192 
T U R 
be fired except in return, a boat was now pushed off from 
the Dartmouth, to proceed to one of the other vessels, com¬ 
manded by Lieutenant G. W. H. White, who with several 
of his crew were immediately killed by a fire of musketry. 
This produced a defensive fire from the Dartmouth and La 
Syrene, the latter bearing the flag of Rear-admiral de Rig- 
ny. This was followed by cannon shot from the Turks, and 
the action soon became general. Meantime, however, the 
English admiral’s pilot was sent to interpret to Moharem 
Bey, his commander’s desire to avoid bloodshed: he was 
shot alongside. The battle now raged with unabated fury 
for four or five hours, at the end of which time the Turco- 
Egyptian fleet was totally destroyed. Ibrahim, who was 
not present, when informed of the event, caused all the 
Greek prisoners, men, women and children, to be put to death 
by the sword, many of whom had been in his power fifteen 
months. According to custom, the priests and others devoted 
to religion were either crucified or burned by a slow fire. 
While the Divan were deliberating what steps should be 
taken respecting the affair of Navarino, news arrived at Con¬ 
stantinople that Fabvier, supported by Lord Cochrane, had 
landed on the isle of Scio, and that the Pacha and the Turks 
had been obliged to quit the fort. This greatly increased 
the irritation already felt, and the Reis Effendi declared to 
the dragomans of England, France and Russia, on the 9th 
of November, that all intercourse was suspended with these 
three powers until it should be known that they abstained 
from further interference in behalf of Greece,—until the 
Grand Signor should be indemnified for the loss of his fleet, 
&c., and until he had received satisfaction for the insults 
offered him. On the following day the three ambassadors 
returned this answer. “ The treaty of the 6th of July for¬ 
bids the allies to abandon Greece. The Turkish fleet gave 
occasion to the battle of Navarino, which circumstance 
destroys all claim to indemnity. The Porte has less reason 
to expect satisfaction, as it was informed in due time that an 
event such as that of Navarino might occur, if it did not 
listen to counsels of moderation, or if it should be the first 
to attack.” 
The greatest activity now prevailed in the arsenals at Con¬ 
stantinople ; proclamations were sent to the provinces, call¬ 
ing upon all Mussulmen to defend their laws and their re¬ 
ligion, and troops and ammunition were sent into Silistria, 
to put the fortresses on the Danube into a state of defence. 
On the 28th of November, the Reis Effendi called on the 
English ambassador, and said, that if the Greek question 
was the only subject of negociation, the Porte would be glad 
to get rid of Greece, if any means could be adopted without 
wounding the feelings of the Sultan : but at the same time 
the Sultan continued making active preparations for defen¬ 
sive war, though he abstained from offensive operations, and 
when pressed on the subject of Greece, replied, “ I will not 
be accessory to my own disgrace in the voluntary surrender 
of Greece, neither will I go to war on the subject, as I can¬ 
not remedy myself; but I will be prepared to resist all fur¬ 
ther aggression if offered.” He summoned deputies, or at 
least well informed and influential persons from various parts 
of his dominions, with a view of deliberating on the critical 
state of the Turkish empire; while the ministers of the allied 
powers were ordered to remain at Corfu, in expectation of 
a renewal of negociations with the Porte. 
About the 16th instant about two thirds of the Egyptian 
force, the whole of which amounted to 21,000 men, em¬ 
barked for Alexandria, with the Greek women and children 
whom they had taken prisoners. The Morea had been ren¬ 
dered nearly a desert by their ravages, and the country ge¬ 
nerally is in a most deplorable condition. The reason as¬ 
signed for their departure was, that the battle of Navarino 
had rendered their services useless. 
Russia now declared war against the Porte independent of 
her allies, and assigned as causes numerous breaches of the 
treaty of Akerman, and the successful attempts of Turkey to 
provoke the recent hostilities between Russia and Persia. 
The last news brings the intelligence that the Porte has 
R E Y. 
granted an armistice of three months to the Greeks; but has 
not been influenced by the dangers that threaten its exist¬ 
ence, to emancipate them from its yoke. 
At present, the state of Turkey is in the highest degree 
critical and interesting. Attacked by Russia, a foe so long 
dreaded and so powerful; deserted, and perhaps opposed 
by England and France, the only powers which could 
have opposed the enlargement of the great empire of the 
north; governed by councils, in which no one quality 
is observable but obstinacy ; and distraetedby the rebellion 
of her Christian subjects, and by the partial insubordination 
of her mercenary troops, this once powerful empire is threat¬ 
ened with dissolution. This is perhaps of little consequence 
to her subjects, since no change can be for the worse. 
Of the Inhabitants and present state of Turkey. 
The chief characteristics of the Turks are these:—they are 
by turns active and indolent, cruel and merciful; equally 
pleased amid the toils of war and the luxury of repose. They 
are temperate and abstemious; implicit followers of the 
mandates of Mahomet, and inflexible persecutors of all 
believers in any other creed. By nature they are candid 
and sincere; but the amiable qualities are so tinctured with 
duplicity, that they regard not the obligation of a treaty, 
or the sanctity of a promise, if made to one of a different 
faith. The Turks are distinguished from all the other nations 
of Europe, by the ample folds and stately drapery of their 
garments; by the turban, and by the shorn head and long 
beard. They are generally actuated by sudden impulses; 
with the same alacrity they take the life of an adversary, 
seize the possessions of their weaker neighbours, or purchase 
and immure in the harem the object of their desires. 
The Turk knows nothing of the perpetual bustle, the 
complicated intrigue, or the varying opinions which influence 
the business of life in more northern nations; his life is one 
continued scene of dull monotony, except where the greater 
passions of our nature interfere. He wonders at, and pities 
the assiduity of those who are engaged in the honourable 
and active pursuit of wealth and greatness; the study of 
the liberal arts and sciences, the busy stir of commerce, and 
all that makes life dear and desirable to others, is to him 
unknown, or totally despised. In their behaviour to women, 
the policy of this people is a mixture of the most delicale 
respect, gross sensuality, and refined jealousy. They admit 
not even their dearest friends to see the face of their wives ; 
on the other hand, the apartment of the women is sacred 
from intrusion, and a Turkish wife may hold property, even 
when a husband has not that power. 
The religion of Mahomet assigned to its followers a 
number of minute duties ; of these, the performance of five 
daily prayers, before sunrise, at noon, in the afternoou, at 
sunset, and at night, instituted in honour of Adam, of 
Abraham, Jonas, Jesus, and of Moses, is the most important, 
and no one is reckoned a good Mussulman if he fails in any 
of those duties. Next follow the ablutions, which are both 
numerous and various. The fast of Ramazan is another 
institution which employs the whole attention of the faithful, 
and compensates for more important duties. 
Though the Mahometan rel igion was by no means a perfect 
system for the improvement of mankind, it was well adapted 
to unite the wandering Arabs of the desert, and to form • 
any nation into a military community. It recommends to 
the faithful, integrity and justice towards each other, and 
imposes upon them such privations as are most necessary for 
the discipline of an army; forbidding wine as subversive 
of all order, and inculcating cleanliness the better to preserve 
the health of the camp. 
Desertion from the army was denounced by Mahomet 
as one of the gravest and most deadly sins. He promised 
the crown of martyrdom to those who died in defence of 
his divine omission, and invented a sensual paradise of 
ripe fruit, verdant meadows, fresh water, and fine women, 
for the eternal gratification of his soldiers; who believe 
when they go to battle, that legions of angels, headed 
by 
