Excerpt from Constantinople and Its Environs, Vol. 1 of 2: In a Series of Letters, Exhibiting the Actual State of the Manners, Customs, and Habits of the Turks, Armenians, Jews, and Greeks, as Modified by the Policy of Sultan MahmoudThese successful attempts of the only despot of the age who has exerted himself in ameliorating the condi tion of his subjects, have already produced many and radical changes. Turkey is not what it was; nor are its habits and institutions what they once were. Great changes have taken, and are hourly taking, place, that will either result in a dismemberment of the empire, the deposition of Sultan Mahmoud, or the gradual resuscita tion of the remnants at least of this vast association of kingdoms. Thus the ancient accounts of the state of Turkey, its dress, manners, and habits, are gradually becoming obsolete, like the black-letter books of the middle ages. We require a picture of the Ottoman empire as it now is, not as it was five hundred years, or, indeed, fifty years ago. To receive our impressions from such accounts as have hitherto been strictly cor rect, would be somewhat like setting down contented with a description of the Mississippi Valley previous to the establishment of our independence.About the PublisherForgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books.

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