Gazette Of The United States

By a Jewish merchant arrived here from Constantinople we learn that Sultan Selim has put himself at the head of a numerous army, who, proud of their commander, and animated by a religious and patriotic fervor, unknown for many years to the Mussulmen armies, are preparing to pour on the Russians with a fury which they will not easily resist. Before the Sultan took the command of the troops, he convened the Divan (privy council) and addressed them to this effect:—

"My fathers," (said he) have been accustomed to deposit in the Haffney (a treasure under ground) whatever sums remain after defraying the yearly expenses of the State. This immense treasure accumulating for many prosperous centuries, and hitherto untouched, was not certainly intended by our wise ancestors to remain buried under ground, but was rather hoarded up as a great and effectual resource against the day of adversity— against dangers such as those which now threaten the religion and the empire of the Mussulmen."

The Divan assented to their young Sultan. The Haffney, for the first time, was exposed to the sun, and presented a mountain of gold, which dazzled the eye, and defied the powers of calculation; after this, attended by the Mufti, the Cadi, the great officers of State, by whatever, in short, is august or venerable in the Ottoman Empire, the royal warrior went forth, and produced in public the Keijuak Kerit, or great standard of the Muluman religion. Inflamed with sudden enthusiasm at the sight of the standard, the citizens flocked round their Sultan, and swore to defend to the last drop of their blood the religion of God, and of his prophet. Selim distributed with a liberal hand the treasures of his forefathers; exhorted the soldiers and citizens to remember the valor and the victories of their ancestors; and assured them, that he was determined no longer to trust to his Viziers the command of his armies, but to put himself at the head of his troops, and to pour upon the infidels that terror and consternation which never failed to attend the Ottoman arms, when conducted by his forefathers.