ONE D3ILAR PER ANNUM, INVARIABLY IN ADVANCE.
TOWAXDA:
PattttiMO tllornuin, fllatrl] 21, 1835.
rpruia "The Annual Gift,''—conducted by the Students
of the Susquehanna Collegiate Institute.[
ODE TO THE OCEAN.
Once 1 saw the lake of glittering glasfl,
When no dark wave did o'er its bosom pass:
When no fierce whirlwind tossed the green sea s foam,
And seamen sported on their briny home.
A happy summer morn ! the clear sunshine
In bright effulgence robed a world of crime :
The deep blue sky seemed like the sea below,
An arching vault, tinged with its ruddy glow.
No sullen clouds, (winged herald of the gale.)
Obscured a spot of that cerulean vale;
All nature sang her soft enchanting lay.
And light winged zephyrs languished in the play.
It was a sight too fair for clay-clogged man,
Peep dyed in sin, twice o'er in life to scan ;
Such happy scenes, arc for angelic view—
The choir with golden harps, the faithful few.
Full many a day. and many a live long night,
beneath the sun's rich glow, the moon's wan light,
I've sat me down upon-the rock-bound shore,
And heard with mad delight thy angry roar.
And seen thy warrior's charge in wild career,
The sunless foe. that knows no joy—no fear ;
Hat ne'er again have met that magic scene
Which rivals fancy in its wildest dream.
Ab> ! old Oceau, 'neath thy rolling wave,
Thv starless caverns seem one boundless grave ;
The ever trembling. deepVesounding surge.
Has oft times sung the sailor's funeral dirge ;
T!iv coral mounds, and weed-beseattered bed,
Have pillowed myriads of the sleeping dead.
And vet. Thou sweepest on in frantic play,
Scattering foam and tossing briny spray
V* wildly .is the prairie's Bison-king
T< ars up his native soil, and round hint flings
The crumbling earth. Thou heed'st not the cry,
That with the hoarse-toned storm goes wailing by,
-h.k* the fragile lurk, and deep despair
Ilri ..ihes forth her last sad strain in humble prayer,
Kntreatin-.r Neptune fierce, and heaven and hell,
T soothe thy rage and calm thy angry swell.
H' -vv cans't thou gleeful sport, while death's dire form
Rales o'er thy heaving bosom, mounts the storm,
Ride- his untiring steed through the contest dire,
N'or quits the field till all his foes expire ?
1 hear thee murm'ring now a soft sweet strain.
Falling as gently on the ear as drops of rain.
Or dew upon the thirsting flower. Wild notes,
s-'ft a> the zephyr, round the trav'lcr floats,
■..•.-piriiig -"ft repose-. So wave-rocked boy
K -get thy youthful car-s. thy dreams of joy.
-i.. on fair youth : thy bliss may only lie.
.'ubWcs bright dance o'er the seaman's -e.w ILI-li.
[From the Annual Gift.]
The European War.
ARTICLE I.
At the present time the attention of the civilized world
- directed towards the War in Europe. This contest pre
-w.t- many unusual circumstances, and indicates the re
nt irkaHe changes which a few years have given birth to.
Four or five hundred years ago. all Christian Europe was
arms against the Turk : now we behold two nations
that were then the most zealous against, in company and
alliance with, the same Turk, warring upon another Chris
tian government. as would seem to the superficial obser
ver, without any just reason. But we liave neither time
nor desire to enter into a long and elaliornte detail of the
different aspects of this contest; but we will briefly cou
sider a few of the main causes which have produced it :
Ist. Why Russia provoked the War ? 2d. Why England
and France united with the Sultan against IJu-sia"' and
.'■>!. Why there has Uwn such backwardness, on the part of
Austria, in forming an alliance with the Western powers '•
Russia, although possessing an immense territory, yet,
c inparatively speaking. has but few maritime advantage-.
This defeat has always been before' the eyes of Iter rulers,
and various expcilient* to remedy it have been resorted to.
i,t'u by force of arms and by negotiation. In the reigns
i f Catharine and Alexander, at a fearful expense of blood
and treasure, she succeeded in obtaining the supremacy of
the Black sea. But with this in her hands, a new olista
> piewnted it-elf in the Dardanelles and B"-phorus.
T it let- of the Black Sea. (which may !>e considered
t": • Ixi-in, into which is poured, through the navigable ri
■■*. Danube. Pneister and Don. the wealth and products
:' Austria and Rus-ia,) were and still are under the power
f the Moslems. In past time, the endeavors of Russia to
wrest this key of their commerce from the Turks, have stir
red up many long and bloody wars, and this we think has
beea the main incentive of the one now raging: however
vi. h tlie Czar may conceal it under pretence of freeing,
ind "jiening to the world, the Holy latnd. Nor is this by ,
say means impossible, for we can imagine an almost sim- j
.ar .a-e by -upjKi-iug tliat some hostile power held under j
it-j .ri—liot: >n the mouth of the Mississippi, it would in a j
m ::u nt 'early appear to all that we must drive them front
tion. Necessity wonld sternly call for imme
. .Ie a il.vn on oar part. The straits of the Dardanelles, j
'•ad :'-,e 80-phonts. are to the Russians what the mouth of
the Miss-.—ippi i- to ns.
2d. Why England and France entered irtto alliance with
'"-ultan. There i* one common cause which lias urged i
"be-e t - isTircrs t ■ this course—the desire and detynni- I
'n of nut oning the governments of Europe as they .
• v • \.-t. and t. a-'.ow no one power to increase at the j
:u r. t the danger of another. Rut besiiles this j
>r.e. jr. my other distinct and separate reasons in
—i them. Is-t ris ehince s moment at Great Britain.
ambition has ever longed for the supremacy of the
n And to the accomplishment of this end, all her
~ - ' energies and resources have Iven constantly devo
* F r many war* she lias observed with envy the ad
• - f Ru—i.i in commerce, mid lias irgwdrd with wisb
great expo rut ions of that Empire from the
■ >... The Czar, well aware of her enterprise and
' !• i- heretofore, in a manner, shut her out from
• • the-e exports. It wa.- with eagerness that Eng
- * opportunity aflbrded her. of humbling her
- real, crippling or raining her navy, and opentng
-r trade, the then to her inaccessible shores of that
" . gathered in its liosoni the products of the frult
-1 } "f the Dunulie. and the luxuriant productive
•- f s -.;;!><• rn Russia. And here we may remark,
■leis- U\ in subduing a country, the British fir-t
"■' - • lier with the bayonet; then the prie-t with
-ml '..istly. her crest subjugator, the veritable
nu-r '.ant. with hi* hale of calicoes- With those
< r.;ent- -he cast herself into the arena.
:, fferont can-es iqierated it: making Nspole- n
a. There was the desire of obtaining the
I land and ! y this to render himself more grateful to
'" ah .w-ipie. ®..-re was. by entering into this con
i rtunity of turning the observance of the sa
"'r 31 affairs at home, to the excitement of a foreign
- i'iicit-J -.y sjik-ndkl victories, (which he no doubt
the French would behold in him a second
Arid ihe ib.-ire of revenging uion Biis-U.lbc
-■ !hv d -icufull of Napoleon 1., set beforehim
-a st.iv:;,, tk.t he could not resist.
iis c. the reasons of England and France
I - - 'W tum to Austria.
•'■•*•-lute government. Au>trta has ever grcatlv
* ' - a" ' js w .;t apjear bva glance at
the map. Made of many little states in herself, and boun
ded on the south-west by Italy, a part of which she has
subjugated, on the north and east by Poland and Hunga
ry, and on the south-east by Turkey, she may be said to
le hemmed in by nations, hostile to her rule. Though by
force of arms she ha- conquered Italy, unhappy Poland
and Hungary, yet the liberty-loving inhabitants of those
nationalities unwillingly bear their servitude, and are rea
dy. at any propitious moment to throw it off. By the de
claration of war, Austria was placed in a dangerous and
intricate situation. On whatever side she gazed sheconld
only behold a gloomy future, fraught it might be with her
total destruction. Yet if an alliance with either side was
imperatively necessary, a union with the Western powers
seemed most advantageous, for a variety of reasons, a few
of which we will here enumerate.
If a rebellion should break out in her domiuions, it would
receive more assistance, especially in Hungary, from the
Western powers, than it would from Russia. For this lat
ter Empire had a great interest in the state of Hungary, a
part of it lieing under lier sway, and was therefore less
likely to foster and encourage a rebellion, which might re
coil on her own head. Again, Italy would be open forthe
entrance of the English and French, while the Czar could
not disturb her by that means—his navy not lieing suffi
ciently powerful to transport troops thither. But jn-rhaps
a stronger reason for this policy, was the desire of Austria
for preserving the different governments of Europe a* they
then existed. For should Turkey become a province of
the Czar, there was great danger that she herself would
next fall a victim. In any case, the increased strength of
Russia would tie a source of trouble to lier. Nor could it
'>etter her to have the Dardanelles in the hands of a go
vernment that would undoubtedly despise lier threats or
projects, than that the Turk, who trembles before her
should still continue to possess them. But if the-e rea
sons urged her to an alliance with tlie Western powers,
why was there so much delay in forming that alliance?
This is a difficult question, but we will endeavor to give it
a solution.
Recognizing that her interests lay with the latter na
tions, yet past favors inclined her to the side of Russia.
To the aid of this power she bad, in a measure, not only
owed the preservation of her government, but also what
ever extension to her empire she had made. In riveting
the bonds of tyrranny about her subjects, she had received
great aid from her whose people alike groaned under tlie
bondage of a despotic ami unlimited sovereignty. An al
liance with Russia for the reasons alsive stated, was, how
ever, not to lie thought of. And the only jiosition, by
which she might not provoke England and France, or act
ungratefully towards Russia, was that of a strict neutrali
ty, at least so long as the armies of the former should lie
successful. But if the tide of fortune turned against them
aud Russia proved victorious, then was the time to throw
all her mighty resources on the side of tlie Allies. For a
double result would be thus obtained : she would then lie
more warmly receive! by England and France, as coming
in their hour of need, and the aid which she would bring
would so augment their forces that Russia could not with
stand them. The subsequent course of eveuts confirms us
in this supposition. For it was not while the arms of the
Allies were victorious, bat when before the massive walls
of Sebastopol, their invincibility seemed passing
that Austria at length joined with them. Intensely selfish
and cursed by a series of tyrant rulers. Austria seems to
us the most contemptible and despicable of all the govern
ments of Europe. Nr has our esteem licen in any way
increased by the course she luts pursued in the pre.-cnt
war. A deadly foe .to human lilerty, she has desolated
ill-fated Hungary, and caused her sons to wander in exile
far from her plains, and drawn upon herself the curses of
every intelligent, liberty-loving being. And from her ear
liest history ha- been a draw-track and a hindrance to the
progress of Europe. And whatever may be tle result of
the present contest, we -Ismld rejoice if her throne should
crumble, and her name cease to pollute the pages of histo
ry. Hungary, then gathering her sons from every clime,
would once more le free. Immortal Italy, rising from
her present degradation, would then stand forth with that
freedom, which once rendered her chief city the Capital of
the world. E. T. E.
ARTICLE IT.
The great struggle for power, which is now agitating
Europe, present-; to the world one of the most remarkable
alliances ever presented in the pages of history—an alli
ance condemned alike hy the laws of God and man—an al
liance in which each of the belligerent powers ha-s a differ
ent object in view.
Ist. Tlie Emperor of Russia took forcible possession of
tlie D.uiubian provinces of Turkey, for the ostensible pur-
IMSS: of forming a Protectorate over tlie Greek Church, and
of pit-serving it from the persecutions of the priests of the
Mohamedan Church of Turkey.
2d. England, alleging that the Emperor Nicholas had
objects in view other than the one expressed, joined with
Turkey in a league against him. for the purpose of pro
tecting the Turkish population from the persecutions of
the Greek Church of Hus-i*. and also of " preserving the
balance of power in Europe."
3d. France joined the treaty on, nominally, the same
grounds as England.
These, as near as we can ascertain, are the ostensible
reasons for the war. The real ones, however, are deeper,
more concealed, and of infinitely more importance. Those
of the Czar are. we think, the most honorable, and the
ones in which all lovers of liWrty should sympathize.
The educated part of his population, is an enterprising
race, and under his government i- making rapid advance
ment in commercial aud maritime pursusts. Tlie only
outlets for his vt~—i-ls of commerce, are through tin* Cat-e
-gat, mnler command of the King of Denmark, and the
Bosphorns, commanded by the Sultan of Turkev. The for
mer is ice-bound during a part of the year, and is conse
quently not of much iinjiort-ineo in comparison with the
latter, which is only one mile wide, but ojx-n at all sea
sons.
The Ottoman Empire, the guardian of this latter point,
is now on the eve of dissolution, and its component part*
are- -win to divided amongst the different nationalities of
Enrope. The Bosphorns would then fall under the control
of some I lower stronger th.m Turkey, and ne which might
lie unfriendly towards Russia, and would re-fuse to allow
her vessel* to navigate tiie Channel, and so confine her
commerce entirely to the Cat-e-imt. Tiffs fart, long since
apparant to the Czar, determined bim in taking precau
tionary measures tor obtaining thi* command for himself,
when thi* important event should take place.
We think he is justifiable in taking this step : for why
has n >t he as good a right to the city of Constantinople as
other i*>wers. after it -hall liave passed laeyond the control
of it* present legitimate owner ?
The United States government ha* been earn ing on ne
gotiations fr the purpose of obtaining powewion of the
island of Cuba, hot failing in this, it is now secretly wink
ing at revolutionary umvi-meuts from this cooutry against
it. Who of us is there, who does not vii.-h success t.> tiil
enterpri-e. in order that we may hereafter he freed from
the repetition of snrh insults as the Black Warrior aflbir.
aud others of like nature ?
Yet t"uha i* not of half so much Importance to us. a* the
Bospliorus is to the Czar. Well then. how in jus the can
we blame him for using openly, to accomplt-ba great end.
the same nM-an* that we are secretly using, to promote a
much lessor one ?
Now granting that the whole object of the tYar i* to
obtain possession of the city of Constantinople, and that
of tbe Scltar is h> k*ep his territory invtolatc. let us p-.uvs
on to the consideration id the other characters in this
grand drama.
England has ever been the ally of despotism and oppres
sion. and never ha* scrupled to extend her possessions, at
anv cest of H'swi acJ honor- Her object ha* ever Iveii to
PUBLISHED EVERY SATURDAY AT TOWANDA, BRADFORD COUNTY, PA., BY E. O'MEARA GOODRICH.
acquire territory. It has been her Iwne, and will lx> the
cause of her destruction. This is her object in the present
contest.
Why then, it may be asked, did she not accept the of
fers of the Russian government, made to Lord Aberdeen,
some four years since, fr the entire absorption of the
Turkish Empire, by these two powers? We reply, first,
that the} - were not in a shape to suit her. The Czar re
quired on his part Constantinople and all European Tur
key, yielding to her the Asiastic dominions. This arrange
ment would give to the former au extended seatjoard in
the Mediterranean, and give his population a much great
er scope for improvement, so that under such a leader as
Nicholas, it may become a commercial and maritime peo
ple, rivalling even England herself.
Secondly, France nor Austria would either of them look
complacently on, and see these two powers obtain so much
territory, without desiring to have a share themselves ;
and the latter power would undoubtedly declare war, be
fore she would allow either of these two nations to acquire
territory, bordering for seven or eight hundred miles on
her own. Thus England must Like her second choice in
territory, and risk a war with France and Austria, which
at that time she was unable to carry on. and therefore she
was under the necessity of rcfu cog them.
But the Autocrat was not thus to be foiled in schemes,
by Eugland, and took the precautionary - measures for car
rying them out. And when perfidious England found that
if she wished to have a voice in the dismeml>crmeiit and
distribution of the Turkish Empire, nnd that she must try
otlier means than those proposed by the Czar, she conclu
ded to take up arms iu support of the Sultan, alleging as
her cause, the reasons above stated, viz : Ist That she
wished to preserve the Mussulman from the persecutions
of the Creek Church of llxssia. Do the Turks deserve the
pity and protection of any enlighted and Christian nation?
Do they not, rather, merit the execrations and curses of
all lovers of lllrerty, for their oppressions of the Creeks in
their struggle for liberty and independence, in the year
eighteen hundred and twenty-three? They are not of the
same religious faith as England : and the two governments
have but one sympathy in common—despotism and op
pression. Why then, should Protestant England form a
religious protectorate over Mahomcdan Turkey ?
What a grand religions array we find presented in this
conflict! First comes Mahomedan Turkey ; secondly Pro
testant England : thirdly Infidel and Catholic France ;
all combined against the Greek Church of Russia! it
needs but to mention these facts, to show the fallacy of
the chief cause that determined England in entering the
lists.
Secondly, she mu-t " preserve the balance /if power in
Any Aorua pocus way, by which she can pre
vent any other European nation from rivalling her in
power, wealth and supremacy, she calls " preserving the
balance of power."
Let us now pass on to the consideration of the other al
!y, and enquire why France, hitherto the ancient and in
veterate enemy of England, joined with her in that unholy
alliance ? The eveuts of tlie present century are almost
as fre-h in the minds of Louis Napoleon and his subjects,
as if they had hapjiened but yesterday. Well theu, liow
can they, iu the recollection of the murder of Napoleon
Bonaparte by the English, join with them against the Czar?
We think the question admits of a very easy solution :
Napoleon 111. has declared that " Waterloo and St.Helena
shall be avenged." Thi< was no idle boast; what he said
he meant, and will perform. He is a man of far greater
knowledge and experience, than the world gives him cre
dit for. He possesses a vast deal of energy and perseve
rance. But with these alone he was unable to avenge his
Uncle's murder. He must have fleets and armies, for
without them he could aecompli.-h nothing. But how could
he draft armies and fit out navies under the jealous eyes
of England, without attracting her attention ? And more
over. his undisciplined troops would ueed experience, be
fore they would 1* a'Ae to meet the veterans of England,
in a hand-to-hand conflii t. Opportunely for him. Russian
troops were marched into the provinces > T Turkey. Here
was a chance for him to meddle, and make a pretext lor
putting his forces upon a war footing.
With new and undisciplined troops, he knew that he
was unable to eojie single-handed with Russia, and there
fore called England to his aid. Previous to his declaring
war, however, previous events serve to justify us iu the
opinion, that a secret treaty was concluded between him
and Njch"las. by which these two monarch* were to harm
each other as Iff tie as possible ; but still to keep a show
of hostility. In confirmation of this opinion, we would cite
the following circumstances : Why. at the battles of Al
ma and KeHernann. did Russian marksmen aim almost
entirely at English officers, and single them out from the
French, while the latter were allowed to e-cape almost
without wounds? Again, win do we hear of no capture*
of Russian vessels, either in the Black Sea or the North
Pacific Ocean, bv the French ?
Why lias the French fleet, after eruLiiig lazily in the
Baltic in the summer, now ret uracil to winter quarters in
the Channel? Why has Luffs N.poleon been collecting
a force of one hundred thousand armed men at Bonlotrnr,
and otlier place* on hi* northern frontier? If these latter
were for transportation to the Crimea, why not embark
them at some of hi* southern ports, and avoid a l->r.g voy
age around Gibraltar ?
To us these fact* lm"e but one explanation : France is
meditating a descent upon England, and at the opening
of the spring campaign she will transport lier troop* thi
ther. to fight lier battle's on the " inviolate soil " of Eng
land : aye. within the boundaries of her metro pedis itself.
But. it may l>e alleged, she is paying dearly for her expe
rience, by the destruction and I"** of lier troop* in the
Crimea. Granted; lmt she must purchase this experience
at some cost : why not in those, where reverses would iu
flict as little injury apon her. as any where el*e?
Having tints disposed of the most prominent characters,
let n* now turn to those of lesser Importance. Austria has
long leen wavering lietween neutrality and joining with
the allies ; but finally, by the treaty of lbs ember 2d, lias
united her destinies with the Western Powers, upon the
guarantee that they -toil' preserve her territories free from
foreign invasion and civil insurrection.
We would like to u*k what lias she to gain hy the war,
in the event of the allies proving victorious? She may
perhaps get a small siiee of Turkey (for. by all the infor
mation we can gather. Turkey seem* to is- doomed to dis
memberment. no matter which party i* triumphant) and
aid in preventing " the extension of Russian sway." which
is declared to be " detrimental to the ca';*e of European
Sovereignty." But such an event cannot take place *o
long as the present Emperor live*, a* we shall endeavort >
demonstrate. Ignorance goe* hand in hand with despot
ism. and rtre rcj-so. for d.--poti*.n cannot exist among an
intelligent and enlightened community, it i* con .*h-<i ou
all hand*, that tin ]*q>n!atiou of the Russian Empire i*
the most IcTu-rint of al! Enrols-. The consequence is. that
it is the mo.-t loyal, and the h-a*C likely to Is- iaciu-d to
revolt and insurrection. Therefore the Czar h-i* u -thing
to fear from hi* people : and with an array of seventeen
liundrcil ami Sftv tin n*snd men. he oin prevent any *cri
ous invasion of his Urrilories : and also, under expt ne.ie
ed Gencnls. it might nwn h on to Vienna and compel
Francis .Ic*eph to sue for peace- An invading ami)
could make lt little progress in overtorning his aathori
tv. Bon.ijurtc demonstrated thi* in hi* winter cam p.? inn
of I*l2. The Engli-'h are doing the sw- now at Rehosbv
pot. Experience has ftilly sliown tluit the uuacclinuteii
soldier can not endure the severities of tin climate ; tliere
tore he cannot accomplish much. For a *hort time, indeed.
Nicholas may he worded on his frontiers, but in the end
he will keep his soil free from the invader.
Tun* the chances of Austria for acquiring p.*****-!"!:*,
are tnior indeed. And new let us wnsider what *be would
bvse by such a cour-*. As si-> as the treatv N-twe. n her
and tin kllks j toaißv ntitiol. Mat tan - *sd w.l! in
" REGARDLESS OF DENUNCIATION FROM ANY QUARTER.
iloubtedly be distributed among Kossuth. Mazzini. la-dru
liollin and other revolutionists, who are ever on the watch
to grasp at any chance by which they can gratify their
ambition. This being done, Hungary, Lombardy, and
Venice will soon be in a state of revolt; and as Austria
was unable to conquer Hungary in lbts, it will lie barek
possible for her to do so when that [>ower shall lie aided
bv the Italian States.
Thertfore slie will hnve to lose those <leien;leiH-ies, or
seek foreign assLtance. France ami England, according
to the term* of the treaty, will owe her aid ; hut France
will 1 too much occupied with her intended assault upon
England to pay much attention to her promises, with al
most any power ; hut much less with Austria, who wa*
one of tlie four grand conspirators that aided iu overthrow
ing Napoleon Bonaparte.
England would next Is- called upon, hut she is too far
removed from the scene of conflict to render timely aid ;
aud moreover, she might need her armies to fight on her
own " inviolate soil." So that Before Austria can procure
the means of putting down tlie rebellion, it will te lieyond
lier control. Thus in any event, in joining with the Allies,
she will play a losing game.
2nd. It is evident that she could not remain neutral, and
that she would inevitably IK? drawn into the struggle by
* uue means or other. At the commencement of the spring
campaign, England, for the purpose of annoying Russia,
will undoubtedly follow the advice of Kossuth, and throw
her armies into Poland, at the same time calling the peas
antry to arms, and also indirectly assisting the Hunga
rians. Louis Napoleon remembering Waterloo, will not
object to helping them. Thus the provinces will inevita
bly be in revolt, and *he can call ujion no Russia as a de
fender of lier sovereignty.
Her best policy then, would be, in an alliance with Rus
sia, having as much to gain from her.as from the Western
Powers, and nothing to lose. If England should attempt
to invade her provinces, it would only precipitate the
movements of Napoleon towards England, and the Queen
would be compelled to recall her armies to her own shores,
and leave the llii- -ian Fnqicror without an opjwnent. He
could then afford to render a helping hand to Austria to
quell whatever insurrection may be raised.
But o iitrary tu our anticipations, she ha* ratified the
treaty with the Western Powers, and consequently the
seat of war will be removed to the interior of Europe,
which is soon destined to be agitated 1-eneath the rush of
of - contending armies;" and, as during the life of Bona
parte, Germany, Russia, Prussia, Italy and France will all
furnish their battle fields. But who can tell where the
Waterloo will he ? or how many millions shall pour out
their life blood to gratify the insatiable ambition of despot
ic rulers.
Since the war must lie, we may lie permitted to hope,
from the midst of the roius of crumbling and over
turned empires, to *i-e the Frenchman once more glorying
in independence,—the Magyar freed from the cruel despot
ism of the Au.-itrian,—the lire* of Liberty once more gleam
ing D|M>n tlie watch towers of Poland, and the inhabitants
of the •• Eternal City" rejoicing in the rights of freemen I
G. P. C.
Demetrius tha Diver.
There are no bygones that have trreater need
to lie bygones than those of wickedness, vio
lence and cruelty. The bhxx] and dust that
besmear some pages of history might glue the
pages together for ever. Yet from time to
time necessities will occur that leaves us no
choice but to open the old grave, to turn to
the old dark register ; to unlock the old, dark,
grim skeleton closet, to turn the retrospective
glass towards the bad bold days that are gone.
We are at present the allies—and worthily
so—of the Turks. A brave people, patient,
highminded. slow to anger, terrible yet magna
nimous in their wrath. Yet while we acknowl
edge and respect all the good qualities possess
ed by this valiant nation, it is impossible to for
get that thv Turk has not always been the
complacent Pacha in a European frock-coat and
a sealing-wax cap and a blue tassel, w ho writes
sensible, straight forward state paper*, reviews
Eu; o; a i troop*, <io s not object to a quiet glass
of Champagne, and regales English newsjia
per eorresjiondents with coffee and pipes. Nor
is he always the sententious, phlegmatic, ta
citurn. Osmanli who, shawled and tnrbaued,
sits cross-legged ujion the divan of meditation,
smoking the pip-? of reflectiveuess, who counts
his beads and .-ay* his prayers five times a-day,
and enjoys his kef ; aud who, as to wars and
rumors of wars, fire, famine, j>estilenee and
.-daughter, says but ; " Allah-akbar"—God is
great.
There arc men in London whom we meet
aud converse with in our daily walks, who can
rememlier the horrible massacre of Scio, in the
year of salvation eighteen hundred and twenty
two. We hail just begun, through the edifying
eolv-web siiinuiiig of diplomacy, the passionate
poetry of Lord Byron and the crude (because
badly informed i intelligence of the English
press to understand that there was something
Hetween the Greeks and the Turks in the Mo
rea, the Peloj ouii'-susaiulthe Archipelatro, and
that the former were not, on the whole, quite
rightly used. We were just going to see about
forming an opinion on these and otlier matters
when the news of the massacre of Sieo burst
ujion us lik' a thunder-clap. Gloomily and suc
cinctly the frightful news was told ns how the
terrible Kara Aii—or the Bia-k Pacha had
apjcured with a fleet and an army in the liar
lor of Seio, then one of the fairest, jieaeefit!
lest, most prosjvroiis. most densely populated
islmtils in the Gerric<'Turkish Arehielago,and
that all that all peaceful rayahs, gold and
purple hart est, university, commerce, wealth
—had iu three days disapjeared.
Tiie si cry of Hit? tna. *atTo of Scio has never
been fully ilil in England : and ttnly in so far
as it alTivt* my story am I called ujxvn to ail
vert to it lu re. Besides, no tonguee<uild tell,
no tien des<Til>e. in household language, a tithe
of the atrocities ju-rju-trated in the defeiitvles*
island by ortier ot the Black I'aeha. Suffiec
it to say that for three days Seio was drowticil
in hhuid ; that the dwellings of the Eurojiean
consuls were no asylum; that the sword* of
Osmaulis muniered alike the white-headed
jiatriareh, the }>riest ul tlie family, the imrsing
moilier, the bride of yi.*ter4<y. the bride of
that to-morrow wliieh was never to come to
her, the tender stickling and the child that was
unborn.. L"pwarls of eighteen tliousand JHT
sons were massaeriti in cold !<lool; and the
blackened ruins of Seio leeat;ie a haliitation
for bats ami dragons, howling dogs aud wheel
ing birds of prev.
Some few miserable soul* esrapnl the ven
geance ot Karait Faeha There is a Greek ep
rlesiastie now iii London, who was hidden hy
his mother in a cave during the massacre and
brofight away unhurt WIM-U the fury of HK*
iuvader* I".-, ;'.ii through la*.-itud". 'ocool, rho\
selected such boys and young girls us they < ould
find alive, and sent tlieiu tube sold in the slave
market at Constantinople. Then, when they
had left the wretched island itself, half-fumish
cd wretches began to-crawl out of holes and
thickets and ditches, where they had hidden
themselves. They saw the charred and smoul
dering remnants of what had been Scio; but
they abode not by them. In an agony of fear,
lest the murderers should return, they made
the best of their way across the seas to the
other islands—to the inaccessible haunts on
the main land. Those who had the means took
refuge on the French and Italian shores of the
Mediterranean.
There is a sultry city which, if you were
minded to go to it over land, you could have
reached in those days by dilligenee, as you can
reach it in these by a commodious railway from
Paris ; but to attain which by sea you must
cross the stormy Pay of Biscay and, pass the
rocky Straits of Gibraltar, and coast along the
tideless sea in sight of the coast of Africa.—
To this great mart of Southern commerce, with
its deep blue sky, its slack-baked houses, its
orange trees, black-eyed, brown-skinned chil
dren, and crowded port, where floats the stran
gest medley of ships, and on the quays of which
walk the most astonishing variety of costumes
that ever yon saw—to the city of Marseilles
iu France, came many of those refugee Greeks,
some from Seio, some from the Morea, some
from Candia, many from the Fanal of Fanar
of Constantinople—which had also had its
massacre—some from the interior of Anatolia
and Iloumelta. There were Greek gentlemen
and their families, who could never coagratu
late themselves sufficiently on having saved
their heads and their piastres ; there were mer
chants quite stripped and bankrupt, who never
theless, the true Grecian maimer, began afresh,
trading and making money with admirable as
siduity, and perseverance. And above all there
were jioor rayahs, who had been caik-jees, cof
fee-house waiters, portefaix, at home —who had
lost their little all, and had nothing but their
manual labor to depend ujx>n, and who were
glad to carry burdens, and run messages, and
help to load and unload tlie ships in the jiort
of Marseilles.
Among those was one Demetri Oniogres.—
None knew much about his, save that he was
a Sciote, and had escaped after the massacre :
that he was quite alone, and very joor. lie
was fortunate enough to JKISSCSS a somewhat
rare accomplishment, which made his earnings,
although precarious, considerable more remu
nerative than those of his fellow-countrvmen oc
cupying the station to which he appeared to
belong. Demotri Omeros was a most expert
swimmer and diver. Had Demetri Omeros
lived in our days he would have been a profes
sor to a certainty ; the walls have been cover
ed with posting bill aud wood cuts jwirtrayiug
his achievements; and he would have had a
convenient exhibition room, and a sliding scale
of prices for his entertainment. In eighteen
twenty-three he contented himself with an ex
hibition of his talents in the o}en jiort of Mar
seilles, and was satisfied with the stray francs,
half francs, copper sous and Hards flung to him
when he emerged from the water, all soaked
and dripping like a Newfoundland dog. He
thus managed to lead a sufficiently easy, loung
ing. idle life ; splashing, swimming and diving
sometimes for sheer amusement ; at • others,
basking in the genial sun with such profound
indolence that had you not known him to be a
Sciote, yon would have taken him for a genu
ine lazzaroue of the Quai Santa Lucia. De
metri was some thirty years old, tall, magnifi
cently proportioned, with a bronzed counte
nance, wavy black hair and sparkling black
eyes. His attire was exceedingly simple, be
ing ordinarily limited to a shirt, red-and white
strijH'd trowscrs, secured around the waist bv
a silken sash, and a small Greek turbouch on
his bead : ornamented with a tarnished gold
tassel. Shoes and stockings he despised as ef
feminate luxuries. He was perfectly contented
with his modest fare of grajt's, melons, brown
bread, garlic aud sour wine. House rent cost
bim nothing, as one of the Greek merchants
settled at Marseilles alio wet I him to sleep in
his warehouse, like a sjvecies of watch-dog.—
When the weather was fine, he swam and div
ed and dried himself in the sun : when it was
foul, he coiled himself into a ball aud went to
sleep.
In the year 1*24 it occurred to the Turkish
government considerably to strengthen their
navy. There was an arsenal and dockyard at
Constantinople then, as there is now ; but the
Ottomans did not know much ahout ship-build
ing. and in the absence of any material guar
antee for the safety of their heads, European
artists were rather chary of enlisting in the
service of the Padishah. So,"as the shipwright*
wouldn't go to Sultan Mahnioml, Sultan Mali
mood condescended to go the shipwrights; that
is to say. he sent an KtTeiidi attached to .the
department of Marine to Marseilles, with full
power* to have constructed four frigates by
the ship builders of that jurt. A* the French
government had not lieguu to interest itsch
one way or another i tit he eastern question, and
a* the shipbuilder s of Marseille* did not care
one copper centime whether the Turks Uat
the Greeks, or the Greeks the Turks, and more
than all this, as the Fffeudi from Stand on!
had carto-hlnnclie in the money depart!) cut.
and paid for each frigate in advance, thev set
about building the four frigates with a hast\
gt>od will, and by the spring of 1 two of
them were ready for launching.
It was observed by the French woik aon that
Dvinetrin.* the JHver appc: red to take vety
great interest in the process of *hip building.
Day after day he would come into the slip
where the frigates where lieing constructed,
and *iuing up on a pile of plank.*, would re
main there for hours. Othe r<* • rocks would
come occasionally, and launch forth into fierce
invectives against the Turks, and again.- 1 the
French too, for lending their hands to the con
struction of shijis which were to he employed
against the Christians. Iu these- tirades De
iuetrin.* the Diver seldom, if ever, joined. He
was a man of few words, and he sat upou the
planks ami looked at the workmen, their tools,
and their work. Nolxxly took much notice of
hint except to thiuw- Luu a ft* oa* oceasiou-
vol.. XV. — \(). 41.
ally, or to say what :i lazy, skulking fellow he
was.
At length the day arrived which was fixed
for the launch of the first frigate, the Sultani
Bahri. Half Marseilles was present. The
sub-prefect was there— not officially, hut ofliei
ou.sly (whatever that subtle distinction may be.)
Crowds of beautiful ladies, as beautifullv dress
ed, were in the tribunes round the sides"of the
slip; the Sultani Bahri was dressed out with
flags, and aboard her was the great Eftendi
himself, with his secretary, his interpreter, his
pipe-bearer, and the amateur, or ship builder.
The sight of a ship launch is to the full as
exciting as any race. The heart beats time to
the clicking of the hammers that are knocking
the last impediments away, and when the mighty
mass begins to move the spectator is in a tre
mor of doubt, and hope and fear. When the
ship rights herself, and indeed walks the wa
, ter like a thing of life, the excitement is tre
mendous; he must shout, he must congratulate
himself, his next neighbor, everybody, upon the
successful completion of the work.
Now, everything had been looked to, thought
of, prepared for, the triumphant launch of the
Sultani Bahri. The only obstacles between
her and the waters were certain pieces of wood,
technically called in England (I know not what
their French name may be) doghorses, and
these were being knocked away by the master
shipwright. This oj>eration, I may remark,
was formerly considered so dangerous, fltat in
the royal dockyards it was undertaken by con
victs, who obtained their liberty if theynccom
' plished their task without accident. Just as
j the first stroke of the hammer became audible,
Demetrius the Diver, who had hitherto beeu
concealed among the crowd, plunged into the
water, and swam right across the track that
the frigate would probably take on its release
from the slip. A cry of horror burst from thu
crowd as he swam directly towards the ship's
stem, for the vessel had lieguu to move, and
j every one expected the rash diver to be crush
icd or drowned. But, when he was within a
few feet of the frigate, Demetrius the Diver
threw up his arms, held them aloft for a mo
ment in a menacing manner, then quietly sub
sided oil to his back, and floated away with the
tide. The Sultani Bahri slid down her ways
to a considerable extent, she was even partial
ly in the water, but -lie walked it by no means
like a thing of life, for her stern liegau to set
tle down, and if the truth must be told, the new
frigate of his Imjterial Highness the Sultau
stuck in the mud.
They tried to screw hc-r olf, to weigh her off,
to lioat heroff, but in vain. When a shipstieks
in launching, there is frequently no resource
but to pull her to pieces where she sticks, and
this seemed to lie the most probable fate in
-tore for the Sultaui Bahri. The Eifeudi was
in a fury. The shipbuilder was disconsolate ;
but the Frenchman only ascribed the misadven
ture to the cTr.rasUiness of his -hipwright, where
as the Moslem, superstitious like the majority
| of his eo religionists, vowed that the failure w as
solely owning to the evil eye of the fliaour di
ver. Demetrius Oinoros. Had the Effendi been
in his own land, a very short and summary pro
cess would have preserved all ship
launches from the troublesome presence of De
metriu- Omeros and his evil eye : but at Mar
seilles, in the department of the Bouches due
Rhone, the decapitation, lK>wstringing,ordrown
| ing, of even a rayah was not to lie thought of.
So, the Effendi was obliged toJa* satisfied with
j giving the strictest orders for Demetri's exclu
sion from the .shipbuilder's yard in future ; and
after a delay of some months the second frigate
(the first was rotting in the mini) was ready
for launching.
Anxiety was depicted on the Effendi's face
as he broke a bottle of sherbet ever the bows
of the frigate, and named her the Aehiuedic.
Immediately afterwards a cry burst from the
crowd of " Demetri! Demetri the Diver I" and
rushing along the platform which ran round the
vessel, the Effcndi could descry the accursed
diver holding up his arms as before, and doubt
less blighting the onward progress of the Aeh
medic with his evil eye.
Evil or not, a precisely similar disaster over
took the second frigate, and the launch was a
lamentable failure. Tiie shipbuilder was in de
spair. The Effendi went home to his hotel,
cursing, and was altout administering the basti
nado to his whole liousehold as a relief to his
feelings, when his interpreter, a shrewd tireek,
one Yanui, ventured to |Hur tlie balm ol ad
viee into the ear of indignation.
" KtTeiiili." he s.tid. " that diver is doubtless
a cunning man, a magician, and by his spells
and incantations has arrested the ships of my
lord the Dadisha whom Allah preserve in their
progress ? But he is a rayah. and a tireek. and
a rogue of course. la-t my lord the Effendi
brib him. ami .he v. !I remove hi spells "
" VII'J are ail dog- ami IMLS of dog ."
answered the Effendi. graciously, "but out of
your month, devoted to the slimier. Vaniii,
conies much wi dom. Si nd for this issue of a
mangy pig. this diver with the evil eye."
Demetri was sent for, and in due time made
his appearance, not so much as salaaming to
the Etfcndt, >i own removing his hat The
etivov of tie Sultan was . orely tempted to
begin the interview by addres-iug hintsoH
through the intermediation m .1 bamboo totho
sole- of the diver's feet ; lint fear of the sub
perfect and hi- gendarms. and indeed. of the
m gieid powers of the diwr himadt" prevented
hi til
'* IVg and slave !" he --aid. poltfelv, ' dog
tel. .voijld •et •• tlm out of the shop ol :
Jew Is.teiur. wh. reiore hast thou lcwiti-h<d
tiie -hip- oi oui lord and t'aliph the Sultau
Mahmoud f"
" 1 am sot come here to swallow dirt,
answered 1 lie diver eooly, "and it oir wools
are for d<gs. iqicn tin- window ,nd tnro>\ tlwin
out. If you want .oiytiiiu. with a in nt wlio,
in Krangistan is a- as au Liit-udi, -lute
your wishes"
Tlte ships, lave the shijis 1"
"The first two stuck in the mud," aid the
lirvek : "and the third ; with the blevungs ••!
Heaven and St George of Guppadisha. wilino
m >re float than a camion ball."
" You lie, dog, you lie 1" said the ElVendt
• TB v c.i whs !i . Eff- uni." au.-wcr.-d Den.:-