ice, with whom
shall assemble, on certain days to be fixed by us, the notables of
the land, shall meet together to lay down guiding laws on the
points that affect the security of life, honor, and fortune, and
the assessment of imposts.'

'As soon as a law shall be defined, in order to render it valid and
binding, it shall be laid before us to receive our sanction, which
we Will write with our imperial hand.'

'As these present institutions have no other object than to give
fresh life and vigor to religion, the government, the nation, and
the empire, we pledge ourselves to do nothing to counteract them.
Whoever of the ulemas or chief men of the empire, or any other sort
of person, shall violate these institutions, shall undergo the
punishment awarded to his offence, without respect to his rank, or
personal consideration and credit.'

'As all the functionaries of the government receive at the present
day suitable salaries, and as those that are not sufficient shall
be increased, a vigorous law shall be enacted against traffic in
posts and favors, which the divine law reprobates, and which is one
of the principal causes of the decline of the empire.'

As a pledge of his promise, the sultan, after having deposited the
documents in the hall that contains the 'glorious mantle' of the
prophet, in the presence of the ulemas and chief men, swore to them in
the name of God, and administered the same oath to the priests and
officers. The hatti-scheriff was published in every part of the empire,
and was well received, except by a few of the retrograde party, who
lived by the old abuses, and vigorously resisted all attempts at
reformation.

By this ordinance, the sources of the revenue consist of the frontier
customs, the tithes, and a property tax. In two of these three sources
of revenue there are great abuses. In collecting the taxes, the tax
gatherers make exhorbitant demands, for which (owing to the partiality
of justice) there is no redress, The salguin, or land tax, is also the
cause of constant complaint. It presses equally upon the richest and the
poorest provinces; in consequence of which many of the most fertile
districts have been deserted. The government is not ignorant of these
facts. Abdul Medjid, a short time previous to his death, ordered a new
registration of property to be made, which will, in a great measure,
reme