ficers with the military profession. They have peculiar privileges-are judged only by their own officers-receive punishment in the most private manner, to preserve the honour of the corpsand are the especial instruments of the Sultan and his ministers in government, as well as his best regular troops. They were formerly trained to the service with the greatest care, and selected from the finest young men in the country. But their discipline has gradually relaxed, and they no longer deserve even a small part of the fame which they anciently possessed. It is the opinion of good judges, however, that a little care from European officers, might still restore the greater part of their merits as an army. Besides the effective force of the Janizaries, a vast number of persons are nominally enrolled in the corps, for the sake of avoiding the capitation tax. The topgis or gunners, are said to be 30,000 in number, distributed over different parts of the empire. This includes those employed in the cannon founderies, and as artificers. There are 15,000 very good cavalry, on the regular establishment; besides corps of gebegis or armourers, and sakkas or water-carriers; and the pashas levy bodies of pioneers, miners, &c. during war, or to assist the other forces on their march through the provinces. It is impossible to estimate the numbers of the Turkish army with tolerable precision. There is every reason to believe, that the government itself is in possession of no accurate enumeration of the militia; and the calculation of the whole force, published by Marsigli a century ago, is said to be the only one that can be relied on. He estimated the regulars (or Capiculy) at about 58,000 infantry, including janizaries, topgis, sakkas, &c. and 15,200 cavalry; and the militia (or Toprakli) at about 126,000. Of the regulars, above 21,000 Janizaries were required for garrisons and other ordinary services; and of the militia, about a sixth might be deducted for false returns: so that the effective disposable force, militia and regulars, could not exceed 160,000 men. The relaxation of provincial government having greatly increased since that time, the Porte generally expects the levies of militia which it makes, to fall short, by one half, of the numbers ordered.

The army, thus raised, is extremely deficient in discipline, though by no means wanting in courage. The officers understand but little of the tactics required to oppose a skilful enemy, and they pursue certain old rules for disposing their troops, handed down from their forefathers, incapable of application to the present state of military affairs, and indeed always adhered to, whatever movements might be made to oppose them. Where a few companies are required to perform any duty, and no preconserted schemes are necessary, the Turkish troops frequently do

excellent

excellent service. The cavalry will follow up a successful attack, and their execution is then dreadful. The infantry, posted in forts, will defend them with admirable perseverance, and will act well as light troops behind walls or other fences. But the danger to which they are exposed must be immediate, and they must be employed when their courage is up ;-they cannot be relied on for the regular duties of a besieged garrison, nor will they rally after being broken, In short, they are an undisciplined soldiery-posi sessed of sufficient strength and agility-abounding in individual courage and fanaticism-not unskilful in the management of horses and arms-capable of performing services where no great combination or foresight is required-and likely to assist more regular forces, or even to oppose some resistance themselves to an invading army, however little may be expected from them in carrying on the war abroad. The same want of discipline prevails in their navy, with a much greater want of skill. They have several very beautiful ships, chiefly built by foreigners, but wretchedly manned. There are about fifteen sail of the line, and as many frigates. Mr Thornton asserts, that, in navigating small craft, the Turks are equally skilful with the Greeks, and that both are equally unfit to manage larger vessels. This is an opinion quite contrary to the common belief upon the subject. The Greeks are understood to be greatly superior in seamanship. Mr Thornton admits, that they form the bulk of the crews of the Turkish men of war; and, from their expertness in managing coasting vessels, they might certainly be trained, without difficulty, to make tolerable seamen.

The territorial arrangements adopted by the Turks during their conquests, laid the foundation of their financial, as well as of their military system; but the additions afterwards made to the former, have been much less considerable. The revenues consist of two great branches, the Miri, or public income; and the Hazni, ór sultan's private treasure. Neither Mr Thornton, nor any other writer, has explained to us in what manner this separation is kept up; and how a prince, so absolute as the Grand Signor, is prevented by any consideration, except that of his own interest as connected with that of the empire, or compliance with custom in order to avoid dangerous commotions, from viewing the whole treasury as Hazni. In practice, however, the branches are kept distinct. The Miri, which is under the administration of the Defterdar Effendi, or high treasurer, is derived from: the havatch, or capitation tax, paid by the rayahs; varying in different parts of the empire, and levied differently on persons according to their fortunes; but, generally speaking, of three classes, ten, six, and three piastres, according to law:-The land-tax,

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land-tax, being a tenth of the produce all over the empire; estimated in the treasury books, at twenty millions Sterling; but detained, for the most part, in the provinces to defray the public expences:-A tax on the produce of industry in professions, paid by the rayahs, and estimated at a fourth of their clear gains, but unequally and arbitrarily levied :-Customs on imports and ex ports, chiefly farmed, and collected with mildness, amounting to 3 per cent. for Frank merchants, and 5 for natives:-Mono poly of the greater part of the corn consumed in Constantinople, enforced with peculiar strictness, and to the rigorous prevention of all private forestalling; *-the forfeitures of Zaims and Timariots who neglect their military services ;-the inheritance of all persons in public employments, except the Ulema, and of all persons whatsoever dying intestate-mines and coinage-tribute from Moldavia and Wallachia-contributions in kind for the service of the navy. The total amount of these branches of income cannot be gathered with any degree of accuracy from the information before us. Our author, after Cantemir, states it at 3,375,0001. Sterling; Mr Eton, the fanciful nature of whose details he fully exposes, puts it at 4,494,2501. This is expended in paying the regular troops and such of the officers as do not pay themselves by extortions-repairing the forts and works-and providing those articles for the navy, which the empire does not furnish. The Hazni, or sultan's treasure, under the care of the second black eunuch, is derived from the imperial domains-presents from his servants-contributions, in kind, of whatever the empire produces fit for his use-and the sale of offices of state, as well as the annual fees paid on renewing the appointments. An attempt has lately been made to introduce an excise; but it has given rise to great discontents, like all innovations in this despotic empire; and, if not already abandoned, will probably soon be given up. The numberless extortions practised by officers of all denominations, are submitted to, because enforced by military execution; and they furnish a large portion of most of the branches of revenue, which we have hastily enumerated, besides defraying the expence of maintaining those officers and their attendants.

V. The length to which this article has already extended, prevents us from detailing, with equal minuteness, the particulars most deserving of notice, in the manners and character of the Turks. We have already, indeed, anticipated, in treating of their religion, a considerable portion of this section. Men believing firmly

*The moft fertile provinces are obliged to deliver grain to the government, at low prices; and all the grain brought by others, is fold at prices, and in quantities, fixed by government.

firmly in predestination, and taught to regard certain useless ceremonies, when accompanied by the involuntary, and to them, from their ignorance, necessary act of faith, as sufficient to se cure eternal happiness after death, are not likely to regulate their lives by the moral precepts which their religion superadds to those fundamental injunctions. The violent and capricious nature of the government, and the corrupt administration of justice which we have been contemplating, must increase, instead of correcting, the debasement of their character. It is a matter of surprise, indeed, to find any good qualities in this people; and almost all authors seem agreed, in ascribing to them a quick sense of insult, hospitality to strangers, and gratitude for past favours. Their natural talents seem to be less questioned, the more our intercourse with them is extended; but while a contempt for the enlightened nations which surround them, continues a principle of their religion, we can expect nothing short of a violent change in their government, to promote the cultivation of their abilities. In their behaviour, they are graceful, scdate, and courteous; possesing all those qualities which some people in civilized nations prize as the perfection of good manners. Their fondness for warm-baths, smoking, story-telling, sights of dancing and wrestling, the pleasures of the harem, and whatever else contributes to animal gratification without a considerable encroachment upon their habitual indolence, is too well known to require description; the pleasures of intoxication, whether by wine or opium, are not so generally indulged in. The following passage, descriptive of the contrast which the Turkish manners exhibit to our own, in the most minute particulars, is so much better than Mr Thornton's usual style of writing, that we are tempted to believe he has obtained it from some former author.

Every traveller muft have noticed, (though Dumont appears to be the firft who has recorded the obfervation,) that the Turkish ufages contraft in a fingular manner with our own. This diffimilitude, which pervades the whole of their habits, is fo general, even in things of apparent infignificance, as almoft to indicate defign rather than accident. The whole exterior of the oriental is different from ours. The European ftands firm and erect, his head drawn back, his cheft protruded, the point of the foot turned outwards, and the knees ftraight. The attitude of the Turk is lefs remote from nature, and in each of these refpects approaches nearer to the models which the ancient ftatuaries appear to have copied. Their robes are large and loose, entirely concealing the contour of the human form, encumbering motion, and illadapted to manly exercife. Our close and short dreffes, calculated for promptitude of action, appear in their eyes to be wanting both in diguity and modeity. They reverence the beard as the fymbol of manhood

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hood and the token of independence; but they practise depilation of the body from motives of cleanlinefs. In performing their devotions, or on entering a dwelling, they take off their fhoes. In inviting a perfon to approach them, they ufe what with us is confidered as a repul five motion of the hand. In writing, they trace the lines from right to left. The mafter of a houfe does the honours of his table by ferving himself firft from the difh: he drinks without noticing the company, and they with him health when he has finished his draught. They lye down to fleep in their clothes; they affect a grave and phlegmatic exterior: their amufements are all of the tranquil kind: they confound with folly the noify expreffion of gayety: their utterance is flow and deliberate they even feel fatisfaction in filence; they attach the idea of majesty to flownefs of motion: they pafs in repofe all the moments of their life which are not occupied in ferious bufinefs they retire early to reft; and they rife before the fun. p. 304. 305.

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It remains to subjoin, in the last place, a few reflections suggested by the situation in which this feeble and extensive empire stands with respect to its more formidable neighbours.

The doctrine, which some advocates of Russia have maintained, that the seizure of Turkey, and the restoration of the Greek empire, would be an act of strict justice towards the Greeks, and a fair punishment of the Ottomans-is a great deal too absurd to require any discussion. The Turks have the very same right to their dominions, which the Russians themselves have to theirs or which the descendants of the northern nations have. to the greater part of Europe. Nor does it appear, from the best accounts which we have of the Greeks, that their character is such as to promise a more deserving race of subjects to the power that should drive the Turks into Asia. Whatever change it may be deemed adviseable to make in the Ottoman empire, must limit itself to the improvement of all classes of the inhabi tants, by the equal preservation of their rights; and the amelioration of their political institutions. If any change could be effected in the government, which should secure the regular administration of justice, the establishment of an effective police, and the receipt of the public income, without the extortions of the provincial governors; some revolutionary struggles, or even the introduction of foreign assistance, does not seem too great a price to pay for it. Whatever foreign nation should obtain the ascendant in the affairs of this empire, (and it is evident that some one must speedily do so), would probably begin by improving the army, the first step towards restoring that regu, lar government which Turkey itself once possessed. The intercourse with a powerful ally, would certainly tend to weaken. the hatred or contempt in which infidels and their institutions

are