, TURKEY IN EUROPE. €01 



the laws of the kingdom, which are founded upon vei'y equitable prin- 

 ciples. 



Revenues. ...The riches drawn from the various provinces of this 

 empire must be immense. The revenues arise from the customs, and 

 a variety of taxes which fall chiefly on the Christians, and other sub- 

 jects, not of the Mahommedan religion. The rich pay a capitation tax 

 of thirty shillings a year; tradesmen, fifteen shillings; and common 

 labourers, six shillings and ten pence halfpenny. Another branch of 

 the revenue arises from the annual tribute paid by the Tartars, and 

 other nations bordering upon Turkey, but governed by their own prin- 

 ces and laws. These form what are called the miri, and amount to 

 about four millions and a half sterling. All these, however, are trifling, 

 when compared with the vast sums extorted from the governors of 

 provinces, and officers of state, under the name of presents. These 

 harpies, to indemnify themselves, as we have already observed, ex- 

 ercise every species of oppression that their avarice can suggest, till, 

 becoming wealthy from the vitals of the countries and people they 

 are sent to govern, their riches frequently give rise to a pretended 

 suspicion of disloyalty or misconduct, and the whole fortune of the 

 offender devolves to the crown. The devoted victim is seldom ac- 

 quainted with the nature of the offence, or the names of his accusers ; 

 but, without giving him the least opportunity of making a defence, 

 an officer is dispatched with the imperial decree to take off his head. 

 The unhappy pasha receives it with the highest respect, putting it oa 

 his head, and after he has read it, says, " The will of God and the 

 emperor be done V* or some such expression, testifying his entire re- 

 signation to the will of his prince. Then he takes the silken cord, 

 which the officer has ready in his bosom, and having tied it round his 

 own neck, and said a short prayer, the officer's servants throw him on 

 the floor, and, drawing the cord tight, soon dispatch him; after which 

 his head is cut off, and carried to court. 



The revenue of the whole Turkish empire is estimated at about 

 40,000,000 of dollars, while the expences do not usually exceed twenty. 

 This revenue has lately been considerably augmented by improve- 

 ments in the administration of the different branches, and particular- 

 ly the farms. 



Army, navy. ...The Militia of the Turkish empire is of two sorts : 

 the first have certain lands appointed for their maintenance, and the 

 other is paid out of the treasury. Those that have certain lands amount 

 to about 268,000 effective men. Besides these, there are also certain 

 auxiliary forces raised by the tributary countries of this empire. The 

 khan of the Crim Tartars, before his country was subjected to Russia, 

 was obliged to furnish 100,000 men, and to serve in person, when the 

 grand-seignor took the field In every war, besides the above forces, 

 there are great numbers of volunteers, who live at their own charge, 

 in expectation of succeeding the officers. These adventurers do not 

 only promise themselves an estate if tbey survive, but are taught, that 

 if they die in war against the Christians, they shall go immediately to 

 Paradise. The forces which receive their pay from the treasury are 

 called the spahis, or horse guards, and are in number about 12,000; 

 and the janisaries, or foot guards, who are esteemed the best soldiers 

 in the Turkish armies, and on whom they principally depend in an 

 engagement. These amount to about 25,000 men, who are quarter- 

 ed in and near Constantinople. They frequently grow mutinous, and 

 have proceeded so far sometimes as to depose the sultan. They are 



Vol. I. 4 H 



