doning the siege, when this last expedient occurred to their enterprising commander.

A deep valley sets up from the Bosphorus, separated by another which opens up from the harbor, by the narrow peninsular swell of Pera. In one night, by the treacherous aid of the Genoese sailors, who occu pied this suburb, the Turkish fleet was dragged from the head of the flooded ravine over the intervening ridge, and in the morning, to the utter consternation of the Greeks, was found floating before the most defenceless part of their capital.

An advantageous position had at the same time been assumed by Mahomet, with his land forces, in front of that portion of the metropolis which rests on the base of the triangular promontory. Thus assailed from field and flood, the unequal forces of Constantine had no resource but to follow his devoted example, and die in the desperate breach.

Yet when we consider the extent and resources of the Roman empire, its skill and power in arms, we are astonished at this easy conquest of its capital by a tribe of wandering adventurers, issuing in ignorance and fanaticism from the most obscure recesses of Asia. But we should remember, in our estimate of valor and means of defence, the natural effects of that fatal mistake which Constantine committed in transferring the capital of his dominions to this distant, though beautiful position. It was like taking the heart from the centre of the human system, and locating it in

one of the extremities. The whole empire felt this disastrous removal of its vital functions, and in its bewildering faintness gave an ominous token of its. final decay and ruin.

It should be recollected, too, that those who fought under the banner of the Cross, in this last defence of Constantinople, were contending with foes who not only outnumbered them three to one, but who were flushed with an uninterrupted succession of victories, and who, whether perishing on the field, or triumphing in the conflict, were expecting heaven as the meed of their reckless valor.

When, therefore, we consider the discouraging and deserted condition of the Christians, and the overwhelming force of their beleaguering enemy, we may well admire the resistance which they actually offered; we may stand with reverence and tears over the spot where Constantine took his last stand, determined not to survive the liberty and happiness of his people. Long may the tree flourish that stands where he fell, a fresh and green memorial of a patriotism and piety which none can remember too long, or admire too ardently.

Proceeding on to the quay of Galata, we took three or four of the thousand boats that lightly skim its waves, and passed over to the city of the "Faithful." Our landing was close to the imperial Kiosk, covered with an immense field of green cloth, which descends quite down the white walls, terminating in a scalloped

and gilded outline. In the faint light, which struggles through a partial screen into the pavilion, we were shown the silver sofa on which the Sultan sits, when taking leave of the Grand Vizier, at his departure with the army on some eventful expedition. It was concealed under a rich covering of damask, which the guard raised with the cautious and solemn look of one who is about to disclose a slumbering earthquake. There was a time when its terrors blanched nations with dread, but now it is like a cloud that has spent its thunder; still the dream of its vanished power will long remain to haunt the repose of tributary princes.

Passing on, we reached the gate of the Seraglio, surmounted by a bold, massive arch, with an Arabic inscription on the deep chord, and having on each side a well-disposed niche, where no statues were seen, but where death and beauty ought to be personified. This heavy gate, or porte, from which the Ottoman empire receives its name, was guarded by forty or fifty porters, armed with white wands, who, after being informed by our cabash that we had come from the New World, allowed us to pass a permission suggested, apparently, as much by their own curiosity as a spirit of indulgence to ours.

In this extensive inclosure we passed hundreds pursuing their assigned duties in the most guarded silence. They appeared to be familiar with the spot, yet to be overawed by some mysterious dread.

We

observed here a long range of infirmaries for the sick and aged domestics of the royal palace, that would have done credit to the humanity of any Christian prince.

Continuing on, we came to the second gate, guarded like the first, but with a more scrupulous vigilance. We should in vain have requested admission, but the Sultan, with his harem, being at the Beylerbeg Castle, a few miles up the Bosphorus, a small present to the guard enabled us to pass. We found, on this occasion, what we experienced on every other, when under the necessity of resorting to the experiment, that in the Turkish police any individual, from the intendant down to the humblest menial, may be bribed whenever he may consider his head tolerably safe in his breach of trust.

The second court, into which we now entered, presented a square area of two hundred paces, tastefully laid out in green plats, intersected by narrow paved paths, and refreshened by the shade of clustering trees, among which marble founts were casting around their sparkling showers. Near the Grand Seignior's treasury, which stands, like a proud self-relying spirit, lofty and alone, we were shown a gloomy fountain, where were formerly cut off the heads of Bashaws sentenced to death; a quick ceremony, of very frequent occurrence, and intimated to the public only by the discharge of a cannon. The Turks pave no public executions; the sentence and its mor

tal pngs come like the secret spring of the serpent from the brake.

At the end of this court, which is surrounded by arcades, supported by marble pillars, towered, in a confusion of gorgeous and imposing architecture, the palace of the Sultan. It has attained its present discordant form and massive dimensions from the varying tastes and vanity of the different princes who have reigned here, each constructing some new ambitious appendage, till the proportions of the original can neither be sketched nor conjectured. It is sufficiently ample to meet the demands of the most sumptuous court in the world, and, if its splendor equalled its magnitude, it would be an object of high admiration. As it is, its galleries, balconies, belvideres, and clustering domes, surmounted with gilded crescents, have a fine effect; and the whole mass, though without the advantages of symmetry, appears not unworthy of the pomp and power which belong to the great Oriental monarch.

Here each Sultana reigns over her separate establishment with the brilliancy and authority of a queen. Of these there are seven, and each is surrounded by a blooming circle of fifty or sixty odalisques, in which may be found the full beauty of the Byzantine, the soft graces of the Circassian, and the richer charms of the Georgian. These are the concubines of the Sultan, and share his amatory favors with their imperial mistresses. These frequently rise to the dig