The Turkish or Ottoman navy in general and the Capudan-Pasha in special as seen through the eyes of John Cam Hobhouse, 1st baron Broughton around 1809-1810

John Cam Hobhouse, 1st baron Broughton made in the years 1809-1810 a journey through the Ottoman Empire. Of course he visited Constantinople where he met the Capuda-Pasha or High Admiral. His comments dealing with this admiral are quite honest and can’t be misunderstood.

P. 292 “The east side of the port beyond Galata is a line of public buildings, and of palaces attached to the state officers of the Turkish marine. The Ottomans had been for more than half a century in possession of the most advantageous spot in the world for the establishment of a navy, before they applied themselves to navigation, for they were not masters of a single ship of war until the reign of Selim the First. That monarch constructed a dock for the building of galleys, which is still seen in a bay of the port under the hill and cemetery leading to Pera and the English palace. A long wooden wharf runs along the edge of the water, at which small merchant ships are moored, but the galleys, now out of use, are removed to the inner part of the port. It is called the Galiondge’s Wharf. The point of Divan-Hane, the audience chamber of the Capudan-Pasha, terminates this bay to the north. The long suite of buildings beyond Divan-Hane, belongs to the quarter of Ters-Hane, or the Arsenal, which owes its present appearance to the labours of De Tott, and of the French engineers Leroy, and

p. 293: Lebrun. The enterprising Hassan-Pasha, from a waiter at a coffee-house in Gallipoli, raised himself to absolute authority under Sultan Abdulhamid, and by one act of ferocious courage (when he blew up his own and a Russian line-of-battle ship at Tchesmè) established a reputation, which he maintained throughout his long continuance in office. He recovered Lemnos, quelled a rebellion in Syria, and totally subdued the Morea, exercising the most prompt and horrible vengeance on the insurgents. His favourite was a young lion, whom most travellers had the good fortune of beholding crouched down and serving as a footstool to this terrific Admiral. He had, however, discernment enough to give every encouragement to the French officers above mentioned, the latter of whom was patronised by Kutchuk Hussein, Capudan Pasha, also a man of acknowledged abilities. During the reign of Selim, whose projects will be hereafter noticed, the improvements of the marine still continued under Mr. Rhodez, a Swede, with a company of engineers of the same nation, and Mr. Benoit, a French gentleman; and even after the disastrous termination of his efforts, the external appearance of Ters-Hane, such as it is at this day, would do credit to the most civilised nation of Europe. Here there are large mast and block houses, brass and copper foundries, rope-yards, naval store warehouses, besides a dry stone dock constructed on the most approved principles. A stone facing lines the harbour; and such is the depth of the water, that the sterns of the three-deckers hangover the shore. Engines for masting ships and heaving down, contrived upon the usual plan, are ranged along the pier. The ships of the line of the first class are built near the shore, on a natural declivity, and slide at once into deep water. The galley harbour succeeds to the stone piers, and beyond are the cannon foundries, near Ain-Aleh-Kavak Sarai, the Palace of Mirrors, a deserted kiosk built by Achmet the Third. The ground rises from near the shore of the port; and the suburbs of Hassim-Pasha, Piali-Pasha, and Piri-Pasha, with intervening cemeteries, and spots of open land, crown the declivities above Divan-Hane, Ters-Hane, and the galley wharf. The officers of the English frigate wished to see the Arsenal and the Turkish Fleet, which was then in port.

p. 294: As a preliminary, we visited Ali, the Capudan-Pasha. He was in his kiosk or audience at Divan-Hanie, a splendid chamber, surrounded by his attendants, and, contrary to custom, received us sitting. He is reported to be a ferocius character, and certainly had the appearance of being so. His capacity for his office may be collected by the following specimen of his conversation. After the usual compliments, he told the Captain of the frigate he had never been at sea, but that he was very fond of it. He asked him if the wind was likely to continue long in the same quarter, and when he was answered that his Highness, from having been accustomed to the climate, was more likely to know than a stranger, was unable to comprehend the deduction. He enquired if the Captain had a man on board to manage the compass; and learning that every man in the ship was acqainted with that instrument, replied, pointing to a young Midshipman in our company, “What! does that boy know any thing of the compass?” It is evident this was no legitimate successor of Hussein-Pasha; but in the choice of a High Admiral, it is as likely as not, that a person of total incapacity for the office should be selected; as this dignity, like every other under the Ottoman government, is obtained by bribery, intrigue, and favouritism; and every Turk is content with asking himself if the place is fit for him, without enquiring whether he is fit for the place. He looks upon the office of Capudan-Pasha as preferable to that of any other state minister under the Vizier Azem, because it conveys more power and wealth; but if he cannot obtain that situation, he will take up with being Tefterdar Effendy (Minister of Finances), or Jeny-cherry Aghassy (General of the Janissaries). The Capudan-Pasha is supreme over all the islands subject to the Ottoman dominion, and of all the great sea-ports and some maritime districts: he is member of the great council of state; and presides at Ters-Hane like an absolute prince, with the attendants of a court; and, what is an important point in Turkey, an executioner. An Intendant and Judge of the Marine (Ters-Hane Emini, Ters-Hane Effendi) are subject to his orders, but the latter officer attends also to the police of Pera, under the Bostandge-Bashe.

p. 298: The place chosen for the death of criminals condemned by the High Admiral, is usually a flat near the Galiondge’s wharf. A horizontal motion of the hand from his master, is sufficient hint and warrant to the executioner, who usually stands near him. The prisoner is led out without any ceremony, pushed upon his knees, and beheaded with a short sword, or rather a long broad knife, which does not always perform the task at one blow. If the punishment takes place secretly, the prisoner is strangled: sometimes he is hanged up on a nail, driven into any house in the street upon which the hangman may fix. Persons of condition are strangled first, and afterwards beheaded. I saw a body turned on its chest, the carcass covered, but the legs and arms bare, which had apparently suffered from burning or beating, and the head lying between the legs. This latter position is an indignity confined to the rayahs, as the heads of Turkish criminals are placed under their arms. The body was that of a Greek Cogia-Bashe of Triccala, who was charged with lading stores for the Russians; but, as a person acquainted with the case told me, was in reality found guilty of being rich, and having two or three handsome merchant vessels, which the Capudan-Pasha desired to appropriate to his own service.” When Hobhouse visited the large warship Sultan Selim the Capudan-Pashed pashed.

p. 299: “Whilst we were walking the deck of the Sultan Selim, the Capudan-Pasha left Ters-Hane, to proceed to Buyukdere. He passed near the ship in his gilded barge, and the band mounting the poop, continued to play until they were relieved by those in the three-decker of the Patrona Bey. Their long trumpets, the only instruments, produced nothing like our martial airs, but slow and unvarying, though not unpleasant sounds, such as we may conceive the mournful music of the Goths, or the longdrawn note of the ancient Swiss clarion”.

Source

J.C. Hobhouse. Journey through Albania and other provinces of Turkey in Europe and Asia to Constantinople dutring the yeards 1809 and 1810. Philadelphia, 1817. The author was the British politician John Cam Hobhouse, 1st baron Broughton (27 June 1786–3 June 1869). Digitized by Google.