J.C.173 guished had not often appeared. The refolution

Heg.1143,

Fresh con

&1144 which the grand vizier had taken to diffemble with the janiffaries, left that corps fhould fudSpiracy. denly declare against the emperor, cherished at Depofition Conftantinople a great many malecontents, who grand vi caballed continually and attempted to stir up the

of the

zier.

people, whom the dearness of bread and other neceffaries of life foured. It became neceffary to punish fome new attempt every day. The blood, which was thus fhed drop by drop, cherished the rebellion instead of ftifling it. Six jebeggis were found one night armed in the streets; a patrol seized them after they had defended themselves. These wretches, being put to the torture, declared. their chiefs, at whofe apartments were found colours and arms, a numerous lift of accomplices, and a fort of order of battle which was to be executed at break of day. These chiefs being arrested immediately, were put to death in the outer court of the feraglio, as likewise the jebeggis who had been found armed in the night. The grand feignior faw their execution himself from a window, the blind of which was drawn up. One of the condemned men perceived him, and having caught his eyes, exclaimed: "Son of a flave, "whilft thou receivest advice from a vizier equal"ly odious to the people and foldiers, and per"mitteft barley and bran bread to be fold to "these poor people dearer than that of the best "wheat was formerly, thou wilt never be safe on "thy throne. The fhedding of the blood of one

1

"rebel

Heg.1143

"rebel will give birth to fifty." Thefe words J.C. 1731. made fuch an impreffion on the emperor that the & 1144 vizier thought himself ruined. He faid to Mahmout, that the rebellion had more powerful inftigators than those that had been difcovered; that feveral officers of the empire kept up the dearness of bread and at the fame time excited the people to complain of it. He gave his mafter a list of thirty officers of different ranks, whom he accused of being ill affected. By the fide of each name was a particular imputation of different crimes. At the head of this lift ftood the names of the kiflar agafi and the captain bafhaw. The firft was intimately connected with the valid fultanefs, and the fecond greatly protected by this fame kiflar aga. A mute, of those who enter at all hours into the prince's chamber, and who are never miftrufted from their not being thought of any confequence, feized this lift and carried it inftantly to the captain bashaw. The latter loft not a moment to convey it to the kiflar agafi, who agreed with the valid fultanefs that the grand vizier fhould be accufed that very day of engroffing the corn, the fault of which he wanted to throw on thirty officers, all of whom the fultanefs-mother looked upon as her creatures and the most faithful fervants of her fon. The depofition and exile of the grand vizier were refolved on without his being heard, folely on fome proofs true or fuppofed which his enemies advanced of the crimes of which he was accufed.

He

Heg.1143,

J.C.1731He was put on board a faik, and transported to &1144 the ifle of Negropont. The feals were given to Topal Of Topal Ofman, bafhaw of Siliftria, whom the kiflar aga prefented to the valid fultanefs as a creature whom they could do with as they liked.

man grand vizier.

He con

cludes a

Perfia.

The new minifter, convinced of the neceflity of strengthening the ftate prior to extending it, perfuaded his master to conclude a peace: seeing no other means to re-establish abundance and stifle the rebellion, he wrote to the two bashaws Rustan and Ali, that it was neceffary to conclude a treaty with Shah Thamas, and that he left the conditions peace with to their prudence and zeal; that this prince, who had just experienced the strength of the Ottoman arms, would not refufe to recover, without ftriking a blow, one part of the dominions wrefted from his father, and that it would be fufficient for the glory of the Ottomans to preserve Georgia. The plenipotentiaries went to Cabin to treat with the Perfian monarch. Thamas Koulikhan was not with his mafter; the king of Perfia, preffed to leffen the number of his enemies, and thinking to make a better advantage of Ruffia, when he should have only that power to fight or conciliate, confented to give up Georgia to the Turks. The plenipotentiaries left him Tauris and all the country which, with regard to Perfia, is on this fide of the Araxes.

Georgia all together was not a bad conqueft for the Turks. There was reafon to hope that the ftorm would be foon fucceeded by a calm.

Blood

Heg.1144,

Topal Ofman governs with

Blood no longer ran in Conftantinople, as it had J.C. 1732. done for more than a year past. The attention & 1145. of Topal Ofman restored plenteousness: this able minifter usefully employed the treasures heaped up by Achmet and augmented by the confif- fagacity. cations which the last troubles had occafioned. He bought up a great deal of corn; which was fold at an inferior price to the people. He protected the merchants, and particularly the French, to whom he granted permiffion to rebuild two churches with ftone; which had been burnt at Galata, notwithstanding the clamours of the mufti, and even of the kiflar aga, who faw with pain that this minifter, who was wholly indebted to him for his power, prefumed to do good by himself, without waiting for orders from the haram. The marquis of Villeneuve, the French ambassador, had great reafon to be pleased with the ministry of Topal Ofman, both for the protection which he gave to the Roman catholic priests, continually oppreffed by the Greek priests and the effendis, and the reftitution of feveral merchant-men taken by the Algerines and Tripolines, though the viziers are not very fond of giving orders of this fort to the tributary republics, for fear of expofing their authority. Topal He acquits Ofman loved the French, because he had a grateful heart, and he had received a fignal fervice in tion to a

himself of

an obliga

French

his youth from a merchant of Marseilles. Topal merchant. Ofman had been taken in a corfair of Tunis. Mr. Armiaud (that was the name of the merchant)

VOL. IV,

Y Y

having

Heg.1144

J.C. 1732 having feen this Turk in the galleys, was pre1145 judiced in his favor from his fine figure and gentleness of manners, which we believe rare among the people of this nation. Topal, who had learned a little French, intrufted the merchant who behaved fo kindly to him, with what he had been very careful how he let drop to any other person, that he was capable of paying a ransom, but that he did not know to whom he must address himself to negotiate this affair, always delicate and difficult in the execution. Mr. Armiaud, who was not very rich, made this Turk promife that he would faithfully repay him what he should advance for him; and he not only ransomed, but even furnished him with every thing that was neceffary for his return into his own country. The first care of Topal Ofman, on his arrival at Conftantinople, was to discharge his obligations to this generous man. He got preferment in the army by the protection of the kiflar aga, whofe intereft he had purchafed. He always kept up a correfpondence with his French benefactor. As foon as he was made grand vizier, he preffed him to come to Conftantinople to be a witness of his glory. Armiaud really paid him a vifit. Topal Ofman forced him to accept thirty thoufand piaftres, which make three thousand feven hundred and fifty pounds fterling, and two thousand load of fine wheat, which was not fo fcarce at Conftantinople as the preceding years, as much by the attention of the vizier as the good crops.