A Residence at Constantinople During a Period Including the Commencement, Progress and Termination of the Greek and Turkish Revolutions (Volume 2)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1836. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XI. Repair of Churches--Cross of Constantine--Singular display of Christian Standard--Sultan's conduct to Foreigners--Barbarous Usages abolished--Seven Towers--Presents--Mode of Presentation--Portrait Painting--Medical Lectures--Cure of Lunatics--Vaccination--Establishment of Quarantine--Precautions against Cholera--Resellay--Appointment of Pashas--Administration of Justice--Confiscation of Property--Derebeys--Ulema--Sultan's Domestic Habits--Favourite Mustapha--Voyage of beneficence--Popularity--Estimation of his Reforms. On a representation to the Sultan of the dilapidated state in which the Greek churches had been left since the commencement of the insurrection, he issued a firman, 1831, which contained the following passage:--" It is our constant desire that all the Rayas that repose under the shade of Islamism and our sense of justice, should enjoy perfect protection, free from all interruption and disquietude: our good will is, in this respect, not limited to narrow bounds, and our solicitude is always that they should feel perfect tranquillity, and advance in prosperity." This declaration was followed up by substantial proofs of sincerity. The difficulty of repairing Christian churches under the old regime was very great. It was necessary first to memorial the Mufti, who afterwards reported to the Sultan, who then granted the required permission. Should any Christian Raya presume to repair a church without it, he was subject to the severest penalties. The intolerable exactions and oppressions of this system caused many of the religious edifices to fall into ruins. The churches dilapidated by the Turks remained in the same state, no permission could be obtained to repair them. I could not remove the tomb of our first ambassador at Chalki, be...