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Engraved by Ridley from an Original Painting in the Possession of Spencer Smith Esq."

Selim late Emperor of the Turks.

II

Published by Asperne at the Bible Crown & Constitution cernh August 1827

EUROPEAN MAGAZINE,

AND

LONDON REVIEW,

FOR JULY 1807.

SELIM III. LATE EMPEROR OF THE TURKS.
[WITH A PORTRAIT.]

THE recent revolution

Endowed with a very prepossessing Tcalls upon us to take the earliest figure, and lively animated manners,

opportunity of offering to the public a few sketches of the character of our late amiable ally Selim, with some anecdotes of his reign. This essay, although hastily and irregularly sketched, affords ample subject to excite the commiseration of every generous mind, for the miserable fate of this illustrious victim to the atrocious policy of contending powers; and cannot fail of impressing the deepest regret in the minds of our enlightened readers, on reflecting that the measures of our government have co-operated, with machinations of the enemy, to bring about a catastrophe, which is likely to involve, in its consequences, the ruin of the dearest interests of our country.

Mustapha III. father of Selim, made a merit, during his life-time, of nominating his brother Abdul-Hammid to be his immediate successor to the throne, although it had long been an established rule, that the oldest male of the branch of Othman should reign, in preference to the son of the last Sultan, with a view to obviate, as much as possible, the disadvantages of a minor reign. Abdul-Hammid was therefore invested with the imperial sabre, at the death of Mustapha, in January 1774, taking upon him the name of Achmet IV. but was, notwithstanding, always called by his primitive name. After a reign of fifteen years, AbdulHammid deceased of a natural death, in the middle of a war, which the ambitious arrangements between Joseph II. of Austria and Catherine III. of Russia had provoked. Upon which, Selim III. was released from Eski Serai, old palace (where the presumptive heirs and minor branches of the imperial family are kept in honourable confinement), in the full bloom of his life, at the age of 27 or 28; and was invested with the sabre of his ancestors, on the 7th April. 1789.

Selim was greeted at his accession by. the enthusiastic raptures of his people. But this favourable emotion was soon somewhat damped by the sudden execution of the Terzhanna Emini, superintendant of the arsenal, whom he ordered to be beheaded, in his presence, at the arsenal, the day after his uncle's death. The reason of this not being, known at the time, it was naturally attributed to capricious cruelty. The justice of the punishment was, however, applauded, as soon as it became known that this man, either by order of, or to ingratiate himself with AbdulHammid, had endeavoured to take Selim off by poison, or otherwise to destroy him, in order to secure the immediate succession to the children of Abdul-Hammid, to whom two sons had been born.

Another execution, nearly at the same period, of a jew, for no other reason, as it was supposed, than for having had yellow slippers on when the Sultan met him, impressed on the minds of many that he was of a wantonly cruel disposition. The rumour of his having ordered an Englishman to be beheaded, whom he met near the custom-house, for being dressed in the Turkish dress, spread a consternation in the inhabitants of Constantinople at the ferocity of his temper. But the fact respecting the Englishman was simply as follows:Selim taking his round, incognito, disguised in an Asiatic costume, perceived a person walking arm in arm between two Europeans, in precisely a similar dress to that which himself then had on. This person could not be a Turk, as Turks do not walk with christians in that manner; and a late prociamation having prohibited the use of the Turkish dress to the Europeans, on pain of severe punishment, in consequence of very improper use having been made of the disguise, it was natural for the

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Sultan to order one of his attendants to inquire into the reason of an apparition so unexpected. Such investigations are generally very peremptory, and their results very summary in Turkey. The Englishman was, however, accosted in by no means a rude manner. He was asked, who and what he was? How he dared to appear in that dress, in contempt of the Sultan's prohibition? and, in the same breath, was ordered to be taken before the grand vizier for further examination. The Englishman having about him the firmaun, or passport, for his protection in travelling, and speaking Turkish fluently, craved to be heard on the spot; and soon satisfied his examiner, that the reason of his assuming that dress, was to facilitate his late journies in, Asia Minor, where the European apparel would have exposed him to many inconveniences and insults; and that, since his return, he only waited till his hair should have grown long enough to resume his usual dress. This was fully corroborated by the Janissary attending the Englishman, and the custom-house officers: at this, the Sultan's attendant left him, surrounded by hundreds of guards, to report to his master, and returning in one minute, released him from further restraint, bidding him to go home, and change his dress; adding, in a flattering manner, that he was glad the Englishman had been able to explain away so suspicious a circumstance, which might have been attended with consequences, which both the Sultan and himself would have regretted. The moment the Englishman was accosted, many bye-standers, anticipating what their fears made them expect, ran towards the European quarters, and other parts of the town, declaring that they had actually seen his head struck off by the executioner, who always accompanies the Grand Signior in his incognito excursions. Nor was the real fact ever universally known. The case of the sin is involved in much uncertainty or mystery; but if his execution ever did take place, there is every reason to presume, from the character of humanity which Selim has ever since maintained, that there must have been some very strong, though latent, reason for the act.

Selim, as is customary for every male child in Turkey, let his birth be what it may, was educated to a trade. His genius for drawing inclined him to

choose that of a muslin or calico-prin ter, forming designs of flowers, and engraving the wooden blocks for printing. He also early shewed a happy turn for music and poetry, by some pretty songs and original airs which he has composed. When he came to the throne, he greatly encouraged music, and often had European musicians to play before him, on instruments unusual to the Turks.

A chasteness and delicacy of taste for works of art, distinguished Selim from his predecessors, aud from orientals in general. By rewarding, in the most liberal manner, such as excelled in any ingenious workmanship in gold, silver, precious stones, enamelled-work, clockwork, fire-arms, and other productions of ingenuity, a greater progress has been made by the artists in Turkey in these branches during his single reign, than during the reigns of all his predecessors. Nor was Selim's taste confined. to the ornamental productions of the arts. The improvements in the gunmanufactories, cannon-founderies, powder-mills, paper-mills, the erection of many elegant and extensive barracks. for the artillery and other corps, and various other public establishments; but above all, the vast improvements which have been made in the arsenal, and in naval architecture, within the last twelve years, under the fostering genius of Selim, testify that he possessed a spirit for the advancement of the more useful arts in his country, which has seldom been surpassed by any monarch of any nation."

The native energy of Selim's mind, soon disentangled him from the shackles which the cramping precepts of the seraglio, and the fanatical tenets of Mahometanism had thrown over his understanding during his confinement. So far from contemning the superiority of Europeans in arts and sciences, he evinced an ardent desire to improve his countrymen, by the example and instruction of Europeans of every nation, whom he liberally encouraged to come into his service. Nor must it be omitted, that a decided preference was always offered to Englishmen; but the wicked selfishness of some of our agents, whose duty it was to encourage a partiality so beneficial to our national interest, joined to the want of a certain amenity of manuers in some of the few adventurers who came to Constan

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tinople to be employed, discouraged this predilection in our favour, and forced that preference to be transferred to our rivals and enemies, who, wisely appreciating what our impious policy spurned from us, have raised an ascendancy upon it, which has placed the fate of the empire at their disposal, and which threatens the speedy destruction of all our influence and possessions in the east.

The encouragement given by Selim, since his accession, for the re-establish ment of the press, by which the study of arts and sciences has been more generally spreading in Turkey; the gracious manner with which he received a copy of the "Tableau general de l'Empire Ottoman, accompanied with a large painting, containing, in genealogical order, the portraits of all the Ottoman Sultans (in contempt of the abhorrence in which the fanatical Mussulman holds pictures), presented by the Chev. D'Ohson, are strong proofs of the superiority of his mind over the early impressions of education and national prejudices. And the organization of the Nizami Dzedid, a new system of tactics and finance, in imitation of European nations, notwithstanding the outrageous and alarming oppositions that have several times been raised against it by the Janissaries, forcibly exemplify the depth of his understanding, and energy of his character, in the choice and execution of great measures for the renovation of the powers of his empire.

Immediately on coming to the throne, Selim declared an ardent inclination to follow the examples of the warlike princes of his race, and to take the command of his armies in person, which were struggling with various successes against the united powers of Austria and Russia. Nor did the superior tactics and skill of his enemies make him shrink from his purpose: strong opposition was, however, made, by every species of intrigue, against this resolution, by the Ulema, and the authorities which had been organized by his late predecessors. For a considerable time they were not able to move him. The Valide Sultana, sultana mother, and many of his confidential favourites, being persuaded, by certain reasons, of the danger and impolicy of his absenting himself from his capital so soon after his accession, undertook and succeeded to prevail

upon him to delay the execution of his intentions; and the variety of objects of a public nature which were planned, diverted him altogether from his martial purpose.

He never

The mildness and benignity of his manners in private, secured the attachment of those who were placed about him, by sentiments of affection for his person, rather than that awe which eastern monarchs generally aspire at He was himself at once ardent and steady in his affection for those who had merited his particular regard. His tender attachment to his mother and sisters, was an example of that exalted sentiment of human nature. failed to raise those whom he honoured with his esteem, to stations of high power, or important influence. Nor did this appear the effect of mere capricious partiality. The genius and abilities which many of his favourites have shewn, in the discharge of their offices, bear testimony to his discern ment of real merit. Witness his first favourite, Kutchuk-Hussein; who, from one of the haz oda, or gentlemen of the imperial household, he created capudan pacha, lord high admiral, and gave him the sultana, his cousin, with a large dowry, in marriage. We must refrain, through motives of prudence, from publishing, for the present, many other instances, whom we hope are still liv ing, of the soundness of Selim's judg ment in the choice of his favourites.

Selim's munificence was limited only by his means, which, although considerable, were far inadequate to satisfy his generous propensities. He ofteu rewarded the services of Europeans with his own hands. He was sometimes puzzled to find out novel and pleasing ways to testify his obligations to those who rendered him particular services. The gallant Nelson had been presented with an imperial egret, and other tokens of acknowledgment for the signal defeat of the French fleet at Aboukir. That immortal admiral, soon after, took two French frigates, in which he found many Turks lately made prisoners; these he treated as became himself, and sent them in a handsome manner to Constantinople. Selim was at a loss how to testify his gratitude; and, at the suggestion of Mr. Spencer Smith, at that time our minister at the Porte, he instituted the Order of the Crescent; which is a bril liant crescent set in relief, in a medal,

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