The New Hampshire Gazette

CONSTANTINOPLE.

Constantinople has universally been considered one of the most remarkable, and, in point of situation, security of its port, and other natural advantages, ranks as one of the finest, cities in Europe; placed upon a strait dividing Europe from Asia, it commands on the South, by its communications with the Mediterranean, uninterrupted access to all the nations of Europe and the coast of Africa; whilst, on the North, by the Black Sea, to the Danube and other great rivers, it has access to the interior of Germany, Poland and Russia. The Turks also possess the navigation of the Red Sea, by which the whole of the riches of the East might be obtained; yet, with these advantages, superior to those enjoyed by any other country in the world, commerce is totally neglected—the arts and sciences languish, and even the internal trade is very inconsiderable. The first city erected on this desirable situation was called Byzantium, from Byzas, the leader of a colony of Megara, and the founder, 65 years before the Christian era. This city existed until the time of the Emperor Severus, who destroyed it and dispersed the inhabitants. Constantine the Great, considering the situation more favorable than that of Rome, rebuilt it in 330, with great magnificence, which is supposed to have been one principal cause of the decline of the Western Empire. The ancient splendor of Constantinople, as it was then called, is spoken of with astonishment by writers of the middle ages; after remaining the capital of the Eastern Empire for one thousand years, it fell by conquest into the hands of the Turks in 1453, who have retained possession until the present time.

The city stands at the eastern extremity of Romania, on a neck of land that advances towards Natolia; on the South it is washed by the sea of Marmora, and on the north, east by the Gulf of the Golden Horn. It is built, like ancient Rome, on seven hills, rising one above the other in beautiful succession, and sloping gently towards the water; the whole forming an irregular triangle about twelve miles in circumference, the entire of which space is closely covered with palaces, mosques, baths, fountains, and houses; at a short distance the proudly swelling domes of three hundred mosques, the tall and elegant minarets crowned by glittering crescents, the ancient towers on the walls, and the gaudily colored kiosks and houses rising above the stupendous trees in the seraglio, situated on the extreme point, form a rich, picturesque, and extraordinary scene.

The Gulf of the Golden Horn, to the north-east of the city, forms a noble and capacious harbor, four miles in length, by half a mile in breadth, capable of securely containing twelve hundred ships of the largest size, and is generally filled with the curiously built vessels and gaudily decorated boats of the Turks; on the opposite shore is the maritime town of Galata, containing the docks, arsenals, cannon foundries, barracks &c.; above which stands the populous suburb of Pera, the residence of the foreign Ministers to the Porte, and all foreigners of distinction, none whatever being allowed to reside in the city.—Beyond, as far as the eye can reach, is an immense forest of cypress and mulberry trees, being the extensive cemeteries of all persuasions. From Galata, the European shore of the Bosphorus forms one continued line of towns; palaces in every style of architecture, pleasure gardens and romantic villages. On the opposite or Asiatic shore stands the extensive town of Scutari, also a suburb of Constantinople, although in another quarter of the globe, and separated by a sea a mile in breadth; and at a short distance the ancient and ruinous city of Chalcedon, whose inhabitants were accounted blind for erecting their city in that place, having the more favorable site of Constantinople before their eyes. At some distance the group of the Princes Islands, in the Sea of Marmora, and the snow-clad summit of Mount Olympus, close the prospect. From the ancient Tower of Leander, near Scutari, and immediately opposite the Seraglio, the whole of these objects are seen in one brilliant and interesting coup d'œil, a combination of nature and art so imposing and magnificent, as to defy the power of language adequately to describe. We understand, however, that Mr. Burford has taken advantage of this favorable situation, and has nearly finished a panorama of this beautiful scene, which, from the interest at present felt in all that is connected with Turkey, we venture to predict will be one of the most popular as well as most splendid, ever produced.