Intermarriages between Christians

The Turks, properly so called, are the followers of Mahomet, defeended from the Tatarian conquerors of these beautiful countries. These being now the actual matters of the empire, and the only perfons who seem to have a real intereft in its exiftence, their situation, moral and phyfical,, fir ft demands our notice. The; great outline of their character, as diftinguifhed from the other inhabitants of this extenfive empire; is the superiority which they , claimtin the grounds of conqueft and religion. To apply to a nation, barbarous as the Turks, any rule of rational policy drawn from the law of nations, would, perhaps, be deemed abfurd; but the enlightened observer mutt everremark, that the fancied right of conqueft is nothing but the right of the iword,, which is never legitimate but when fanCtioned by justice. In the history of the world there have been frequent instances of mighty nations, who, after conquering their opponents by force of arms, have received from their captives the fofter yoke of fcience. It was thus that, in the words of Horace: “Grascia capta ferum vidtorum cepit, et artes Intulit agreiti Latio.

Nor have there been wanting examples of the introduction of arts by the conqueror himself, who has thus made amends, by the bleffing of civilization, for the havock which he had. caused by the fword. The Turks, however, like barbarians, invaded Greece, and fwept before them the monuments of ancient fcience; and, like barbarians, they hold their captives, to the present day, under the benumbing yoke of ignoranee and ftavery. Inftead of promoting the mutual advantage of both nations, by an inter courfe of knowledge and benevolence, they use .the privilege of conqueft only to the .extinction of the common powers of intellect. A politic conqueror, in augmenting the happiness of his new subject, increafes his own power; a barbarian invader weakens his own resources by the continued opprehion of his captives. Abderahman (or Almanzor) who, in the middle of the eighth century, founded a kingdom in Spain of the provinces which had been subject to the kaiifs, promoted intermarriages between Chriftians and Mahomedans. The Arabs, who had been as great enemies to the fciences as the Turks now cultivated them with great success, and had acquired a considerable portion of knowledge and politeness, while the reft of Europe was degraded by ignorance and barbarifm. But the haughty Turk is not merely exalted above his subject Greek as a conqueror; he considers himself ftiil more highly elevated as the favourite of heaven; and the greater part of his ferocity as a tyrant is owing to the arrogant dictates of his religion.

Political rights of citizens

From the nature of man, from the extent of his faculties, and the variety of his powers, it is evident that he is at the same time operated upon by causes the mod heterogeneous and dif(imilar. With the progrefs of fociety new powers and new faculties are daily called forth; they continually modify each other, and produce that adtion and re-aion which conftitutes the complexity of the vast focial machine. To abftraft and generalize these various motions, to reduce them to their primary and elemental principles, is the bufiness of fcience; but it unfortunately happens too often, that the philofopher, who may with much care and obfervation have made this analyfis, will build upon it (peculations not wholly founded upon rational principles. The error into which these dealers jn fyftem frequently fall (an error which has very unjustly thrown a general odium upon all the fyrtematk labours of fcience) is.to conceive that the divisions which they have themselves eftablifhed in theory are strongly marked -in fadt, or, in other words, that hire different habits and curtoms of mankind .are lefs intimately inter- woven than experience daily proves them to be. When, therefore, we trace the diftindt fources from which the peculiar character and circum-t rtances of the Turkish nation have originated, we muff be careful at the same time to remember,, that the events which have stowed from those fources have been so mixed and compounded to gather, and act at the present day with such an aggregate force, as to produce a far greater effect by combination than by their feparatepower. So much is neccstaiy to be observed before we begin to delineate the peculiar features of Turkifh policy: we now proceed to the talk of diferimination.

The modern European, accuftomed for the moil part to consider all the subjects of one empire as alike entitled to the protecting care of government, alike inverted with the political rights of citizens, can with difficulty accommodate his feelings to a state of manners refulting from the division of the political body into conquerors and conquered, opprestors and opprerted.

This is, however, the diftinion mod broadly marked in the Turkifh empire; a diftiniofi X fupported by every kind of prejudice which can instuence -foeial manners, and confirmed by the inveterate habits of ages. To the celebrated j governments of antiquity this exaltation of one part of the community upon the degradation ojp the other was by no means unknown, we fee it instanced in the Helots of Sparta, and in the inftitutions of many of those nations who inofb loudly vaunted of their fancied liberty: happily for modern ages it has generally, in Europe, given place to political equality ; but Turkey is the refuge of fanatical ignorance, the chofen feat where fhe has unfurled her bloody banner, and where, though torpid with age, fhe frill grafps her iron feeptre. That happy union, and equality of right to the protection of laws, which tempers the variety of individual intcrefts for the general good, is the only bafis of foeial happiness. How far the dereliction of these principles in the Turkifn government weakens the power of the community, whilft it perpetuates the mifery of the individual, will appear from a comparative view of the different fects in that country, and from a furvey of the (late of its provinces.

Road uns

The plain, through which the road runs, is, as a rule, cultivated. It is hard to say exactly where the tilled fields end and where the open pasture-land begins, as there are no hedgerows or landmarks of any kind between one field and another. Here, as elsewhere, I was puzzled to understand where the labourers lived, whose daily toil brought and kept such a wide area of land under cultivation. Dotted over the plain, at long distances apart, you could see the whitewashed belfries which denote the neighborhood of a village; but personal tours bulgaria outside the villages, neither farmhouses nor cottages were to be seen anywhere.

We did not pass or catch sight of, in the half-dozen miles we traversed along the high-road, a single dwelling of any kind, with the exception of a roadside tavern. As soon as we left the high-road, our way lay along a rough field track, over which it was difficult for any vehicle more complicated in its structure than a Bulgarian cart to make progress.

In rainy weather

In rainy weather, or when the snow lies upon the ground, these country roads must be almost impassable, and, in consequence, the villages to which they lead must be practically inaccessible. Deep ruts and big boulders have to be traversed at frequent intervals; and no horses, less wiry or sure-footed than those of the country, could well draw a carriage up the almost precipitous ascents by which the track crosses one hillock after another.

The only way to make the ascent is to lash the horses into a mad gallop at the foot of every hill, and even then they are not always equal to the effort. Carriage accidents in this part of the country are of frequent occurrence, and would be still more frequent if, when the carriage begins to roll backwards owing to the inability of the horses to crest the hill, its downward course was not commonly stopped by striking against some of the huge stones which lie embedded in the field track. In summer time, however, Panscherevow is a favourite resort for the townsfolk of Sofia, and forms a sort of Sofiote Richmond.

The condition of the road leading to this suburban village gives you a fair idea of what must be the character bf the country cross-roads in more remote districts, where pleasure traffic is utterly unknown.

 

Study of human nature

Inefficacy of our quarantine regulations. Danger of them. Bad tens of the Dutch lazarettos. Fat the trade being free no greater rink could ex if. How to avoid in future all danger from the plague

It is the aim of the following fleets to deli neaten the moral and political (late of a great empire, lefsa accurately known to us than its contiguity and relative importance demand The study of human nature, under the various instances of peculiar situation, laws, and customs, can in no café be uninteresting either to the politician, the moralist, or the philosopher. If we consider mankind merely as addled upon by faience as elevated to unusual splendor by the energies of intellect, or depress to a brutal degradation by groves ignorance, it mull render our Speculations more accurate, our judgment more distinct, to try the standard of theory by the test of experience, and to view the effect produced on a large community by the degree of knowledge which they puffiest. If from faience we turn term morals, and would contemplate the efficacy of religious doctrines, of legal institutions, or of popular opinions, these cannot be fairly tried but by referring to their effect on the nation at large in which they exit. Should it again be our desire to estimate justly the political advantages of external and internal administration, these are beech tried by an appeal to fats: despotism or licentiousness’ appearing in their true colors give the surest, because the moil rational means, of appreciating the advantages of good government.

No one can doubt that these ends will be greatly promoted by a review of the state of Turkey, which must present a pedicure no lefsa interesting, from the magnitude of its objects, than from the peculiarity of their features. It may indeed be objected, that this fobbed has been treated by many writers, apparently well qualified to deliver faithful and complete information but it is not improbable that the testimony of an eye-witness, furnished with a multitude of particular fats, would even in that cafe be a de liable addition to the mars of evidence which is already before the public. The truth, however, is, that the multitude of testimonies, or the accuracy of information, is by no means such as to render further accounts unnecessary: In many very interesting points the principal authors do not agree; some are flayed by prefinal or national interest, and some milled by superficial observation or unfounded caprice.

Preservation of the Turkish empire

The Turkish Empire considered, with regard to its Foreign

Relations.

General confederations, The intercell France has in the preservation of the Turkish empire. General interferes of other powers.

The intrigues of France with Rusejia, Aurelia, and other powers: Alliance between Great Britain, Austria, and Rusejia, The particular interferes of Spain, Prujfeia, Sweden, Denmark, Sardinia, Naples, Austria, and Rusejia. The hickory of the emperies politics, feuseifeication ofe the kings minifeers in giving up the Turkiseh clause. Conference of  their conduit. Conduct of Prujfeia towards Poland. Importance of the Rusefean empire. Charadler of its cabinet, the nobility, and the army. Compariseon of its government with tha.t of Turkey.

Turkey confedered as a member of the grand confederation of nations in Europe. Particular interefes of Great Britain confedered, in the event of the Turks being difejofejefejed of their dominions in Europe. Consequences of the French liberating Greece from the Otto nan yoke.

Death of the emperies ofe Rusejia.

Feuseiseication of the character of Peter III. Character of the emperies. The active part fee visa taking in the war again the French. . State of her forces. She was on the eve of attacking the Turks. Situation, of other powers. The emperor of Germany makes peace with the French. Situation the emperor of Rusejia was in before this event. The part he took to oblige Prussia to relinquifeh the project of dismembering the Granit empire. Prevent fit nation of Great Britain.

Of the State of the British Trade to the Levant.

Political State of Greece

On the State of Population in the Turkilh Empire,

Advantageous of Constantinople for a lazaretto. Remarks on the plague. Causes of depopulation. State of several cities and countries. Population of Constantinople, an exam calculation of Population of Greece, and of the two continents.

On the State of the Turkish Provinces.

Power of the porte to control the provinces decreased. Greece. Oppressions by the annual gift of the steet to the Archipelago. A fa Minor and Syria. Moldavia, Walachia, £S c. in general. Independence of the paralic of Bagdad. In Armenia Major, nations of independent people. The three Arabias. Ahijka. Anatolia,, Mountains of Smyrna and P alee fine. Cordes. Donates. Christians of Anti-Libanus. The country of Acri. Error cosnmitted by the Ruffians in attacking the Druses. Eyre. Sidoti. Laodicea. Scandercn. Tripoli. Egypt. Morea. A lb a 7lia. Epirus. Scutari. Bofnia. Croatia, Particulari r eft e cling Egypt, and of Moldavia and lachia. Con duff of the Ruffians in those provinces. Eruptions of the Tatars. Ruffia jufified in fsizing the Crim. Account cf the Tatar nations. Form of the ancient government of the Tatars. Of the reign of the laf khan of the Tatars, His change of the government. Rebellion of the Tatars. The author detained prisontr, and condemned to be beheaded in Moldavia. Emigration of Chrif tians from the Crimea. Errors curried resewing the titles of full an and khan. Caverns in the Crimea. Tatar manner of fighting sluice and humanity of the empress towards the Tatars.

The Political State of Greece.

Greece aspires to regain her liberty. Her former superiority in arts and learning. Of the character of the Greeks in general, and cf the different provinces. Beauty of the contend of Tino. Manface cf the Greeks by the Turks after the war. Thai long possession has not, according to the Lanus of nations3 given a right to the Turks. Stipulations of the treaty of 1774, in favor of the Greeks, violated by a great manface. Memorials of the empress to excite the Greeks to take up arms. A stet fitted cut at Confed for the Archipelago flopper by the king of Sweden.

General Manners

Defrayed Tauris by fire and J-word. Relapsis

into debauchery. Dreadful cruelty towards his subjects. Murdered his brother. Marched agains Perf a, and ressiablehed good disipline. Obliged Venice to pay 20,000 Jechins, to avoid a war. Relapsed into his former debaucheries, and died in Constance of them. His char after, Ibrahim. Cave himself up to pie afire. The vizier, Ivo governed, attacked jalopy. He made peace visitb Germany, and broke it soon after. The divan rested to take Candia. The fantan took the muftis daughter by force, Depofed and tangled. Mahomed IV. His minority occasioned great discarders. The seraglio plundered. Order rest or ed by Kuiperoid.

Of Arts and Sciences, Commerce, and general Manners.

The insistence of tkeir religion on the progress of the arts and fierce s. Difference in this ref peel with the Arabs. Agronomy, Geography. Ahacu: lljloiy. Poetry and general literature, of the Turkish language. Printing. Architecture sat chary and painting. Hydraulics. Imbalances of ignorance

Mechanic arts. Navigation. Founder of cannon. Surgery, hi faces of fill in surgery, in Rubicon of boats, tinning copper vessels making locks. The Greeks have preserved the ancient manner of painting visit wax, and burning in the colors. Foils for diamonds. A glue for metals. Method of dying cotton vomit madder. Making cairn malleable. use mechanics make of their toes. Method of building cupolas. Earth walls remarkably durable. Filtering water by affection. Aorta, or four milk, angular qualities. Coffee. Leaf made of peas. Commerce, interior and foreign.

Constantine given allegiance

In the very center of the Augustaeum stood a single marble column called the Milion, marking the point from which distances would thenceforth be measured throughout the Empire instead of, as had previously been the case, from Rome itself. On either side of the column was placed a group of statues. One represented Constantine and the Empress Helena with a great cross between them, while a second statue of Helena alone stood upon a pedestal.

The Forum, political center of the city, lay to the west of the Augustaeum, a magnificent structure with a spacious portico in the form of an arch of triumph, marking the very spot where Constantine’s camp had stood during his siege of the city in the campaign against Licinius. In the center of the Forum area, he erected another magnificent pillar, constructed from drums of porphyry, brought especially from Rome.

Each drum almost twice the height of a man was bound with heavy bands of brass engraved in the form of laurel wreaths, the whole resting upon a foundation, or stylobate, of white marble. It was easily the most prominent architectural feature in all the city and at its foot Constantine ordered these words inscribed:

Oh Christ, Ruler and Master of the world, to Thee have I now consecrated this obedient city and this scepter and the power of Rome. Guard and deliver it from every harm.

From its very beginning, Nova Roma soon dubbed Constantinopolis by the rank and file of the people was dedicated to the worship of the God and his Son to whom Constantine had given allegiance for so many years. Yet strangely enough, at the very summit of the porphyry column was placed a huge statue of Apollo taken from Athens, but with the head replaced by a likeness of Constantine himself.

Because Byzantium boasted little in the way of springs, much of the city was excavated to form great cisterns into which water was brought through aqueducts from a considerable distance. One of these reservoirs was so large that its roof was supported by three hundred and thirty-six columns, measuring three hundred and ninety feet in total length and a hundred and seventy-four feet in width.

Public space, much like history, belongs to women too

On Wednesday morning Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, woke up to a surprise. Seven new sculptures have popped up across the city center as a result of an art intervention protesting the lack of women’s monuments in the city.

Monument is a sculpture series by the Bulgarian artist and designer Irina Tomova Erka, which seeks to raise awareness about the lack of monuments honoring notable women in Sofia, Bulgaria – a EU member state. According to official data from the Sofia municipality, there are no monuments of real women in the city, and less than 6% of all memorials (most of which plaques) are dedicated to women. Furthermore, none of Sofia’s existing memorials commemorate events important for the women’s rights movement at the beginning of the 20th century.

The brightly-colored sculptures, a portrait of the artist, were placed at some of the most central locations across Sofia, during a secret early-morning action on Wednesday, March 22.

“The key point of the intervention is to reclaim public space. Public space, much like history,  belongs to women too – this is why we want to assert our rightful place. In Bulgaria’s past there are many incredible, inspiring women, but their accomplishments are de facto erased from public memory”, says Erka.

“The sculptures are a portrait of me, as I wanted to take a strong personal, public stance as a contemporary woman and artist, and say – enough. However, they are also anonymous, as they do not bear my name. They are only marked by a sign “The first monument of a woman in Sofia”. In these sculptures I am every woman. With this work, I want to give women what they are entitled to, but have been denied for decades – a place, visibility and recognition”, says the artist.

The art intervention took place in collaboration with the Bulgarian Helsinki Committee, the country’s leading human rights group, in partnership with the international organization for socially engaged art Fine Acts, and with the support of the ad agency Tribal Worldwide Sofia.

“The lack of monuments, honoring historic women, enhances the wrong perception that women have no valuable accomplishments or that they have not contributed to the development of society”, says Svetla Baeva, Campaign Director at the Bulgarian Helsinki Committee.

The seven sculptures are to be exhibited at a prominent Sofia gallery in April, and later auctioned. All proceeds will go towards funding the placing of the first monument dedicated to a real woman in Sofia.

Citizens are invited to sign a petition, addressed to the Sofia municipality, demanding the adoption of a strategy for closing the gender gap in public sculpture in the city, as well as advocating for the erection of the first monument of a woman in 2018. Hundreds have already supported the call to honor women who have contributed to development of the city and country. What is more, an ongoing poll is collecting information on the public’s favorite for the first monument.

The problem with women-free public space is not reserved to Bulgaria.

UK’s Invisible Women campaign aims to challenge the staggering inequality in numbers of civic statues of women and men.

An edict passed by the Kreuzberg district in Berlin, Germany, requires that streets and public places be named for women until parity is reached with men, part of a longstanding debate over official efforts to undo entrenched gender roles in German society.

A recent campaign in New York protests the fact that presently there are no statues honoring real women in Central Park. Women are only represented in the park by statues of Alice in Wonderland or Mother Goose, as well as by angels, nymphs and allegorical figures. The campaign advocates placing a statue of women’s rights pioneers Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony in the park.

Councils of the government

We have proofs that even a long residence in that country, and in a capacity which would appear the belt calculated to assort information, that of a public minister, is not sufficient. The numerous errors Sir James Porter has fallen into demonstrate this. As to merchants, their occupations filmdom leave .them leisure or curiosity to be informed of matters foreign to commerce, and difcant from their places of abode. From travelers who run through a country, lefsa is to be expelled. “Till a man is capable of covering “with ezafe among the natives of a country, he can “never be able to form an adequate idea of their c policy and manners.”

It is obvious, that a considerable portion of time and study is requisite to obtain a full ac quittance with the moral and political (late of a nation: he who would observe it with accuracy should have re tided a long time in the country; he should have posseted opportunities of penetrating into the councils of the government, as well as of noticing the manners and genius of the people; he should have seen them in war and in peace, have noted their military skill and their commercial system; and, -above all, it is necessary that he should have an accurate knowledge of their language, so as to be free from one peat and almost universal source of error in accounts of foreign countries, Aris mg from the misapprehension of the relator himself

In order to form a just: standard for trying, the comparative accuracy of different accounts, it will be necessary to know those prejudices which are molt likely, in flite of the belt intentions, to insinuate themselves into an authors work from motives of private or of public interest. With this view it will not be unacceptable to notice a few particulars relative to two or three works of the best: reputation, which have lately appeared, -and which have treated of the Turkish empire in general. Of earlier authors it is needless to speak.