Mr. Morris to Mr. Seward.
Sir:* * * * * * * *
I received by the steamer Venitian of last week the case of revolvers intended by the President of the United States as a present to his Highness Kibrisili Pacha, governor of Adrianople, in acknowledgment of his services in securing the punishment of the assassins of Rev. Mr. Merriam.
This most elegant gift, admirable alike for beauty of ornament and artistical finish, will be a source of great gratification to his Highness. They have this day been forwarded to him through Mr. Blunt, the English consul at Adrianople. I have requested him to present them in person to the Pacha, with an accompanying letter from me, as he was so honorably and intimately associated with him in his efforts to secure the ends of justice in this case.
The Porte has recently addressed to the different legations a note, in which it announces its intention to take under its exclusive charge the maritime postal [Page 380] service on the coasts of the empire, as it has done with the postal service of the interior. At present the coast mails are carried by French, Russian, Austrian, and Greek steamers, and distributed through their respective post offices. The land service is as well performed as it can be, where the roads are as insecure as they are in this country. I have replied to the above note in approbatory terms. A copy of my reply is enclosed.
Mustook Pacha, the protector of the assassin Kaleel, whom I caused to be removed from the Caimacamship of the district of Payas, where he has been the terror of the surrounding country for the last fifteen years, has been degraded from office. Beyazia Oglon Akmet Pacha, a man of entirely a different type of character, has been appointed his successor. Since the arrest of Mustook Pacha, his son, Dede Bey, has been engaged in acts of brigandage on the road between Alexandretta (Iskenderoon) and Adana, to such an extent that it has been found necessary to send a force of six hundred men against him. With his apprehension it is to be hoped that security may again be restored to that part of the country.
The insecurity of the roads has again received a striking illustration in the robbery of the Turkish land post, eight hours ‘distant only from the capital, on the route to Adrianople. Several of the guards were killed by volleys from an ambushed band of Greeks, who had landed in boats on the adjacent coast, and 3,000,000 of piastres were carried off. This occurred on Saturday last.
The government military school has recently been reorganized on a new basis, and transferred to a large edifice on the heights of Pera. This school is designed to prepare officers for the etat major and for the land forces. The course of study is five years for the former and four for the latter. The programme of studies embraces calligraphy, drawing, arithmetic, algebra, geometry, geography, chemistry, physics, mechanics, topography, the military sciences, engineering, fortifications, &c., history, the Persian, Arabic, and French languages, composition and syntax. There is also a preparatory school, in which instruction is given in arithmetic, algebra, geometry, geography, Persian and Arabic. At the last examination a few weeks since, which was held in presence of the Sultan, sixty pupils graduated with the rank of officers.
Among the notable features of the day of examination was the admission of thirty-five Christian students, taken from the Armenian, Catholic, Greek, and Bulgarian communities. On receiving these young pupils, the Sultan addressed them in the following terms:
“It has been my constant desire to establish a perfect equality among all classes of my subjects. I am happy on every occasion that presents itself to give practical effect to this principle, the application of which, according to the wants and capacities of the different populations of the empire, is destined to complete the scheme of its regeneration.”
On the part of the Christian pupils the following address was presented to the Sultan by one of their number:
“The Christian communities, subjects of the empire, in receiving to-day this new proof of the jealous solicitude of your Imperial Majesty, cannot refrain from expressing their gratitude for the same. In placing ourselves from this moment under the powerful protection of your Majesty, we promise to devote ourselves assiduously to our studies, so as to render ourselves worthy to serve under the banners of such an illustrious prince. May a gracious Providence bless the reign of your Majesty, and preserve your life for many years for the benefit of your subjects.”
I deem it my duty to take note of such movements as the above, indicative as they are of the growing spirit of tolerance of the Turkish government to its Christian subjects, and of its efforts to give them, with the mussulman population, a common interest in the preservation of the empire. The Sultan takes a lively interest in everything relating to the army and navy, and may almost [Page 381] daily be seen visiting the cannon foundry and military workshops of Tophane, the navy yard and the barracks, and in witnessing the military drills and manœuvres on the fields of exercise around the capital.
I have the honor to be, with great respect, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.