dignity which befits his situation. There is not, either in his countenance or speech, that formal and unyielding apathy, which is the characteristic of the Turks as a people; but more vivacity, humour, and change of expression. His laugh is very peculiar, and its deep tone, approaching to a growl, might also startle an ear unaccustomed to it.

A day or two afterwards he again sent for us to the Seraglio, and, some general conversation having taken place, he asked several questions which evidently had relation to his health, and formed a sort of exercise of his judgment upon me.

After this preamble, he entered upon a narrative of his complaints, which, though I could only distantly follow it in his own language, yet was evidently marked by good precision and force in the manner of relation. He continued speaking for about fifteen minutes, and afforded me during this time a fine occasion of marking the feature of his countenance and manner. The narrative was translated to me with little abridgment, and much seeming accuracy, by the dragoman Colovo. In its substance, I may remark generally, that there was a good deal of caedulity and prejudice displayed on some points; on others, more soundness of judgment than is common to the Turks as a nation. For various reasons I do not feel myself at liberty to give the particulars of this narrative, nor would they afford any thing new to the medical reader. It

may suffice to say, that at this time he was suffering under no acute disorder; that his symptoms VOL. LVII.

were chiefly of a chronic nature, depending partly upon his age, partly upon circumstances in his former life, with other symptoms that I learnt more from my own observation than his report, which required the use of preventive means, to obviate eventual danger.

In those interviews, however, which were very frequent during the last week of our stay at Ioannina, the conversation was not confined to medical matters alone, but went into other topics of a more familiar kind. Situated as I now was with him, I could feel perfectly at ease in this intercourse, which every circumstance contributed to render highly interesting. He usually sent for me to the Seraglio in the afternoon or evening; sometimes alone, or occasionally with my friend, when he had

nothing to say about his complaints. At whatever time it was, the approaches to the Seraglio were always crowded with the singular groups already described. The Vizier was rarely to be found in the same room on two successive days; and, during my present stay at Ioannina, I was with him in eight different apartments. His dress was not greatly varied; and only on one occasion I saw him with a turban instead of the blue cap, which he wore at the time of our first interview. His attitude also was very uniform, according to the Turkish habit. I seldom saw him rise from his couch, though once he did so, while explaining to me the decline of his bodily powers, striding firmly at the same time across the chamber, as if to show that still much of energy was left. His manner of 2 G reception

reception was always polite and dignified. There was evidently more form intended, when many persons were present, and his manner became more easy and familiar when we were alone.

The most frequent topics introduced by the Vizier in conversation, were those relating to general politics; and in these it was evident that he was more interested than in any other. The conversation was usually carried on by question and reply; and his inquiries, though often shewing the characteristic ignorance of the Turks in matters of common knowledge, yet often also were pertinent and well conceived, and made up by acuteness what they wanted of instruction. Some of these questions, which I noted down, may serve as specimens of their usual style. We were talking about England. He inquired the population of the country; and whether I thought it as populous as those parts of Albania I had seen? The answer to this question led him to describe briefly the northern parts of Albania, as being much better inha bited than those to the south of Joannina. He then pursued the former subject; asked what was the size and population of London; and expressed surprise when informed of its magnitude. He enquired the number of our ships of war; the comparison of their size with the frigates he had seen on his coast, and where they were all employed.

He inquired the distance of America from England and France; its extent; and to whom it belonged. He asked respecting its population and the longevity of its inhabitants, and dwelt espe

cially on the latter point, to which I observed him always to attach a peculiar interest. He remarked, that he had heard that the Indians and Chinese live to a great age, and asked whether I knew this to be the case, or was acquainted with any particular means they used for the purpose. Seeing him inclined to follow this topic, I stated the remarkable instances of longevity in our own countrymen, Parr and Jenkins; at which he expressed surprise, and much desire to know if there were any means in nature by which this end might be obtained. It was eri. dent, that in this question he had reference to himself; and I took the opportunity of enforcing upc him some of the medical advice I had before given. He gave assent to what I said; but at the same time pursued the question, whether there were not some more direct means of procuring long life. I mentioned to him generally the attempts that had been made some centuries ago, to discover the Elixir Vitæ; and stated that this was a project which had now been abandoned by all men of reflection. Alluding accidentally, at the same time, to the search after the philosopher's stone, he eagerly followed this subject, and wished to know whether there were not some secret methods of discovering gold, which gave their possessor the power of procuring any amount of this metal. There was a strong and significant interest in his manner of asking this question. which greatly struck me; and it was accompanied by a look toward myself, seeming to search into the truth of my reply. I answered, of course, that there were

no means of making gold and silver; that these metals were obtained only from the earth; and that the advantage of philosophy was in being able to employ the best means of raising them from mines, and purifying them for use. I doubt whether he was satisfied with this reply, or did not still believe in further mysteries of the alchemic art. The desire of gold and longevity are natural to a despot; and especially to one who, like Ali Pasha, has been ever pursuing a scheme of ambitious progress.

Our conversation had often a reference to the politics of the day, on which I found him well and accurately informed. It was at this time that Bonaparte was pursuing his memorable campaign in Russia; in all the events of which Ali Pasha felt a lively interest, naturally arising out of his relation to the two great Powers concerned. It was obviously for his advantage, that they should mutually wear out their strength, without either of them obtaining the preponderance. While at peace, they checked each other as to Turkey; when at war, if either were eminently successful, there was eventual danger to him. The vicinity of the French in the Illyrian provinces would speedily give effect any designs they might adopt in that quarter, either from views of general ambition, or from motives of personal hostility to himself, which he might be well aware that he had created by his conduct at Prevesa, his recent connection with the English, and by other circumstances of less notoriety. Of the power of Russia, and the ultimate danger to the

Turkish empire from this source, he was well informed; and he; as well as his sons, had felt and known the weight of the Russian armies pressing upon the Danube. He understood, too, that all foreign attempts at the restoration of Greece, whether with selfish or honourable motives, must of necessity imply a previous attack upon his power; and 1 believe he was fully sensible of his incapacity of resisting permanently the efforts of a regular European army. At various times I have heard him converse, more or less directly, on these topics; and in general there was an air of sound judgment in his remarks, which implied as well sagacity, as freedom from the prejudices of his nation:

I happened to be with him at the Seraglio, on the evening of the day when he received information of the French having entered Moscow. He was evidently in low spirits, and discomposed by the intelligence. I spoke to him of the perseverance and resources of Russia, and of the evils that might arise to the French army from the burning of Moscow, and the approach of winter. He was not satisfied by these arguments, but alluded in reply to the pacific temǝ per of Alexander, to the mistakes which had been committed in the last Polish campaign, to the treaty of Tilsit, and above all to the character of Bonaparte, which he justly characterized "as one that the world had never before seen."

The assiduity with which he applies himself to all his business is very great. He rises commonly before six, and his officers and sacretaries are expected to be with 26 2

him

him at this hour. There are no pauses in business during the day, except at twelve o'clock, when he takes his dinner, sleeping afterwards for an hour; and again at eight in the evening, which is his hour of supper. I have found him as late as nine o'clock, with three secretaries on the ground before him, listening to the most minute details of that branch of expenditure which relates to the post-houses; each article of which accounts he separately approved. His hours of pleasure are also in part subservient to the furtherance of business. I have seen him in the gardens of his pavilion surrounded by petitioners, and giving judgment on cases that were brought before him. Even when retiring to the Haram, he still preserves his public capacity; and, in the petty discords of three hundred women secluded from the world, it is not wonderful that his occupation and authority as a judge should still be required..

In his habits at table, Ali Pasha is temperate, though by no means so strict a Mussulman as to refuse himself wine. He almost always eats alone, according to the custom of Turks of high rank, and at the hours already mentioned. His dinner usually consists of twelve or sixteen covers, which are separately placed on a tray before him. The dishes are chiefly those of Turkish cookery; in addition to which a whole lamb, provided by his shepherds, is served up at his table every day in the year. His appetite is not at all fastidious; and I have been told that his cooks, in providing for him, take liberties which, under a luxurious

despot, would infallibly cost them their heads.

The adherence of Ali Pasha to the tenets of the Mahomedan religion, is by no means rigid, and probably depending more on a sense of interest, than upon any zeal or affection for these tenets. He has few of the prejudices of a Mussulman; and in regarding those around him, his consideration obviously is, not the religion of the man, but whether he can be of service to any of his views. I have seen a Christian, a Turkish, and a Jewish secretary, sitting on the ground before him at the same moment,-an instance of the principle which is carried throughout every branch of his government. In Albania especially, the Christian and Mussulman population are virtually on the same footing as to political liberty; all indeed slaves, but the former not oppressed, as elsewhere in Turkey, by those subordinate agencies of tyranny, which render more grating the chain that binds them. It may fairly be said, that under this government all religions find an ample toleration. I have even known instances where Ali Pasha has directed Greek churches to be built for the use of the peasants, as in the case of one or two of the villages on the plain of Arta.

Truth compels the addition of other features of less pleasing kind; and to the general picture of eastern despotism must be annexed some traits peculiar to the man. The most striking of these are, a habit of perpetual artifice, shewn in every circumstance of his life; and a degree of vindictive feeling, producing acts of the most unqualified ferocity. The most

legitimate

legitimate form his cunning assumes, is in political matters, where, according to frequent usage, it might perhaps have the name of sagacity and adroitness. He is cininently skilled in all the arts of intrigue, and his agents or spies are to be found every where in the Turkish empire, doing the work of their master with a degree of zeal which testifies at once his own talent in their selection, and the commanding influence of his powers over the minds of all that surround him. His political information, derived from these sources, and from the ample use of bribery, is of the best kind; and it may, I believe, be affirmed as a fact, that not a single event of importance can occur at Constantinople, even in the most secret recesses of the Divan, which is not known within eight days at the Seraglio of loannina.

ACCOUNT OF BEGGEE JAN.

From Sir J. Malcolm's History

of Persia.

Beggee Jan was the eldest son of the Ameer Daniel, who had, during the latter years of his life, by possessing himself of the person of the nominal prince, exercised an almost absolute authority over those tribes of the Usbegs which inhabit the territories immediately dependant upon Bokharah. When that noble died, he divided his great wealth among his numerous family, but declared Beggee Jan his heir. That chief, however, who had for some time before clothed himself in the patched garment of a fakeer, or

religious mendicant, instead of taking a part in those contests for power into which all his brothers' and near relations had entered, shut himself up in a mosque, and forbad any person to disturb his religious meditations. He also refused to accept the share which had been left to him of his father's wealth. "Take it," said he to those who brought it to him, "to the managers of the public charities. Bid them reimburse with it, as far as they can, those from whom it was extorted. I can never consent to stain my hands with money that has been obtained by violence." The same writer who states this fact, asserts, that he attired himself in the coarse dress worn by those who supplicate for mercy, and, having hung a sword round his neck, he proceeded to every quarter of the city of Bokharah, imploring, with tears in his eyes, the forgiveness and blessings of the inhabitants for his deceased father, and offering his own life as an expiatory sacrifice for any sins or crimeș which the Ameer Daniel might have committed. The character of Beggee Jan already stood high among the learned and religious; for he was deeply versed in theology, and had written many va❤ luable tracts; but this was the first time he had presented himself to the people. These, at once astonished and delighted at seeing such proofs of humility and sanctity in a person of his rank, crouded around him as if he had been a prophet, and all joined with him in prayers for blessings upon his parent. After having, by this proceeding, eradicated those feelings of revenge which

the