The Ottoman navy is scarcely worth a passing notice. It is neglected both with respect to its ma teriel and its physical force; and is commanded by ignorant admirals and officers, served by unskilful gunners, and worked by unexperienced sailors. The late Hassan Paella, who was originally a Geor gian slave, when he became grand admiral, infused a species of activity into the maritime affairs of Turkey. by the selection and discipline of his offi cers, and the improvements he made in the con struction of ships of war. He sent for European builders, and spent immense sums in building, equipping, and decorating his fleet; but since his death the Turkish marine has been visibly declin ing, and has fallen into a state of torpor and decay.
The following table of the Ottoman armies, ac cording to ill. Hammer, is taken from M. Malte Brun, who states that it does not include the pro vincial troops furnished by the paellas.
The revenues of the Porte may be divided into three parts: the Tlliri, or public revenue; the Hazne, or sultan's treasure; and the Vamp, which are con secrated to religious and charitable institutions.
The Miri is under the superintcndance of the deflerdar Tendi, and thirty-three inferior officers. It is derived principally from the following sources: the mini, properly so called, which is a territorial impost levied on the whole empire, amounting to one-tenth of the produce of the land; the haratch, far poll-tax, imposed only upon the rayahs, and va rying from four to twelve piasters a-head; a tax on personal property and the produce of industry, cal culated at a fourth of the tradesman's gains; the customs on the exportation and importation of mer chandise, and the produce of monopolies, particu larly of bread corn, and confiscations, the amount of which must be very considerable, as every officer under government, with the exception of the Ulema and the janissariesoirtually stipulates that the state shall inherit the whole of his property at his death. To these may be added a tax upon certain provinces, levied in kind, such as contributions of timber, hemp, sail-cloth, iron, tar, Scc. as materials for the navy and arsenal, and estimated at'2000 purses. Of late it has been attempted to improve this revenue, and to support a greater standing military force, by imposing an excise tax; but this innovation was so ill received, that it has as yet produced very lit tle benefit. In estimating, however, the value of the
mill for the emergencies of the state, we ought to take into account that the third part of the lands is held upon the condition of the proprietors raising and maintaining the feudal militia; that the govern ors of provinces are bound to keep in order the na tional establishments in their particular districts; and hence, that neither " the army. nor the admi nistration of justice, the police, public worship, the building or repairing of public edifices, of fortresses, mosques, arsenals, bridges, and high roads, are kept up in the provinces at the expense of the Grand Signior." This revenue is called nuts leminn, the public money of the Mussulmans, con secrated to the necessities of the state, and over which the sultan has no control.
The Hazne, or sultan's treasure, which is admin istered by the is devoted to his own private use, and is so ample as to enable him to lay aside a considerable sum of money every year. It is derived chiefly from the rents of the imperial domains; from the gifts under the name of pesh kesh, which he receives on the nomination to great offices, and the magnificent presents which are sent to him from all parts of the empire on certain fes tivals, or on occasions of solemnity, such as the birth or circumcision of a son, which last Cante mir estimates as equal to half the yearly tribute of the empire. The exactions, from the provinces, of provisions of every description for the use of the sultan's household, form no small addition to his revenue; and " it may be asserted," says Mr. Thornton, " that the supplies from the provinces are such, that nothing which the empire produces ever bought with money for the service of the seragl io." The revenue of the ram's, amounting to several millions, are deposited in the seraglio, under the care of the kislar-aga. They are derived from en dowments, either in land or money, made by sul tans and private individuals, for building and up holding mosques, and for other religious and chari table purposes; these funds, though considered sacred, have sometimes, in cases of urgency, been applied to the necessities of the state, but always under the form of a loan, and the sultan and the empire are bound for its repayment.