found with any-and the very laws that were originally intended to establish happiness among mankind, form a source, whence flows a great portion of our misery and wretchedness.'

The Turks are remarkable for their generosity too, it seems: Those grounds owned by Armenians and Greeks, are, during the harvest, guarded by persons who prevent both men and dogs from entering, when the former are not better armed than themselves, while the Turks show their superiority in the Christian virtue of benevolence, by permitting all to partake of the fruits with which it is pleased the Almighty to bless their lands.'

And for their forbearance, in a still more wonderful degree, according to the following story of an occurrence said to have happened 'some years since.' 'During a performance [of rope dancing] where the Christians alone were admitted, a Turk, wishing to participate in the amusement, offered money to gain an entrance. This being refused, he endeavoured to force his way into the enclosure, when the man who attended at the gate, shot him with a pistol which he drew from his breast. 'Confusion immediately ensued. The Franks were in the greatest state of alarm, and fled to their houses, not knowing, yet dreading, the consequence.

'Instead of taking ample revenge while their murdered countryman lay before them, the Turks, in the most reasonable manner, demanded the culprit of the consul representing his country, that he might be punished for his crime, agreeably to the laws of God and man; but either from mistaken pride, or through ignorance that Mahometans possess feelings like other human beings, it was denied, and they retired highly dissatisfied, breathing vengeance against the Christians universally.

'For some days the flames of discord were half smothered -they still retained hopes that their reasonable demand would be complied with, but finding it vain, they set fire to the buildings in Frank-street, which, with the property they contained, were entirely consumed, and those of the inhabitants only escaped the sabre, who were fortunate enough to gain the country, or find an asylum on board the shipping.'

The catastrophe was not quite so creditable as it might have been, to the mildness of the Mahometan temper-but ropedancing is now prohibited, and every Frank, that is every European, or, we presume, American, we are told in Letter XX., 'provided he gives no cause of jealousy to the Turks as regards their women, and shows a proper respect to their religion when permitted to enter a mosque, may enjoy more liberty, and as much happiness, in Asia, as in any part of the world. He can own houses, and merchandise of every description, without being taxed by government, merely paying to the owner a ground rent for the land on which his dwelling stands; but should he be detected in an intrigue with any of their women, his life would be in danger, and that of the woman would certainly be sacrificed to their rage.'

That'noblest work of God,' an honest man, is to be found we are informed, in every full grown Mussulman.

'Honesty, so often sought, and rarely found among the enlightened and religious communities of Europe and America, in this part of Asia, and in the Turkish dominions west of the Hellespont, stands unrivalled.

'Whether a sense of virtue, or moral obligations to each other contained in the pages of the Koran, is the cause, I am unable to say; but all travellers who have visited this country, and are devested of prejudice, will do them the justice to say, that theft is a crime almost unknown throughout the realms of the Grand Seignor. * *

*

' A merchant of Smyrna having occasion to send about five hundred pounds sterling a distance of about four days journey into the country, requested his brokers to find a suitable

person! The first they met in the streets, although one of the lowest porters, was engaged for that purpose.

'The gold was handed him in a bag, and without even inquiring his name, or residence in the city, he was directed to hand it to the merchant in the village, whose name was given him on a piece of paper, and on his return he should receive the amount agreed on, about five dollars, as a compensation for his trouble.

'On the eighth or ninth day he returned to the city, stating he had delivered the money, when he received his pay, and went to seek employment in the streets.

'After an elapse of nearly a month, a letter from the merchant announced that he had not received the money, and expressed surprise at the circumstance. This excited considerable alarm, particularly as it was almost impossible to find the messenger, having a second time neglected to take his name. After three days search, however, he was found, staggering through the streets with a heavy burthen on his back; and being informed of the cause why they sought him, he laid it down, and exclaimed, God forbid, that I should wrong any man, even a Christian;'-' but,' he continued, 'I will go back again at my own expense, and see who has the property; otherwise my reputation will be ruined! This speech had a curious effect from a man whose whole real and personal estate would not, in all probability, have amounted to fifty piastres.

'He departed, and arriving at the village, examined with a scrutinizing eye every Christian he met, till at last the Greek, to whom he had given the gold, presented himself. 'You have injured my reputation, like a dog as you are,' said the porter, ' and have taken from me that which belongs to another; but, thank God, you are found at last! I will take you to the Agha, and have you hung, that the world may be rid of such a scoundrel.' The Greek, on his knees, begged forgiveness: ' I was in distress,' he said, 'when I saw you, and

having occasion for the money, I assumed the name of my neighbour! It was my intention to have paid him, before he would feel any alarm as to the remittance. But spare my character; here is your gold, and here are five hundred piastres for yourself!'-The Turk allowed him to depart, took the money to the right owner, and returned with his pockets better filled than they had been during the whole course of his life.'

The above anecdote would be more valuable if vouched for by the personal knowledge of our author; in the following extract, however, he will be found bearing witness unequivocally to circumstances indicative either of great and general probity or extreme carelessness, we will not pretend to determine which.

'So universal is this virtue of honesty among the Turks, that property the most valuable may be sent with perfect safety to any part of the empire; and as none but mussulmen are permitted to act as porters, couriers, or in any other capacity requiring integrity on the part of the performer, little risk exists of its ever changing. In my excursions and travels about the country, I have frequently seen bales of valuable merchandise lying on the sides of the roads, far distant from houses or human beings; and on inquiring of the Turks, why they were so exposed, was informed, that the camel-drivers, sometimes finding their beasts overloaded, heave off a part, and take it up on their return, or at some other convenient opportunity.

،

During the spring, orders are given for cotton, and the Turk has a mark given by the merchant to place on the bales. In the autumn it is brought to the city, thrown into a khan in one promiscuous mass, and each merchant selects that portion belonging to himself! I was informed, that in no instance has a bale ever been lost.'

Lastly the piety of the Turks is portrayed as exemplary, indeed: 'The perfect resignation with which the Turks sub

mit to the dispensations of Providence, cannot but be pleasing to every one. If they are fortunate, God is praised: if the reverse, they say, 'His will be done.'

'The Turk never effects insurance on his commercial adventures; but often, previous to despatching his vessel, makes a solemn promise that, should he be fortunate, a sum of money shall be bestowed in charity; which promise is never broken. But should she be lost, and, as often happens, his whole property with her, he exclaims, 'God's will be done,' and seeks in the streets the means of accumulating another, in the laborious employment of a porter.

'His friends continue to show him the respect he previously experienced, remarking, 'Our brother has been unfortunate, but it was the will of God! Why should we treat him otherwise? We are all liable to lose our possessions, and it would be censuring the decrees of the Almighty, were we to neglect him! How can we but admire these principles, notwithstanding they emanate from the breasts of those differing from us in religious tenets.'

It was probably a belief of this amiable resignation and benevolence that induces our author to mark, 'notwithstanding their religion differs from ours, still I cannot help respecting it! They worship the same God that we do, they esteem our Saviour as a great prophet and law-giver, their prayers are evidently offered with a sincere heart, and considering that it is the religion of their ancestors, how can we blame them for preferring it to ours?-Did you but know in what contempt they hold a renegado, you would agree in opinion with me, that the combined power of the whole Christian world would not be able to persuade a virtuous mussulman to change his faith.'

There are a few facts mentioned however, in the letters that rather militate against this perfection of character.