In the New England Galaxy we find the following account of the
Turks. If the facts are as stated, those that are termed barbarians
are _Christians in practice_, while we who are Christians by name,
are barbarians in reality.
"Notwithstanding their religion differs from ours, still I cannot
help respecting it. They worship the same God that we do--they
esteem our Saviour as a great prophet and lawgiver--their prayers
are evidently offered with a sincere heart, and considering that
it is the religion of their ancestors, how can we blame them for
preferring it to ours? Did you but know in what contempt they hold
a renegado, you would agree in opinion with me, that the combined
powers of the whole Christian world would not be able to persuade a
virtuous musselman to change his faith.
"Honesty, so often sought and rarely found, among the enlightened
and religious communities of Europe and America, in this part of
Asia and in the Turkish dominions west of the Hellespont, stands
unrivalled.
"Whether a sense of virtue or moral obligations to each other
contained in the pages of the Koran is the cause, I am unable to
say; but all travellers who have visited this country, and are
divested of prejudice, will do them the justice to say, that theft
is a crime almost unknown throughout the realms of the Grand Seignor.
"A merchant of Smyrna having occasion to send about five hundred
pound sterling a distance of about four days journey into the
country, requested his brokers to find a suitable person! The first
they met in the streets, although one of the lowest porters, they
engaged for that purpose.
"The gold was given him in a bag, and without even inquiring his
name or residence in the city, he was directed to hand it to the
merchant in the village, whose name was given him on a piece of
paper: and on his return he should receive the amount agreed on, and
about five dollars as a compensation for his trouble.
"On the eighth or ninth day he returned to the city, stating that he
had delivered the money, when he received his pay, and went to seek
employment in the streets.
"After a lapse of nearly a month, a letter from the merchant
announced that he had not received the money, and expressed surprise
at the circumstance. This excited considerable alarm, particularly
as it was almost impossible to find the messenger, having a second
time neglected to take his name. After three days search, however,
he was found staggering through the streets with a heavy burden on
his back; and being informed of the cause why they sought him, he
laid it down and exclaimed, 'God forbid that I should wrong any man,
even a _Christian!_ but,' he continued, 'I will go back at my own
expense and see who has got the property; otherwise my reputation
will be ruined!' This speech had a curious effect from a man whose
real and personal estate would not, in all probability, have
amounted to fifty piastres.
"He departed, and arriving at the village, examined, with a
scrutinizing eye, every Christian he met, till at last the Greek to
whom he had given the gold, presented himself. 'You have injured my
reputation like a dog, as you are, (said the porter,) and have taken
from me that which belongs to another! but, thank God, you are found
at last; I will take you to the Agha, and have you hung, that the
world may be rid of such a scoundrel.' The Greek on his knees begged
forgiveness: 'I was in distress, (he said) when I saw you, and
having occasion for the money, I assumed the name of my neighbour!
It was my intention to have paid him before he would feel any alarm
as to the remittance: but spare my character; here is your gold, and
here are 500 piastres for yourself!' The Turk allowed him to depart,
took the money to the right owner, and returned with his pockets
better filled than they had ever been during the whole course of his
life.
"The perfect resignation with which the Turks submit to the
dispensations of Providence cannot but be pleasing to every one. If
they are fortunate, God is praised; if the reverse, they say, 'His
will be done.'
"The Turk never effects insurance on his commercial adventures; but
often, previous to despatching his vessel, makes a solemn promise,
that, should he be fortunate, a sum of money shall be bestowed in
charity; which promise is never broken. But, should she be lost,
and, as often happens, his whole property with her, he exclaims,
'God's will be done,' and seeks in the streets the means of
accumulating another, in the laborious employment of a porter.
"His friends continue to show him the respect he previously
experienced, remarking, 'Our brother has been unfortunate, but it
was the will of God! Why should we treat him otherwise? We are
all liable to lose our possessions, and it would be censuring the
decrees of the Almighty, were we to neglect him!' How can we but
admire these principles, notwithstanding they emanate from the
breasts of those differing from us in religious tenets?"