The Litchfield County Post

CONSTANTINOPLE is situated the "Sublime Porte"-the Porte of justice, majesty, and felicity. There have been disputes concerning the origin of this appellation. Payne, an eminent geographer of the last century, says that it is derived from the principal gate that leads to the Seraglio.

CONSTANTINOPLE.-It is wonderful how little is generally known with regard to this magnificent city. Its situation is the most delightful in the world. With a harbor affording room for a thousand vessels-with the Euxine on its East, the natural current of the Wealth of Asia is through the Bosphorus; and with Marmora on its south & west, the products of Egypt, Arabia & Europe, are at the command of its commerce. In the hands of a commercial nation, it soon would become the centre of the commercial world. It is encompassed by walls, which have 23 gates six towards the land six along the port, and ten on the Marmora; these have stairs and landing places. Constantinople like Rome, is an "urbs septicollis." Its seven hills rise from the shore in the form of an amphitheatre; gardens, cypress groves, palaces, &c. afford a view worthy of all admiration. The castle of the Seven Towers is used as an honorable prison. A square tower stands in the sea, memorable as the prison of Belisarius. Near this are a great many cannon level with the water, and guarding the entrance of the port and the seraglio. The word "Seraglio," signifies "a palace." It is a collection of palaces, a mile and a half in compass, enclosed by a strong wall, on which are several watch towers in which a guard is kept by night and day. The principal gate is of marble, and is called the Porte. The gardens are very extensive; the buildings are of white stone, and crowned with gilded spires and turrets and shining with surpassing splendor. The Exchanges are splendid buildings and the richest and rarest productions of the East are daily sold in them, in large quantities. Add to these numerous churches, mosques; &c. together with the many private houses, and you may have some idea of the opulence and magnificent splendor of the Capital of the Great Ottoman Empire.