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    Britain , by Mr . H . B . Thomson , Barrister-at-Law ; a Manual of Mercantile Law , by Mr . Lkone Levi ; and Four Years at the Court of Henry VIIL , in tho form of selections from the despatches of Sebastian Guistinian , Venetian Ambassador at that monarch ' s court , translated by Mr . Ra . wdon Brown . Another " to be published shortly , " is A new Christmas Book , by Mr . Thackeray , who , by-the-by , it is said , meditates a second lecturing-tour in America as soon as his Newcomes is finished . In the somewhat vague category of " nearly ready , " we observe , The Fibrous Plants of India , fitted for Cordage , Clothing , and Paper , by Dr . Fobbes Royle ; the Literary Remains of Henry Fynes Clinton ; the Geography of Herodotus illustrated by ^ Modern Researches , by Mr . J . Talboys Wheeler ; the Traditions and

    Superstitions of the New Zealanders , by Mr . Edward Shortx « an : d ; a novel called Ethel , or the Double Error , by Marian James . Still farther in the distance , apparently , but announced as " preparing for publication . " or under some such head , are , Sir David Bbewster's new Life , Writings , and Discoveries of Sir Isaac Newton ; a collection of the Letters of John Calvin , edited by Dr . Jules Bonnet ; a new work by -the erratic , semimjthical Mr . George Borrow , entitled Romany Rye ( something , we suppose , in the romantic Gipsy vein ); two volumes of translations by the same anomalous personage—one called Songs of Europe , and consisting of translations from all European languages , the other Kcempe Viser , and consisting of legends from the Danish : a work on

    Polynesian Mythology , by Sir George Grey ; a . Note-look of Adventure in the TF ? & 7 s of Aiistralia , by Mr . W . Howitt ; a volume entitled Domestic Life during the Civil War , by Mr . He pworth Dixon ; a work with the similar title of Town Life of the- Restoration , by Mr . Beul ; a Hand-look for Young Ptainiers , by Mr . Leslie ; Mrs , Jameson ' s Common-place Book , - the concluding volume of Colonel Sabike ' s translation of Humboldt ' s Coswos ; a boot called Habits and Men , by Dr . Doran ; and one entitled Philosophy at the Foot of the Cross , by Mr . J . A . St . John . The public , anticipating advertisements , is expecting Mr . Macaujcat ' s new volumes of his History of

    England , the concluding volume of Mr . Grote ' s great History of Greece , and the third volume of Lord John Russell ' s most slovenly issue of the Memorials and Correspondence of Charles James Fox ; and Mr . Kate , fresh from the Life of Lord Metcctlfe , takes up a great subject in the Governors-General of India . Finally , ; new tales are understood to be in the loom from Mr-Charles Lever , Miss Jewsbttry , Mrs . Marsh , Mrs . Hvbback , and Mrs . Moodie ; new biographies to be in preparation by Mr . John Forster and Mr , Dewnistoun ;_ and new poems , by Mr . Alexander Smith and Mr . Sydney Yendys . Such , so far as we have information , are the literary prospects of the season .

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    Mr . Robert Chambers , of Edinburgh , has publicly protested against the manner in which the Biographical Dictionary of Eminent Scotsmen , ° which he edited twenty-two years for the Messrs . BLACxrE , of Glasgow , is being now reissued by that firm . The new edition of the work , it seems , is under the superintendence of other parties than Mr . Chambers ; and , as there have been some criticisms on the new work for its inaccuracy , Mr . Chambers thinks he is injured by the insufficient announcement , or the non-announcement , of that fact on the title-page . He also says , that had he been made aware that a revised reprint of the work was determined on , he would have claimed some right of interference , " as the original author .

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    volume , he bases a second volume , even more incoherent , composed of articles of his own , gathered from an extensive " cram , " respecting the present political , social , and commercial condition , of the Ottoman Empire . It is , thus , a book of unblushing and not very skilful book-making . But it has its merits . Ignor int of literary art and tact , and not possessing any profound insight into the historical politics of the " Eastern Question , " Sir George Larpent has at least the advantages , as a man of business , of knowing what the public wants : and it must be admitted that in this ungainly book is to be found the fullest statement to be obtained anywhere of those particulars respecting contemporary Turkey , of which it is desirable that at this moment England should be well informed . In short , it is the sort of book which woulcf be a splendid book—were it only edited . Without , therefore , attempting literary criticism , we make extracts which are serviceable as bringing into view the exact facts of the condition of the state for whose integrity and independence the heights of Alma and the fortresses of Sebastopol have been stormed .

    THE SOCIAL HIERARCHY . On the first establishment of the Ottoman Empire , democracy formed the basis of Mussulman society . Eventually , when Islamism had converted a sect into a state , the dogma of absolute equality , established by Muhammad and scrupulously maintained by the four first Chalifea , necessarily underwent some modifications ; the words of the Koramvere relied upon— "Oh , Mussulmans ! subject yourselves to God , the Prophets , and those among you . who are invested with authority , " in order to establish , not the principle of Divine right ( for the responsibility of the sovereign towards his subjects has constantly been admitted by all the sunnite nations ) , but the principle of authority , without which no government is possible . However , the former equality did not cease to exist , even , in fact ; and each of the subjects , at tta . e same time as it was allowed him , and even enforced , to call the Chief of the State to account for any transgressions of the laws , continued to exercise certain exorbitant lights inherent in his simple quality of Mussulman .

    Hence it follows that , contrary to the opinion received in Europe , there never existed in Turkey a nol ) ility , or privileged classes . On . one hand , the ecclesiastical society was not distinct from the religious ; on the other ^ the generally admitted view of the co-nstant . intervention of Deity in the slightest circumstances of life , not only among nations , but with individuals , rendered it impossible to establish an aristocracy enjoying hereditary rights or privileges . Among a people where a man was Only regarded as an , instrument in the hands of the Supreme Judge-, there could only be slight social differences , and honours were only bestowed for life , and were strictly personal . All commenced and ended , consequently , with , the individual . The empire alone was hereditary , State reasons authorising this departure from the precepts , of religion , and from common law . For this reason , the Imperial House is the only one in . Turkey which has a name , arid a direct and recognised dissent , if o other family is designated hy a peculiar name . Each individual receives , at the moment of his birth , a name which . descends to the grave with him . This name , either formed from an

    Arabic epithet , as Muhammad ( praised ) , Mustapha ( chosen ) , Abd-ul-lah ( servant of Qod ) , Abd-ul-Hamid ( servant of tlie revered God ) , Salyh ( honest ) , Khalil ( friend ); at other times derived from the Old or New Testament , as Ibrahim ( Abraham ) , Yussul ( Joseph ) , Jakoub ( Jaco 1 >) , Ismail ( Ishmael ) , Daoud ( David ) , Suleiman ( Solomon ) , Isa ( Jesus ) . These are ordinarily accompanied by a soubriquet , derived from some physical defect or quality , in order to distinguish him from others-bearing tb . e same name : Rutch . uk ( the little ) , Guenglu ( the squinter ) , Thopal ( the hunchback ) . At Rome , the names of Lentulus , Cicero , &c , had an analogous origin . Sometimes , also , these names are derived from the parentage , place of birth , or profession : Rescind Kutayi ( Rescind of Kirtahia ) , Mehemed Oglu Hassan ( Mehemed , son of Hassan )* &c . On other occasions , the profession of the father serves as a patronymic to his children , aa , Ibrahim Papoutchee Oglou ( Ibrahim , son of the slipper-maker ) , or simply Papoutchou Oglu . This , paucity of surnames , however , may lead at times to most unpleasant confusions , as the following anecdote we quote from Captain Slade will sufficiently prove . Tho gallant captain is describjjj ^ g tlio scenes which occurred in tho streets of Constantinople during the reign of jStfthmud , and the process by which the

    antireformers were " converted ; The accused , without warning or trial , vvherever they were found ( if in a public place , if not , in the nearest ) , were instantly beheaded . The proces-verbal-was simple : —Are you so-and-so , Hassan , or Achinct , or Zadik ?—True , I am Achmet ; what do you want?—We want your head ; kneel clown without disturbance . —Oil ! this is a . mistake ; you mca n that Achmet , or that : I aia not tho man . —You aro tho man ; we are looking for a certain Achmet with a long nose and largo eyes ; you have a long nose and largo eyes , and are called Achmet , therefore must bo tho man who . ia convicted of treason against our Lord . —1 protest this is a calumnious falsehood ; I pray you go elsewhere ; I am not tho man!—Hear tho blasphemer ! not content with conspiring against our Lord , he denies his guilt , instead of bowing at onco to our Lord ' s clemency ; kneel , -wretch!—By the I ? roph « t I by my father ' s beard , by my soul , I swear I am innocent ; this is a mistake . Thus saying falls his head . This exposure to an unpleasant equivoque , renders it fortunate , rathei than otherwise , for an Osmanli to liavo a personal defect which may obtain for him a surname ; as , for example , Solim One-oye , or Mustapha Crook-back , or Avai Clubfoot , is not liable to become a head shorter through a mistake .

    TURKEY—ITS HISTOHY AND PROGRESS . From , the Journals and Correspondence of Sir ' James Porter , Fifteen . Years Ambassador at Constantinople . Continued t » the Present Time . With a Memoir of Sir James Porter . By his Grandson , Sir George Larpent , Bart . - Hurst and Blackett , SirG-eohgb Labpewt , ex-city-member , and retired merchant , seems , on leaving business , to have discovered that lie had not sold off all his stockand is accordingly , in a plain mercantile way , bringing-all his " papers " into the market . Member of a family which during tlie last 100 years has been busy in in

    important posts commerce , politics , and the " services , " he appears to have become tho depositary of an enormous mass of manuscriptsmemoirs , and letters : and these he is engaged in diligently collecting and collating into books—a sort of literature " as per invoice . " He « did * last year a " Larpent , a relative , of course , who was a chief , of tho commissariat in the Peninsular war , and who left behind him a variety of anecdotes , which were good , of tho Duke of Wellington , Lord Hill , and others : and which , strung into connexion with an average old newspaper account of tho campaigns , constituted a pleasant , ( rossinpinjr , and . in inanv vn . snpr . fs vnr .

    useful book . . This year we have a book about Turkey—which comes about m tins manner . Iho maternal grandfather of Sir Georgo Larpent was ot , mcs f ° rtS , , ™ * y YQ ™ S the representative—half envoy , half consul—?\ « nS «« " * ftt Constantinople . This Sir James Porter , a person of huinblo Irish family , who crept into diplomacy as a useful man wlio know all about commerce at a period when our statesmen know nothing of it , and had never dreamed of a Board of Trade , seems to have boon of an acute character and observant disposition . Blessed with an inditferonco to ambition , pncl an easy fortune acquired ore he grew old , lie retired from diplomacy x » time to enjoy a learned and happy leisuro , which ho beguiled by recording all that he had learned and all that ho saw of tho Turks , and , generally , by writing his aneedotical rominisconces of his career , which diplomaticall y , commenced at Vienna when Maria Theresa had irrent difficultyin keeping off tho great Frederick . Those papers Sir Georgo Larpent now tlunka iti worth while to present to tho world : and Turkey being tho topio ot tlio day , upon those papers which ho cruahoa confusedly into one

    However , towards the cloao of tho last century , somo families were in existence among the Uloma who had retained patronymics , contrary to custom . Such were the three families , Darch Znde , Peri Zado , and Dninat Zad 6 , whoso descendants enjoyed tho additional and hereditary privilege of being admitted into tho body of the Ulema , without having takoa their degrees in tho Medreaae ' a . The Kiuprili , who handed down their mime to their descendants , also form an exception to the rule . There wora also » oin « exceptions to those rules in tlio Asiatic portion of the empire Here there ¦ wore certain privileged noblemen , called Derebfcys , which literally moans " Lords of tho Valleys . " They had submitted to Turkish rule on terniH , and held their districts by feudal tenure . One or two of these lords of tho vallcyx wore

    estimable men , and continued by inheritance u kind of horeditury excellence from father to son . The family of Kara Osman Oglu was long known in Amu Minor , and all travellers apeak of them an improvers of the country , and conferring a Mousing on tho district over which they presided . Tho rent were , like all the ofl ' wprin / f of mioh a Myatom , potty dcttpotH , abusing tho power conferred upon them by tlio ino . it cruol and arbitrary acts , which Unman nature always indulgoH in wlion it ) i « n perfect impunity , and is not reeponttibla to any tribunal but its own will . Sultan ]\ l « lnnu < l limited the authority of these independent vassals in a groat measure . JIo rendered them innoxious , by inviting tho most distinguitthod to Stuinboul , and appointed thorn to placoB of honour and profit .

    Thia forms nearly the . whole of tho aristocratic olomant which inakoa its appearance in the Ottoman tJaciaty j or , whenever it nu »< lo ilti « p |> oarwiico , ll »« nation and tho lmiims immediately united to combat it , tho former in tho name of tho equality written in tho Koran , the Imams in tho name of tlio Integrity of tho polltiua . 1 power . Thia circumstance mUHt not be omitted in tho oiuiinoratiou of the caution of tho groatncsB and dccudon < : o of Turkey . If , ou tho other haud , it coutributed , by the free course it

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    October 14 , 1854 . ] THE LEADER . 977

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), Oct. 14, 1854, page 977, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2060/page/17/