gardens. At dinner, as in the eastern groan (which I find is in Turkey an manner, he fits cross-legged upon cushions; the Icoglans or pages place before him a table about a foot in height, on which is spread a covering of Morocco leather. The meats on golden dishes are brought up to the door of his apartment by the Major Duomo and his officers, where they are received by the Icoglans and ferved. His liquor is fherbet ;-wine being forbidden by the Alcoran. During dinner there are certain eunuchs who read to him the history of his predeceffors, or a translation of Quintus Curtius; but this anecdote I have heard denied, therefore cannot vouch for it. On Sundays and Tuesdays, when he rifes from table, he goes to the faloon of audience, to converfe with his Ministers upon ftate affairs, and every Friday at ten o'clock, it is almost an indifpenfible duty upon him to go publickly to one of the mofchs: on this occafion he is attended by four or five hundred horfe, among which are his principal eunuchs and officers, and alfo by two or three thousand janizaries, &c. &c. As he paffes, all people are permitted to prefent him their petitions; which, when he fees lifted up on the end of a ftick, he orders one of his flaves to receive. I have been twice prefent at this proceffion, and think it the moft magnificent and interefting I ever beheld. The rich and various dreffes, the beauty and furniture of the Arabian horfes, the comely appearance of the janizaries and boftangis or corps of royal gardeners (whofe fingularly-formed caps of fcarlet cloth are particularly remarkable;) in a word, the fplendour, the novelty, the filence, and the folemnity of this fpectacle, cannot, I think, but make a most powerful impreffion upon every foriegn fpectator. Before the mofch the foldiers were drawn up in ranks to receive his Highnefs, on whofe arrival they gave a general indication of profound refpect) and immediately fell to the ground upon their faces. Abdul Hamid is in his 64th year. His countenance is long and folemn, his eyes large, full, and dark, but without expreffion: his other features regular, tho' far from pleafing: his beard is dyed black, and rather long: his drefs is fimilar to thofe of his principal officers, except in the folds of the turban, and the ermine of the black fox; which none are permitted to wear, it being like the Imperial purple of the Romans, the diftinctive badge of royalty. An attendant walked on one fide of him with his hand upon the pummel of the faddle, and after him rode his two fons, both children. I had an opportunity of obferving the fervile attention with which the courtiers addrefs the Kiflaar- Aga, and his fellow-flaves; and yet I am perfuaded they all hate them cordially. But to return to the feraglio. It is impoffible to give any certain account of its female inhabitants; many books indeed prétend to it, but believe me their contents are mere romance. Information of this kind can only come from the eunuchs, or women whom the Sultan has given in marriage to his Palhas, and it is not probable that they would divulge the fecrets of the Haram. We know that the moft honourable females are the Sultanas, or those who have borne children. They have their feparate ef tablishments, and are treated with the greatest refpect. The others live together, being governed by the Kadunes, or Duennas of the feraglio, and carefully guarded by the eunuchs, who punish with feverity their most trifling faults. The Sultan generally cohabits with a felect few: fhould he defire an addition to thefe, the ladies are affembled by the Kadan-Cahia, or Chief of the Duennas, in a large apartment, where he choofes and declares his choice by prefenting the the object of it with a pledge. The Seraglio is fupplied by the Pafhas or Governors of Provinces, who fend to it the most beautiful girls they can find. They are principally Circaffians, because they are naturally more delicate than the Georgians; but among them are women from almost every part of the empire, and many foreignWhen the Monarch dies, his Sultanas are removed to the old Seraglio, which becomes their refidence, and also of all the royal race, except of the reigning Sultan's infant children. The eldest male of the family always fucceeds to the throne. The immediate fucceffor of Abdul Hamid therefore will not be his fon, but his nephew Selim, if not cut off to make room for his coufin. This Prince is now eight and twenty years of age, and by report a handfome man. He has, fince his father the late Sultan's death, been immured in the old Seraglio, which he cannot leave but with his uncle. Women are allowed him, but only fuch as are past child - bearing. Should either of them bring forth a male, the infant would, according to the jealous and inhuman policy of thefe barbarians, be immediately ftrangled; as otherwise he might fucceed to the throne before the children of the reigning Prince. dation and death. This happens when the fanatic multitude are taught to think their religion or welfare in danger from the neglect or imbecility of the Prince. Then it is, that, loft to those sentiments which infpired them with respect and attachment, they murmur, affemble, dethrone and deftroy him, in expectation of enjoying, under the government of his fucceffor, the fecurity and advantages which were denied them in his. Yet the Vizier Azem is in a manner refponsible for the misdeeds of his master; and often, though perhaps reluctantly, given a facrifice to the blind fury of a mob for his personal protection. The authority of this Minister (who bears round his neck the great feal of the empire) knows no limit but the Sultan's will. He may put to death whom he pleafes, except the Pafhas, the Spahis, the janizaries and other foldiers. The Sultan's fign manual indeed is neceffary for the execution of the firft of these, and the confent of their commanding officers for that of the military, but ne her are ever an impediment to his inclination. He commands the whole empire except in fuch things as relate to religion, and certain offices of juf tice. When the Sultan remains at home he marches with the forces, of which he is Generaliffimo. He correfponds with foreign Princes, their Ambaffadors, &c. and anfwers them. as he pleafes. His falary is finali, but the prefents and contributions of the Pafhas and Beys make his income immenfe. The Vizier Nafchangi, who was strangled on the 26th of October 1755, had amaffed in the two months of his Miniftry 100,000l. Between officers, attendants, and fervants, he has feldom lefs than 2000 perfons at his court. When he goes M m The authority of the Grand Signor is unquestionably the moft abfolute among the fovereigns of Europe, as his fubjects not only regard him with awe in a political light as the lord of their lives and properties, but with veneration in a religious one, as the fucceffor and reprefentative of their prophet. Nevertheless, though thus fortified with power and public opi. nion, he is fubject to all the evils of a military Government †,-to degra out * Since thefe letters were written, Abdul Hamid has been poisoned, and Selim has fucceeded to the diadem. The janizaries are at Conftantinople what the Prætorian bands were in Rome; as mereenary, as turbulent, and as powerful, but lefs enlightened. out on public days his standard-bear- to his wish. The Capoudan- Pasha is éd. Lord High Admiral and commander of the fleets. The Reis-Effendi is the principal Secretary of State, and ever attendant upon the Vizier to iffue out letters patents, edicts, commiffions, &c. Befides thefe are many other great officers, fuch as the FaniffarAgasi or General of the janizaries, the Beglerbeys or Governors of Provinces upon whom the Sultan beftows the three Tails, the Tefterdar, or Grand Treafurer, Boftangi Pasha er carries before him on a pole topped with gold three horfe tails. The three grand Pafhas of the empire, namely of Buda, of Babylon, and of Cairo, have indeed this privilege, but all the others are confined to one. Whenever the feals are taken from him, he is either ftrangled or banishIndeed were it not for the inftability of his charge, and the bowString, his fituation would be more defirable as his authority is in effect more extenfive than his Sovereign's. The Mufti or High Prieft, is appoint-, &c. I am inclined to believe that ed by the Sultan. He is expected to be virtuous and learned in the Alcoran. His infallibility is much more generally acknowledged by the Muffulman's than that of the Pope by the Roman Catholicks; for his decifions are on all queftions final, and nothing of moment is undertaken, unless he be confulted on it. Should his opinion, however, be adverse to that of his mafter, he would immediately depofe him, and fupply his place with another whofe fentiments would be more accommodating court intrigue and cabal were never ANECDOTES OF DR PAUL HIFFERNAN. WHEN Hiffernan refufed accep ting credit for fix months for a number of books, which he could very well difpofe of amongst his friends we can very well fee the price he fet on keeping his lodging a fecret. The fale of the books would be a ready-money traffic to him during the time; the tranflation would likewife gain him fome reputation; and as to the payment of his note, that could be fettled in his ufual way, viz. for fome time by promifes, and at length by a frank acknowledgment of total incapacity;-yet all thefe advantages were foregone fooner than" divulge the fecrets of his prifon-house." -There he was alike impenetrable to friend and foe. The next thing of any confequence that engaged our Author's attention, was a work called "Dramatic Genius"--which he dedicated to Garrick, his friend and patron through life. This work is divided into five books. The firft delineates a plan of a permanent temple to be erected to the memory of Shakespeare, with fuitable decorations and infcriptions. The fecond inveftigates the progrefs of the human mind in inventing the drama, and conducting it to perfection; with a candid difquifition of the rules laid down by critics. The third exhibits a philofophical analysis of the pre-requifites of the art of acting. The fourth difplays the criteria of Dramatic Genius in compofition, and the the beautiful and fublime of acting; and the fifth treats of architecture, painting, and other arts, fo far as they are acceffary to Theatrical reprefen tation. There is in this, as in most of Hiffernan's writings, a mixture of science and abfurdity-He had not tafte fufficient to set off his learning, and his familiar life was fuch as to fhut out all improvement. The characters of the feveral plays of Shakespeare given in this work are in Latin as well as in English; and as the Doctor piqued himself on his Latinity, the reader will judge for himself, what excellence he poffeffed in that language, from the following fpecimen of the character of Richard the Third: umbræ. Religione tegit facinus, quia fanguinis ul tro Prodigus humani effuderat-omnis Richmondus petitur; Gallorum elapfus ab oris Advolat in patriam cecinerunt horrida bellum Claffica-Bofworthi in campo pugnatur ; -acerba det Funera denfantur-mediis in millibus ar- repente "Nox ruat in terras, perituro prologus orbi." work were very confiderable, as GarThe fubfcriptions he gained by this rick exerted himself amongst his friends for the author, and who could refufe Garrick on the fubject of the ftage? And yet, though thefe exertions might have done credit to the friendship of our English Rofcius, they did not ferve his delicacy very much, as the praifes fo lavishly beftowed on him should have in fome refpect withheld his perfonal interference befides, they were too fulfome in themselves to add any degree of credit to fuch established abilities. The amount of thefe fubfcriptions we do not exactly know, but thould fuppofe to be from one hundred and twenty to one hundred and fifty pounds;a temporary mine to fuch a man as Hiffernan, who lived fo much with the public-and who, in his interior life, there is every reafon to fuppofe, practifed a rigid œco nomy. With this money he emerged a little more into life, quitted the old English drefs (as he used to call his feedy clothes) for a new fuit of black, and knocked at the doors of his friends with all the confidence of a fuccefsful author. In this progrefs, our author fometimes felt l'embarras du richesse, in a manner that was laughable enough. Dining one day at a friend's house, and feeling the confequence and novelty of a full pocket, he wanted the change of a twenty-pound bank note; the gentleman faid he had not quite his fervant was going on a meffage to fo much money in the house, but as Fleet-freet after dinner, he fhould take it to Mr Hoare his Banker, and bring him the change. This did very well, and foon after Hiffernan gave M m 2 the bunda, Impatiens, volat huc; illuc fua prælia jactans: "Sex Richmondi hodié dextrâ hac ceci dere, morantem "Richmondum quoties," rauco vox in crepat ore! the note to the man for the above purpose. So far the object of felf-confequenceand vanity were fufficientlydifplayed, and our author joined in pushing about the bottle with great fpirit and conviviality. After an hour or two spent in this manner, Hiffernan enquired after the man-the bell was rung-but no man was as yet return edhe dropped his jaw a little upon this but faid nothing.-In a bout an hour afterwards he enquired again-but no man. Here our author began to lofe a little patience, and turning round to the gentleman of the houfe, very gravely exclaimed, "By the living G-, I'm afraid your man has run off with the money. "Upon my word, Doctor, fays the other (fmoking him), I must confefs it has an odd appearance; but if the fellow fhould have gone off-it is with your money-not mine."- My money!" exclaimed Hiffernan, starting from his chair, and raifing his voice." Sir, I would have you to know, that I know law as well as you in this particular, and I know that if I gave my money to your fervant by your direction, the act of the fervant is the act of the mafter."-Here an altercation on the point of law for fome time took place, when the Doctor was most happily extricated out of all his fears by the arrival of his fervant with the money, and who was only prevented from returning in time, by a number of other meffages which he had to deliver from his miftrefs. 66 The next production of the Doctor's was a thing which he called "The Philofophic Whim," and which he ironically dedicated to the Univerfities of Oxford and Cambridge. This is fuch a jumble of nonfenfe,there is no reading or defining it; if it aims at any thing, it appears to be a laugh against fome branches of modern philofophy-but fo miferably executed, as to warrant a fuppo fition, that the man must be mad, odrunk, who wrote it. The publicar tion however answered his purpose, for as he was very heedless of his literary reputation or perhaps did not always know when he was degrading it he as ufual fubfcribed it amongst his friends-and generally whenever he went to dine, taxed his hoft from half-a-crown to a guinea (just as he could get it) for this pamphlet. Hugh Kelly, who had previously feen it at a friend's houfe, generously fent him a guinea for a copy-but confoled himfelf at the fame time, that he was under no obligation to read it. Talking of this ftrange publication at that time, gave rife to one of the laft flashes of poor Goldfmith.— How does this poor devil of an author, fays a friend, contrive to get credit even with his bookfeller for paper, print, and advertising?"Oh! my dear Sir, fays Goldfmith, very eafily-he fteals the brooms ready made." The next year, 1775, Doctor, Hiffernan appeared as a Dramatic author, by the introduction of a tragedy at Drury Lane Theatre, under the title of "The Heroine of the Cave."The hiftory of this piece is as follows: -After the death of Henry Jones, the author of the tragedy of the Earl of Effex (a man fuperior to Hiffernan in point of genius, but very like him in his want of prudence and difcretion,) this piece was found amongst his loofe papers by the late Mr Reddish, of Drury Lane Theatre, who foon after brought it out for his benefit.-Hiffernan and Reddish living in clofe habits of intimacy, the latter, after his benefit, gave it to the Doctor, and fuggefted to him that he might make fomething of it by extending the plot, and adding fome new characters. Hiffernan undertook it, and brought it out the next year for the benefit of Mifs Younge (now Mis Pope,) with a new prologue, epilogue, &c. &c. -and |