fare was essential to the salvation of the Turkish empire, and a more rigid subordination, and sterner discipline among the troops, equally essential to the stability of the reigning dynasty. The haughty attitude assumed by Russia in the late negotiations at Ackermann, not less than the obstinate resis tance of the Greeks, proved the former fact. The growing insolence of the Janissaries clearly established the latter. This celebrated militia had for centuries composed the main force of the armies of the Porte. Once they had been as famous for their courage, and their victories, as they now were for insubordination and corruption. These Prætorian bands of Turkey had, in fact, rendered themselves masters of the sultan and the government, not less than chosen champions of the empire. They deposed the Ottoman empe. rors at will, and continually bartered away the crown, to him who would bestow the richest largesses and greatest privileges in exchange. Being recruited from the very dregs of the populace, they were distinguished by the inveteracy of their prejudices against every salu. tary innovation, and lost all the merits of a barbarian soldiery, in the dissolute round of revolt and riot, which formed their chief occupation. They were no longer the bulwark of the Mahometan religion against the encroachments of sur

rounding Christian powers. Their fanaticism regarded all improve. ments in discipline, equipments, arms and tactics, as heresies from the true faith; and of course they had ceased to be capable of withstanding a modern army, appointed and manoeuvred according to the usages of the states of christendom. Every maxim of policy, every principle of self-preservation, dictated the expediency and necessity of substituting a regular force for the undisciplined rabble, which now bore the name of a Turkish army.

A serious attempt to effect the object had already been made,within the present century. The remains of the garrison which defended St. Jean d'Acre so bravely, were formed by the sultan Selim into a body of troops called Nizamy-Gedid, or soldiers of the new regulations, who signalized themselves in Bulgaria and Roumelia, and rendered the advantages of European discipline apparent. But the jealousy of the Janissaries, combining with the fanaticism of the people, compelled Selim to disband the Nizamy-Gedid in 1807. Their entire dispersion, the dethronement of Selim, the short reign of Mustapha, and the succession of the present sultan, Mahmoud, quickly followed, and thus one attempt completely failed of success. Afterwards an endeavour was made to attain the same object, by organizing se.

among the Janissaries themselves; but this likewise proved abortive, and the Ulemahs even denounced the vengeance of the prophet against all who should again propose to introduce the discipline of the Franks into the Ottoman army. But the lapse of twenty years, and the dear bought experience of the existing wars, had produced a visible change in the views and feelings of all but the Janissaries. Mahmoud had seen his best troops routed by the half armed and unpaid insurgent soldiery of Greece, while the latter had, in their turn, speedily fallen before Ibrahim's Egyptian troops, whose chief excellence consisted in their amenableness to discipline, and their knowledge of European drill and tactics. The sultan, therefore, conceived a plan for remodelling his army; and after consulting with the dignitaries of the empire, and heads of religion, and assuring himself of their hearty support, he set about preparing his measures with secrecy and despatch. He was ably assisted in this design by the seraskier Hussein Pacha, an officer of great decision of charactar, and popular on account of his many victories, who commanded the Topschis, or artillerymen. This corps amounted to 14,000 men, and was necessarily organized, in some degree, after the European model, because the nature of such

form of discipline. The sultan commenced his operations by enlarging this corps, to which he looked for support against the Janissaries, in case, as there was every reason to anticipate, the contemplated changes should encounter any formidable opposition. The Topschis well knew that they were hated by the Janissaries, and that nothing but Mahmoud's success could insure their own existence.

Having taken these preliminary steps, in the beginning of June, 1826, Mahmoud commenced his intended operations. The new regulations, promulgated by him, required that a certain number of men should be selected from each company of the Janissaries, and enrolled to form the nucleus of a new army, intended to be drilled in the European exercise and tactics. Additional pay was promised the soldiers belonging to this new corps, whose designation, and uniform, and appointments, were all studiously selected, so as not to offend the dangerous prejudices of the people and the old army. The officers of the Janissaries were all sworn to maintain the new system, which was solemnly consecrated by the Ulemahs, in presence of the troops and the assembled multitude of ordinary spectators. Some hope was entertained, in these circumstances, that the Janissaries would peaceably acquiesce in the

his will. But although three times summoned to obey, the Janissaries obstinately refused to do so, unless the sultan abolished the new regu. lations, and sacrificed the grand vi. ziers, Hussein Pacha, the Aga, and Nedschib Effendi. Disdaining to temporize any longer, Mahmoud ordered his troops forthwith to march upon the mutineers, and treat them as public enemies, put out of the protection of law by the mufti's fetwa. His attendants with difficulty dissuaded him from lead. ing on the assault in person. This duty was intrusted to Hussein Pa. cha. He marched in upon the re. bels, with an impetuosity which they found it impossible to with. stand, drove them into the barracks, which he battered with cannon shot and bomb shells, and completely defeated and dispersed all who escaped from the flames of the burn. ing barracks, and survived the dreadful slaughter of the battle. The fugitives were pursued, taken, tried by a military commission, which held its sittings beneath tents on the Atmeidan, and executed or sent to imprisonment without delay.

These events released the sul. tan from all inducements to deal gently with the Janissaries, and probably furthered his ulterior ob.. ject of entirely reforming the disci. pline of his army. On the 16th of June, he issued a proclamation, denouncing the Janissaries as inveterate and incurable rebels, abolish.

ing the name and the order, with all its distinctive badges and privileges, for ever; and decreeing the formation of new bodies of regular troops, by the appellation of Askeri-Muhammedije, victorious soldiers of Mahomet. To com. plete the annihilation of the hated class, their barracks were demolished, and their insignia trampled under foot by the mufti, and destroyed. All the posts previously occupied by them were committed to the cus. tody of artillerymen, or bostandschis. Not only were the Janissaries themselves pursued with relentless fury, and so soon as apprehended, handed over to the executioner; but all who had any con. nexion with them, or expressed any sympathy for their fate, were involved in the same unsparing proscription. Thousands of porters, pumpers, and watermen, who in times past had made common cause with the Janissaries, and had not been idle spectators of the late troubles, were shipped off to Asia, and banished for ever from Constantinople. All who harboured the proscribed individuals, or gave the slightest cause of suspicion, inevitably incurred the punishment of death or exile. By such measures of prompt and merciless Turkish vengeance, the tranquillity of the capital was effectually secured for the time.

But notwithstanding the vigi lance of the police, disaffected indi.