date

1823 Feb. Trip. H 1 ?.1. Family etc State
1823 Feb. Trip. H 1 ?.1. Family etc State

?.2á³á1á³á. State of the reigning family, and of mine which is allied to it.

The name of the reigning Sovereign is Yussuf Pacha Caramanli. Caramanli means

from the province of Caramande. It is the proper name of the family. He is about

50 years of age.

His authority, as you have probably understood, from such of your functionaries

as have been on the spot, is altogether independent of every other. The Turkish

title of ”Bashaw• as you write in English, ”Pacha• in other European languages,

imports indeed subordination to the Porte. But, for about á³á á³á years past no

such subordination has had place: neither ”tribute•, nor any other token of

subjection, having been either paid or claimed.

His power is, as almost every where else, where Mahomedanism, /despotic is the

religion of the State, monarchical/ and without any distinct limits: but, in

practice as well as theory, it is somewhat tempered and softened, by the

influence, exercised by that body, in which, in that as in every Mahometan

country, the judicial and ecclesiastical functions are united.

About á³á á³á years ago, the reigning Sovereign seated and settled himself on

the throne, in the manner so usual in Mahometan States, by what you would call

the ”murder• of his brother. He is however by no means of a sanguinary or harsh

disposition: and his temper has been rather softened than hardened by age. His

greatest imperfection is © profusion in expenditure: and by this weakness he is

kept in a state of perpetual indigence; and his subjects, so at least it appears

to them, in a state of proportionable insecurity, in respect of property, not to

say in respect of life.

He has four legitimate male children 1. Mohammed Bey, aged á³á á³á 2. Achmet

Bey, aged about 30. 3. Ali Bey aged about 27. 4. Mustapha Bey aged about 18.

The title of Bey, which may be rendered ”Prince•, is shared with the reigning

family by four others.

In ours as in other Mahometan Nations, the order of succession is not regarded

as fixt. Hence, on every vacancy of a throne, the incidental confusions,

produced by fratricide and civil war, are liable to be added to the habitual

insecurity and universal indigence perpetuated by despotism.

1. The eldest Son ”Mahomet• is generally regarded as excluded from all

probability of succeeding, by his notorious and matchless cruelty, as well as

rebellion against his father.¼(¼a¼) For á³á á³á years, he has been a fugitive in

Egypt. He is unmarried. 2. The second son ”Achmet• is weak in mind: and that to

such a degree, as to be likewise regarded as debarred from all probability of

succession. 3. The third son ”Ali•, is regarded as competent to receive the

succession. A¼o 1817 he commanded the little irregular army, by the horror of

which, without bloodshed, his eldest brother, deserted by all his followers was

expelled. He has these á³á á³á years been married to one of my two sisters

Khadija D'Ghies. By her he has á³á á³á sons. 4. The fourth son Mustapha, is also

regarded as competent to receive the succession. In the course of the last year,

he was married to my other sister Fatima D'Ghies.

Now as to my own family.

My father, Mohammed D'Ghies has now for these á³á á³á years, namely since the

year 18á³á á³á with some intervals been Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.

He is about á³á á³á years of age. He has four sons. 1. His eldest son, myself

Hassuna D'Ghies á³á á³á years of age, born A¼o. á³á á³á 2. His second son

Mohammed D'Ghies á³á á³á years of age, born A¼o. á³á á³á 3. His third son á³á

á³á D'Ghies á³á á³á years of age, born A¼o. á³á á³á 4. HIs fourth son á³á á³á

D'Ghies, between 13 and 14 years of age, born A¼o. á³á Daughters ¼(¼a¼) See a

Note on the next page.
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    Now, as to my own family

    My father, Mohammed D'Ghies has now for these á³á á³á years, namely since the

    year 181. been Secretary of State for foreign affairs

    He is about á³á á³á years of age He has four sons 1. His eldest son, Myself

    Hassuna D'Ghies á³á á³á years of age, born Ao á³á á³á 2. His second son Mohammed

    D'Ghies á³á á³á years of age: born Ao á³á á³á 3. His third son á³á á³á D'Ghies

    á³á á³á years of age born á³á á³á 4. His fourth son á³á á³á D'Ghies between 13

    and 14 years of age born Ao á³á á³á

    Daughters, the two abovementioned.

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