ave quarrelled for partition and enjoyment, and
disorder hath arisen in every class of society.

The Sultan, intoxicated with grandeur, has mistaken the object of his
functions; and all the vices of arbitrary power have been developed.
Meeting no obstacle to his appetites, he has become a depraved being;
weak and arrogant, he has kept the people at a distance; and their
voice has no longer instructed and guided him. Ignorant, yet flattered,
neglecting all instruction, all study, he has fallen into imbecility;
unfit for business, he has thrown its burdens on hirelings, and they
have deceived him. To satisfy their own passions, they have stimulated
and nourished his; they have multiplied his wants, and his enormous
luxury has consumed everything. The frugal table, plain clothing, simple
dwelling of his ancestors no longer sufficed. To supply his pomp, earth
and sea have been exhausted. The rarest furs have been brought from the
poles; the most costly tissues from the equator. He has devoured at
a meal the tribute of a city, and in a day that of a province. He has
surrounded himself with an army of women, eunuchs, and satellites. They
have instilled into him that the virtue of kings is to be liberal, and
the munificence and treasures of the people have been delivered into
the hands of flatterers. In imitation of their master, his servants
must also have splendid houses, the most exquisite furniture; carpets
embroidered at great cost, vases of gold and silver for the lowest uses,
and all the riches of the empire have been swallowed up in the Serai.

To supply this inordinate luxury, the slaves and women have sold their
influence, and venality has introduced a general depravation. The favor
of the sovereign has been sold to his vizier, and the vizier has sold
the empire. The law has been sold to the cadi, and the cadi has made
sale of justice. The altar has been sold to the priest, and the priest
has sold the kingdom of heaven. And gold obtaining everything, they
have sacrificed everything to obtain gold. For gold, friend has betrayed
friend, the child his parent, the servant his master, the wife her
honor, the merchant his conscience; and good faith, morals, concord, and
strength were banished from the state.

The pacha, who had purchased the government of his province, farmed
it out to others, who exercised every extortion. He sold in turn the
collection of the taxes, the command of the troops, the administration
of the