The Ottoman or Turkish navy, her admiral or Captain Pacha as seen through the eyes of the American James Ellsworth Kay in 1831-1832

Thanks to the American Kay’s account of his journeys in Turkey at his visit to Canstantinople we obtain useful information dealing with the Turkish or Ottoman navy in this period. (1) Kay’s remarks are confirmed by the accounts of other visitors.

p. 321: “We were introduced a few days ago to the captain pacha, a fine, intelligent, and manly-looking Turk. His name is Halil Rifaat, or, as he is usually designated, Halil Pacha, and he appears to be about thirty-five years old. With great personal activity, he is unremitting in the duties of his station, and punishes neglect or idleness in the most summary manner. As I studied his remarkably handsome face and winning features, I could scarcely credit the stories in circulation respecting his barbarity. His history is another instance of the apparent caprice of fortune in this country, which so frequently elevates a beggar or a slave to the highest offices of government. He was originally a Georgian slave, and purchased by the present seraiskier, who adopted him as his son. This is an everyday occurrence in Turkey, but does not seem to be understood by modern travellers. It is well known that such is the political organization of this government, that it rarely happens that the children of high officers ever obtain office themselves, except among the ulemah. Whether this is a part of the royal policy to prevent the formation of an hereditary nobility, we cannot venture to say, but such is the fact. The grandees being aware of this, purchase Georgian or Circassian children, give them a careful and finished education, and press them forward, in order to occupy stations where they may be of service as protectors of their own family. This purchase of slaves for such purposes must frequently give rise to incidents of a striking nature, and

p. 322: we have indeed heard of several which seem almost to border upon the province of romance.

During the last war with Russia, the present captain pacha distinguished himself by several acts of gallant daring. At Shoumla, in 1828, he commanded a sortie against the largest redoubt of the enemy. It was commanded by Major General de Wrede, who after a most desperate and sanguinary resistance, was, together with his whole garrion, put to the sword. He was employed on a mission of much delicacy and importance shortly after the conclusion of the late Russian war. It was desirable on the part of the Turks to obtain a remission of some part of the amount of the subsidy, which by treaty they had agreed to pay to Russia, and it was also important to obtain her consent to extend the time of payment. Halil executed this mission with much address, and his personal appearance and manners prepossessed every one in his favour. Although previously unacquainted with French, he set about acquiring it with so much industry, that in two months he was enabled to keep up a sustained conversation with great ease. During our visit the conversation was kept up through the medium of an interpreter, although upon subsequent occasions he spoke French with great fluency. We gathered from the pacha that, notwithstanding the large fleets which the necessities of the empire required to be continually in service, the whole annual expenses did not exceed $2,000,000. They are, however, in economy of expenditure, excelled by the republic of Genoa, which keeps seven fine frigates of from forty-six to sixty guns each in excellent order, pays the officers and seamen, and maintains the whole coast police of Liguria and Sardinia, for a sum not exceeding $500,000.”

Source

James Ellsworth Kay. Sketches of Turkey in 1831 and 1832. New York, 1833. Digitized by Google.