there exist so ferocious a people as to encourage barbarity by rewarding it, and can take a pleasure in such disgusting objects?"

The season proved so extremely rigorous, that men and horses perished of the cold, though accustomed to brave severe weather. Whole flocks were found frozen dead upon the plains, and partly buried by the hurricanes of sleet and snow. A single day's march cost the army 3000 men, and 30,000 horses. "I cannot make the weather better," observed the khan ; "but I can inspire courage to bear it." He mounted his horse, and rode through the ranks in a biting wind, strictly conforming to the custom which prohibits oriental sovereigns from wearing the shawls with which private persons protect their heads in the chilling wintry blasts. The expedition, intended to ravage New Servia, and cut off supplies from the Russians, having accomplished the object, retired to the Dniester, leaving the province in a horrible condition. The smoke of 150 villages destroyed by fire, the fine ashes caught up by the wind, and the vapour of the melted snow darkened the sky for twenty leagues.

Soon after returning to Kaouchan, the career of Krim Gherai was suddenly brought to a close. Subject to hypochondriachal affections, a Greek of

ance.

repute as a physician, and also a political agent, introduced himself, and offered the succour of his art. De Tott vainly remonstrated against its accept"What, my friend," said the khan, "are you afraid?" "Undoubtedly," he replied; "reflect on that man's situation and your own, and judge whether I am wrong." "What nonsense; " said he, "what good can I derive from such an examination? A single glance is sufficient; look at him,-look at me,--and see whether the infidel would dare!" The next day the khan had scarcely strength to move, and went out of his harem no more. On De Tott entering the apartment where he was lying, he had just finished dictating some despatches to the secretary of his council. Pointing to the papers which were lying around him," See there," said he, "my last work; and my last moments I have reserved for you." But soon perceiving the grief caused by his situation, "Let us separate,” he added ;

66

your sensibility would melt me, and I will try to go to sleep more gaily." He then made a sign to six musicians at the bottom of his chamber to begin a concert; and about an hour afterwards, the unfortunate prince breathed his last to the sound of music. The symptoms of poison were soon apparent in the state of the body. In the general

No

A

confusion the Greek escaped into Wallachia. one doubted his being a secret agent of Russia. coach hung with mourning, and drawn by six horses, caparisoned with black cloth, conveyed the khan to the resting-place of his predecessors in the Crimea, attended by an escort of princes, nobles, and troops. The name of Krim Gherai occurs in an inscription on the fountain of Marie at Bakchi-serai; but it is quite doubtful if he was the party connected with her history. "Rejoice! rejoice! Bakchiserai! For the enlightened khan, Krim Gherai, ever benevolent, ever solicitous for the welfare of his children, discovered this excellent spring of the purest water, and through his own munificence erected this beautiful fountain. Glory to the most omnipotent! If there exists such another fountain in the universe, let it be found! Damascus and Bagdad have many glorious things, but so beautiful a fountain they have not beheld."

The most horrible severities were adopted by the Russian commanders in Poland against the Confederates of Bar, in order to prevent a diversion from that quarter interfering with the war with the Turks. Soltikof formally announced to his army, that officers or soldiers should be rigorously punished who took prisoner a Confederate, and

granted him his life. Nine unhappy men of quality were seen in the capital, whose arms had been cut off at the wrists, by orders of General Drevitch, who superintended the execution of the execrable act. During the early part of the war, the Turks fought with fiery energy; and twice defeated their antagonists in pitched battles. But upon Marshal Romanzow taking the command of the imperial army in 1770, they met with severe reverses, courage not being supported by skilful generalship, and artifice being added to the force of arms by the enemy. The deceased khan of the Crimea was succeeded by his nephew. Being young and feeble, the Porte deposed him. Kaplan Gherai was substituted, a warlike prince, but more qualified to fight as a soldier, than lead as a captain. While encamped on the Pruth, at the head of a united army of Tatars and Turks, his astrologer betrayed his plans to Romanzow, lured by a bribe, and also induced his master to forego an opportunity favourable for an attack, by declaring the time unpropitious. This treachery contributed to two disastrous defeats, which laid open the whole frontier of the sultan to invasion, secured the fame of the Russian commander, and led Catherine seriously to contemplate obtaining possession of Constantinople. The villany

of the astrologer being discovered, the bow-string did its office, but the mischief was irreparable.

While the great contest raged furiously on the Danube in 1771, between Romanzow and the grand vizier, Prince Dolgorouki led a strong imperial army against the Crimea, forced the lines of Perekop, and overrun the peninsula. The campaign was almost an unopposed march, for the Turkish commanders timidly retired before him, and abandoned the country, leaving the khan no alternative but to quit it also, or fall into the hands of the conqueror. Intrigue had previously been at work sowing disunion among the Tatars, and sapping the integrity of their Turkish allies. Indignant at the cowardice of Abbas Pasha and some other officers, the sultan sent them the fatal bow-string, and their heads were exposed at the gate of the Seraglio. The khan remained after their departure in the highlands, but, finding it impossible to cope with his adversaries, he escaped to Constantinople. Catherine, in a letter to Voltaire, dated August 2nd, 1771, remarks:-" Perhaps in a little time the Khan of the Crimea will be brought to me in person. I learn this moment that he did not cross the sea with the Turks, but that he remained in the mountains with a very small number of followers, nearly as was the case with the Pre