The Grand Vezír and Commanding-General, Mohammed Páshá, Is Deposed — Khalíl Páshá Is Advanced to the Premiership
All the efforts employed this year against the Persians, as we have seen, ended in disappointment, disgrace, and loss. The failure of the vast army conducted by Mohammed Páshá against a place of such little importance as Reván, being only a fortress of clay, and the great expense which this expedition had occasioned, created a tremendous stir at Constantinople. The emperor was no sooner informed of the disasters which his army had experienced, and of the utter failure of the expedition, which were wholly to be attributed to the want of proper skill in the commander-in-chief, his own son-in-law, Mohammed Páshá, than his mind was much hurt, and he immediately determined on deposing him. With this view, and in this state of mind, he assembled the mufti and all his ministers in the imperial gardens, in order to consult them on the state of public affairs. Etmekjí Zádeh, who, it will be remembered, had succeeded Gúrjí Mohammed Páshá in the deputyship of Constantinople, became exalted in his own imagination at the chance, as he thought, of his succeeding Mohammed Páshá in all his offices. In the pride and vanity of his heart he proceeded to the place of deliberation. Before he reached it, however, the reverend mufti had an interview with his majesty, who informed him of the purpose he had formed of conferring the high and important offices of grand vezír and commander-in-chief of the army on one of his vezírs, and asked him to tell him who he thought was worthy of being raised to these high dignities. The mufti replied, “That as Etmekjí Zádeh filled the office of deputy of Constantinople, the honour might, perhaps, belong to him.” “That may be true,” said his majesty in return; “but he has been sometimes guilty of falsehood, and such a person is not fit to hold the premiership.” The reverend prelate approved of the sentiments expressed by his majesty, and then added, “that Etmekjí Zádeh was not only a liar, but also a wicked tyrant.” “Mention, then,” said his majesty, “some other one.” The reverend prelate without any hesitation recommended Khalíl Páshá, “an officer,” he said, “who, as he knew, had gained to himself, by his bravery and skill in the navy, signal honours, and was every way worthy as well as competent for holding the high offices now vacant.” “That,” said his majesty, “is the very man I have been thinking of.” The reverend prelate now took his leave of his royal master, and had scarcely gone out when Etmekjí Zádeh came in, to whom the emperor put the same question he had put to the mufti. “Please your majesty,” replied Etmekjí, “I am at your service, and am willing to sacrifice my life in the service of the crown.” The emperor was silent, and the other thinking this silence on the part of the emperor betokened his majesty’s selection of himself, he went out. Khalíl Páshá now entered, when his majesty saluted him by informing him that he was appointed grand vezír and commander-in-chief: “The seals shall be sent after you,” added the emperor. Khalíl kissed his majesty’s hand for the honours he had conferred on him, and returned to his own mansion: so did also the other vezírs, but none of them knew any thing of the appointment of Khalíl Páshá.
Etmekjí Zádeh, full of the idea of being raised to the premiership, as he vainly thought, got his table spread out and covered with all sorts of viands for his friends, and impatiently waited for the arrival of the seals, which he believed would be sent him. But he waited in vain: they were sent to Khalíl Páshá. This fact was soon announced to Etmekjí, even at the very time he was regaling himself with his friends, as before hinted, and which had such a paralyzing effect on the constitution of Etmekjí, that his hands refused to touch the food which stood before him. His friends were all struck with surprise: they wondered at the sudden change which had appeared in their host: they were silent and retired. This unexpected piece of information was first communicated by a messenger who came to call the Reïs effendí, one of Etmekjí Zádeh’s guests, desiring him to wait on the new minister.
Hasan Aghá, son-in-law to Mesli Aghá, ághá of the janissaries, who fell before Reván, was, though only a kúl ketkhodá, appointed to succeed his father-in-law; but this appointment not meeting with his majesty’s approbation, Hasan Aghá, bostánjí báshí, was appointed to the command of the janissaries, and was sent off to Erzerúm, where the janissaries then were.