavian convents, evidently written towards that -period. - -They are remarkable, as every where else, for their brown complexion; -their bodily constitution is strong, and they are so hardened from -constant exposure to all the rigours of the weather, that they appear -fit for any labour and fatigue; but their natural aversion to a life of -industry is in general so great, that they prefer all the miseries of -indigence, to the enjoyment of comforts that are to be reaped by -persevering exertion. The propensity to stealing seems inherent in them, -but they do not become thieves with the view of enriching themselves; -their thefts never extend beyond trifles. - -The women have the same complexion, with fine and regular features. They -are very well shaped before they become mothers; but soon after they -begin to have children, and they are generally very fruitful, their -beauty gives way to a disgusting ugliness. - -Both sexes are slovenly and dirty: the filth and vermin with which their -bodies are infected, seem to form a necessary part of their existence, -as no consideration can induce them to be cleanly. Most of them are -clothed with a few rags, and their children go naked at almost all -seasons. - -They acknowledge no particular religion as their own; neither do they -think of following the precepts of any, unless, acting as domestic -slaves, they are ordered so to do by their masters. Among themselves -they dispense with the religious ceremony of marriage, and although many -live together as husbands and wives, they are only bound by the ties of -nature. - -The women are of the most depraved character: none of them follow the -regular line of public prostitutes, but at the same time none refuse -their favours when the slightest offer of money is made. - -In both principalities the gypsies are divided into two distinct classes -of slaves; the one is composed of those who are the property of -government, and the other, of those who belong to private individuals. -No regular traffic of them is carried on in the country, neither is it -customary to expose to public inspection any who are to be disposed of. -Both sales and purchases are conducted in private, and the usual price -for one of either sex, is from five to six hundred piasters. - -The number of gypsies belonging to the two governments, altogether -amounts to eighty thousand, including women and children. They are -suffered to stroll about the country, provided they bind themselves -never to leave it, and to pay an annual tribute of the value of forty -piasters each man, above the age of fifteen. We have mentioned on the -subject of the gold and silver mines, how those of Wallachia pay their -share of it. - -They are dispersed in different parts of the principalities, living in -separate companies of ten or fifteen families, under tents; they -frequently change the place of their abode, keeping always in the -neighbourhood of towns and villages, or near the high roads. A passenger -coming in sight of their tents is always assailed for charity by a -quantity of naked children belonging to them, and does not easily get -rid of their importunities without throwing a few paras to them. - -The chief occupation, both of the men and women, leading this vagrant -life, consists in making common iron tools, baskets, and other wood-work -of the kind for sale. But their industry and gain are confined to what -is absolutely necessary for procuring them the means of subsistence. -They possess a natural facility and quickness in acquiring the knowledge -of arts; but a small number, however, devote themselves to any, and -musical performance seems to be that to which they give the preference: -those who profess it attend the wine-houses every day, for a trifling -remuneration, and from thence they are frequently called to the houses -of the first Boyars, on occasions when a band of music is requisite. -Some few become masons, and receive one piaster for a whole day’s work. -They are always employed, with a number of their less experienced -companions, in public buildings, and they are then allowed no other -reward but their daily food, and a proportionable deduction from their -tribute. - -The other class of gypsies is divided into families belonging to Boyars -and others, who select from among them the greater part of their -household servants. The remainder are either employed at the vineyards -of their masters, suffered to follow common trades, or allowed to wander -about the country, upon the same conditions as those of the government. - -The practice of employing gypsy slaves in various departments of the -household, particularly in the kitchen, is universal in both -principalities; but although the expense saved by it is considerable in -houses where a great number of servants must be kept, the inconvenience -is much greater, though not felt. The kitchens of the Boyars are, from -the filthy habits of the cooks, and the inattention of the masters, not -less disgusting than the common receptacles of swine. The incurable -propensity to vice, and the laziness of these servants, occasion -incessant trouble and vexation. Almost at every house punishments are -instituted for them, the most severe of which is the bastinado applied -to the naked soles of the feet: it is performed by another gypsy, under -the inspection of the superintendent, and frequently under that of the -master or mistress. The ladies of quality, however young and beautiful, -do not show much delicate reluctance in similar instances of authority. - -The secondary punishment consists in passing the culprit’s head through -a kind of iron helmet, with two immense horns of the same metal, and -locking it under the chin in such a manner as to render it extremely -troublesome to the bearer, and to prevent him from eating or drinking, -as long as he keeps it on. - -It is, however, certain, that the gypsy servants can neither be kept in -proper order without punishment, nor be made to go through any long work -without the stimulus of stripes. The private owners have not the power -of death over them; but it has happened sometimes, that some unfortunate -wretch has been beaten to death, and neither the government nor the -public took notice of the circumstance. - -It is under the care of these depraved servants, that the children of -Boyars are brought up. The women of the higher ranks not being in the -habit of nursing their infants, place them in the hands of gypsy -wet-nurses, whose mode of life exposes them incessantly to diseases -which must prove most prejudicial to the quality of their milk, and -whose bad nourishment and dirty habits, must otherwise affect the -constitution of the children. - -Notwithstanding that the gypsies form here so necessary a part of the -community, they are held in the greatest contempt by the other -inhabitants, who, indeed, treat them little better than brutes; and the -insulting epithet of ‘thief,’ or any equivalent, would sooner be put up -with than that of ‘gypsy.’ - -The public executioners for any kind of punishment are chosen from that -class alone; but as their office is merely momentary, the unfortunate -beings condemned always suffer considerably more from their inexperience -and incapacity. - -The Wallachian and Moldavian gypsies speak the language of the country; -but those who lead a wandering life use, amongst themselves, a peculiar -jargon composed of a corruption of Bulgarian, Servian, and Hungarian -words, mixed with some Turkish. Its pronunciation, however, sounds so -much like that of the Hungarian tongue, that a person accustomed to hear -both without understanding either, is apt to mistake the one for the -other. - -Their quality of slaves is acknowledged by the surrounding nations; and -those who abscond to them are restored when claimed as private property. -Desertions, however, are not frequent; and when they do take place, the -fugitives take such precautions as to prevent the place of their -concealment being discovered. - - - - - CHAPTER IX. - INTERCOURSE OF FOREIGNERS.—FOREIGN CONSULS.—HOW FAR THE NATIVES ARE - BENEFITED BY THEIR INTERCOURSE WITH FOREIGN RESIDENTS. - - -A considerable number of foreign Europeans reside in both -principalities, where they are attracted by a variety of resources. - -The principal merchants and bankers, either from birthright or from -foreign naturalisation, carry on their business under the immediate -protection of European courts; without which the general system of the -local governments, so prejudicial to the interests of trade, would give -but little security to their operations. - -There are at both capitals several German and French coachmakers, -carpenters, builders, architects, teachers of European languages and -music, physicians, and apothecaries, all of whom have rendered -themselves extremely useful to the native inhabitants, and derive no -small profit from the exercise of their respective professions. Almost -all the importers of foreign furniture, luxuries in ladies’ apparel and -other kinds of retail trade, undertakers of subscription-clubs, and of -coffee-houses of the better sort, ladies’ shoemakers, mantuamakers, and -taylors, are also European foreigners. - -A great number of Transylvanian and Hungarian gentry of the inferior -rank are attracted by the advantages of renting the Boyars’ estates. -According to the treaties existing between the Porte and other powers, -foreign subjects are not permitted in any manner to hold, as -proprietors, landed property in the Ottoman dominions; the prince of -Moldavia observing how little this stipulation had been attended to in -his principality, thought it necessary, in 1815, to issue a decree which -ordered the expulsion of foreign farmers. The Boyars, whose best estates -were under their management, and who had every reason to be satisfied -with them, strongly opposed the measure; their representations finally -induced the prince to give his tacit consent to their wishes; and, -properly speaking, this stipulation of the treaties does not include the -principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia, and ought not to be applied to -them. - -The progress of the Russian arms previous to the peace of Kaïnargik, had -enabled the cabinet of St. Petersburgh to become the arbiter of the fate -of Turkey. Whatever might have been the Empress Catharine’s motives for -consenting to the conclusion of that peace, she did not remain less -sanguine in her favourite project of conquering the empire of the East, -and the special clauses in the treaty, which gave her the power of -interfering in the affairs of the Wallachians and Moldavians, were -calculated not only to secure to her the affections of the people for -whom they were most immediately intended, but at the same time to -incline the other Christian subjects of Turkey to look upon her as their -natural defender, and their future deliverer. - -No subsequent events prevented her from employing her right of -interference, though, according to circumstances, it may at times have -been exercised with more or less energy; and the policy pursued by her -successors evidently denotes the continuation of a system which has an -important object in view, however distant the possibility of attaining -it.[43] - -In order, however, to exercise her influence with the activity necessary -to ensure success, the empress had insisted also that the Porte should -acknowledge the residence in the two principalities of imperial agents, -to whom she thought proper to give the title of consuls, as most adapted -to screen her views, and to justify her apparent one of enlarging the -trade of her empire, and giving protection and assistance to those of -her subjects who were willing to extend their commercial transactions to -the principalities. This pretext was in fact plausible; for the Russian -merchants who had till then been in the habit of trading in those -countries, had complained much of the difficulties and vexations they -had constantly experienced from the irregularities of the local -governments. - -However unwilling to recognise the future residence of public agents -from the court of Russia, the Porte was unable to oppose it with any -prospect of success, and consequently consented. - -The court of Vienna soon after followed the example, though from motives -of a more commercial nature; and the consuls of Russia once admitted, -the Ottoman government could not refuse to acknowledge those of Austria. - -The Greeks saw with no little regret the arrival of these foreign -agents, who not only checked their authority over the foreign trade, but -became also competent witnesses of their political system and -administration, and the accredited reporters of all their actions. But, -as it was out of their power to oppose the arrangements of the imperial -courts, they thought it best to set their submission to the profit of -their vanity in receiving the consuls as envoys sent by foreign powers -to independent princes. They introduced for their reception the -formalities and ceremonial of the public audiences given by the Grand -Vezier to European ambassadors at Constantinople, and they revived the -custom of the Voïvodes, of being seated on an elevated throne on similar -occasions. - -Under the republic of France, French consuls were sent for the first -time to reside in the principalities, and their establishment has been -kept up without interruption under the successive governments of France. -On several occasions they were very useful to Buonaparte. - -A British consul-general was for the first time appointed in 1802 to -reside at Bukorest, chiefly for the purpose of facilitating the overland -communications between England and Turkey. After the peace of Tilsit he -was recalled, and the consulate was renewed in 1813, with the additional -motive of promoting commercial intercourse with the principalities. - -The pope has for many years been represented by a bishop in Wallachia, -and by a vicar in Moldavia; the latter has recently been promoted to the -rank of a bishop. - -The number of Roman Catholic inhabitants is considerable; most of the -Servian, Bulgarian, and Transylvanian settlers belong to that -persuasion. They have two fine churches at Bukorest and at Yassi. - -There are also two protestant churches originally founded by Charles -XII. of Sweden during his long residence in the principalities. They are -superintended by a vicar appointed and paid by the archbishop of -Stockholm. The protestant inhabitants are German, and their number -amounts to one thousand. All foreign churches, provided they profess the -doctrines of christianity, are not only tolerated in the principalities, -but allowed a variety of privileges which they cannot enjoy in any part -of the Turkish dominions. The metropolies seldom interfere with their -affairs, and when any circumstance obliges them so to do, they bear -every possible regard to their institutions, and never assume the tone -of superiority. - -In general, the social intercourse between the natives and foreign -inhabitants is carried on upon a much more friendly footing than might -be expected from the number of national prejudices that still divide -them, in opinions, religion, and established customs. The natural -hospitality of the Boyars makes no exceptions with foreigners; and if on -one hand this quality loses a part of its merit in being the mere effect -of custom, on the other it does not deserve the less credit when totally -divested of ostentatious motives. - -It would appear that little benefit is to be expected by the inhabitants -of a country long occupied by Russian armies, and made the principal -theatre of military operations. Yet the late intercourse between those -of the principalities, and the Russians, and the prospect of their being -incorporated with the Russian empire, have, in many respects, improved -their civilisation. A variety of barbarous customs existing before have -been abolished; usages and institutions were introduced which tended to -their improvement, and the exterior manners of the Boyars have undergone -a polish which is not unworthy of more enlightened nations. Those of -Moldavia would view with pleasure any political change in their country -which offered to them the sure prospect of improvement in civilisation. -Those of Wallachia have long since consoled themselves for the -improbability of any early change, by taking a very active part in the -general system of rapacity, of which it has become the lot of their -countrymen of inferior order to bear the weight. - - - - - GENERAL OBSERVATIONS - ON THE - POLITICAL POSITION OF THE PRINCIPALITIES. - - -When we reflect upon the deplorable condition of Wallachia and Moldavia, -examine the causes of their evils, and cast an eye upon the numerous -gifts with which nature has enriched them,—when we compare the effects -of demoralisation and ruin, which are the natural consequences of their -present system of administration, to the advantages that would accrue to -them from a regular and permanent form of government,—it is hardly -possible not to regret that the question of a change in their political -fate was not proposed and resolved at the late congress of Vienna. - -A variety of facts related in the foregoing pages have, perhaps, -sufficiently demonstrated the nullity of the independence still -acknowledged by the Ottoman Court to the constitution of its -transdanubean Principalities, and the little regard it bears to the -common prosperity of their affairs. That those countries should resume -independency, and maintain themselves in it by their own means alone, -would, however, be as absurd, as it is impossible to expect. But that -they should be rescued from the hands of those who act as their worst -enemies, and placed under the special protection of some great Christian -power, under whose influence they might be enabled to employ their -resources to their own profit and to that of their neighbours, give to -their trade all the extent it is capable of compassing,—under which, in -short they might have the hope of soon placing themselves on a footing -with the civilised world—formed an object which called forth the -attention of Christian Europe, and which, in magnitude and importance, -had at least equal claims to it as the question relating to the Ionian -Islands, to which the Turks had no smaller pretensions, though neither -more nor less valid. - -Conformity of religion, and the old standing connections between Russia -and the principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia, point out that power -as their natural protector; but, if the security of Europe forbids the -recognition of further encroachments of the Russians on Turkey, though -at the same time the political change in the principalities had been -once regularly admitted, would not a partition made of them between -Austria and Russia have been equally beneficial in its consequences, and -at all events preferable in every respect to the _statu quo_? Indeed, -upon the very principle of impeding the progress of Russia, the -occupation of Wallachia by the Austrians was a measure of the first -necessity, as sufficiently capable of forming an insurmountable barrier -against the Russians. Without it, what obstacle will ever prevent these -from extending the whole of their frontier on the side of European -Turkey to the Danube? and once entirely masters of the borders of that -river, the road to Constantinople is open to them, and the political -existence of the Turkish empire is left to depend on the will and -pleasure of the Russian emperor. - -Austria, as long as she is willing to maintain her present extent of -power, would certainly feel herself far from secure at the approach of -the Russians on so great a line of her eastern frontiers, and would not -tacitly consent to be severed from Turkey in a manner so as to alter -materially the course of her communications with that country, and -almost to preclude the possibility of affording it future assistance; -neither would the rest of Europe, interested in obstructing the further -designs of aggrandisement of Russia, view such an event without alarming -apprehensions. - -The precautions which the best political prudence could have suggested, -ought, therefore, to have brought the Austrians into Wallachia, where -they should have improved the fortifications at the most essential -points. Such a measure, carried into execution, the Russians would in -vain have attempted new encroachments; they could not have made one step -into Turkey without the permission of the Austrians. - -It has been said that the Russian plenipotentiaries at the congress of -Vienna observed so profound a silence with respect to Turkish affairs, -and so carefully avoided any opportunities of hearing them named, as to -prove evidently, that in her concerns with that Power Russia wishes to -remain her own arbiter. Perhaps, by that conduct, she prevented what she -feared; for, had the partition of Wallachia and Moldavia been proposed -to her, with the cession of the latter province to herself, could she -possibly have brought forwards any reasonable objections? The -arrangement would have appeared so suitable to all parties, that she -could not have opposed it without betraying ambitious and subversive -views; Turkey must have consented, if she bore any regard to her own -future safety; and the inhabitants of the principalities, -notwithstanding that they would in both have preferred the patronage of -Russia to any interference of Austria, would soon have begun to feel the -importance of the change in their favour. - -What are the effects of the present system?— - -The policy of the Turks in the principalities, renders them detestable -to their inhabitants. They send men devoid of principles, bereft of all -feelings of humanity, to exhibit a farce of sovereignty over them, and -to display an arrogant and insulting power, in order to intimidate them -into submission, and to impose with less difficulty an almost -intolerable yoke. These agents of authority are looked upon by the two -nations, whom they are sent to govern, not as their natural -well-wishers, but as the chief enemies of the State; and the Turks being -justly considered as the true authors of all their evils, the hand of -vengeance is constantly raised over them, waiting for the opportunity -when it can act with most efficacy.[44] - -Russia is perfectly aware that such sentiments and dispositions -constantly prevail amongst the Wallachians and Moldavians. The authority -which she holds from her treaties with the Porte, enables her to -interfere in all manner with their affairs, and to create, through their -means, motives of discord between herself and Turkey whenever she finds -a moment propitious to a rupture; and she may even, when she thinks -proper, give an apparent urgency to such circumstances to justify any -sudden seizure of the two provinces, operated without any previous -declaration of war, and before the Porte could have entertained a -suspicion of her intentions. - -Turkey then, in being possessed of Wallachia and Moldavia on the present -footing, is only favoured with a momentary advantage, very -disproportionate to the danger of being involved through them in war -against Russia, an event which must necessarily follow any attempts on -the part of the latter to seize on the principalities, and which, -according to the present political arrangements existing in Europe, -would not fail to create again general convulsion. - -From these considerations, it would appear evident, that as long as the -transdanubean provinces continue to be a source of discord between -Russia and Turkey, and as long as the important question relating to -them remains unsettled, peace and tranquillity in Europe will only be of -imaginary stability. - -In the pacific sentiments which so eminently distinguish the Emperor -Alexander, we have, indeed, a solid guarantee against any hostile -attempts on Turkey; but the life of man being so precarious, is the hope -of a long and uninterrupted peace to rest on the mere knowledge of that -sovereign’s personal character? And even if the Emperor Alexander -should, contrary to present expectations, march his armies again into -Moldavia and Wallachia, for the purpose of taking permanent possession -of them, could we, in strict justice, accuse him of ambition in the -performance of an act which common humanity dictates to any Christian -power? - -It is asserted that the success of the late great efforts against -Buonaparte had, in a great measure, depended upon the Porte’s forbearing -to take a part against Russia, and that the allies, in order to induce -the Turkish cabinet to adhere to the resolution it had evinced of -remaining neutral, had promised to guarantee, whatever might happen, the -integrity of the Ottoman empire; that the Porte, subsequently relying on -this promise, declared itself entirely foreign to the objects in -discussion at the congress of Vienna, and consequently was not invited -to send ministers to it. - -Now, that the co-operation of Turkey, with or against Russia and her -allies, could have made the least impression on the destinies of Europe, -at a time that the nation itself seemed so decidedly averse to the -resumption of a war, and that the state was exhausted, appears most -doubtful; but that the participation of the Turks in the transactions of -the Congress might have settled affairs in a much more solid and lasting -manner, is extremely probable. It is at that universal tribunal alone, -formed for the vast purpose of creating a just and unchangeable -equilibrium in the political affairs of Europe, that the Turks might -have been made to understand and to feel the necessity of renouncing to -possessions beyond the Danube, which, as they have no longer the means -of maintaining and defending them, must, in their hands, continue to be -a source of unceasing contentions, and a subject of wars, which will not -only endanger the safety of the Ottoman empire, but also compromise the -tranquillity of all Europe; and that the Danube being, in fact, the -natural frontier of their present extent of empire in that part of it, -is alone calculated to offer them security. And those tottering -Ottomans, whose existence in Europe is already tolerated with too much -indulgence, and who must be aware, notwithstanding the high opinion they -entertain of their own importance, how much they are at the mercy of -Christian powers, would they have ventured to combat any decisions of -the congress which deprived them of a comparatively small extent of -territory to enable them to preserve the remainder of their possessions -in Europe? Could they have insisted upon the strict observance of former -promises, when circumstances so important, concurring even to their own -safety, revoked them, and whilst they themselves have, in many -instances, been guilty of infractions to their very treaties? - -No opportunity was ever, or will, perhaps, be again so favourable to the -decision of this important question, as the Congress of Vienna; however, -it passed there under general silence. This silence may indeed have -originated in motives of great weight, but it could only have been of a -momentary necessity, and probably it will not a little contribute to the -causes of the first hostile shot that will be fired on the continent of -Europe. - - - - - APPENDIX. - - - No. 1. - _Translation of a Beratt, or Diploma, given by the present Sultan - Mahmoud, Emperor Of Turkey, to Mr. Wilkinson._ - - The Emperor Sultan Mahmoud, - Son of Sultan Abdoulhammid - Ever Victorious! - -By that glorious and imperial sign, I, who am the conqueror of the -world, and whose authority is derived from Divine will, - - Ordain as follows: - -The Model of the Great amongst the nation of the Messiah, the Ambassador -Extraordinary from the Court of Great Britain residing at my Sublime -Porte, Robert Liston, (whose end be happiness,) has presented to my -Imperial Porte an official note, by which he states that it is agreed by -the Imperial capitulations that the English shall have the right to name -consuls to Smyrna, Alexandria, Aleppo, Tripoli, Algiers, Tunis, and -various other parts of my Empire; and that, when they wish to recall -them no opposition shall be made: that in virtue of this agreement, -Francis Summerers had been named the 3d of the Ramazan, 1217 (6th -January 1802), consul-general in the principalities of Wallachia and -Moldavia, (acknowledged by Imperial Beratt,) to protect the affair of -the English merchants and other subjects who carry on business with -those Countries, as well as to assist the passage of couriers and -letters to and from England, and having resigned that office, the bearer -of this Imperial document, one of the most noble of the nation of the -Messiah, William Wilkinson, has been appointed consul-general in his -place. The aforesaid Ambassador, in notifying his nomination, requests, -that in virtue of the Imperial capitulations, this Imperial Beratt be -given him. - -Conforming myself to what has been hitherto practised and to the -imperial capitulations, I give this imperial and august sign to the said -William Wilkinson, and I ordain that he shall have henceforward the -power of exercising the functions of British Consul in the aforesaid -principalities; that he shall, according to the imperial capitulations, -have to direct the public affairs of the English in Wallachia and -Moldavia, and give every assistance with regard to the expedition of -couriers and dispatches to and from England. All individuals, subjects -of Great Britain, shall have to apply directly to him when they -encounter difficulties in their affairs, and none must be permitted to -depart from those Countries without being furnished with a passport from -him. - -It is not allowed that the servants of consuls be called upon to pay the -capitation tax called _Haratsh_, nor the common contributions called -_Avariz_, nor any of the arbitrary taxes and imposts levied under the -name of _Russumus_, and _Tekaléfi-Urfié_. No one is permitted to demand -of the consuls _Haratsh_ or other contributions because they may have in -their service slaves of the one or the other sex. No one shall molest -them with regard to their private property, baggage, or provisions; and, -according to former practice, they are exempted from custom-house and -other duties for all such objects. And as consuls are the -representatives of their governments, they shall never be arrested; -their houses shall never be sealed, and no troops shall ever be -quartered in them. - -The abovementioned Consul, with his people and slaves, is therefore -exempted from _Haratsh_, _Avariz_, _Hassabié-Ahtshessi_, and all other -taxes, impositions, &c. If any one has a lawsuit with him, it shall be -heard no where but at my Sublime Porte. - -If the said Consul shall, at any time, wish to travel to any part of my -dominions, he shall not be molested by any one, either going or coming, -by sea or by land, in private houses or post-houses, neither for his -baggage, equipages, or servants. Wherever he goes provisions shall be -given him at the common prices of the market, and no one shall have to -make the least difficulty. Wherever he may meet with danger he is at -liberty to wear the Turkish dress with the white turban, as also any -military dress with the sabre, bow and arrows, spurs, &c. The princes, -governors, and other officers, not only shall not molest him, but shall -likewise give him every assistance and attention. - -All such as do not abide by these orders shall be punished accordingly. -Every one is to conform himself to the Imperial capitulations, and to my -glorious signature which prescribes submission; no contrary proceeding -shall be permitted or tolerated. - -Given at my Imperial residence of Constantinople the well-guarded, 24th -Gemassielevel, 1229. (24th May, 1814.) - - - APPENDIX, No. 2. - _Additional Articles to the Treaty signed at Kaïnargik, the 10th July, - 1775, relating to Wallachia, Moldavia, &c._ - -The Court of Russia restores to the Sublime Porte the whole province of -Bessarabba, with its fortified places, viz. Akkerman, Killia, Ismaïl, -Bender, and the other towns and villages within that province; as well -as the principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia, with the fortresses, -capitals, towns, and villages belonging to them. - -The Sublime Porte, in taking possession of them, solemnly engages to -observe the following conditions, without the least deviation:— - -1st. To acknowledge and maintain the constitutions of the two -principalities, the established customs, rank, dignities, property, and -churches of the two nations, without any exception whatever: to give -them total amnesty and pardon conformably to the 1st article of the -general treaty: to leave unmolested all such persons as have not -remained faithful to the Ottoman interest; to admit them to their former -ranks, and to restore to them any property and possessions they had -previous to the war. - -2d. To oppose no sort of difficulty to the free exercise of the -Christian religion in the said principalities, nor to the repair or -construction of churches and other buildings. - -3d. To restore to the monasteries in the neighbourhood of Ibraïl, Hotim, -and Bender, all the property belonging to them, and which had, contrary -to justice, been taken from them. - -4th. To acknowledge and bear all due regard to the ecclesiastical order. - -5th. To permit those families and individuals who have any desire of -retiring to Russia, or elsewhere, to depart freely with their moveable -property, and to allow them a year’s time previous to such departure -that they may settle their affairs in the country. - -6th. To renounce entirely the payment of old accounts, for whatever -relates to former contributions. - -7th. To claim no tribute from the inhabitants of the said province and -principalities for the space of time that they have been occupied by the -Russians, and in consideration of the losses and sufferings sustained by -them on account of the war, to claim no sort of tribute from them for -the space of two years after the date of the treaty. - -8th. The Porte engages to show every regard and humanity to the -inhabitants of the said countries, at and after the expiration of the -term mentioned in the 7th article, relative to the tribute and taxes -which they shall then be called upon to pay, and will neither suffer nor -permit any Pasha or other person, to oppress and molest them after the -payment of the ordinary tribute. And also to allow them the free and -entire exercise of the privileges they enjoyed during the reign of -Sultan Mehmet 4th, father to the present Sultan. And the Porte shall -permit the Hospodars of Wallachia and Moldavia to have one or more -public agents to reside at Constantinople, Greeks by nation or religion, -who shall have to transact the affairs of the princes; and not only -consents to acknowledge and treat with them, but also promises to -observe in them the privileges due to persons who treat public rights -and interests, and are not under the controul of power. - -The Sublime Porte also acknowledges and admits, that the Russian -ministers residing at Constantinople, shall have the right of -interfering in behalf of the affairs of the two principalities -abovementioned, and engages to pay every regard to their -representations.[45] - - - APPENDIX, No. 3. - _Extracts of Two Letters written from Bukorest to Mr. Wilkinson, in - London, containing the particulars of Prince Caradga’s fight from - Wallachia._ - -On the 7th instant (October, 1818), a messenger arrived in three days -from Constantinople to the Prince, and in the course of the same day, a -report was circulated all over the town, that the prince was preparing -to depart. On the following morning the Postelnik Vlaccuzzi, with his -wife[46] and family, was seen to go out of town in a travelling -carriage, and great preparations of departure being continued at court, -the rumours increased, and people began to be alarmed. - -On Sunday the 11th, after the accustomed ceremonial at court of the -Turkish Baïram, the prince conferred titles on several persons, and made -changes in the public offices. In the afternoon he accompanied the -funeral procession of the old Bann Golesko, and on his return home, he -called the Spathar Balliano, the Aga Vakaresko, and a few others into -his closet, and informed them that his life being in danger if he -continued longer in the country, he was on the point of departure. He -recommended a good police regulation to maintain order and tranquillity, -and he named a provisional government composed of the metropolitan, -Brancovano, and Samourkash, whom he instructed to act during his -absence, until the Porte should determine on new measures of -administration. He also sent for the Russian Consul-General Mr. Pini, -and after having prevailed on him to take charge of such private -concerns as he had not had time to settle, he took a friendly leave of -them all, and got into his ordinary _calèche_, attended by two servants -only, as if going to take his usual evening drive. He repaired to -Banessa, where he was joined by the princess his wife, the princess -Rallou his daughter, and her husband the Bann Argiropulo, the young -prince Constantine, the Postelnik Mavrocordato, the Aga Vlangalli, and a -few servants, who were all waiting with travelling carriages and -post-horses, baggage, &c. They all set out together, and at a mile’s -distance from Banessa, they were joined by four hundred Albanians, (the -prince’s body-guards) well mounted and well armed. They directed their -course to Kronstadt in Transylvania, where they arrived in safety, after -four days journey, and were well received by the Austrian General -commanding on the frontiers. - -The four hundred guards were sent back, and the Prince, whilst on the -road, transmitted various orders to the provisional government, as if he -continued to be the only chief of the country. - -It is said he will not stop long at Kronstadt, but will proceed on to -Switzerland, where he intends to fix his abode. - -Immediately after his departure, the Russian consul placed the imperial -seal on all the apartments of the court, some of which contained -furniture, and other articles of much value, after which he laid a -formal sequester upon the Prince’s private property, under the plea that -he had left unpaid several debts to Russian merchants. - -All the Boyars assembled on the 12th, and wrote to the Porte the -particulars of this unexpected event, they have since held several -deliberations, and have finally agreed to send a petition to the Sultan, -representing all the miseries to which they were exposed under the -administration of Greek Princes, praying that he would henceforward -confide the government of the principality to the Divan alone, and -engaging themselves to observe faithfully all the conditions that have -been hitherto prescribed to the Hospodars. We are now waiting with -anxiety to learn the nature of the measures that the Porte will deem -most proper to adopt, and the moment is of no small importance to the -fate of this country. Meanwhile we live under continual apprehension -that the Turkish Pashahs of the neighbourhood may take upon themselves -to send troops in order to occupy the country, a circumstance which, -instead of producing the good effects of precaution, will throw every -thing into confusion and disorder, and frighten away a great number of -families, who, in that expectation, are already making preparations to -retire into Transylvania and Moldavia. - - * * * * * - -_10th December._—Every thing went on quietly. The Sultan, after -deliberating in his council on the subject of the Boyars’ petition, has -refused to comply with their demand, and has appointed Prince Alexander -Sutzo new Hospodar of Wallachia. His Caïmacams have already arrived, and -have taken the momentary direction of public affairs. We know for -certain that Prince Caradja, who has left Kronstadt, will fix his -residence at Geneva. - - - APPENDIX, No. 4. - _Derivation of various words in the Wallachian or Moldavian language, - from the Latin, Italian, Greek, and Turkish._ - - Wallachian. Latin. English. - Domno Dominus Lord. - Formos Formosus Handsome. - Massa Mensa Table. - Cappo Caput Head. - Venat Venatio Game. - Vorba Verbum Word. - Alb Albus White. - Sunt Sunt I am. - Lacrymæ Lacrymæ Tears. - Bunn Bonus Good. - Respuns Responsum Answer. - Pallatur Palatium Palace. - Pescator Piscator Fisher. - Pritshep Percipio I understand. - Luminar Lume Light. - Locul Locus Place. - Dzio Dies Day. - Degete Digiti Fingers. - Negro Negrum Black. - Nushtio Nescio I know not. - Scamn Scamnum Chair. - Vitric Vitricus Glass. - Incep Incipio I begin. - Ris Ris To laugh. - Böo Bos An Ox. - Parinte Parens Parents. - Unde Unde Where. - Cum Cum With. - - * * * * * - - Wallachian. Italian. English. - - Luna Luna Moon. - - Firestra Finestra Window. - - Fier Ferro Iron. - - Porta Porta Door. - - Ochi Ochi Eyes. - - Limba Lingua Tongue. - - Puine Pane Bread. - - Appa Aqua Water. - - Mancare Manggiare To eat. - - Nopte Notti Night. - - Muna Mano Hand. - - Frunte Fronte Forehead. - - Dintz Denti Teeth. - - Camascia Camicia Shirt. - - Bine Bene Well. - - Ann Anno Year. - - Acro Acro Sour. - - Argint Argento Silver. - - Aür Oro Gold. - - Peshte Pesce Fish. - - Naz Naso Nose. - - Occit Accetto Vinegar. - - Pace Pace Peace. - - Amavut Ho avuto I have had. - - Ce fatshe Che fate? What are you doing? - - Dorm Dormo I sleep. - - Battut Battuto Beaten. - - Cal Cavallo Horse. - - Clappon Cappone Capon. - - Tsara Terra Land. - - Dattor Debitore Debtor. - - Dinderet Di dietro Backwards. - - Drept Dritto Right. - - Dreptate Rectitudine Rectitude. - - Disfacut Disfatto Undone. - - Morte Morte Death. - - Greo Grave Grave. - - Genuchi Ginschia Knees. - - Cuïna Cucina Kitchen. - - Fericit Felice Happy. - - Nefericit Infelice Unhappy. - - Cumper Comprare To purchase, - - Unire Unire To unite. - - Vin Vino Wine. - - Vie Vigna Vineyard. - - Mio Mio Mine. - - Cassa Casa House. - - Miere Mielle Honey. - - Place Piace To please. - - Remast Rimasto To remain. - - Pling Piango To weep. - - Gustare Gustare To taste. - - Viatsa Vita Life. - - Striga Strilla To scream. - - Stregoica Strega A witch. - - Inghietsit Inghiottito To swallow. - - Agiun Digiuno Fasting. - - Dulce Dolce Sweet. - - Amar Amaro Bitter. - - Musica Musica Music. - - Fuoc Fuocco Fire. - - Dulceazza Dolcezza Sweet-meats. - - Kimpo-lung Campo-lango Long-field. - - - _Wallachian Numerals_:—uno, doï, tre, patro, cintsh, shasse, shapte, - aht, noo, zece. - - - _Italian Numerals_:—uno, due, tre, quattro, cinque, sei, sette, otto, - nove, dieu. - - - Ce hai scris? Cosa hai scritto? What have you written? - - N’hai faccutto bine. Non hai fatto bene. It is not well done. - - Adam parinte al nostro Adam padrie nostro ha Our father Adam has - ha peccattuit. peccatto. sinned. - - Christos ha patsit Christo ha patito per Christ has suffered for - pentro peccattele li peccati nostri. our sins. - nostre. - - Voi se intra la shola. Voglio intrar ’nella I wish to enter the - schola. school. - - Ha perdutt viatza. Ha perduto la vita. He has lost his life. - - * * * * * - - Wallachian. Modern Greek. English. - - Pajoss πεζός Pedestrian. - - Sindrofia σινδροφία Company. - - Daskal δάσκαλος Tutor, or rather - School-master. - - Affanissit αφανισμένος Ruined. - - Ha costissit εκόστισεν The cost in a purchase. - - Peristassis περίστασις Circumstance. - - Ifos ύφος Arrogance. - - Procopsit προκομένος a clever man. - - Pnevma πνεύμα Wit. - - Katandissit κατανδισμένος reduced in - circumstances. - - Droom δρόμος Road. - - M’am aposessit απόρεσα I was astonished. - - Zahar ζάχαρι Sugar. - - Pethepsit πεδευμένος Punished. - - Kindin κίνδινο Risk or danger. - - Periorissit περιορισμένος Engaged. - - Thiazeeon διαζίων Act of divorce. - - Yeftin φθινό Cheap. - - Tropos τρόπος Means. - - Mere μίλα Apples. - - Ipokeemen υποχίνενος An individual. - - Thiathisis διάθισις a strong desire. - - Proerisis προέρισις Inclination. - - Simandicos σιμανδιχός a person of note. - - Staré στάσιμον State, or situation. - - Kivernisis χιβέρνισις a living. - - * * * * * - - Wallachian. Turkish. English. - Perdé Perdé Curtain - Duckian Duckian Shop - Chismé Chismé Boots. - Paputsh Paputsh Shoes. - Chiorap Chiorap Stockings. - Shapka Shapka Hat. - Ocka Ocka an Oke (weight). - Dram Dram a Dram. - Massalla Mashalla a Flambeau. - - - APPENDIX, No. 5. - _An explanation of the Nizam-y-Gedid institution, and some curious - remarks concerning it. Written by Tshelebi-Effendi, one of the chief - dignitaries of the Ottoman Empire, Counsellor, Minister of State, &c. - and translated from the original Turkish manuscript._ - - - PREFACE. - -The most high God, who hath willed that the race of the children of Adam -should endure from the time of Adam, even unto the day of judgment, -hath, by the mysterious decrees of his Divine Providence, created an -Emperor of the world, to administer with justice the affairs of the -whole company of his servants, and to protect them from their -enemies.[47] - -It is by repelling hostile violence that the affairs of the world are -maintained in due order; since the Divine Majesty hath subjected the -earth to government in such a manner that it is divided into many -regions, each of them should have its own Sovereign, and that the places -subject to each Sovereign, and the servants of God whom they contain, -should find in their rulers (each according to the power he possesses, -and the age in which he lives) a protection and security from the malice -and treachery of their hostile neighbours and other enemies. - -As those States which guard against dishonour, and by daily improving -and confirming their system of government, obtain in these respects a -superiority over the neighbouring nations, have flourished accordingly; -in like manner, decay and destruction have been the lot of such as in -these points have been inferior to the countries adjoining them; because -it is the invariable nature of the children of Adam to lengthen the hand -against the dominion and wealth of the weak and indolent. - -It is said in the history which treats of the terms of peace concluded -by the sublime person who has received the mercy of God[48], that those -States which from carelessness did not take proper precautions to guard -against the violence of strangers, have remained without either honour -or reputation, and dependent upon others. Or even from the consequence -of their negligence, having fallen entirely into the hands of -foreigners, their kings have become subjects, and their rich men poor. -It is a principle to be observed by those who rule governments, and are -men of understanding and penetration, that, “even if your enemy is an -ant, you should use every effort against him;” that conformably to this -proverb, they may not suffer themselves to be brought into calamity, by -the treacherous machinations of the neighbouring States, and other -hostile nations. - -The purpose of this preface is as follows:—In the period which elapsed -from the year 1150 to the year 1182 of the Hejira, the greatest part of -those who had seen service before the conclusion of the wars, went to -the confines of nonexistence.[49] And those who had not seen service, -having never travelled an hour’s journey from home, were entirely -ignorant of the affairs of the enemies of religion.[50] It followed that -the greater part of the inhabitants of the Sublime Empire[51] lived in -an easy, careless manner, and had never experienced the vicissitudes of -fortune. The corruption and disorder that prevailed in the discipline of -our troops during the Russian war which broke out in the year 1182[52], -gave rise to the confusion in which the world has been involved from -that time to this, a space of near forty years. Although the truth of -this is evident to a few men of sagacity and penetration, who, remaining -from the former generation, may be enumerated out of the vulgar herd, -yet, on account of the situation in which the world is, and the -circumstances of the times, most of them are obliged, in their -discourse, to appear to agree with the opinions of the people at large. - -For some time past, a rabble composed of the dregs of the populace, -setting themselves up for judges of the times, and assembling in the -coffee-houses, barbers’ shops, and taverns, have, in vain speeches, -unbecoming their station, indulged themselves in the liberty of abusing -and calumniating the Sublime Government; and as they have not been -visited by the punishment which they deserve, people of this sort have -thence been emboldened to say whatever they please. This system has -often brought the Sublime Government into trouble. - -In the times of Suleÿman Khan Kannuni[53] the Just, a few ignorant men -who did not approve of the new system then promulgated, having got -together in one place, railed against the Sublime Government, uttering -whatever tedious and absurd speeches came uppermost in their mouths. -This circumstance coming to the knowledge of the Emperor, he cut off the -ears and tongues both of the railers and listeners, and nailed them, for -an example to the world, on the upper porch of a small gate near the -palace of Sultan Bayazid. As this place was a thoroughfare for the -public, all those who with their eyes contemplated the sight, learned to -restrain their tongues. At that time, as at the present period, the -greater part of the vulgar, in their ingratitude for benefits conferred, -resembled the children of Ismael. This sort of rabble being ignorant -that from themselves springs the corruption of the world, give their -opinions on affairs as though they had by inspiration received intuitive -knowledge of them, and taking no blame to themselves, as though their -own inertness was not the cause of such misfortunes, have rendered -themselves the devil’s laughing stock. As no public examples are made of -them, owing to the lenity which now prevails, and to certain -considerations, the temper of these times is neither fit for peace or -war, and is incapable of rendering service to government and religion. -Nevertheless, that the world may not remain empty, a company of hogs, -corrupt and degraded like those who preceded them, assemble in taverns, -coffee-houses, and brothels, in order to abuse and vilify the Sublime -Government. This perverse race are outwardly Mussulmans[54], yet have -they not the least idea of religious purity, and are indeed a collection -of baccals[55], boatmen, fishermen, porters, coffee-house keepers, and -such like persons.[56] Although it would be requisite to punish many of -them for opening their mouths on state matters, and to make public -examples of them for the purpose of restoring order to the world, yet -the force of necessity obliges the government to overlook their faults. - -A treatise which should contain an accurate account of the consequences -produced by the insolence and folly of the vulgar of this day, and -especially a correct statement of some events which ought to be made -public, having been required of us from the highest quarter, we have -undertaken to write it in a style which is simple, and easy to be -understood. Under the Divine favor, those who study this book with -sentiments of religion, will thereby be enabled to make themselves -acquainted with the present condition of the world. - - - SECTION I. - _An Explanation of the Causes which have occasioned Trouble in the - World._ - -“This institution of the Nizam-y-Gedid has caused the established order -of the world to be disturbed, and has given cause to the insolent -conduct of the mountaineers in the country of Rumelia.” Such are the -expressions employed by a set of contentious and ignorant men, incapable -of learning reason. I have sometimes questioned such persons, saying as -follows:—“Ho, friend! allow me in the first place to ask you a question. -What is this institution against which you make such continual and -senseless outcry? First know precisely what it is, and then continue to -oppose it. If there be reason in what you say, I am open to conviction, -and am ready to concede the point in dispute.” On hearing this, all they -could say was, that what they call the Nizam-y-Gedid, is a body of -troops trained and exercised; beyond which, and a mere profession of -their aversion to it, they plainly showed that they knew nothing about -the matter. Although I saw that an attempt to make this kind of rabble -understand public affairs, is like trying to make a camel leap over a -ditch, I proceeded to put some questions that occurred to me, as -follows:—“Shall I give you some account of the troubles which occurred -in the world before the Nizam-y-Gedid existed, during the reigns of -their highnesses the former Ottoman Sultans, who have found mercy from -God? Such as the disturbances raised in Anatolia by the Gellalli[57], -and the insolence of Sarry Beÿ Oglou in the reign of Sultan Mahmoud, and -especially the events which passed in Egypt, occasioned by Sacka-Yorghi -Alli-Beÿ, the son of a glass-blower; and the affairs of Emir-Daher, of -Abou-Vahib, all of which happened during the reign of Sultan Moustapha; -and the calamities inflicted by the unemployed Levendis,[58] who turned -the province of Anatolia upside down; and the continued bad success -which attended the arms of the followers of Islam, for the space of -seven years, during the Muscovite war, which began in the year 1182; the -defeats which our great armies suffered every year, with the loss of so -many thousand tents, such abundance of camp equipage, treasure, -artillery, bombs, and military stores, sufficient for the consumption of -many years, and so great a loss of our troops, either taken, drowned, or -killed, and the capture as well of our small forts and retrenched posts, -as of our large fortresses, some of which were reduced by famine and -others by force; and the impossibility of delivering so many thousand -women and children whom they contained, and who, still remaining in -captivity, pass their lives in tears. These are things, the bitter -remembrance of which can never be erased from our hearts. Some of these -calamitous events may be found in our annals, and some have happened in -our days. Pray was the Nizam-y-Gedid the cause of all these disorders -and disgraceful occurrences? It did not exist at that time, and yet you -see that confusion was already introduced, and the regular order of -things interrupted. Is then the Nizam-y-Gedid the only cause of -revolution? On what does your dispute now rest, and what answer can you -give to my question?” After I had thus spoken, some of them who were -disposed to hear reason yielded to conviction, and remained abashed, -having nothing to answer. But some others, less reasonable, who knew -nothing of the things which I had spoken, answered thus:—“What need I -know about the troubles that have formerly happened in the world? I am -well aware that those which now prevail are caused by the -Nizam-y-Gedid.” To these ignorant and pertinacious adversaries, I again -addressed myself in these terms:—“Disturbances having broken out in the -regions of France, the people eat each other’s flesh[59], and the -Crals[60] having declared war against them, for the space of exactly -fifteen years, battles have been fought without intermission, so that -the country of France has been turned upside down, and the inhabitants -have drank each other’s blood, and poured it out in the streets like a -torrent, and have, until this day, with the fury of dogs, changed their -country into a slaughter-house for swine. Behold such troubles are not -confined to[61] Frenghistan alone. Neither India, nor China, Arabia, -Persia, nor the new world[62], are at present exempt from confusion and -carnage. These things being so, is their source to be attributed to the -Nizam-y-Gedid? We may observe, likewise, that although trouble and -bloodshed prevail in Rumelia, yet, thanks be to God, Anatolia is free -from these calamities (may the ears of Satan be stopped with lead[63]). -Shall we say, then, that the fatal contagion of the Nizam-y-Gedid is -confined to Rumelia, and that it has not infected Anatolia; or rather -have not these things proceeded from the decrees of Providence? Should -not that consideration strike us? After reflecting and meditating on -what I have said, what reply can you make?”—“Good God!” says my -opponent, “I thought Rumelia alone had been disturbed.”—“Then,” I -replied, “if you are ignorant that every part of the world is thus -convulsed, and such things happen when there is no Nizam-y-Gedid, and -disturb the tranquillity of the universe, you should not, by any means, -impute the origin of dissension to that establishment.” - -By thus addressing them, I succeeded, by Divine favour, in bringing many -of them to conviction. With respect to those persons, who, although they -are acquainted with the true origin of such events, and the course of -worldly affairs, and understand and know the commands of the great -Prophet (on whom be salvation and the peace of God), yet persevere in -their perverse opposition; and who, because they were formerly authors -of sedition, are ashamed to belie their words, and therefore maintain -the dispute, and uphold contention; who, having originally calumniated -the corps of cannoneers of the Nizam-y-Gedid, and abuse those who were -the authors of it, uttering speeches which do not become their lips, on -a subject above their comprehension; with respect, I say, to such -persons, who, although they themselves confessed that the excellence of -these new troops was seen in the French war, and that to their good -conduct many of us owed our escape from captivity, yet afterwards -forgetting this avowal, are not ashamed to indulge in extravagant abuse -of them, it remains only, that at the five stated times of prayer, we -beseech the Divine Providence to grant them understanding, and a -knowledge of the right way, that they may distinguish good from evil, -and acknowledge the power of the Sublime Government with whose bread -they are fed; and that thus, by a sincere union of hearts in the way of -truth and justice, we may obtain complete success over the enemies of -the state and of our religion. Thus did I manage my dispute and -conference with those adversaries who attributed to the Nizam-y-Gedid -the troubles of the world. Long and tedious indeed it was; yet by the -favour of the Divine Majesty, and the protection of the great Prophet of -miraculous memory, many of the opponents, who were at first unwilling to -hear reason, have been convinced, and brought to entertain a just idea -of those affairs; and using their efforts to convince others, have -entered into the congregation of well-wishers to government. - - - SECTION II. - _An Explanation of the Causes which gave rise to the Establishment of - this Nizam-y-Gedid, about which so much noise has been made._ - -Be it known to men of understanding, that after the conclusion of peace -with the Muscovite infidels, in the year 1206[64], when ambassadors were -passing to and fro, at the time that the prisoners were released, -diligent enquiry was made of many persons who had been in the hands of -the Russians, with regard to the power and condition of the enemies of -our faith. In the city called Petersburgh, which is the residence of the -Russian sovereign, are to be found men of all nations. Among these was a -certain infidel, formerly an Ottoman Rayah, but fixed, by his -employments, in the Russian states; a man extremely rich, and a complete -master of the art of deceit, acute and lively in speech, and devoid of -shame and modesty. - -This man, who was at that time become an ambassador[65] said one day to -the[66]sovereign, in a familiar society of Franks[67], “Why should you -give yourself the trouble of carrying on long and obstinate wars with -the Ottomans? If your design be to take Constantinople, why should you, -by carrying on operations on the land side, struggle with so many -difficulties? Nothing is more easy than the capture of Constantinople.” -On the sovereign’s desiring to know which was this easy method, the -wicked person answered as follows:—“The _Cralyä_[68] having formerly -carried on two or three successful wars, and possessed herself of the -kingdom of the Crimea, equipped a fleet on the Black Sea, and after -annihilating the Tartar nation, and taking many forts and castles, -reduced to her obedience the rayahs of the White Sea[69] and many -trading communities, it would be easy, by following up a certain plan, -to accomplish in two days the conquest of Constantinople, which need -only be attacked by a single streight.” The Cralyä, pleased with this -suggestion, said, “If you prove yourself useful in rendering me that -service, I will appoint you King of Constantinople for the term of your -life, in the same way that I appointed a king over the country of -Poland.” The person then spoke again thus:—“None of all the Ottoman -troops are now ready to take the field: those of Anatolia are employed -in cultivating the land, and smoking their pipes; such as inhabit -Constantinople are either busied in carrying on various trades, or at -least are not subject to any good discipline. Were they to assemble -troops with the greatest possible expedition, they would require at -least a month for that purpose. Behold, the water used for drinking in -so great a city, comes from certain reservoirs which are without it.[70] -It is not, therefore, expedient for us to carry on a troublesome war -with ships and troops by sea and by land. We need only dispatch to the -Crimea all the Russian ships that are in the White Sea, and there, -filling with troops all our vessels, large and small, we will disembark -them suddenly without the channel of the Black Sea, in the district that -contains the reservoirs, the walls of which we will beat down with our -cannon and[71]destroy. In one hour this may be effected. On the waters -running out, the consequence will be a great tumult at Constantinople, -the news being every where spread that the Russians have destroyed the -reservoirs of water, that they are about to assault Constantinople with -all their forces, and that their ulterior projects are not known. In the -space of one day the want of water will produce confusion among them, -which will be augmented by our zealous partisans of the Greek nation. -The troops which are in Constantinople, instead of marching immediately -against us, will pillage the public treasures, and those of their -emperor, ministers, and rich men; and putting their booty hastily on -board such boats and vessels as they find at hand, will endeavour to fly -to Anatolia and elsewhere. The residue of the inhabitants, who remain at -Constantinople, being left to themselves in this calamity, and -overwhelmed with astonishment, having no water to bake bread, or to -drink, will, in the course of two days, be reduced to the last -extremity. So that the Russian troops, gradually advancing and entering -the city, will make themselves entire masters of it.” - -The Sublime Government having received intelligence of this -conversation, and of the decision taken in consequence of it[72], the -infernal treachery of the aforesaid wicked person, seemed really to have -conceived a feasible project. Water sleeps, and enemy is sleepless.[73] -It is especially to be considered, that the distance from the peninsula -of the Crimea to the channel of the Black Sea, is such, that a ship may -cross it without altering a sail; and whatever confidence we may place -in our own strength, yet, God forbid that so cunning an enemy should -find us in an unguarded posture; particularly since we are instructed by -the example of so many States, that owed their loss of reputation and -ruin to the want of care in observing the machinations of their enemies, -and in neglecting to provide in proper time efficient troops and -military stores. From this source their calamities have arisen, as is -written and set forth, as well in other histories, as in that which -treats of the misfortune of the Sublime Person, who has received the -mercy of[74]God, and of the peace which he concluded. The Russian -infidels having withal greatly improved the state of their dominions -within the space of seventy or eighty years, and manifested their thirst -of glory by their arrogant and insolent interference in the interior -affairs of other States, and having annexed several foreign countries to -their own dominions, especially the kingdom of Poland, we must not, by -any means, consider ourselves secure from so treacherous and deceitful a -nation. Besides all this, the upright and provident ministers of the -Sublime Government, who are aware of the evil designs of the enemy, -having represented to the Emperor, (who is at the summit of power, and -inhabits the mansions of wisdom and understanding,) that if such an -attempt as that suggested to the Cralyä by the before-mentioned -reprobate, should actually take place against the reservoirs, (which God -forbid!) as there had been no care taken to provide either money or -troops, it would be utterly impossible to dispatch with expedition -against the enemy forces that were under no discipline, or to repulse -them with such soldiers; and that the people of the Empire of Islam, -reposing entirely on the protection of Providence, would not make the -least resistance. That therefore, as it was a maxim established that in -an urgent case, when some remedy must be sought, resources must be found -in the whole body of those who are attached to government, without -consulting the lower orders; there was no other method of dispelling and -removing the danger we have spoken of above, but by keeping a body of -troops on foot ready for service. It was also taken into consideration, -that even if the description of force required for the purpose really -existed at Constantinople; yet in case of any danger arising on the side -of the reservoirs in the way we have mentioned, (which Heaven forbid!) -as the intelligence must be conveyed from thence to Constantinople, and -as the troops must assemble, it would require five days at least before -they could reach their destination. May God protect and guard us! “The -serpent kills a man in Egypt whilst the Teryak[75] is coming from -Venice,” as the proverb says. - -With regard to the apprehensions entertained for the reservoirs, it -appeared in every case indispensably necessary, that on that side a body -of troops should be kept in readiness in some fixed station, and -provided with requisite supply of artillery, ammunition, and military -stores; and such troops as should not, like the rest of our forces, be -composed of sellers of pastry, boatmen, fishermen, coffee-house keepers, -baccals, and others who are engaged in the thirty-two trades, but of -well disciplined men, who would take care to have their cannon and -muskets ready for service, and on an urgent occasion, would be prepared -in the space of half an hour to engage the troops and artillery of the -enemy; to repulse them, and retaliate on them their own hostile devices. -After these points had been taken into serious consideration, some men -were in the first place dispatched to the corps of the Janissaries for -the purpose of selecting from thence some young and chosen soldiers, -whom they were to discipline and train to the use of arms. Upon this, -our bravoes who are engaged in the thirty-two trades, considering that -if they were obliged to attend punctually to the exercise of cannon and -small arms, they would be occupied with that instead of their private -affairs, and would be brought into trouble, no longer receiving their -pay once in three months gratuitously, and without doing any thing for -it, began to ponder the matter, stroaking their beards and mustachios, -and to vent their discontent by saying, “We are not made for this sort -of work, and we will have nothing to do with it.” Whatever pains were -taken to enlighten their understandings, they obstinately persisted, -addressing each other by these or similar terms, “Ho! Alli Sacka Baba, -Oda Bashi, Bash Karakouloukgee![76] what say you to this business? the -exercise of the Nizam-y-Gedid is now introduced; henceforth no pay is to -be had without service, and what they call exercise is a very -troublesome service; it is true that drawing up in a line makes a better -show; but if they send us to war, we can fire our muskets, and then -charging sword in hand, we can put the Russians to flight and storm -their camp. May Heaven preserve from decay our corps and our chiefs! we -shall then take our pay when it is issued, and pass our time agreeably.” -Such were their expressions, as though they could by frigid reasoning, -and senseless allusions, induce the Sublime Government to abandon this -enterprise, when the experience of two wars had proved, beyond dispute, -both the total inefficiency of their services, and the feeble condition -of the Mahometan community. - -With respect to the apprehensions entertained of the destruction of -those fine reservoirs by the Russian infidels, the first step which was -taken for the purpose of procuring speedy and effectual means of -guarding against so devilish a piece of treachery, consisted in an -ordinance for levying a body of Bostangees[77], who were to be quartered -at the Levend-Chifflick, a military post newly established at no great -distance from the reservoirs, in order that in an urgent crisis when we -fly for refuge to Divine protection, they might be ready for service in -a very short space of time. But the most important point is this: that -the new levied troops, instead of engaging in trade, should remain day -and night in their quarters, applying themselves daily to military -exercises, and keeping their arms, cannon, muskets, and warlike -implements of every description necessary for immediate service; thus -practising a discipline suitable to their appellation of soldiers of the -new regulation. To complete all, every Orta[78] led an _Imam_[79] -attached to it for the due performance of religious worship, that -nothing requisite might be omitted. Besides this, numerous batteries are -established on the shores of the canal of the Black Sea[80], well -furnished with artillery, and a sufficient number of gunners were -appointed to serve them, and to oppose any attempt which might be made -by the enemies of our faith, to force the passage of the said canal. As -the perfect discipline of the garrisons of those forts, rendered the -passage of a ship altogether impracticable, the enemies of our faith -clearly saw that the attempt must end in their destruction; and thus, -under the Divine favour, their wicked projects, which we have already -related,were rendered fruitless and abortive. - -The continual and daily progress which these new soldiers have been -making in discipline and order, and the excellent conduct and steady -valour which a handful of our regular troops displayed at Alexandria, -Cairo, and Acre, have caused the hearts of the foes of our religion to -melt within them, on seeing and hearing these things. We trust, that by -the favour of Heaven, when this description of our force called -Nizam-y-Gedid shall have become sufficiently numerous, terror and -consternation will take possession of the hearts of the Russians, the -Germans, and the other enemies of our faith and Empire, to such a -degree, that they will no longer think of imposing on the Sublime -Government hard and insolent conditions; and that, lastly, this -institution of regular soldiers, proceeding from the habitation of the -great Spirit which rules over our faith and Empire, will perpetuate the -duration of the Sublime Government even to the end of the world, and -will give us victory over all our enemies. - -It has happened to me a thousand times to find myself engaged in dispute -with a crowd of contentious fools, who say, “Is there any occasion for -these new troops of the Nyzam-y-Gedid? At the time that the Ottoman race -conquered the world with the sabre, there were no such forces. Let the -enemy present himself, and we will lay our hands on our sabres, and at a -single charge make piece-meal of them. Only let us see the intentions of -our enemy, we will storm their camp, sword in hand, upset their Cral -from his throne, trample his crown under our feet, and penetrate even to -the most distant of their countries.” - -To these bravoes I thus addressed myself: “Hark ye, comrade! do you know -that ever since the year 1146 I, as well as my father, have served with -all my might in the corps of Janissaries, and have been engaged in -several wars, and have seen the world both hot and cold, and feeding -from the world’s basket, have passed through the hoop of the -elements.[81] Having moreover been a prisoner in the hands of the -enemies of religion, I became fully acquainted with their deceit and -treachery, their discipline, and the successes which they have obtained -over the Sublime Government. It has thus been easy for me to gain an -intimate knowledge of many things, the truth of which cannot be easily -understood from the mere perusal of our annals. As I am now eighty-seven -years of age, if all those affairs that have passed since the year 82, -with which I am thoroughly conversant, were to be written, they would -fill several volumes. There are, however, certain events taken as well -from history as from what has fallen under my own observation, which I -wish to relate to you; and as my discourse shall be free from -malevolence and bad passions, I trust in God that you will hear me with -satisfaction, and will one day bless me.” - - - SECTION III. - -The subject that we are now to treat is as follows:— - -At the accession to the throne of that flower of Emperors, Sultan -Suleÿman Kannuni, the science of firing with quickness artillery in -position, making use of muskets, and practising such like military -exercises, and of defeating large armies with a very small body of -troops, was not known amongst the foreign states of Europe and other -nations. In this state of things they carried on wars against us; and in -such contests the pious enthusiasm of the soldiers of Islam caused the -gales of victory and conquest to blow on the side of the Sublime -Government. Sometimes, also, they were on that of the enemy. It came to -pass by a disposition of Divine Providence, that His Highness Sultan -Suleÿman having for some years following continually met with bad -success in his wars against the Germans, and perceiving that his defeats -were owing to the unskilfulness and want of discipline of our soldiers, -employed himself in creating a corps of regular troops[82], and -inscribing recruits for that purpose. Immediately a number of idle and -ignorant vagabonds, who disapproved of this institution of troops, -quarters, and military regulations, began to murmur, saying, “Was the -world originally conquered by the Janissaries? No; it was subdued by the -Segbans, and other valiant companies.[83] What sort of corps is this? -and what is the meaning of these dresses? What strange things are the -water-carriers, cooks, and servants, with their various dresses and -titles!” By disseminating these seditious speeches, they entirely -corrupted the minds of those soldiers who had been, or were to be -enrolled in the new corps of Janissaries. So that, for instance, if an -hundred recruits had their names inscribed to-day, to-morrow two hundred -would desert. - -His Highness the said Emperor, reflecting on what passed, and -considering the favour which had been granted by Divine Providence to -our magnificent Lord[84]; understanding also that every age was gifted -with some polar star of intellectual excellence, discovered that there -existed at that period from among the sons and successors of Hagee -Bektash, the polar star of the times. The Emperor having caused this -personage to be brought to him from Anatolia, spoke to him of the new -corps which he had formed for the purpose of snatching victory from the -infidels, and giving it to the people of Islam, and demanded the prayers -of this Sheich, that the soldiers enrolled in the corps, instead of -deserting, might display constancy and firmness. The said personage -having therefore prayed, from that day forth the recruits no longer -fled, but looking upon themselves as the children of Hagee-Bektash, -firmly persevered in their service; and thus, when expeditions were -undertaken against the enemy by these regular troops, who were kept -closely to the pitch of discipline necessary at that time, the happy -influence as well of the Emperor of Islam who is the chief of religious -conquerors, as of the aforesaid holy personage, had so beneficial an -effect, that they overthrew the armies of the enemies of the faith, and -gained such signal advantages, that were we to describe them at large, -our discourse would be too prolix. Before much time had elapsed, the -enemy being broken and routed, and perceiving by experience the -advantages of this discipline, obtained peace with a thousand -entreaties. Hereupon all the Crals[85] being seized with consternation, -after communicating with each other, held a council in a place -appointed, to which they invited men of wisdom and experience. The -conclusion they came to was this: “The Ottoman Emperor having introduced -an admirable system into his army, and established a corps for the -express purpose of keeping it up, we shall no longer be able to keep -face with such well disciplined troops: as the soldiers of the Islam are -naturally brave, they will fall in among us, sword in hand, and make a -speedy end of us; and as the opinion which they hold that those who die -in war are martyrs, and go immediately to Paradise, makes them fight -with great zeal, it is evident that if we do not establish good and -sufficient military regulations, the Ottomans will conquer the whole of -Europe, and oblige us all to pay the Haratsh. It is our business -therefore to find some method of preventing those soldiers from closing -with us.” They concluded their conference by forming a masterly project, -and inventing a method of using with expedition their cannon, muskets, -and other instruments of war, and prohibiting their troops from engaging -in commerce, they obliged them to pass their whole time in learning -military exercises, in which they made such progress that it became at -last impossible to break their ranks. In truth, it is well known to -those who are acquainted with history, that in the wars which have taken -place since the invention of this new system of tactics, the Ottomans -have been most frequently worsted, because they found it impossible to -make use of their sabres among the infidels as they wished to do; for -their regular troops keep in a compact body, pressing their feet -together that their order of battle may not be broken; and their cannon -being polished like one of[86]Marcovich’s watches, they load twelve -times in a minute, and make the bullets rain like musket balls; thus -they keep up an unintermitted discharge of artillery and small arms. -When the Islamites make an attack upon them with infantry or cavalry, -the enemies of our faith observe a profound silence, till the soldiers -of Islam are come close up to their front, and then at once giving fire -to some hundred carriage-guns, and to seventy or eighty thousand -muskets, overturn our men in heaps without so much as receiving a bloody -nose. When they have thus by a few volleys caused thousands of the -people of Islam to drink the sherbet of martyrdom, the surviving remnant -are wont to fly. Our troops perceiving how skilful the enemy are in the -use of fire-arms, and seeing many thousand men slain in the space of -half an hour, while they are unable to avenge themselves on their -opponents, have necessarily begun to lose courage. But although the -wicked infidels, exerting their whole strength, have with great prudence -and boldness invented so masterly an art of war, yet the soldiers of -Islam, who have not been able to make any stand against them, may justly -assert that the fault does not belong to themselves; for since the enemy -sends us eighty thousand charges of grape before a thousand of our men -have time to fire their muskets, it is certain that resistance in such a -case is beyond their power. Thus during the period which elapsed before -the reign of his Highness Sultan Mustapha Khan, although we were -sometimes victorious and sometimes vanquished, yet success was, for the -most part, on the side of the infidels. - -By explaining all this, and by giving answers founded on the knowledge -of passing events, I have succeeded in convincing many persons, who by -falsehood endeavoured to support the unjust opposition of the partisans -of the Janissaries. What remains to be mentioned is this: His Highness -Sultan Mahmoud, having enquired the reason of the successes of the -infidels, and the defeats of the people of Islam, a dissertation, -treating of the way to victory, and entitled “The Origin of Discipline,” -was composed and published; and as it afforded satisfaction to the -Emperor, copies of it were disseminated amongst the public. I have, in -the year 1206, undertaken to write a description of the new troops, -being encouraged thereto by the favour which the Emperor has been -pleased to bestow both on the motive and the work; but as, by the mercy -of Heaven, I have reached the extreme period of life, it is very -uncertain whether I shall be able to finish the execution of it. - - - SECTION IV. - -“Since you cannot reconcile your minds to the new system of exercise, -and say that it is useless, allow me in reply to put this question to -you: Was there a wall run up between you and the infidels during the -Russian war which broke out in the reign of Sultan Mustapha Khan? When -you had consumed as much meat and white bread as would have been -sufficient for two hundred thousand men, why did you, while the infidels -were in your sight, turn and fly, instead of engaging them after you had -raised a commotion on the pay, rations, and exceptions from service? You -well know that I was present with you at that time. In the following -year you committed, on your march to the army, sundry crimes and -excesses; burning and ruining the houses in which you were lodged, both -of Mussulmans and tributary subjects, and lengthening your hands against -their children and daughters. When you arrived at the camp, you plainly -showed what ability you possessed for war, never having ventured in any -situation to engage or oppose the enemy, even so much as with the sound -of your voices; and after having spent your time as you did the former -year, in disputing about pay, &c. you departed, spoiling your brothers -in religion, and showing no fear or reverence, either for God or man. -Prove to us, if you can, that at any time, or in any place, you have -rendered the least service to the Emperor. Such being the state you were -in for the space of six or seven years, you at length became the cause -of the Muscovites concluding a treaty with us on their own terms, -inasmuch as through your misconduct they were enabled to penetrate into -our territories. And to conclude all, it is owing to you that such a -province as the Crimea, the seat of a Khan, hath remained in the hands -of the infidels.—In the late war with the Russians, which followed the -one we have been speaking of, several thousand soldiers of the corps of -the Janissaries were detached with speed on the side of Otchakow, with -the hope that you would effect something before the military forces of -the Russians could arrive from a distance of seven or eight hundred -hours’ march.[87] On that occasion you paid no attention to your -officers or to the governor of Otchakow, but of your own counsel went to -attack a little entrenched port called Kibburun, where, being engaged by -a small body of Russian troops appointed to defend that quarter, you -could not resist them, but returned to Otchakow, after losing a great -number of men. The Muscovites then besieged the fortress of Otchakow, -remaining before it during the season of winter, snow, and extreme cold, -whilst you crept into holes within the place, and did not dare to -venture out. Thus you were the occasion of the enemy’s taking by -assault, and by force of arms, so strong and firm a bulwark of Islamism, -together with all its inhabitants, who were made prisoners. And to you -it is owing that so many thousand persons, with their wives, daughters, -and young children, fell into the hands of the Russians. In other places -you were equally unable to resist. As the superiority which the practice -of military exercise gives to the infidels in war is clearly evident, as -well as the deficiency of the people of Islam in several points -connected with military science, is not the obstinacy with which you -oppose the introduction of this exercise, purely a treason against our -religion and empire?” When I had thus set forth and laid before them -their actual condition, such of them as were disposed to reason ceased -their clamour, and answered thus: “Truly His Highness Sultan Mahmoud was -about to appoint a deputation for the purpose of establishing this -exercise, according to the principles laid down in the treatise entitled -‘The Origin of the Institution of Discipline;’ but as longer life was -not granted to him, the deputation was not named. If at that period good -order had been established, we should not have been beaten by the -infidels.” In these words they made confession of the truth; but some -answered differently, saying, “In the corps of Janissaries I receive -twenty-five aspers; if these troops of the Nizam-y-Gedid should increase -in number, and become serviceable, I am afraid that as the Janissaries -will no longer enjoy any consideration, I shall not be able to draw my -pay. If I knew for certain that no loss would accrue to me from it, I -would say, God grant that all the people in the world may become -soldiers of the Nizam-y-Gedid.” These people expressed their true -sentiments. Others again spoke thus: “If we abolish the new regulation -(although we know that it is likely to be serviceable, and that our -other undisciplined forces will never be of the least avail) the enemy -will celebrate the event with the rejoicings of a marriage-feast, and -encroaching on our territories more and more, will confirm their victory -by imposing on the Sublime Government hard and disgraceful conditions; -and to conclude, as there will be no means of opposing the enemies of -our faith on any side, the power of the Sublime Government will decline -from day to day. If, under the Divine favour, these troops who are -clothed with the garments of discipline, should be augmented until they -amount to the number required, and stationed in the fortresses upon the -Russian and German frontiers, as well as in other parts of the empire, -we very well know that, in a time of trouble and of war, they will not -be disconcerted like our raw soldiers, but will stand firm and unshaken -in the midst of carnage. We will prove the truth of our words by this -example: If, on a stormy day, a vessel be manned with persons utterly -ignorant of sea affairs, the ship will undoubtedly sink, and all on -board will perish; but if the crew are acquainted with navigation, -however great may be the storm which they encounter, they will, by the -grace of God, obtain a deliverance from it. Can there be any room to -doubt that a few persons who have for fifteen or twenty years exercised -the art of war, and have learnt sundry military stratagems, will obtain -an easy victory over many thousand unpractised soldiers, overthrowing -them, and bringing them into captivity?” In such terms as these many of -them avowed their assent and conviction. It ought to be generally known -that, whilst many thousands of our undisciplined forces were unable to -obtain the least advantage in the war which they waged at Alexandria and -Cairo against the reprobates of France, our gunners and regular -infantry, although few in number, bravely combating the infidels and -defeated them incessantly; and the flight of a single individual of that -corps was never seen nor heard of. As their valour was conspicuous to -all, many of those who had carped at them saw and acknowledged their -error, saying “these are the troops who will render effectual service, -and we have sinned in calumniating them.” His Highness Gezar-Pashah -seeing the greatness of soul which these men displayed in war, and with -what heroic courage they became martyrs, while not a single individual -thought of flight, spoke thus: “Truly before I knew what sort of men -these were, I was wont to abuse them; but if after this I do so again, -may my tongue be dried in my mouth.” This we have heard from persons who -were present at the time that he said it. If we possess any -understanding or sense of rectitude, and be able to distinguish good -from evil, we may perceive and comprehend how important and necessary -the services of these troops have been; and also that, with the -exception of this sort of regular soldiers, the residue of our forces -have only served to create confusion and occasion famine, in our camps, -frontier fortresses, and other military posts. There are certain -expressions current amongst the enemies of our faith which our ears -heard in the time of our captivity. They say thus: “The greater is the -number of troops sent by the Ottomans into the field, the better are we -pleased; because if they are very numerous, their magazines will be -exhausted, and they will disperse before two months have passed; and if -your raw soldiers march against us, the greater part of them will be -mowed down by our grape shot, and the remainder will fly.” Behold, we -have seen with our eyes that this saying is exactly conformable to -truth. The following is another of their expressions: “If, for instance, -in an army of one hundred thousand Ottomans, there could be found an -hundred well trained men, we should, in computing their numbers, only -reckon those hundred, without taking the others into our calculation, -because we know that one soldier thoroughly exercised, is equal to one -thousand raw and ignorant men.” It is a certain fact, that we have seen -in the wars persons who, having never in the course of their lives taken -a gun in their hands before, but spent all their time in the exercise of -some trade, and knew not what they were about, but first put the ball -into their muskets, and then the powder above it. It has been sometimes -proved by experience, that as these people know not how to handle their -ammunition, it would be better that they should leave the army rather -than remain with it; because, being of no use, they do harm by the -disorder which they create. Some of our raw soldiers who do not know the -proper charge of powder, by putting too great a quantity into their -guns, cause them to burst, and thus maim, or even kill both themselves -and those who stand near them; and many of our unpractised horsemen who, -when mounted on their steeds, fancy themselves the heroes of the age, -and would not deign to give a salutation even to their own fathers, when -they draw their sabres in action, wound the heads of their own horses, -and thus cover themselves and their beasts with blood; this awkwardness -of theirs cause those who see it to utter ejaculations of surprise. In -short, it is evident to men of understanding, that as the talents of -reading, writing, riding on horseback, shooting with the bow, playing on -an instrument, and other similar acquirements, will not come -spontaneously to persons unskilled, and uninstructed in them; so -likewise victory cannot be obtained without a knowledge of the art of -war, which is a particular, and noble branch of science, independent of -others. - -There are indeed certain considerations which may induce us to pardon -those calumniators of the Nizam-y-Gedid, who are any wise connected with -the old corps; but do those persons who are by no means attached to -them, and who know the difference between alum and[88]sugar, and between -good and evil, show any sense in daring to abuse so noble a science? -Their perverseness and obstinacy are astonishing, seeing that, -notwithstanding the taste which the infidel race has always had of our -raw troops, they do not allow it to be sufficiently proved, that if a -war should break out, these ignorant beasts pressing together in masses -of one or two thousand men, will be unable to resist the tactic of the -enemy. - - - SECTION V. - _Containing a relation of the footing on which the old corps of troops - originally were, and of their present state._ - -Since so unreasonable a dissension prevails between our old and new -troops, we have undertaken a disquisition on the organization of the -first of these corps. The public are well aware of the conduct observed -by our old corps of troops when they march out to war, or return from -it; but if any persons should be ignorant of this, we will thus explain -it to them. At the time that His Highness Sultan Suleÿman Khan set on -foot these forces, the soldiers whose names were inscribed on the -muster-roll conducted themselves on their marches with the most perfect -propriety; and at the places through which they passed, whether they -moved by land or by water, did not take so much as the value of an -asper, either from rich or poor, mussulman or Rayah; neither did they -eat a single egg without paying for it, nor injured the honour of any -one. Truly the said troops, yielding implicit obedience to the orders of -the emperor of the times, and of their other commanders, performed their -duty well, and wronged no man in any respect. In their military -expeditions they were wont to subdue forts and countries, and to ruin -the reputation of the infidels, and thus to elevate the glory, fame, and -power of the emperor of exalted splendour, and as they were thought -worthy of the prayers of his Highness and of the people of the true -faith, the whole world held them as objects of praise, and all men -desired their honour. As they were so highly respected a body, they did -not admit into their ranks men of obscure race, such as Franks, Greeks, -Armenians, Jews, or gypsies, or persons belonging to any other -inglorious nation. Being men of true courage, they repressed these as -well as all other insolent and shameless persons, and those of the -description of robbers. As the enemies of our religion were not pleased -with their excellent regulations, they found means to introduce into -their ranks very cunning spies for the purpose of sowing dissension -amongst them. These spies gradually creeping in amongst the soldiers -under pretence of being comrades, insinuated themselves like Satan, and -began by degrees to set on foot practices, tending to corrupt the valour -implanted in their hearts, and their zeal for religion. “Comrades (said -they) the pay which we receive from government is seven aspers, and they -point out to us Paradise as the reward of martyrdom; they will certainly -cause us all to be slaughtered by the infidels; we have not two lives, -why then should we be destroyed for seven aspers, and without reason?” -Having, by similar and repeated insinuations, corrupted the minds of the -faithful soldiers, these began to care no longer about the concerns they -were intended for, and saying at last, “Useless and destructive -expeditions are only proper for the Russian infidels, let us leave it to -their soldiers to feed upon dry biscuits, as for us we will return home -and eat fine Baklava.”[89] Thus they forgot the stream of benefits in -which they were immersed, and the kind treatment and protection that -they had experienced. As there was nobody, either in the corps or out of -it, who spoke reason to them, they came in process of time to do -whatever they liked, plundering the places that they traversed on their -march, burning and destroying the houses both of Mussulmans and Rayahs, -and stretching forth their hands against the honour of their families. -Besides all this, although the whole body of men who compose an hundred -and ninety six Ortas, being quartered altogether in one residence, ought -to have no differences one with the other; yet hatred and dissension -rose to such a pitch amongst them, that they no longer considered those -who did not belong to their own Orta, as brothers in religion, but, -without dissembling their sentiments, exchanged bullets, and drank each -others blood; and in the villages, forcing open the houses of the poor, -committed murder, which disorder still prevailing, as none of them are -safe from the others either in war or peace, their well regulated system -of discipline hath perished and gone to decay. They pass their days in -propagating seventy thousand false reports, saying, “When we were -opposed to the infidels, they did not allow us to give them battle; if -we had obtained permission, we could without trouble have overthrown the -crals from their thrones; but the ministers of our government conspiring -with the Ghiaours[90] cause us to be slain and taken prisoners, and, -receiving from the Russian infidels casks of gold, deliver up the -country to them.” - -On a day of battle, as soon as they have heard from a distance the noise -of a cannonade, and have seen a few hats, the Mussulman spies who are in -their ranks begin to exclaim aloud: “Community of Mahomet, why do you -stay here? the Ghiaours have forced our camp, the troops in front of us -have turned their faces this way; we shall be pursued and made -prisoners.” As these cries spread in succession through the army, even -the very regiments which since their original institution never -surrendered their kettles to the enemy[91], and which are at that moment -sacrificing a thousand martyrs in their defence, now estimating their -own lives at the price which the others set upon theirs, abandon in the -space of half an hour their tents, camp equipage, kettles, and baggage -of every sort, and repairing straight to the imperial camp, plunder the -treasure, effects, and military chest, and then adorning their heads -with the trophies of their pillage, walk about in small parties with a -presumptuous air, as though these were inscriptions which made good -their pretence of having beaten the enemy, and overturned their cral. As -they are all mixed and confounded together, there is no way of -distinguishing those who fight with true patriotism from those who do -not, and there are amongst them certain adversaries who begin the attack -against the orders of their Vezier, Agha, Pashahs, and other officers. -When, however, the action is engaged, it is not possible to make them -stand their ground for half a minute, and the following example is a -clear proof of it. During the reign of his Highness Sultan Moustapha, in -the year of the battle of Kartal, when an hundred and fifty thousand -soldiers of Islam were opposed to the infidels, whilst his excellency, -Cogia Abdee Pashah (who hath attained to the mercy of God,) was engaged -in combat on the field of battle, at which time the people of Islam were -not very hard pressed, a mounted spy, dressed like a Chiaoush, rode -hastily along the rear of the entrenchments of the Janissaries, and -cried aloud: “Janissaries, why do you remain here? the Ghiaours have -turned our rear!” having said these words, he put spurs to his horse and -departed. Before he was out of sight, the whole camp of janissaries, -without examining whether he had spoken truth or falsehood, at once -betook themselves to a precipitate flight. The infidels, availing -themselves of the opportunity, pursued them, and were on the point of -completing their destruction; but his excellency, whom we mentioned -above, saved them by vigorously charging the infidels with another -corps; but while he thus checked the enemy, the fugitives never thought -so much as rallying or coming to his assistance, neither did they stop -to take breath, until they arrived on the banks of the Danube, amongst -the tents which contained the treasure. As they did not see the enemy at -their backs, they ought to have retraced their steps, instead of which, -they plundered the baggage and treasure of the imperial camp, and not -being able to cross the river in open boats, they threw themselves into -the river, so that one third of them, or perhaps more, were swallowed up -in the Danube. Some, who could not swim, climbed up the willow-trees -upon the banks of the Danube, and many lay hid among the reeds and -flags; but when the enemy arrived and perceived them, they were all put -to death by fire and sword. It was exactly three days before the whole -army of the infidels came up, when they made themselves masters of all -the artillery, ammunition, and military stores of various descriptions, -which our bravoes, who were unable to carry them off, had left on the -banks of the Danube. - -Towards the conclusion of the Russian war, which had succeeded the one -we have been speaking of, when Cogia Jussuf Pashah was Grand Vezier for -the second time, all the officers of the corps, and the Janissary-Agha -coming up to the Vezier in a body, made to him this representation: -“Although we have upwards of one hundred and twenty thousand men, yet -eight thousand of the Russian troops, crossing to the higher side of the -Danube and attacking us, have completely routed our army. It is utterly -impossible for us, with our regular troops, to make head against such -welldisciplined forces as those of the Ghiaours; therefore, if you -intend to make peace with them, do it without delay. While our soldiers -continue ignorant of these new military manœuvres, we are not destined -to become victorious, from this time even to the day of judgment.” The -astonished Vezier said in answer to this strong representation, “How can -I lay these points before the Emperor?” To this they replied, “We will -ourselves cause a petition to be drawn up and presented to him.” At the -same time, they caused an humble representation to be written out by me, -and delivered it to the Vezier. It was dispatched to the Emperor, and -his Highness became convinced of their inability of obtaining success in -future. When peace was made, in consequence, the Sublime Government, -considering that the Janissaries themselves had declared that their -state of discipline rendered them unfit to oppose the tactics of the -enemies, thought itself obliged to use every effort to introduce into -the corps of Janissaries a regular system of exercise, hoping by that -means to retrieve their affairs, to avert defeat, to open the way to -victory, and to obtain security from hostile machinations. The -Janissaries, however, contrary to reason and expectation, would not -receive this project, and absolutely rejected it. But as it became -evident that, if it were abandoned to oblivion, things would become -worse, and the infidel race would certainly encroach more and more, and -as the conversation which had taken place at Petersburgh relative to the -reservoirs, was then generally known, a body of musketeers was formed -from among the Bostangees, and quartered in the barracks newly -constructed at the Levend-Chifflick. As when His Highness Sultan -Suleÿman set on foot the corps of Janissaries, the new recruits deserted -next day, so in the present instance a number of worthless persons set -up an opposition in defence of the Janissaries, although these were no -otherwise connected with it than by the simple reception of pay, and -began to whisper to each other, “Hark ye! a hearth[92] is set open for -the Nizam-y-Gedid; if these new troops, who are practising military -evolutions, should perform any good service in war, the institution of -Janissaries will become obsolete, and our muster-roll will be erased -from the list.” They suggested also, that as the men who were inscribed -in the corps of the Nizam-y-Gedid performed an exercise similar to that -of the Ghiaours, the Mussulman faith is thereby injured. Although these -blockheads had never before given themselves any concern about our faith -or government, and indeed knew nothing of what belongs to Mussulman -purity; yet, on the present occasion, they showed a mighty anxiety for -religion, and by that means prevented many persons from inscribing their -names, and encouraged many who were already engaged to desert. Behold! -how inscrutable are the decrees of Divine Providence! When the war with -France broke out, at which time these forces consisted only of three or -four thousand men, the new gunners and musketeers were appointed to -serve at Cairo and Acre. The said troops committed no excesses, either -on board the vessels in which they were transported, or in the places of -their destination whither they repaired, nor robbed any man of the value -of an asper; but both in going and coming, conducted themselves with -propriety and modesty. If any persons have either seen or heard of their -having committed the least fault, we challenge them to declare it. When -by the favour of Divine Providence they arrived at Acre, the French -infidels, who had for sixty-three days pressed very closely Gezar-Pashah -and the inhabitants of the place, were within a hair’s breadth of making -themselves entirely masters of it; for they had already entered that -which is called the Sublime bastion within the fortress; but the troops -of the Nizam-y-Gedid, valiantly exerting their military skill, in one -day slaughtered the infidels to such a degree, that in no part of Europe -did the French nation ever receive so disgraceful an overthrow; and no -man in the world is ignorant that the said fortress and its inhabitants -were delivered by their courage. Is not this also a proof of their -utility, past and future? Wherever they have been opposed to the -infidels, although few in number, they never turned their faces back, -but broke the enemy, or were themselves broken; and as not one of them -dared to mention the word flight, they have always, in exact obedience -to the will of the great and mighty Prophet, punctually discharged the -duties which appertain to a holy war, and a steady zeal for the faith. -If there is any falsehood in my words, let any one prove it; I am -extremely willing that he should do so, otherwise, for God’s sake, let -every body listen to reason. When our undisciplined forces in Egypt -found themselves unable to make head against the cavalry or infantry of -the French infidels, they retired for protection behind the ranks of our -regular troops, who alone stood their ground, and by that means saved -themselves from the impending danger. Moreover, in the year 1217 they -were sent against the Mountaineers who had rebelled in Rumelia. Since -that insolent race first showed themselves, several Veziers and other -officers had been sent against them without effect.[93] Having formed -the wicked design of destroying the Nizam-y-Gedid institution from its -roots, they now exerted their whole strength and gave battle. Although -the regular troops had with them neither their cannon, howitzers, or -mounted men, and were engaged in the midst of a severe winter, snow, -rain, and mud, and though the rebels were strongly posted in a town, -they nevertheless marched up to the attack, and without regarding the -advantageous position of the insurgents, while they were themselves up -to the knees in mud and water, they knocked down half of the rebels like -rotten pears, sending their souls to hell, and obliged the rest to fly. -In a short time the field of action was covered with the vile carcases -of the rebels, and those who were taken alive reported that they called -out to each other, “Ah! comrade, these troops which they call -Nizam-y-Gedid, are not what we took them for.” In these exclamations -they betrayed the sense of their own inferiority. Every one knows that -at last these rascals, unable to make a stand on any side, climbed the -mountains by night, and fled. To this we may add, that although the -banditti tried by every means to introduce a spy into the ranks of the -new soldiers, they could not succeed, because, by the regulations of -those forces, an officer is appointed to command every ten privates, and -these officers who have an opportunity of seeing constantly, as well -their own men as those who are on the right and left, are acquainted -with them all, and in the line they never quit each other’s sides; if, -therefore, a stranger from without should get in amongst them, in what -condition would he find himself, being exposed in the middle; like a -broom in a court-yard, he delivers his collar to the first man that -takes him. - -Just and intelligent men may readily understand how easily the Sublime -Government can organise these troops, from this circumstance, that it is -utterly impossible for any person, whether Mussulman or infidel, by -passing to and fro to examine the state of these troops, and learn where -they are going, and what they are about to undertake, without being -discovered and punished. The advantages of the new corps, and their -superiority over the old are infinite; were we to write them all down, -we should fill several volumes. In order, however, to make the people -comprehend well, we will point out to them another of these advantages. -The soldiers of our ancient corps, are not at all clothed alike; from -this diversity of garment, the following bad effect results: if, in time -of war, any of them should desert from the army, as there are no marks -by which we can distinguish whether the deserters belong to the troops, -or whether they are tradesmen, or servants, they have thereby the -opportunities of escaping without being known. Whereas the new troops -have a particular uniform of their own, so that the stragglers would be -soon discovered. Hence it results, that in a large camp of the new -troops, every man will be forced to remain fixed in his company, and -steady in the performance of his duty, whether he would or no, since it -is impossible to desert without greatly incurring the danger of -punishment. - -Another of their advantages is this: our old forces, when in presence of -the enemy, do not remain drawn up in a line, but stand confusedly and -promiscuously like a crowd in a place of diversion. Some load their -muskets, and fire once, some twice, or oftener, just as they think -proper, whilst others being at their wits’ end, and not knowing what -they are about turn from side to side like fabulous story-tellers.[94] -If in consequence of any movement which they perceive on the side of the -enemy, the officers endeavour to make the troops fall back a little, -some will obey them, others will not, every one does just as he likes. -If they wish to retire a little, the soldiers make that a pretence for -flying to the distance of some days’ journey. - -But the new troops remain drawn up in line as though they were at -prayers, the rear ranks being exactly parallel with the front, and -consisting of the same number of companies, neither more nor less, so -that, when it is necessary, they turn with as much precision as a watch. -The whole body, consisting of many thousand men, observe attentively the -signals given them by the two fuglemen who explain by signs the commands -of the officers, and not one dares so much as to turn his head. Thus the -orders of the officers being communicated without the least noise, they -stand firm, and lend an attentive ear, whilst not a word issues from -their mouths. If, for instance, the officer whose business it is to give -the command, makes the signal for attention, the whole body are ready in -an instant, and not one of them dares to stand idle, or to make any -noise, or to look another way, thus they are equally prepared for -whatever may happen. Sometimes the signal is given for them to load and -discharge their muskets successively, without regarding order or slacken -their fire, so as to make the balls shower like rain. If, while thus -engaged, they meet with a check, the officers immediately by a signal -will cause them to retire in good order, and will supply their place -with fresh troops from the rear, who likewise scatter their fire in the -same manner. This method of managing troops gives great facility to -their operations. Sometimes they dispose a large body of men in a -circular form, and then cause them to march round in such a manner, that -as the circle turns the soldiers incessantly discharge their muskets on -the enemy and give no respite to the combat, and having prepared their -guns for a fresh discharge before they return to the same place, they -fire the moment they arrive in the face of the enemy. The result of this -circular formation is, that the fire and slaughter do not cease for an -instant. Sometimes, when it is judged necessary, several thousand men -being crowded into a narrow space, form a solid mass for the purpose of -appearing to the enemy to be few in number, then by opening out, they -can execute any manœuvre that they please, and sometimes, ten thousand -men deploying, appear to consist of fifty or sixty thousand. At other -times, when they are hard pressed, the troops receive the superior -officers in the centre, and throwing themselves into the form of a -square castle, pour their fire on every side, the artillery also being -disposed on every face of the square, so that if the enemy should charge -them even on four sides, he will be unable to make an impression. If the -enemy’s cavalry should endeavour to break in upon them while they are -formed in this manner, on the signal being given, the front rank men -kneel altogether in an instant, and remain in that position keeping -their muskets supported against their breasts, and the ranks who are in -their rear stand upright and make use of their fire-arms, thus rendering -it impossible for the hostile cavalry to break in and create confusion. -Should it happen that the enemy is as skilful and well trained as -themselves, and employs against them the same discipline, then of the -two parties, that will be victorious whose chiefs are enabled, by the -favour of Divine Providence, to put in practice with superior address, -the new science and stratagems of war which they have learned, because -the apostle of the Most High, our great prophet (on whom be the -blessings and peace of God!) himself condescended to use military -stratagems. This sacred tradition is thus related. - -During a holy war which was carried on in the happy time of the apostle -of God, (on whom be peace!) a certain valiant champion of the enemy’s -army came out to offer single combat, and demanded that the glorious -Alli should be opposed to him. Alli, well pleasing to God, having -received the command of the Apostle, girded on his sword only, and -immediately went forth alone to the place appointed for the combat. When -this friend of the Most High met that infidel, he thus addressed him: “I -come on foot having one sword; why come you out on horseback having two -swords and two bows?” The great Alli spoke to him again, saying “let -these things be so; but I come out alone to give battle on our side, why -do you bring another man and come both together?” The infidel, at this -question, looked about him believing that another man had followed him, -when at the same instant, the great Alli, in the twinkling of an eye, -made the vile head of the reprobate fly off. The death of the said -wicked person having been a source of joy to the followers of Islam, the -excellent Alli, meeting the great prophet on his return, related to him -the admirable stratagem by means of which he had slain that wretch. This -holy tradition has been vouchsafed unto us. - -Although many similar stratagems have been employed at various times, by -holy warriors, and leave has been granted to the spies sent forth -amongst the infidels for the purpose of advancing victory to the people -of Islam, to assume any sort of dress; and although the great Prophet -hath given full permission and authority to do any thing which may -conduce to the defeat of the infidels, yet an ignorant rabble keep -chattering like parrots, some of whom do not approve of the dresses of -the new troops, while others say that their exercise belongs specially -to the Kiafers[95], and does not become Mussulmans. - -With respect to the manner in which the provinces of the Sublime -Government are to be defended, and the means by which the enemies of our -faith are to be repressed, and the causes that have produced victory and -defeat, the rabble are utterly ignorant of them, occupying themselves -solely with this question, “shall we lose our pay of a few aspers?” With -this, as with a fishing hook, they draw from their sack various -absurdities, and prevent a number of simple and foolish men from -undertaking the duties of holy warfare. In truth, is not this a -sufficient reason for their being excluded from the two blessed worlds? - -To sum up all in one word: it is evident to men of penetration, that -there is no possibility of introducing this system into our old corps, -for this reason; that as at their first institution they were regulated -in a different manner, every one of them has an aversion to submitting -himself to the new discipline. If, for example, any of the old troops -wish to leave the camp and return, although forty thousand officers -should attempt to turn them back, it is useless; they will do as they -please. If only five or ten individuals should turn their faces, who has -power to say to them “Stop, go not away!” the whole body forthwith -following on their steps; for the most part draws breath in the tents -containing the treasure and baggage of the Imperial camp. - -The following is another of the advantages of the new troops. If it -should happen that the enemies have obtained the victory by their -superior numbers, and that the new forces were defeated, they will not, -in consequence, lose courage and disperse themselves; their captains and -other officers will rally them the following day or soon after, and will -again march upon the enemy; and not one of their soldiers will dare to -make the defeat a pretext for quitting his post. But if our old corps -meet with a small check, they run, throw themselves into the water, and -get drowned. Thus they become the cause of the progress of the enemies -of the faith. Which thing having come to pass in our own times, twice in -the Russian, and once in the Austrian war, and repeatedly in the war -with the French, is manifest to the world, and wants no new proof.[96] -Another of the advantages of the new troops is this; that when a body of -them are appointed to defend any post, they establish an advanced guard -round the place in order to obviate any hostile stratagems. Although -this sort of vigilance and precaution was formerly observed, yet there -is a world of difference between the ancient method and the new. -According to the old system, it is not easy to discover strange soldiers -of the enemies’ army who mix with the posts; but it is utterly -impossible for strangers to pass the guards of the regular troops, and -to get into a fortress which they defend; so that the army is safe from -any surprise. - -The following is a description of the manner in which these posts are -arranged. When they are disposed round the camp, a certain word is given -them every night as a sign; the commander-in-chief first announces in -secret this word to the officers, and they communicate it privately to -the officers of the corps de garde; if therefore they meet with a -suspicious person, they immediately demand the parole, that is to say, -the sign word for the night; and if he does not give the parole of the -night, they seize and conduct him to the captain of the camp. Behold! -this is the only method of discovering spies; and as it is a matter -which, above all others, demands great care, they will pay special -attention to it; so that until their return from any expedition, the -parole of one night will never be the same as that of another, and by -this means they are delivered from the plague of spies. But of all the -advantages, the most material is this. If, under Divine favour, a -sufficiently numerous body of these new troops should be properly -disposed along the frontiers of the Sublime Empire, our enemies will -find themselves opposed on every part of the boundaries of Islam, by -expert artillery men, and well disciplined forces, perfectly acquainted -with the rules of the art of war; nor will they, as heretofore, be able -to take advantage of our unguarded posture, in order to make an attack -upon us; for there are persons still alive who well know that when in -the time of Sultan Mahmoud the German infidels assaulted, and at once -made themselves masters of the fortress of Nissa, it required a great -deal of trouble to drive them out. In fine, His Highness the Emperor, -and the supporters of his power, considering that it is indispensably -necessary to guard against such occurrences by striking terror into the -enemies of our religion, have firmly resolved to take measures for that -purpose, seeing that those enemies who were from the beginning a -troublesome and insolent race, and who, in all times, had been unable to -withstand the power of the people of Islam, insomuch that they were wont -to frighten their bastards in the cradle by saying “The Mussulman is -coming!” and many of them on seeing one Mussulman, took off their hats -through excess of fear, now venture to resist us, and have with -exceeding care and diligence made themselves so thoroughly masters of -the use of fire-arms, that a body of some thousands of them are able to -serve their cannon with as much precision and celerity as they can their -muskets, firing a single piece of artillery twelve or fifteen times in a -minute, and making a thousand discharges in the space of an hour. By -this means they destroy the people of Islam from a distance, and prevent -them from making use of their sabres. They now say, “At length we have -taught the Ottoman troops what value they ought to set upon themselves; -henceforth they will never set foot in our country; even the Mussulman -provinces are ours.” Thus they never allow victory to incline to the -side of Islam, and especially since the year 1182, they have continued -to afflict the followers of Islam with most disgraceful usage, bringing -under their own power so many of our tributary subjects. Nevertheless, a -crowd of ignorant people of our nation never bring these things into -their recollection, nor can persuade themselves that the success of the -infidels for nearly the space of forty years over the people of Islam -proceeds entirely from their own inability to resist their fire, and -that their own frequent flights are the cause which disables us from -carrying on war. These despicable wretches have never issued from the -castle-gate, nor travelled a single stage from home, neither do they -know what war and peace mean, nor from what cause the troubles of the -world have sprung, and whence they are likely to arise in future; some -of them are so ignorant of what belongs to pure religion, that in -repeating a short prayer they commit mistakes from beginning to end; men -in appearance only, vulgar of the lowest description, children of -falsehood, who suppose that the Nizam-y-Gedid is the cause of confusion -in the universe, and that if this ordinance were removed, and the old -system restored, the world would be tranquil in five days. - -Last year, one of those superlatively ignorant persons was appointed to -the office of receiver of the revenue in one of the islands. This man, -who before was continually uttering curses and execrations against the -authors of the Nizam-y-Gedid, having gained five thousand piasters by -the perception of the imposts, and hoping it was continued to him for -another year that he might gain five thousand more, upon meeting with -his friends and companions, said to them, “Ha! comrades, there is no -harm in this Nizam-y-Gedid; I, indeed, at first opposed it, but it was -from want of sense; for the impost upon wine is not paid by those who -drink it, but is levied upon the wine which is sent to Russia, so that -the money comes out of the pockets of the Russians; it were better that -it was twice as much; I now understand the matter, and I make vow never -to speak a word against the Nizam-y-Gedid.” See how this man, in -consequence of gaining a few piasters by an institution which he had -been in the habit of abusing, is not ashamed afterwards to praise it. -Such, however, is the nature of all the lower orders. To sum up all in -one word: if the clamour and execrations of a rabble, who makes no -difference between good and evil, obliges us to abandon the said -institution of new troops, (which Heaven forbid!) the enemies of our -religion will find so much the more facility in invading us; and as one -of their kingdoms maintains three hundred thousand regular troops, they -will mount upon our necks on seeing that the Ottomans cannot discipline -a hundred thousand. At that time we shall not derive the least service -from those knaves who disapprove of the Nizam-y-Gedid; they will merely -say that it was thus ordained; that there is no contending with destiny; -and if a great calamity befalls (which Heaven avert!) they will, without -making more words about the matter, become the authors of trouble and -distress. - - - SECTION VI. - _Wherein is explained the purpose for which exercise is intended._ - -In the time of his Highness the late Emperor, during the period of my -two captivities, I have often, in the course of conversation with -Russian military men, questioned them, saying, “by what secret prodigy -hath it come to pass, that you Muscovites, who were formerly a very -stupid and easily vanquished nation, have for some time back obtained -such success over the race of Osman?” They, in reply, said, “Since you -are ignorant of the causes of our superiority, you shall be made -acquainted with them. The Russians, in former times, did not possess the -knowledge of tactics, and were therefore beaten by their enemies. A man -called Mad [97]Petro, having in his travels seen the world, and acquired -an intimate knowledge of the advantages thereof, became Cral of Muscovy, -and subjected the Russians, whether they would or no, to the restraints -of discipline. In order to try what progress they had made in it, he -declared war against the King of Sweden, and avenged himself of him. He -then went in an expedition towards the Crimea, reduced whatever -fortresses he thought proper, and began to break the power of the -Tartars. Afterwards, when we concluded a treaty with you, we demanded -for our Cral the title of Emperor; and as you could not oppose us, the -Sultan Mahmoud Khan (of excellent memory) in writing to us, granted that -title. Then in the war with Sultan Moustapha, we approached Adrianople, -and made peace on our own terms. And see, in the present war, we have, -with very few troops, defeated your numerous forces; and after taking -the fortresses of Hotim, Bender, Ibraïl, Ismail, and Otchakoff, and -conquering Moldavia and Wallachia from one extremity to the other, we -passed the Danube with eight thousand men, and routed the Ottoman army -consisting of fifty thousand. As you have no troops able to face ours, -know that this time also, after being well beaten, you will make a worse -peace than the former one.” In this manner did they answer this poor -person[98]; and truly before much time had elapsed, it came to pass that -such a treaty was concluded. - - - SECTION VII. - -It is a difficult thing to find out the spies that go to and fro in the -camps of the followers of Islam, and it is necessary to explain how much -injury is done by them. As this matter requires attention above all -others, let us relate some events which have happened to us, with the -consequences resulting from them. - -In the war with the Russians, during the reign of the late Emperor, -Sultan Moustapha, two hundred thousand unknown and undisciplined troops -were drawn together. In this multitude no one knew the other, and if a -father had searched for his own son, he could not have found him. If -each day some hundreds separated themselves and went off, no one knew -it, nor even could have said to them, ‘stop! remain!’ In so disorderly a -camp, the spies from the side of the infidels came and went each day and -night, and acquainted the Russians with every thing that passed in our -army, and the secrets of our government became known to the enemy. For -this reason, whenever a forward movement of our army was resolved upon, -they surprised the camp towards morning, the day before it was to be -executed, and routed so large an army of the Ottoman race, without -allowing them to open their eyes, all being buried in sleep. We have -learned by experience, that as the infidel race are very cunning and -deceitful, they have often effected, merely by wiles and stratagems, -things which we never have been, nor ever will be, able to bring about -with our hundred thousand men. Among all the wiles which that wicked -race have put in practice, there is one extraordinary stratagem which it -is worth while for us to describe. During the said war, three poor men -belonging to the assembly of Janissaries, having concerted together, -went out to gain some information of the Russians: after it was quite -dark they seized, on the Muscovite borders, a certain Ghiaour, one of -those who were employed in getting forage, and, satisfied with their -success, were conducting him to the camp, when, their prisoner being a -cunning hog[99] that understood Turkish, said to them, “Sirs! if you set -me at liberty, my father, who is a rich man, will recompense you -largely.” They, believing his words, conducted him back to the Russian -confines, where he soon found a surreptitious pimp[99] whom he called -father, to whom they delivered him. This man, who was also a very -deceitful rogue, said to them, “I am greatly pleased at your bringing my -son here and not killing him, and I am very much obliged to you.” With -these and other expressions of gratitude, he gave them five ducats, and -continued thus: “I have not been able to reward you as I ought to do, -but allow me to show you something, and let that be another recompense.” -So saying, he carried them in disguise into his own camp, and placed -them at the edge of a large tent; here the comrades perceived that there -was a great bustle before the tent, and that within they were weighing -gold and silver coin in a large balance, and were then filling with it -some casks placed near. In the tent were men habited in divers sorts of -Mussulman dresses, and the casks filled with money were continually -distributed amongst them. The traitor, after showing these things to the -three comrades, took them to his own tent, and said to them, “Comrades! -see what I have shown you. Part of this money is to go to your -government, and part to the Vezier and other Generals of your army. We -have purchased your country with money; the sum that has just been given -is the price of Constantinople which we have bought and shall soon -enter. My motive for informing you of this is that you may henceforth -look to yourselves; do not remain in your camp, nor even lose time at -Constantinople; but go to your own country that you may not be made -prisoners. Keep all this secret, and say nothing of it in your camp.” -With these words he led them back to the Ottoman confines. The comrades -returned to our camp, and being all three simple fools, they gave -implicit confidence to the falsehood contrived to deceive them; and -whenever they met their friends and acquaintances they said to them, -“Breh! what did we come here for? Our chiefs have sold their country and -are now receiving the money for it: we have seen it with our own eyes; -why should we stay here? all that passes is but lost labour.” By this -means they struck with consternation many who were as great asses as -themselves, and these spread confusion and alarm through the whole -Imperial camp. Finding this pretext of going home, a great number of the -troops went off and dispersed, like a flock of young partridges. - -The Russian hogs, availing themselves of so favourable an opportunity, -brought the devil among us. But the best of the story is, that they all -laughed at us in relating it to each other, saying that in order to -disperse a Turkish army, they had only to weigh a little gold in the -presence of three of their men, and then send them to inform the rest of -it. Thus, on account of so many ignorant fools, who understand nothing -of the wiles and machinations of the enemy, it is necessary that we -should give our troops such a form of discipline as may prevent similar -disorders, and the danger of the spies who mix with our men and can -never be discovered. - -How is it possible for us without such a system, to avenge ourselves of -our enemies, to defend our Empire, or to gain the least advantage? As -the deep cunning of the Russian race was not at first so well known, our -precious heroes of soldiers made use of such expressions. “The Muscovite -infidels are dogs of fishermen, whom we can suffocate only by spitting -upon them; if we each of us throw a stone, we shall destroy them all.” -These Janissaries who are merely vain boasters, good only for swaggering -on the pavements, falling by thousands into the hands of the Russians -through their total ignorance of military affairs, at length saw and -learned the power and stratagems of the enemies of our faith. But to -what purpose? since the children and daughters of so many noble and -pious persons of the Mahometan community have continued even to this day -(a space of nearly forty years!) in the possession of the Russians; and -the children whom they have produced remain depressed and afflicted, a -weeping prey in the hands of soldiers, officers, and other -reprobates.[100] - -If a rabble of men, ignorant of the world, who pass their whole time in -festivity and play, or in buying and selling, or in idleness, were in -the first place to learn thoroughly the things which belong to purity, -and then, in order to preserve their religion unsullied, were to avoid -discourse with infidels and designing men, and examine whether their own -observance of it did not require some correction, there is no doubt that -they might attain to the summit of the good things, both of this world -and of the world to come. If they contend with us, saying, “We -understand questions of purity, we preserve our religion, and there is -no doubt of the validity of our marriage contract[101]”; in that case, -although what they maintain be true, yet, as the knowledge of the -affairs of this world is apt to occasion many great sins, let them not -lengthen their tongues on a subject of which they certainly know -nothing, and to which their understandings cannot reach. If this -business of the Nizam-y-Gedid seem obscure to them, let them acquire -information from men who, like this humble individual[102], have reached -their eighty-seventh year, and have gained by experience a thorough -knowledge of the world, and have brought to light what things have -injured, and what have turned to the profit of, the Sublime Government. -Let them not talk of things void of sense, for as the troubles of man -proceed from his words, so reason is given him as a defence against his -words. - - - SECTION VIII. - -Many simple persons, who do not know why the treasure of the -Nizam-y-Gedid was instituted, and whence this money is collected, and to -what purpose it is expended, say sometimes, “the water of the old -cistern is not exhausted; why then is the new revenue made a separate -treasure?”[103] We have already stated how difficult a thing it is to -explain public affairs to people who are plunged in the darkest -ignorance, and to make those who cannot read the common alphabet -understand science; although we were to labour until the day of -judgment, we should not succeed. If a man is capable of receiving the -words of truth from his outward ears into his mind, we proceed to relate -matters as they really are. - -Wars have been carried on for seventy or eighty years in a rude manner, -and with weak and irregular troops, during which time the followers of -Islam having been often defeated, His Highness Sultan Suleÿman Kannuni -thought proper to form the body of the Janissaries, whom he divided into -different divisions, assigning to each their particular regiments and -quarters. He considered, however, that these troops could not be -assembled and kept together for the love of God only, but that it was -also necessary to establish funds for the purpose of providing meat, -drink, &c. for them, as well as to appoint them a pay suitable to their -expenses. After consulting with the wise and experienced men of the -time, he regulated the administration of the revenue in the following -manner. A small part of the monies drawn from the provinces that had, by -right of conquest, become subject to his illustrious predecessors, was -appropriated to the subsistence of military men who served on horseback -and otherwise. The Emperor appointed by the canon[104] that, from the -annual product of the revenues, and from the sums which every one who -succeeded to the farming of them, paid according to his means, as an -anticipation price, provision should be made for meeting the expense -incident to these corps, whether in war or in peace. After these -arrangements had been made, it frequently happened that, in good times, -no war took place for twenty years together, during which some of the -military men who belonged to the corps, having turned old, departed in -peace. As the papers granted them to enable them to draw their pay fell -into the hands of their servants, relations, or comrades[105], it was -not suffered that the allowances appointed for several thousand men -should be received by persons who did not belong to the military -profession, who were novices in affairs, or apprenticed to some trade. -As few of them left sons capable of taking the place of their fathers, -and opposing the enemies of our faith, men of war became very scarce, -and it was therefore necessary to levy fresh troops, and assign new -funds for their support, the old revenue being exhausted. Besides this -cause of the impoverishment of the royal treasure, the price of all -commodities had greatly augmented since the time that the canon was -promulgated. For instance, at that period an oke of the flesh of mutton -was sold for four aspers, but in the course of time it rose to -twenty-five paras, and other things were dearer in proportion. Thus an -increase having taken place in the price of the necessaries which were -furnished to the corps at its institution, the royal funds provided for -that purpose were no longer able to meet the expense of the times, and -as they were nevertheless obliged to find some means of going on, the -rents of the Sublime Government began to run into each other; that is to -say, that in order to provide for the expense of the current year, they -sold the revenue of the succeeding one, and so on. Hence resulted a -deficiency in the Imperial finances. Even the treasures, which had been -amassed with a great deal of trouble previous to the Russian war that -broke out during the reign of the late Sultan Mustapha, were in that war -entirely drained and consumed, although every thing was then very cheap -when compared with present prices, and after peace, the finances could -not recover themselves, but the expense still exceeded the revenue. The -enemies of our religion being informed of our want of money, were -thereby confirmed in their purpose, and obtained complete success. But -besides the difficulties in which our government found itself involved -in peaceable times, owing to the deficiency of the ordinary revenue -which did not suffice for the current expenses, there have been moments -during war in which it stood like a man who has both his hands tied down -to his sides, and knew not which way to turn itself; for as there was no -ready money, nothing could be accomplished, and nobody showed any -inclination to engage in a holy war; nothing was considered but pay, -rations, and the privilege of being exempted from active service. - -Thus hath the want of a well-organised system of finance been clearly -proved, the whole revenue of the state not being sufficient for the -exigencies of these times. The following example will point out the -truth of this to the people at large. Suppose the case of a man, who -twenty or thirty years ago enjoyed an income of one piaster a day, and -regulated his expenses accordingly, if that man continued on the same -scale how could he live at present, when every thing is four or five -times dearer than at that period, and make the two ends of the year meet -with his piaster a day? In like manner, we may apply this consideration -to the actual condition of the Sublime Government. Behold, while the -royal finances are in so great a state of penury, not a single person, -whether rich, poor, or tributary subject, will give a single piaster to -the treasure, under the name of a voluntary contribution, towards -carrying on war; and, in short, no man will go to war gratis, and at his -own expense, only to please God, or for the love of the prophet or the -emperor; the formation of troops proportioned to those of the enemy, and -the providing of military stores, which may equal theirs, are things -which must be accomplished, not by words, but by money. The truth is, -that the treasury does not possess a fixed revenue sufficient to defray -contingent expenses, and, to sum up all, the old revenues of the Sublime -Government were calculated for the old expense; and as two hundred and -forty-five years have elapsed since the publication of the canon, the -expense having constantly increased whilst the revenue was never -augmented, His Highness, the Emperor, has looked out for some remedy in -such difficult circumstances, and has laboured to establish a revenue -proportioned to the amount of expenditure of these times. But that the -requisite funds might neither be taken by violence, nor derived from -casual contingency, it was thought proper to draw them from the peculiar -possessions of the government and the sources dependent thereon. A -treasure having been with much difficulty amassed, in which were to be -deposited the money raised under the title of Iradi-Gedid, the following -reflections presented themselves relative to the manner in which they -were to be regulated. - -The produce of the imposts at the time that the canon was promulgated, -was farmed out in small branches to those who bid for them the highest, -and authority was granted to them to receive each a part of the tribute -on their advancing a certain sum in proportion to their respective -means, and on condition of their paying a thousand piasters a year to -the crown besides; thus a man was able in three years to reimburse -himself of the small sum which he had advanced, and then if the contract -was continued to him for the course of his life, he could make a clear -profit of forty or fifty thousand piasters; and perhaps of an hundred -thousand if he lived long enough. The contractors continuing to give the -crown only a thousand piasters after the first small sum advanced, the -whole benefit of the revenue accrued to them, but the profits of the -public treasure were not augmented and continued the same. A new method -having, therefore, been found absolutely necessary, has been adopted, -and in such a manner as to leave no person any pretext for complaint. -The arrangement is this: that when the perception of an impost, which -belongs by right to the treasury, falls vacant, it is no longer farmed -out in consideration of a small sum, but is taken possession of on the -part of the Sublime Government, and the management of it is carried on -for the benefit of the new treasury; the sum which continues to be paid -to the crown, as well as the profits derived from the perception of the -impost, are appropriated to the pay, clothing, and allowances of the -troops of the Nizam-y-Gedid, and to the special exigencies of the war -department, such as the providing of cannon, ammunition, tents, camp -equipage, military stores, and the expenses of the park and train of -artillery. - -As the accountants of the old treasury are wholly employed in the -collection and management of the funds appertaining to it, a director -was specially appointed for the purpose of watching over that part of -the administration, and by his ability the whole has been properly -regulated. These are then the advantages which result from the expense -of the troops being defrayed by this new financial arrangement. The old -revenue hath not been thereby prejudiced, and the charges of the new -troops are provided for. This business has been conducted in so masterly -a manner that no just cause is left to any one to cry out against it; -and the new revenue, like the new system of discipline, being -established on the best footing, causes no loss or damage to any man, -but, on the contrary, tends manifestly to perpetuate, until the last -day, the duration of the empire and of the people of Islam, as must be -evident to all persons endowed with penetration. - -When we have by so distinct an exposition rendered all these points -clear, those men who are acquainted with the difference between alum and -sugar, good and bad, and in whose essence is a leaven of science, will, -no doubt, listen to reason, and, by Divine grace, being brought under -conviction, will submit themselves to the book of God, mighty and -powerful! - - - THE END. - - - Printed by Strahan and Spottiswoode, - Printers-Street, London. - ------ - -Footnote 1: - - A great Roman pavement is still visible in Wallachia. It begins at a - small town called _Caracalla_, situated near the borders of the - Danube, about three miles from the place where the great river Olt - falls into it: and it runs up in a straight line with this river, as - far as the Carpathians, where its traces are lost. It probably led to - the Dacian capital, Zarmiss, which is now a Transylvanian town, and - contains many ruins of Roman monuments of an inferior kind. The Latin - language is almost the only one spoken by its present inhabitants. - -Footnote 2: - - Antonii Bonifici Asculani Rerum Hungaricarum Decades. Decad. ii. lib. - 8. - -Footnote 3: - - Knolles’s History of Turkey, p. 204. and Tounousli’s, Ισορια Ιης - βλαχιας, p. 247. - - A piaster and a half is equal to an English shilling. - -Footnote 4: - - Knolles’s History, p. 296. - -Footnote 5: - - Dracula in the Wallachian language means Devil. The Wallachians were, - at that time, as they are at present, used to give this as a surname - to any person who rendered himself conspicuous either by courage, - cruel actions, or cunning. - -Footnote 6: - - Although the amount of the tribute was often increased under the - successive Voïvodes, the same formalities of payment existed as late - as the year 1716, when various changes took place in the Wallachian - government, as will be observed hereafter. - -Footnote 7: - - Nobles. - -Footnote 8: - - Christian tributary subjects. - -Footnote 9: - - A Ferman is a written order issued by the Grand Vezier in the Sultan’s - name. - -Footnote 10: - - Higher clergy and nobility. - -Footnote 11: - - Cantimir’s History of the Ottoman Empire, p. 186. - -Footnote 12: - - Cantimir’s History of the Ottoman Empire, p. 451. - -Footnote 13: - - Cantimir’s History, p. 452. - -Footnote 14: - - Chamberlain. - -Footnote 15: - - “It has been supposed that the Turks, to console the Greek descendants - of the imperial family for the loss of empire, had bestowed on them - the government of the two principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia, an - error which appears to have no other foundation than the assumption of - the illustrious name of Cantacuzenus, by two persons of obscure - family, born in Wallachia, who were raised to the administration of - that principality in the seventeenth century.” Thornton’s present - State of Turkey, p. 385, from Cantimir’s Ottoman Hist. p. 371. - -Footnote 16: - - A descendant of the Voïvode’s grandson above alluded to, is now living - in Wallachia, and possesses all the landed property left by his - ancestor, which gives him an annual income of upwards of 200,000 - piasters. He is looked upon by his countrymen as the first and richest - Boyar of Wallachia, and is acknowledged by the court of Vienna as - prince of the Roman Empire, a title which, however, he cannot assume - in his own country so long as the Turks are the possessors of it. - -Footnote 17: - - The formulæ of a Beratt will be found in the Appendix, No. 1.; it is - the literal translation of the one given to the author by the present - Sultan, shortly after his appointment to the official situation in the - principalities. The original is written in golden letters, on a very - long sheet of parchment, lined with green silk, and containing a - variety of curious and rich ornaments. - -Footnote 18: - - Thornton’s present State of Turkey, p. 410.; and Cantimir’s Ottoman - History, p. 189. - - The Russian court was the first who entered into official intercourse - with the Greek princes, and styled them by the title of _Hospodars_, - from the Slavonic and Russian word _Gospodin_, or Lord. The Greeks, - however, having the right to the title of prince from that of Beÿ - conferred on them by the Sultan, on their nominations to the - principalities, assume that of reigning princes, though they have only - the power and prerogatives of Viceroys. They also claim that of - _Serene Highness_, which the court of Vienna alone has consented to - give them. Their subjects invariably give them that of υχηλοτατε - most-high. Their sons are called by the Turkish tide of Beÿ-Zaaday, - literally meaning prince’s son; their grandsons have no title. - -Footnote 19: - - The Prince Callimacki has sent by me a copy of his code to the - university of Oxford. As Dr. Macmichael, in his “Journey from Moscow - to Constantinople,” gives an account of this book, I abstain from any - observations upon it.—_Note of the Author._ - -Footnote 20: - - In page 416, of the “Present State of Turkey,” Mr. Thornton says, “The - Boyars of the most ancient families, indeed, assert that they are the - descendants of the Slavi, and are of a distinct race from the people - who have sprung from the alliances of the Romans with the original - Dacians; but the chief distinction among the nobles is their wealth - and possessions. The great majority of the Wallachian and Moldavian - nobility owe their creation to the Sultan’s Voïvodes; for even these - ephemeral beings, these fleeting shadows of royalty, are presumed to - confer by their breath a permanency of dignity,” &c. I perfectly agree - with Mr. Thornton as to the latter part of this observation; but at - the same time I must beg leave to say, that although I am well - acquainted with all the Boyars who are considered to belong to the - most ancient families, I never could discover that their claims to - antiquity went beyond the period of Raddo Negro’s and Bogdan’s - establishment; nor indeed are there many sufficiently conversant with - the history of their country, or with any other, to know that the - Slaves ever came into it, or even that a nation of that name ever - existed. Those who call themselves the oldest families merely date - their origin from Voïvodes, who have reigned within the last five - hundred years; and upon such origin alone they form their claims to - ancient nobility. - -Footnote 21: - - £360,000. sterling. - -Footnote 22: - - The same who was Captain Pashah at Constantinople in 1810–11, and - distinguished himself in that station by so many acts of cruelty. - -Footnote 23: - - In 1811, mineralogists were sent from St. Petersburgh to explore the - Carpathian mines. They discovered some large veins of gold, silver, - and quicksilver: time, however, was requisite to put the work into - proper train; and when it offered the best prospect of success, peace - was concluded, the Russian authorities withdrew, and the mines were - filled up again, to remain in their former state. - -Footnote 24: - - A killow (Constantinople measurement) is equal to an English bushel. - -Footnote 25: - - One oke is equal to 2⅘ lbs. English. - -Footnote 26: - - The kintal weighs 44 okes. - -Footnote 27: - - 40 paras make a piaster. - -Footnote 28: - - The Fannar is a district of Constantinople, where all the Greeks who - enter the career of the principalities reside. They are thus - distinguished from the other Greeks of the capital. - -Footnote 29: - - See Appendix, No. 2. - -Footnote 30: - - Thornton’s Present State of Turkey, p. 434. - -Footnote 31: - - A declaration of war of the Sultan must receive the sanction of the - Mufti, as chief of the religion, who makes his approbation known by a - manifesto called _Fetvaa_. - -Footnote 32: - - He was first interpreter to the embassy; he has since the peace - entered the Russian service, and is now attached to the Emperor’s - embassy at Constantinople in the same capacity. - -Footnote 33: - - The word “Seraglio” is generally supposed in England to apply - exclusively to a palace in which the Grand Signior’s women are kept. - This idea, however, is erroneous; the Sultan’s residence in town is - called “Seraglio.” His women, indeed, reside also within its walls, - but their apartment is called “Harem.” The seraglio occupies the whole - extent of ground on which the city of Byzantium stood, and is - surrounded by the original Byzantine walls. - -Footnote 34: - - New military institution, explained in the Appendix, No. 5. - -Footnote 35: - - Mr. Adair. - -Footnote 36: - - Sir Arthur Paget had made a fruitless attempt in 1807. - -Footnote 37: - - Letter addressed by the Emperors Alexander and Napoleon to the King of - Great Britain, dated at Erfurth, October, 1808, and official - correspondence that followed it between the ministers of foreign - affairs of the three sovereigns.—Official Papers published in 1809. - -Footnote 38: - - The same whose premature appointment in 1805 had partly given rise to - the misunderstanding at Constantinople. - -Footnote 39: - - Corporals. - -Footnote 40: - - See the Appendix, No. 3. - -Footnote 41: - - See the Appendix, No. 4. - -Footnote 42: - - Voltaire’s Philosophical Dictionary, vol. iv. p. 199. - -Footnote 43: - - “It may be questioned whether it ever entered into the contemplation - of the Russian cabinet to ameliorate the condition of the inhabitants - of Wallachia and Moldavia, since no instance can be produced of any - exertion of influence on the part of the Russian consuls to alleviate - the distresses of the people, to check and restrain the tyranny of the - Greeks, or to promote any plan of permanent benefit to the oppressed - inhabitants.”—_Thornton_’s Present State of Turkey, p. 435. - - Mere motives of good-will on the part of the Russian cabinet, are - certainly questionable; but several instances of interference have - occurred. In the official note given as a declaration of war in 1789, - by the Turkish government to the Russian envoy, the composition of - which was then attributed to the English ambassador, Sir Robert - Ainslie, one of the principal grievances alleged was the conduct of - the Russian consul-general at Yassi, who, it was said, had abused the - right of interference in a most insulting manner. It may be supposed - that the consul had acted in conformity to instructions from his - court, who sought to create motives for a rupture; but after the - conclusion of pence, nearly the same line of conduct was continued by - his successors: I have seen many official documents which prove it; - and during my residence in the principalities, several instances have - occurred, within my observation, of very active exertion on the part - of Russia to keep the accustomed system of extortion in restraint, and - to relieve the inhabitants from oppression; and such exertion has - certainly on many occasions prevented the condition of the inhabitants - from becoming worse. - -Footnote 44: - - Whenever the Russian or Austrian armies have entered the territory of - the principalities in their wars against Turkey, the natives have - immediately joined them. At the beginning of the war in 1806, Bukorest - was garrisoned by about 10,000 Turks, who declared themselves - determined to make a desperate stand against the Russians, and to burn - the city, if they should finally see the impossibility of preventing - them from taking possession of it. Some inhabitants gave information - of this plan to the Russian commander-in-chief Michaelson, who - immediately despatched to Bukorest a corps of 6000 men under the - command of General Miloradovith, which, by forced marches arrived - suddenly before that city, and three days previous to the time they - were expected by the Turks. These latter were seized with - consternation; all the inhabitants rose against them, and some armed - with sticks, others with bricks, tongs, pokers, daggers, swords, and - with every thing, in short, that came within their reach, they fell - upon the poor Ottomans without mercy, and cleared the town of them as - the Russians were entering it. More than 1500 Turks were left dead in - the streets, and the Cossacks, who preceded the regular troops, soon - reduced them to a state of nudity, in which they remained exposed to - the view of the public some hours after tranquillity and order had - been restored. - -Footnote 45: - - The treaty of Yassi signed in 1792, binds the Porte to consult the - Russian ambassadors on the choice of the Hospodars, and to appoint - none but such as are approved of, or recommended by, the embassy. It - contains also the stipulation of their remaining seven years at the - head of the principalities. - -Footnote 46: - - The Prince’s daughter. - -Footnote 47: - - The author alludes to the Sultan and the body of Orthodox Mahometans. - -Footnote 48: - - The late Sultan Abdullhammid. - -Footnote 49: - - Died. - -Footnote 50: - - The Christians. - -Footnote 51: - - Turkey. - -Footnote 52: - - 1770. - -Footnote 53: - - He is called Kannuni from the new canon, or system of military - administration which he established, and is the same whom we call - ‘Solyman the Magnificent.’ - -Footnote 54: - - True believers. - -Footnote 55: - - Lower order of grocers. - -Footnote 56: - - The common Janissaries usually follow these trades. - -Footnote 57: - - There is a tribe of Courdes so called. - -Footnote 58: - - A kind of soldiers in Asia. - -Footnote 59: - - Oriental Metaphor. - -Footnote 60: - - The Christian kings are so called from the Servian word Cral or - Prince. More honourable titles are given to Mahometan sovereigns, and - to the King of France, who has secured to him by treaty, that of - emperor. - -Footnote 61: - - Christian Europe. - -Footnote 62: - - America. - -Footnote 63: - - A form of deprecation, as much as to say, “May the devil take no - advantage of the suggestion.” - -Footnote 64: - - 1792, A.D. - -Footnote 65: - - It would appear that this person had returned from an embassy to - Turkey. - -Footnote 66: - - The author seems here to allude to the Empress Catherine, and to some - project that had been laid before her of completing the conquest of - Constantinople. - -Footnote 67: - - Western or European Christians. - -Footnote 68: - - The Empress. - -Footnote 69: - - The Archipelago. - -Footnote 70: - - These reservoirs are situated among the hills and woods between the - Black Sea and Propontis, in the forests of Belgrade and Domouzdéré. - -Footnote 71: - - The author of the project most probably meant the taking possession of - the reservoirs, and suspending the course of the waters to - Constantinople. - -Footnote 72: - - It is believed that the Empress Catherine had formed the plan of a - similar expedition, and that her death prevented its timely execution. - When in 1812, the approaching war between France and Russia rendered - the cessation of hostilities, on the Turkish frontiers, absolutely - necessary to the future operations of the Russians against the French, - it had been determined, and measures were taken accordingly, that an - army composed of regular troops, marines, and militiamen, amounting to - fifty thousand men, under the command of the Duke of Richelieu, should - have been transported from Sevastopol in the Crimea to Domouzdéré, - where its landing was to be effected under the protection of a fleet, - commanded by Admiral Bailie. This army was to take possession of the - reservoirs, and the Turks by whom the event would have been perfectly - unexpected and unforeseen, would, no doubt, have been compelled to - sign peace immediately. This bold scheme was to have been executed in - case any new difficulties had arisen in the negotiations of Bukorest. - It has been kept so secret, that it is doubtful whether any Turk - suspects, even at the present day, its having been conceived and - seriously intended. - -Footnote 73: - - A Turkish proverb. - -Footnote 74: - - The deceased Sultan. - -Footnote 75: - - Teryak, formerly an article of trade coming from Venice, is supposed - in Turkey to be a remedy against the bite of snakes. - -Footnote 76: - - The titles of some superior officers amongst the Janissaries. - -Footnote 77: - - A corps of gardeners for the Seraglio, but at the same time the - Sultan’s body-guards. - -Footnote 78: - - Regiment. - -Footnote 79: - - Mahometan priest. - -Footnote 80: - - The Thracian Bosphorus. - -Footnote 81: - - These are proverbial expression to denote the vicissitudes of fortune. - -Footnote 82: - - The Janissaries. - -Footnote 83: - - Before the institution of the Janissaries, the corps employed in war - were chiefly called Segbans. - -Footnote 84: - - Hagee-Bektash, whose memory is reverenced by the Turks. - -Footnote 85: - - The Christian Sovereigns of Europe. - -Footnote 86: - - Markwick Markham, a London watch-maker, in great esteem with the - Turks. - -Footnote 87: - - 7 or 800 leagues. - -Footnote 88: - - Men of sense. - -Footnote 89: - - A kind of confection sold in the streets of the principal towns in - Turkey, made of paste, butter, and honey. - -Footnote 90: - - An epithet of disdain, bestowed upon Christians in general. - -Footnote 91: - - The honour of the Turkish regiments is attached to the preservation of - their kettles. - -Footnote 92: - - The Turks call the head-quarters of a corps, as well as their posts - and guards, hearths, as coffee is always made there. - -Footnote 93: - - In the reign of Sultan Selim, the petty governors of Thrace revolted, - and committed great disorders, even menacing the neighbourhood of - Constantinople. The city of Adrianople took part with them. The new - troops were sent against them, but did not obtain so much success as - the author is willing to attribute to them. - -Footnote 94: - - Men, commonly dervises, who relate stories to amuse people at - coffee-houses, and who receive a pecuniary recompense from the - auditors. - -Footnote 95: - - It also means infidel, but it has the sense of reproach or insult. - -Footnote 96: - - This has happened to them at Zenta, Craoul, Rimnik, Hotim, and - Aboukir. - -Footnote 97: - - Peter the Great. The epithet of mad is in Turkey considered as a - compliment to those who distinguish themselves by courage and bravery. - -Footnote 98: - - Meaning the Author. - -Footnote 99: - - Domouz, and pezevenk in Turkish, are common epithets which mark - disdain. - -Footnote 100: - - I have seen and conversed with Turkish women in Russia, married to - Russian officers who had made them prisoners, and who assured me that - they were very highly satisfied with their condition, and felt not the - least desire to return to Turkey. - -Footnote 101: - - The Turks consider the marriage contract to be so intimately connected - with religion, that a man who has committed any grievous infraction of - their law, is obliged to renew his profession of faith and marriage - ceremony, both of which have been rendered void by it. - -Footnote 102: - - The Author. - -Footnote 103: - - This is a _jeu de mots_, as Hazinay means in Turkish, both cistern and - treasure. - -Footnote 104: - - The military and financial regulations of the Sultan Suleÿman are - contained in a book entitled Kanuni-Humayoun, or Imperial-Mandate. - -Footnote 105: - - The Janissaries can easily alienate their pay, suffering others to - draw it in their name by presenting these documents. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES - - - 1. Silently corrected obvious typographical errors and variations in - spelling. - 2. Retained archaic, non-standard, and uncertain spellings as printed. - 3. Re-indexed footnotes using numbers and collected together at the end - of the last chapter. - 4. Enclosed italics font in _underscores_. - -*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK AN ACCOUNT OF THE -PRINCIPALITIES OF WALLACHIA AND MOLDAVIA *** - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the -United States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part -of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm -concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered trademark, -and may not be used if you charge for an eBook, except by following -the terms of the trademark license, including paying royalties for use -of the Project Gutenberg trademark. If you do not charge anything for -copies of this eBook, complying with the trademark license is very -easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose such as creation -of derivative works, reports, performances and research. Project -Gutenberg eBooks may be modified and printed and given away--you may -do practically ANYTHING in the United States with eBooks not protected -by U.S. copyright law. Redistribution is subject to the trademark -license, especially commercial redistribution. - -START: FULL LICENSE - -THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE -PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK - -To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free -distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work -(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project -Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full -Project Gutenberg-tm License available with this file or online at -www.gutenberg.org/license. - -Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works - -1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to -and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property -(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all -the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or -destroy all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your -possession. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a -Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound -by the terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the -person or entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph -1.E.8. - -1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be -used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who -agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few -things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works -even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See -paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this -agreement and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works. See paragraph 1.E below. - -1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the -Foundation" or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection -of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual -works in the collection are in the public domain in the United -States. If an individual work is unprotected by copyright law in the -United States and you are located in the United States, we do not -claim a right to prevent you from copying, distributing, performing, -displaying or creating derivative works based on the work as long as -all references to Project Gutenberg are removed. Of course, we hope -that you will support the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting -free access to electronic works by freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm -works in compliance with the terms of this agreement for keeping the -Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with the work. You can easily -comply with the terms of this agreement by keeping this work in the -same format with its attached full Project Gutenberg-tm License when -you share it without charge with others. - -1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern -what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are -in a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, -check the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this -agreement before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, -distributing or creating derivative works based on this work or any -other Project Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no -representations concerning the copyright status of any work in any -country other than the United States. - -1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: - -1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other -immediate access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear -prominently whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work -on which the phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the -phrase "Project Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, -performed, viewed, copied or distributed: - - This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and - most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no - restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it - under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this - eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the - United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where - you are located before using this eBook. - -1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is -derived from texts not protected by U.S. copyright law (does not -contain a notice indicating that it is posted with permission of the -copyright holder), the work can be copied and distributed to anyone in -the United States without paying any fees or charges. If you are -redistributing or providing access to a work with the phrase "Project -Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the work, you must comply -either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 or -obtain permission for the use of the work and the Project Gutenberg-tm -trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. - -1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted -with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution -must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any -additional terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms -will be linked to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works -posted with the permission of the copyright holder found at the -beginning of this work. - -1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm -License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this -work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. - -1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this -electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without -prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with -active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project -Gutenberg-tm License. - -1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, -compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including -any word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access -to or distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format -other than "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official -version posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm website -(www.gutenberg.org), you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense -to the user, provide a copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means -of obtaining a copy upon request, of the work in its original "Plain -Vanilla ASCII" or other form. Any alternate format must include the -full Project Gutenberg-tm License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. - -1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, -performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works -unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. - -1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing -access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works -provided that: - -* You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from - the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method - you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed - to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he has - agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project - Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid - within 60 days following each date on which you prepare (or are - legally required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty - payments should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project - Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in - Section 4, "Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg - Literary Archive Foundation." - -* You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies - you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he - does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm - License. You must require such a user to return or destroy all - copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue - all use of and all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg-tm - works. - -* You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of - any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the - electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of - receipt of the work. - -* You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free - distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. - -1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work or group of works on different terms than -are set forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing -from the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the manager of -the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the Foundation as set -forth in Section 3 below. - -1.F. - -1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable -effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread -works not protected by U.S. copyright law in creating the Project -Gutenberg-tm collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may -contain "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate -or corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other -intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or -other medium, a computer virus, or computer codes that damage or -cannot be read by your equipment. - -1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right -of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project -Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all -liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal -fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT -LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE -PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE -TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE -LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR -INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH -DAMAGE. - -1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a -defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can -receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a -written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you -received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium -with your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you -with the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in -lieu of a refund. If you received the work electronically, the person -or entity providing it to you may choose to give you a second -opportunity to receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If -the second copy is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing -without further opportunities to fix the problem. - -1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth -in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS', WITH NO -OTHER WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT -LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. - -1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied -warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of -damages. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement -violates the law of the state applicable to this agreement, the -agreement shall be interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or -limitation permitted by the applicable state law. The invalidity or -unenforceability of any provision of this agreement shall not void the -remaining provisions. - -1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the -trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone -providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in -accordance with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the -production, promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works, harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, -including legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of -the following which you do or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this -or any Project Gutenberg-tm work, (b) alteration, modification, or -additions or deletions to any Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any -Defect you cause. - -Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm - -Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of -electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of -computers including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It -exists because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations -from people in all walks of life. - -Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the -assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's -goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will -remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure -and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future -generations. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation and how your efforts and donations can help, see -Sections 3 and 4 and the Foundation information page at -www.gutenberg.org - -Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation - -The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non-profit -501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the -state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal -Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification -number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent permitted by -U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. - -The Foundation's business office is located at 809 North 1500 West, -Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887. Email contact links and up -to date contact information can be found at the Foundation's website -and official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact - -Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg -Literary Archive Foundation - -Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without -widespread public support and donations to carry out its mission of -increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be -freely distributed in machine-readable form accessible by the widest -array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations -($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt -status with the IRS. - -The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating -charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United -States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a -considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up -with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations -where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND -DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any particular -state visit www.gutenberg.org/donate - -While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we -have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition -against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who -approach us with offers to donate. - -International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make -any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from -outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. - -Please check the Project Gutenberg web pages for current donation -methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other -ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. To -donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate - -Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works - -Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project -Gutenberg-tm concept of a library of electronic works that could be -freely shared with anyone. For forty years, he produced and -distributed Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of -volunteer support. - -Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed -editions, all of which are confirmed as not protected by copyright in -the U.S. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not -necessarily keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper -edition. - -Most people start at our website which has the main PG search -facility: www.gutenberg.org - -This website includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, -including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to -subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. |