144 CONSTANTINOPLE. 
CHAP, nine miles from Constantinople '; considerinof them 
IV. . 
■ to be nothing better than so many civil spies : 
and who, as a faithful member of the Turkish 
Cabinet, ought to blame the Ftziers policy ? 
There was every reason to believe, at this time, 
that Turkey could not long exist as an inde- 
pendent empire ; and yet, as we sometimes say 
of human decrepitude, it seems to have " taken 
a new lease." Its resources are, however, 
daily becoming more and more feeble; for 
although the Turks be individually wealthy, the 
Government is poor. The taxes, badly levied in 
the first instance, are worse collected; and 
whole provinces, in a state of open rebellion, 
pay no contribution. Every one must be aware 
with what gigantic steps Russia was encroaching 
upon the side of Circassia and Georgia; making 
the additions to her immense empire resound 
over Europe as so many conquests; whereas 
they ought only to be considered as gained by 
the inundations of a great flood, whose dams 
have gone to decay. But lamentable indeed 
would be the event of Turkey becoming depen- 
dent upon Russia ! still more so of seeing the 
Russi&njiag hoisted upon the towers of Constan- 
U) See Sir James Porter's, accurate "Observations on the Govern- 
Hient and Manners of the Turks," p. 151. Land. 1771. , 
