d two
centuries and a half ago, he gave the name of a Turkish lady to one of
the capes of our own Massachusetts Bay. But he knew Turkey as a prison
and a dungeon, and he called what is now Cape Ann, Cape Tragabigzanda,
only to commemorate his affection for one who had soothed the rigors of
a long and loathsome captivity.

Nor was Turkey an unknown land to at least one of those Winthrops of the
olden time, with whom the Vice-President has so kindly connected me. In
turning over some old family papers since my return home, I have
stumbled on the original autograph of a note from John Winthrop, the
younger, dated "December 26th, 1628, at the Castles of the Hellespont,"
whither he had gone, as is supposed, as the Secretary of Sir Peter Wich,
the British Ambassador at Constantinople. The associations of that day,
however, with those remote regions, were by no means agreeable, and I
should hardly dare to dwell longer upon them on this occasion and in
this presence. I rejoice that events have occurred to break the spell of
that hereditary prejudice, which has so long prevailed in the minds of
not a few of us, toward the Ottoman Empire. I rejoice that our
associations with Turkey are no longer those only of the plague and the
bowstring; that we are encouraged and authorized to look to her
hereafter for something better than a little coarse wool for our
blankets, or a few figs for our dessert, or even a little opium or
rhubarb for our medicine-chests; that, in a word, we are encouraged and
warranted to look to her, under the auspices and administration of her
young, gallant, and generous Sultan, for examples of reform, of
toleration, of liberality, of a magnanimous and chivalrous humanity,
which are worthy of the admiration and imitation of all mankind. I
rejoice, especially, that an occasion has been afforded for testifying
the deep sense which is entertained throughout our country, of the noble
conduct of the Sublime Porte in regard to the unfortunate exiles of
Hungary.

The influence which the Ottoman Empire seems destined to exert over the
relations of Eastern and Western Europe, is of the most interesting and
important character; and, while we all hold steadfastly to the great
principle of neutrality which Washington established and enforced, we
yet cannot suppress our satisfaction that this influence is now in the
hands of one who seems determined to wield it fearlessly for the best
interests of civilization and humanity