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454

TUKKEY.

8. The Ministry of Public Instruction. — MunifEffendi, appointed September, 1869.

9. The Ministry of ' Vakouf,' or of the domains of the Church and of Charitable Institutions. — Tefvid Effendi, appointed March 9, 1868.

The whole of the empire, except the dependencies in Africa, is divided into Governments, and subdivided into provinces and dis- tricts. A general governor, or pasha, who is held to represent the sultan, and is assisted by a council, is placed at the head of each Government. The provinces and districts are subjected to inferior authorities, under the superintendence of the principal governor. All subjects, however humble their origin, are eligible to, and may fill, the highest offices in the State. Birth confers no privilege, as all true believers are equal in the eye of the law.

Religion and Education.

The adherents of the various religious creeds of the empire are roughly estimated to consist of the following numbers: —

Keligion

In Europe

In Asia

In Africa

Total

Mussulmans

Greeks and Armenians

Catholics .

Jews ....

Other sects

Total .

4.550,000

10,000.00(1

640.000

70,000

240,000

12,650,000

3,000,000

260,00)

80,000

60,000

3,800,000

21,000,000

13,000,000

900,000

150,000

300.000

15,500,000 | 16,050.000

3.800,000

35,350,000

In this statement, the term Catholic is applied to the disciples of all the Eastern churches which acknowledge the authority of the See of Rome, although there are amongst them numerous differences in the matter of discipline and ceremonial. Of these Eastern Catholics there are : —

1. Latins, or Catholics who use the Roman Liturgy,

consisting of Greeks, Armenians, Bulgarians, Croats, and others, to the number of .

2. United Greeks .....

3. United Armenians ....

4. Syrians and United Chaldeans

5. Marcmitea, under a Patriarch atKanobin

in Mount Lebanon ....

25,000 75,000 20,000

110.000

Total

640,000

260,000

900,000

The above five religious denominations, together with the Pro- testants and Jews, are recognised by the Turkish Government as independent religious communities, with the privilege of possessing their own ecclesiastical rule. The bishops and patriarchs of the Greeks