The city stands at the eastern extremity of Romania, on a neck of land
that advances towards Natolia; on the south it is washed by the sea of
Marmora, and on the north-east by the gulf of the Golden Horn. It is built,
like ancient Rome, on seven hills, rising one above the other in beautiful
succession, and sloping gently towards the water; the whole forming an
irregular triangle, about twelve miles in circumference, the entire of
which space is closely covered with palaces, mosques, baths, fountains,
and houses; at a short distance the proudly swelling domes of 300 mosques,
the tall and elegant minarets, crowned by glittering crescents, the
ancient towers on the walls, and the gaudily coloured kiosks and houses
rising above the stupendous trees in the seraglio, situated on the extreme
point, form a rich, picturesque, and extraordinary scene. The gulf of the
Golden Horn, to the north-east of the city, forms a noble and capacious
harbour, four miles in length, by half a mile in breadth, capable of
securely containing 1,200 ships of the largest size, and is generally
filled with the curiously built vessels and gaily decorated boats of the
Turks; on the opposite shore is the maritime town of Galata, containing
the docks, arsenals, cannon founderies, barracks, &c.; above which stands
the populous suburb of Pera, the residence of the foreign ministers of the
Porte, and all foreigners of distinction, none whatever being allowed to
reside in the city. Beyond, as far as the eye can reach, is an immense
forest of cypress and mulberry trees, being the extensive cemeteries of
all persuasions. From Galata, the European shore of the Bosphorus forms
one continued line of towns; palaces in every style of architecture,
pleasure gardens, and romantic villages. On the opposite, or Asiatic shore,
stands the extensive town of Scutari, also a suburb of Constantinople,
although in another quarter of the globe, and separated by a sea a mile in
breadth; and at a short distance is the ancient and ruinous city of
Calcedone. The group of the Prince's Islands, in the Sea of Marmora, and