108 



Of the Turkish Government. 



The sovereignty of tlie Turkish empire rests exclusivelj- in 

 the Ottoman famil}', but within that family the choice of the 

 successor depends chiefly on the reigning Sultan, and fre- 

 quently on the Janissaries, by whom the Sultan is often de- 

 posed and put to death. Hence he confines or massacres 

 his brethren. 



The power of the Sultan is in some respects despotic, and 

 in others limited. It is limited, 1st. By the Rules of the 

 Koran. Sly. By the Ulenia, or body of the lawyers or inter- 

 preters of the Mahometan law, at the head of whom is the 

 Mufti the High Priest, without whose consent no politi- 

 cal act can be undertaken ; but the Mufti is nominated, 

 and may be deposed by the Sultan. 3dly. By the great 

 council, consisting of the great military officers, and the 

 heads of the Ulema ; no important act of government 

 can be undertaken without a previous discussion in this as- 

 sembly.* In the regular administration however, the Sultan 

 is possessed of the most arbitrary power over the lives of his 

 subjects without process or formality. V» ith regard to pro- 

 perty 



* Eaton's Survey, Chap. ]. See also Porter's Observations on Turkey. 



