Thanks to the fact that nowadays more and more books are digitized we are able to read books that are some times for decades no longer available for the public for several reasons. That's quite a pity while these books contains useful information while the archives are destroyed, incomplete or nor accessible.
p. 245. “The Capitan Bachi, or High Admiral, resides in the Arsenal, of which he has the whole command and supreme inspection. In his absence, the Terskana-Amini, or the Purveyor of the fleet, must reside there. It is the duty of the Capitan Bachi to take care to furnish the magazines with all the articles necessary for the construction and equipment of the fleet, and to have a plentiful stock in hand. It is his fault, if this is neglected, and he would certainly be deposed, perhaps strangled, if the magazines were not always full ; because wood, iron, and sails are to be had at a very short notice, in the greatest abundance, at a small distance from Constantinople. It is likewise his function to provide sailors in time of war, and of these there ought to be no want, since the city of Constantinople alone might supply 30,000; and the Archipelago is full of them. Yet, during the last war, he was obliged to compel artizans and shopkeepers to serve on board the fleet as sailors, which was owing to the failures of government, in not paying the wages of regular sailors, upon former occasions; a circumstance which has greatly contributed to the decline of the maritime strength of the empire.
p. 246: Another method taken by the Porte to supply the want of seamen was, to oblige the islands of the Archipelago to furnish a quota of ships and sailors, according to antient custom: the succours which the government has a right to demand from its dependencies when a war breaks out are as follows: Four ships from Algiers, completely armed and manned. Three from Tripoli. Three from Tunis. And from Egypt, twenty-four Cajrines, merchant ships in time of peace, but in time of war turned into armed vessels, mounting 50 guns, and having 600 men, far superior, in point of bravery and skill in manoeuvring a ship, to any other seamen in the Ottoman service. However, of all these succours, scarce any arrived during the last war, so little was the resentment of an enfeebled empire to be dreaded by its dependent governments. The states of Barbary made frivolous excuses; only one Cajrine was sent from Egypt; and the Dutcignots were the only people who had the courage or fidelity to put to sea with a fleet in search of the enemy; but they were defeated, and dispersed by the Russian squadron, under the command of Vice-Admiral Elphinstone.”
Source
Elias Habesci. The present state of the Ottoman empire containing a more accurate and interesting account of the religion, manners, government, customs, military establishment and amusements etc. London, 1784. Translation of the in the French language manuscript written by Habesci who lived for years at Constantinople serving at the court.
