not impeded by any insurmountable obstacles, or that the 

 vices which waste away the Ottoman empire are not derive<f 

 from its institutions, but are merely accidental. 



"Pour reformer les Ottomans," says that author, " il 

 ne faudroit done qu'un esprit supe"rieur, qu'un sultan sage, 

 eclaire, entreprenant ; qu'il soit seconde par le genie puis- 

 sant d'un Sinan Pacha, d'un Kupruli; qu'un mouphty 

 anime du meme zele et du meme esprit entre dans leur 

 vues. ' ' 



Certainly, with such points d'appui, the world itself 

 might be moved ; but where such a paradoxical combination 

 of great qualities must take place, in order to effect improve- 

 ments towards which every free community naturally 

 tends, it is evident that the old fabric must be totally razed 

 and a new one constructed on a different model. If gravi- 

 tation does not support the globe, we must have recourse 

 to the elephant and the tortoise ; and when individual in- 

 terests and the welfare of the community are not allowed fair 

 play, prejudices alone can hold together the frame of 

 society. The power of the despot stands on a slender 

 foundation : if he quarrels with ignorance, he loses his only 

 friend, as is clearly evinced in the recent history of the 

 Turks. Selim III. was a wise, enlightened, enterprising 

 prince ; his servants had zeal and abilities, and the muphty 

 was devoted to his will ; yet he could neither correct abuses, 

 nor restore the empire to its pristine vigour. The reforma- 

 tions which he urged were not precipitately introduced by 

 him; many of his ancestors had failed in similar attempts. 

 Ahmed III. nearly a century before, resembled Selim in 

 fortune as well as in character; both these princes were 

 distinguished by their poetical talent and literary accom- 

 plishments ; both knew how to appreciate the superior en- 

 lightenment of Europe ; the former introduced into Turkey, 

 and the latter revived and encouraged the art of printing; 

 Ahmed sent the first Turkish ambassadors to the courts of 

 Europe, Selim made them permanent; both were inno- 

 vators with the best intentions, and here is the point of 

 resemblance most worthy of attention, Both lost their 

 thrones by their zeal for improvement, and in each case the 

 nation relapsed to its torpor, its ignorance and corruption. 



37 



