We claim to rank among those fortunately constituted individuals who are content, under ordinary circumstances, to leave Politics to politicians by profession. Politics, like Poetry, Punning, or Pin-making, is a trade; and we have an instinctive horror of anything which requires a seven years’ apprenticeship to practise it with credit and advantage. Not that we feel ourselves more disqualified than our neighbours to exercise, if need be, the office of a political censorship, equally with those appertaining to Manners, Morals, Taste, Literature, &c. But we do not like the office.’ Still, when the Spirit of Revolution which has so long been roaming abroad, begins to busy itself with Dress and Domestic Manners, it is time to look about us. Suppose, for example, that a certain gallant Colonel who used, during the last Parliament, to haunt the lobbies of the House, eloquently declaiming against the enormity of under-waistcoats and gold chains, when ‘blood! logo, blood!’ was ‘the one thing needful’, suppose, we say, by any sinister convocation of circumstances this gallant ‘Radical’ should get into the new Parliament, and propose a sumptuary law, the effect of which would be to mulet of their present fair proportions the favoris and whiskers of that Coriphaeus of modern taste in male attire, the Count d’O, y,, lay a ban upon the brilliance of his block satin cravats, interfere with the profuse beauty of his arabesque waistcoats,, limit him to three pair of kid gloves a day,, and (oh! spirit of Mr Pelham!) insist upon his wearing English instead of French blacking:, is it to be expected that we could see this, and not turn politicians, in our own and the world’s defence ?, Certainly not.

Almost as loudly do we feel called upon to look about us, when we find that the revolutionary spirit of Reform which the Sultan himself (of all men in the world) has so unnaturally introduced into his Empire, has already so far succeeded in its ranges that ‘a turbaned Turk’ is an anomaly in the streets of Constantinople! A correspondent of the Morning Post, in that city, ‘track with mingled grief and astonishment at the portentous change which has taken place since his last visit in 1820, gives some details on this matter, to which we are tempted to refer, not without forebodings of a melancholy nature. ” The exigencies of the last Reform (says the observer in question) have banished from their dress all that was formerly rich, elegant, and varied. At present, under Frank or European accoutrement, the Ottomans have become an altered people.”, None will doubt this latter statement, who have seen an Ottoman in a London drawing-room, attired in a London costume. But to come to particulars:, “The red cap, surmounted by a bow of blue silk, with tassels hanging down over the face, blinds the wearer when walking. At every step he must regret the noble and majestic turban.”, Conceive a head, guiltless hitherto of anything less stately than a towering turban, tricked forth in ‘the red cap’, the symbol of liberty, of all things in the world! And as if this were not a sufficient affront, blue silk tassels bobbing in his face, and blinding him as he walks!, Doubtless (as our informant seems to intimate) the image of a dismounted turban stares him in the face at every step he takes. It seems, too, that “the young Turkish dandies adopt this new costume, and” (hit is worse still) “screw themselves in short tight waistcoats, with high collars, outlined up to the chin.” Moreover, “they also wear, according to the season, trousers à  la Canove, of white linen or calico.” Regular Russian ducks !, Russian, too, and, to complete the degradation, à  la Cosaque! This is too much ; and if the people do not rebel against the wonderful Sovereign who has promoted such unnaturel and unnational changes, and restore at once the turban and the Janissaries, they are no gentlemen:, and we always took them for the only gentlemen, nationally speaking, in all Europe. But we have not yet come to the limit of their disgrace., “Laced boots, and cravats tied in the European fashionable style, complete this dandyism.”, Conceive the neck of a Turk tied up in a satin cravat! Why even a bow-string would better become it.

We are happy to learn, however, that these victims of Reform are duly sensible of the depidation to which they are reduced., ” Many Turks, to conceal the horror which the cruel abolition of their ancient costume inspires,”, (fling themselves into the Bosphorus,, we were in hopes the writer was going to add, but they only) ” wrap themselves up in large military cloaks.”

But now comes the crowning result of this portentous revolution. Even with us, the man who will change his coat may be expected to change anything; and so the Turk who will doff his turban for a little red cap, ‘and clap a cossaque on his recreant limbs,’ will do anything ;., and, accordingly, we find that “the next step they take is expected to be towards, Christianity!!” Well may our informant, who is something of a philosopher, exclaim, “It is really astonishing, when I see the influence costume has upon the manners of men. The Turks were more proud and serious when they enjoyed the pleasure of walking in slippers and oriental costume. Since the alterations of their habits, they move with more celerity.” A Turk move with celerity! We shall hear next of their dancing the Russian Mazourka, and waltzing with one another’s wives! Most truly and pathetically does our informant conclude, ” After all, it cannot be denied that the Constantinopolitans are a degraded people.”

The Court Journal. Gazette of the Fashionable World. 19. Januar 1833, No. 195.