paper, in a red box, as your grand credentials from the house of Sharka and Co. ?-Did not you give a good reason for not being the bearer of private letters from Aug., B., and others?-Did not you say that all were mere dunces in comparison with Kokub? But all is trick. The poor devil, I believe, was given carte blanche to lie, provided he could spy-perhaps from another quarter.

Oh! odious! For God's sake, keep clear of him! What has such a fellow to do with me, or my concerns? He has ever been a meddler and mischiefmaker, and for these twenty years I have had no communication with him. By what law of God, or man, are you bound to answer people's questions?—the lowest and most vulgar of proceedings. I have told you so for years and years. What had he to do with the coming or going of X.? and what sort of a fellow is X., to have thus made public my affairs?

Of the assistance of the Fat or the Thin I will not hear. The last I have had no communication with for twenty years and more, and the other I cannot respect. Heber has grieved me, for I once thought better of him. He has, at times, made offers of service in a vague way, just to say he had made them; but, if sincere, he would have written-"You have lost a

friend; perhaps your presence may be required in England, to put your affairs to rights; therefore, I have placed so-and-so at Coutts's, ready for your journey, which, if not necessary, let me have the consolation of thinking may add to your little comforts." I should not have accepted anything, but yet should have thought it necessary to have thanked him, which I have not done for nonsensical speeches. I feel that I have no friend left in Europe; all are gone. Yet Allah mojôod [God is with me], and that is enough.

Speaking to little A. was proper; but, to all others, oh, what folly! You are no chitter-chatterer by nature, but your vanity makes you so. Why did I never speak to you of sublime things?-because I feared your prudence. You used sometimes to sayI have been asked so and so, something so extraordinary. Poh! poh! stuff! Are you a fool? Do hold your tongue. Those hums and hahs were only distant hints: had you heard more, you would have gone mad. Not so me: I am all composure; haughty before men, but humble in spirit, like the Nebby Davod [the prophet David], before the wise dispenser of hum and khyr [of sorrow and joy].

Do you think that misery will make me crouch, or beg of those who have no heart? If I beg, it will be

of the followers of Omar and Ali, whose creed is

gene

rosity; and the good, amongst them, never even wound an unfortunate being, by making him retail his, misfortunes.

Since my mind has been made up, I am not low, but feeble, and almost blind with a sort of violent muscular contraction, which has drawn my eyes into my head, and sometimes has distorted all my body. But my body is nothing; the heart is as full of fire as ever. I cannot read what I have written. I was two days making out your last letters. I had prepared a little court, with two rooms and an open divan, for you; but, with Mrs. M. and the children, it will not do. I shall love her and the dear children much, and all might be comfortable. God grant it so! I have a house in the village, which is good, and will do very well-clean, with two rooms up-stairs. If things were to turn out well, I should quickly build apartments close to the house, which would be near and convenient. But what do I say? All my plans are overturned; and, although in spirits at the idea of shortly getting away from all I have to go through, I am miserable that that cheat X. did not perfectly explain about your letter enclosed in Aug.'s. Poor man! what will you do?

34

LADY HESTER STANHOPE.

Well, now I have said enough, and must make up my mind to have, in a few days, an attack, from overstraining my head and eyes: but it is the last effort of the nature I shall make. Adieu.

[Not signed.]

PS. A dun, who came here two months ago—a Christian-took a Turk into his room, after I had seen and spoken to him, and said—“I came to get my money, but now I am ready to cry at her situation. It is clear that those Franks are unprincipled and unfeeling, that they have no religion, and know not God. The proof is—and does there want a stronger?-their leaving such a wonderful person as she really is to wither with sorrow." Then he went out swearing, and took his leave. These are the feelings now alive among the Turkish population. As a contrast, mark how Mr., an Englishman, acts. He told one of my creditors to take my bond, put it in water, and, when well sopped, to drink the mixture; "for that is all," said he, "you will ever get for it." Furious was the creditor, and took himself off to a distance, but will in a few months be back again to torment me.

CHAPTER II.

Dr. M's. departure from England to join Lady Stanhope -Voyage from Leghorn to Syria-The vessel plundered by a Greek pirate-Return to Leghorn-Signor Girolamo— Letter from Lady Stanhope to Mr. Webb, merchant at Leghorn Lady Stanhope persecuted by the Emir Beshyr Letter from Lady Stanhope to Dr. M., describing her position in 1837 Her reliance on Providence Second Letter to

Mr. Webb- Her opinion of the Turks and Christians in Syria, and of the wild Arabs-Terror of the Franks in Syria, on occasion of the battle of Navarino-They take refuge in Lady Stanhope's house The Franks in Syria-Her Letter to Dr. M., urging him to rejoin her-Her advice-Her ladyship's illness-Dr. M. sails for Syria.