TURKISH RULE.
THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR.')
Sra,—From an Elzevir in my possession, entitled " Turcici Imperil Status," and published in 1630, I have gleaned almost at random the following statements, which, at the present time, are specially curious and interesting:—
Of the Governors :—" Qui in provincias abeunt, nullum in cogendo auro smvitise genus omittunt."
Of the Christians :—" Ni misers menus Christianorum agri culturam exerceret, incultas regiones barbarorum incuria relinqueret." " Apud Turcas, quia latissima3 regiones solitaries fiunt, et qui eas incolunt plus soli excolere nolunt quam quantum necessitati sum satin futurum sit, nempe scienter superfluum sibi a Tureis ablatum iri ; fertiles etiam campi remanent inculti et vepribus obsiti." " Christiania testibus in judicio nulls fides : Hebrmis parker. &rum centum unius Turcae testimonium non aequant." " .Nullibi Turcm in Europa tributum vel quicquam aliud pendunt onera cuncta penes Christianos aunt." " Si calamitates an injuries omnes, quas miseri patiuntur indigene Christiani, recensere vellem, aut tante rerum copia fatiscerem, aut dictis forte fides deficeret Jacet ingens an miseranda Christianorum colluvies, victu habituque foeda, non solum per 1 onginquos /Eke sinus, sed per Europam nobis conterminam nostrisque fere oculis subjectam Hi non domum, non agros, non pecudes, non uxorem, non flies, neu quicquam aliud proprium ant tutum habent, quin barbari cujuscunque injuries non sit expositum."
Of the Government generally:—" Florentissima olim Europe regna, Turcarum immani nunc mancipata jugo." " Quantum a centro vastm hujus monarchim circumferentiam versus receditur, tantum smvitim injurimque crescunt."
Page on page might be quoted of the same tenour. Enough has been given to show what Turkish rule meant 25() years ago, on the testimony of a German professor. Were the professor alive now to issue a new edition of his work, he would scarcely find it necessary to " reform " a single syllable. "Tempera mutantur : nos non mutamur in illis," is the damning boast of the Ottoman.—I am, Sir, &c.,
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