419 
These together form so strange and confused a 
medley, that a Turkish army does not differ in reality 
from a multitude of Arabian hordes, and consequent- 
ly is not capable of producing much more advantage- 
ous results. If besides this irregularity the immense 
quantities of baggage which the Turks carry with 
them, and the innumerable multitude of servants and 
others, that follow the army, but do not bear arms, 
be taken into account, an idea may be formed of the 
almost total impossibility of giving to these unwieldy 
and disorderly bodies the precision which the military 
movements of a campaign require. 
The government of Constantinople, convinced of 
this truth, was desirous to remedy the evil by creating 
a new military body organized and trained after the 
European discipline; but as this innovation endanger- 
ed the interests of the janissaries, who would have 
been reduced to dependence instead of being the true 
despots of the empire, which they then were and still 
are, they revolted, sacrificed the most useful men in 
the state, and dethroned Selim the Third to maintain 
their power. This was a deplorable triumph of mili- 
tary anarchy, which has thrown the civilization of the 
Turks two centuries back. 
The Sultan Moustapha* who succeeded Selim, is 
endowed with good qualities; but what can the best of 
Sultans do, surrounded with so turbulent a military as 
the janissaries? What minister will be courageous 
enough to speak out while his mind still dwells on the 
catastrophe which he has so recently witnessed? No, I 
think I may venture to conclude, that it is impossible 
for the Turks to civilize themselves. When mention is 
* This Prince, also dethroned, is no more, 
