The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and
Instruction, by Various

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Title: The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction
Vol. 14, Issue 387, August 28, 1829

Author: Various

Release Date: March 8, 2004 [EBook #11518]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

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THE MIRROR OF LITERATURE, AMUSEMENT, AND INSTRUCTION

VOL. XIV. NO. 387.] SATURDAY, AUGUST 29, 1829. [PRICE 2_d_.

CONSTANTINOPLE.

[Illustration: CONSTANTINOPLE]

"Queen of the Morn! Sultana of the East!"

The splendour and extent of Constantinople are not within the compass of
one of our pages; but the annexed Engraving furnishes some idea of a
section of this queen of cities. It extends from Seraglio Point to the
Janissaries' Tower, and though commanding only a portion of the city,
includes the domes of the magnificent mosques of Santa Sophia and the
Sultan Achmet, which rise from a vast assemblage of towers, palaces,
minarets, &c. in every style of architecture.

We have so often and so recently touched upon the ancient and modern state
of Constantinople, that we fear a recapitulation of its splendour would be
uninviting to our readers.[1] Nevertheless, as its mention is so
frequently coupled with the seat of war, and the "expulsion of the Turks
from Europe," our illustration will at this period be interesting, as well
as in some measure, explanatory of the position of the city, which is so
advantageous as to make it appear fit for the seat of dominion over the
whole world. Can we then be surprised at its forming so tempting a lure to
surrounding nations?

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 m