If Turkey is to be renovated, and to be brought within the pale of civilized Europe, no prince of the line of Othman has ever appeared with qualifi cations and attainments better suited to its circum stances and its wants than its reigning sultan. Mahmoud II. is at present in the prime of life, be ing about thirty-six years of age; and the important changes which he has already effected, namely, the annihilation of the turbulent and seditious janissa ries, and the subjection of the ulema and pashas to the obedience of the laws, testify his unshrinking courage and resolution. Upon the occasion of the unfortunate battle of Navarin, when all Europe seemed banded against him, his calmness and pru dence, though severely tried, did not forsake him; and he evinced a spirit of justice and forbearance very unusual in any prince of his line, in his treat ment of foreign merchants, who, while they looked for the usual measures of confiscation and the bow string, were generously protected in their lives and property. Though conquered, Mahmoud still per severes with unabated zeal in completing his plans of reform in the military and naval services, and in preparing his empire for future emergencies. By the introduction into his army of European disci pline and tactics, and by his own adoption, on many occasions, of the European costume and manners, so obnoxious to the pride and superstitions of Mus sulmans, he has shown himself superior to the keen est prejudices of his nation, and is thus gradually freeing himself from the authority of those ancient forms and opinions by which his predecessors were held in thraldom. He has already done much for
the advancement of his people in civilization and happiness; and the condition of slaves throughout his dominions has been so considerably ameliorated during his reign, that they enjoy more freedom and comfort than the serfs either of Russia or Hungary. We are afraid, however, that, owing to the vicious structure of society in this country, the religious prejudices and fanaticism of the people, and their general inaptitude for improvement, the task of re novating Turkey will prove too Herculean even for Mahmoud. In the following extract from a recent work on Turkey, the sultan is described as unre mitted in directing and managing the affairs of his government: " II surveille son Divan avec un soin extreme, et ne lui laisse que le simulacre du pou voir; it dirige, it regle tout par lui-meme; en un mot it est lui seul le gouvernement. Mieux et plu tot informe que les ministres au moyen d'une agenee secrete tres-active, ses mesures sort prises avant que les rapports de son Grand Vizier lui soient parvenus. Actif, laborieux, d'un secret impenetra ble. observatcur zele de sa religion, fidele a sa pa role, sobre et respectant les manrs, Sultan Mah moud peut etre regards a. juste titre comme un phenomene pour la Turquie." See Knolle's Turk ish History; Thornton's Present State of Turkey; Eton's Survey of the Turkish Empire; Upham's History of the Ottoman Empire; Ge ography, vols. ii. and vi.: Foreign Review, Nos. I. 3, 5, and 6; and Snnual Register, vols. xiii.—xix.