Mr. Morris to Mr. Seward.

No. 70.]

Sir: An event of no ordinary importance having recently taken place, I deem it my duty to make special mention of it. Last week the Sheik-ul-Islam, whose authority may he best represented by stating that he combines the powers of the Lord High Chancellor and Archbishop of Canterbury, was removed from office. The reasons assigned for this deposition render the occurrence the more remarkable.

As no law can be put in force until it has received the sanction of this dignitary, it is in his power to control the legislation of the empire. It appears that the late Sheik-ul-Islam was a mussulman of the strictest sect, and that he was a firm opponent of the reformatory measures of the government, which, for the sake of self-preservation, it has found it necessary to adopt. On several occasions he put his negative on important laws, as conflicting with the spirit and letter of the Koran. He was known, also, to be opposed to the schemes of the government with relation to the Vakouf property, having declared that he could never give his assent to the secularization of the ecclesiastical property known under this title.

As the appropriation of the Vakouf property to the uses of the state is of almost absolute necessity in its present condition of the treasury, the Sultan summarily dismissed the supreme judge of law and religion from office, and appointed another, who is expected to interpret the Koran in conformity with the liberal spirit of the age and the necessities of the government. Such an event at one time would have raised the Ulemas and the whole body of the Mohammedan priesthood against the government, and would have led to a revolution. Now it occurs without exciting any visible discontent.

The Vakouf represent property which is either held in the name of the mosques, or belongs to them as absolute property. For the sake of security individuals convey the titles of property to mosques, with the understanding, however, that the possession is to remain in the hands of the original owner, on condition of his paying a certain annual rent. The owner can make such disposition as he pleases of his property, subject to his contract with the mosque. He cannot be touched for his debts—it can be transmitted to his children, and it can be sold to another. The mosque pays to the owner a small sum as parchase money on the completion of the contract. It becomes the real owner only in case of the death of the original proprietor without children. In this way, however, a vast amount of property has fallen into the possession of the mosques, an amount of which no strictly accurate estimate exists, but which is said to surpass five hundred millions of dollars. This vast wealth, which now serves but few useful purposes, the government intends to appropriate to the general uses of the state—to road-making, to internal improvements, to the extinction of the public debt, &c., &c. To accomplish so desirable a purpose, the removal of the late Sheik-ul-Islam was a step of primary importance. We may soon look for an imperial decree in relation to the Vakouf properties, which will have a most important influence on the future fortunes of the empire.

The invitation of the Emperor Napoleon to the Sultan to unite in the proposed congress of European sovereigns, which at first was favorably regarded by the latter, seems recently to have excited his distrust. It is said that this has to be attributed to the fact that within a few days a despatch has been communicated to the Sultan showing that the Emperor intends to bring the question of Syria and the Principalities before the congress. As this may open the whole Turkish question, the Sultan is apprehensive that the integrity of the empire may be assailed in that body, and he has, therefore, become very reluctant to give his unqualified adhesion.

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Reliable advices received here represent that the Russian government is actually engaged in putting its Black Sea ports and adjacent localities in the best possible state of defence. Kertsch, on the straits leading to the Sea of Azof, is being converted into a fortress of even greater strength than Sevastapol. A force of 200,000 men is being massed along the frontier, from the Black sea to the Baltic, and the Turkish frontier is covered by such a large Russian force as already to have provoked a call for explanation from the Turkish government. All the signs prove that Russia is preparing for defensive war on a scale of the grandest magnitude. The general opinion here is, that we are on the eve of a great European war. This may be an unfounded apprehension; but the angry tone of intercourse that exists between leading powers on the Polish and Danish questions, and the difficulty of settling those questions peaceably, seem to give countenance to these fears.

The result of the recent elections in the United States has removed all doubts of the determination of the people of the free States to prosecute the war to the successful re-establishment of the Union. The splendid vindication they have given to the wise, humane and energetic action of the President and his cabinet affords one. peculiar gratification to notice.

With great respect, your obedient servant,

E. JOY MORRIS.

Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, &c., &c., &c.