1824.] 



The Greeks and Turks 



meuts, by the discipline of its armies, 

 the abundance of its revenues, and 

 the number of its siil)jects devoted (o 

 their countrj'. Tlie Janissaries are the 

 most ferocious and turbulent militia 

 in the world ; the revenues are com- 

 pulsory tributes; and the people 

 gradually diminish and emigrate to 

 those provinces where they can live 

 under a more tolerant government. 

 Thus this empire preys upon its vitals ; 

 and, without any foreign enemy, must 

 fall by its own destroying hand. Sir 

 W. Jones, a sagacious politician as 

 well as eminent scholar, declared tlie 

 downfall of this unwieldy despotism 

 above thirty years ago, when the poli- 

 tical hemisphere of Europe had a far 

 diflFerent aspect from the present : 

 " the Turkish sultans (says he), whose 

 crescent is fast approaching to its 

 wane." 



The gigantic plans of Catharine of 

 Russia would have founded an eastern 

 kingdom, of which Constantinople was 

 destined to be the capital: the brother 

 of the reigning emperor, Constantino, 

 was designated to this exaltation, and 

 was so named for that purpose. How 

 far this bold project was practicable, 

 is left to the consideration of more 

 acute politicians ; but the conduct of 

 Alexander has already shown, that 

 he has not lost sight of the prospects 

 of this ambitious and enterprising wo- 

 man ; and, whatever may be the 

 results of negociations now on foot, it 

 does not want much political saga- 

 city to declare, that the colossal arms 

 of Russian domination will stretch 

 from the north-west to the south- 

 eastern extremity of Europe. For 

 Greece cannot remain long (if she 

 ever regain her freedom,) an inde- 

 pendent state : her local position, be- 

 tween two most powerful empires, will 

 expose her as an easy conquest 1o her 

 neighbours. She must live under the 

 shadow and protection of a greater 

 power; and Russia,* by her situation, 

 her interests, and her religion, is better 



• The city of Odessa, constituted into 

 a free port by tlie Emperor Alexander,at 

 the instance of the Due de Richelieu, is a 

 master-stroke of political economy. From 

 its geographical position, and its easy 

 commiinication with Constantinople, it 

 has a considerable trade, chiefly in com, 

 with the capital, and other parts of the 

 empire. Thus, it appears that this coun- 

 try, fio celebrated by the ancient Greek 

 putts for its productive soil and {;ciiial 

 climate, is dependent on foreigners for 



relatively considered. 1 1 7 



suited than any other nation to gua- 

 rantee to this enslaved people the 

 blessingscommon totherestof Kurope. 

 The intolerable rigor and extortion, 

 .systematic among these barbarians, 

 has driven out many cultivators into 

 the south-eastern provinces of Russia, 

 to the manifest detriment of the Otto- 

 man empire ; and where they have 

 found a safe asylum from the arm of 

 pillage, under the sway of a more 

 enlightened and more politic prince. 

 Hence it is evident, that the operations 

 of the Porte are paralyzed, its re- 

 sources dried up, its trade in a state of 

 stagnation, and the whole country a 

 scene of misery and barrenness. 



In the future dismemberment of 

 tliese delectable regions, Austria, for 

 her acquiescence in the designs of 

 Russia, may demand some of the pro- 

 vinces on the Danube ; whilst England 

 must he satisfied with her present pos- 

 sessions, the Ionian Isles, ceded 

 by Russia ; and assent, however un- 

 willing, to that which she cannot 

 prevent. 



With regard to the commerce of 

 England with the Levant, it will be in 

 a few years an absolute nullity; and, 

 indeed, it is now insignificant, when 

 compared with that of the last century. 

 Russia seems to engross almost all 

 the advantages: she derives more 

 gain from the trade with the Turks 

 than all Europe together. The mode 

 of policy ol' the English ministers 

 seems most unaccountable, by the 

 covert favour towards the Sublime 

 Porte in the present contest now at 

 issue between the Greeks and their 

 inhuman persecutors the Mahometans. 

 From Turkey this country can derive 

 but little advantage, either commer- 

 cial or political ; with Greece she may 

 be able to carry on a considerable 

 trade, — for England would there find 

 a good market for her colonial pro- 

 duce, as well as for her home manu- 

 factures. 



A commercial people are more prone 

 to calculate the chances of profit and 

 loss, than to consider the claims of 

 humanity and Christian fellowship ; 

 yet let us dwell for a while on the 

 claim which Greece has upon the 

 whole European family, in aiding her 

 noble 



the necessaries of life. Vast tracts of 

 laud, in consequence of the rapacity (ifthe 

 'furkish bassas, lie luicultivaied, not only 

 in Europe, but aloiij; tUu extensive ctiast 

 of Asia Minor, 



