Transcriber’s note:
Two volumes of this book have been put together as a single volume.
The pages have been rearranged so that the text describing the illustrations follow immediately the illustrations. Captions of the illustrations have been used as Chapters’ headers.
The original spellings of Turkish names have been retained except where they are misleading, such as “Babu (Gate in Old Turkish) Humayun” for Baba (Father in Turkish) Humayun. Also consistency in these names have been sought by using the most frequent spelling of these names.
The erroneous statement by author about the emigration of Muhammad from Medina to Mecca has been corrected as from Mecca to Medina.
The the header "Sultan Selim’s Palace at Scutari" is replaced by the caption of the related illustration "Mosque of Sultan Selim at Scutari" as the illustration displays a mosque.
“Fisher, & Co. London, & Quai de l’Ecole, Paris.” line which is repeated in all captions has been omitted to avoid redundancy.
The cover image was created by the transcriber and is placed in the public domain.
ILLUSTRATED.
IN A SERIES OF DRAWINGS FROM NATURE
BY THOMAS ALLOM.
WITH
AN HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF CONSTANTINOPLE, AND DESCRIPTIONS OF THE PLATES,
BY THE REV. ROBERT WALSH, LL.D.
CHAPLAIN TO THE BRITISH EMBASSY AT THE OTTOMAN PORTE.
FIRST AND SECOND SERIES.
FISHER, SON, & CO.
NEWGATE ST., LONDON; & QUAI DE L’ECOLE, PARIS.
Nothing can form a stronger contrast in modern times, than Asiatic and European Turkey. Thefirst preserves its character unchanged−men and things still display the permanency of Orientalusages; and they are now as they have been, and will probably continue to be, for an indefiniteperiod.
Not so the second−Constantinople having for centuries exhibited the singular and extraordinaryspectacle of a Mahomedan town in a Christian region, and stood still while all about it were advancingin the march of improvement, has at length, as suddenly as unexpectedly, been roused from itsslumbering stupidity; the city and its inhabitants are daily undergoing a change as extraordinaryas unhoped for; and the present generation will see with astonishment, that revolution of usages andopinions, during a single life, which has not happened in any other country in revolving centuries.
The traveller who visited Constantinople ten years ago, saw the military a mere rabble, withoutorder or discipline, every soldier moving after his own manner, and clad and armed after his ownfashion; he now sees them formed into regular regiments, clothed in uniform, exercised in a systemof tactics, and as amenable to discipline as a corps of German infantry. He saw the Sultan, themodel of an Oriental despot, exhibited periodically to his subjects with gorgeous display; or tothe representatives of his brother sovereigns, gloomy and mysterious, in some dark recess of hisSeraglio: he now sees him daily, in European costume, in constant and familiar intercourse withall people−abroad, driving four-in-hand in a gay chariot, like a gentleman of Paris or London;and at home, receiving foreigners with the courtesies and usages of polished life. He formerlysaw his kiosks with wooden projecting balconies, having dismal windows that excluded light,and jalousies closed up from all spectators; he now sees him in a noble palace,