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magnifying King Charles, as the best of kings? No, Sir, this is not only the doctor's opinion, but the opinion of numberless perfons who ftill revere his memo v, by a decent and conftant attendance at church on the anniverfary of his martyrdom, while Philanthropos, with fome diffidents, may be regaling themfelves with calves heads Certainly the king that lays down his crown and life in defence of his religion, may properly be called the best of kings, (uniefs Philanthropes can fhew fuch another) withouting a courfe compliment on any crownd heads. Comparifons, Philanthropos, are odious, and the doctor, I believe, meant offence to none.-Philanthropos affects to be arch, in afking the doctor many questions. To anfwer all his interrogatories, is needlefs. Let us fee what hiftorians write of this great, good, and juft king. I

believe my authors are of as much

credit as Philanthropos. "It was reported (reports, Philanthropos, are often true) fays a certain author, that Oliver, upon a difguft between the army and parliament, made fome advances of reconciliation with the king,-whom he offered to reftore, not only to his legal authority, but to make him as abfolute as the grand fig. nior, on condition he would maintain the army, govern defpotically, and fupport their ambition.-But the good king, fo far from being guilty of thofe degns, which his enemies taxed him with, that he would not purchase his life, liberty, and revenge, at the expence of his confcience. Upon this refufal, Oliver never left him, till he brought him to the bicck. He condemned, and killed the jul, who deferred another fate.-But certain it is, if the king would have facrificed the church, difcharged the bishops, and have made Calamy, and fuch-like, his chaplains, there would have been no civil war, and he would have been reputed not only the best of kings, but even a faint, by thofe very men who took up arms against him."

As to his political errors, who was to blame? Let Philanthropos anfwer this question. Magna eft veritas et prevalibit. In his note, p. 93, he obferves, that all the Stuarts were ruined by the time ferving adulations of the highcburch-clergy, who fo infilted on pal

5

Jun

five obedience and non-refistance, tha even James the Second was fulled afleep.-Is not this, Sir, an apology for an ill advised, unhappy family?

Let us now attend to what that amiable divine, the bishop of St. David, obferves in his excellent fermon before the Houfe of Lords, January laft." Corrupt and interested inftructors impreffed his youthful (Charles) mind with exalted notions of kingly power. Court fycophants were not wanting to confirm him in fentiments that were flattering to his age and flation. The reigns of the lat race of princes furnished precedents to authorise exertion of power unknown to the conftitution. And the opinion of thefe who prefided in the feats of judgment gave a fanction to ideas, that had been carefully inculcated, and, his lordship adds, w lingly embraced." If fo, they were as willingly refigned. For the king foon made an atonement, by a renunciation of all fuch pretenfons for the future. Obliging himfelf to do so no more. Repentance is all the fatisfaction we can make to Heaven for our failings, and certainly ought to have contented his fubjects. But what could content such subjects? Puritans, Oliverians, Prefbyterians, and Independents. Tell me, Philan thropos, and eris mihi magnus Apdlo

The army, the parliament, in thofe times, confifted chiefly of fuch. The prerogative of the crown, and the liberty of the fubject, were not fettled, as in thefe our halcyon days.—More is needless. Only permit me to add, that James the Second (I hate Jacobitifm) was a bigot to a religion, cruel, and perfecuting; witness the dire effects of it now in Poland. Charles the Firft, fteady in a religion the reverfe to popery; witnefs the bieffed effects of it in the British dominions. Let us therefore revere his memory, as our forefathers have done. Let us make allowance for the prejudice of education, and caft a veil over his isfirmities; as the beft may err. Let us with pleasure reflect that his virtues, with his crown, are defcended to his prefent majefty, who is an honour to that religion for which his royal ancelor died a martyr.-Long, very long, may he live to defend this church, which in its most excellent form of

prayer

1769.

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and most gracious.

I am, Sir,
Your most obedient fervant,

ARABA, a vivided into three RABIA, a very large country

parts. The firft called Arabia Deferta, or the Defert, is by much the fmalleft of the three. And from the unhappy temperature of its climate, and inconvenience of its fituation, is thinly inhabited. The only remarkable thing belonging to this place, is the wandering of the children of Ifrael for forty years after their deliverance from Egyptian bondage, and the many miracles which were wrought, both for their prefervation and punishment..

The fecond divifion, characterifed by the epithet Happy, or Arabia Felix, lies extended to the South and Eaft, and has no lefs the advantage of the other two in magnitude, than fertility and popularity. It is encompaffed on all fides by the fea, except towards the North, where it bounds upon the defert and ftony countries. In Arabia Felix are many kingdoms and great cities: the foil is fruitful, and the inhabitants fecured by the nature of their fituation from all apprehenfion of invafion. As to the man ners, customs, and perfonal defcription of the people of this, as well as every other country, they will all be given in a diftinct part hereafter.

The third divifion, called Arabia Petræa, or the Stoney, lies more weft, and is bounded on the North by the Holy Land and part of Syria, on the Eaft by Arabia Deferta in part, and by Arabia Felix in part, as alfo on the South. On the Welt it has the Red Sea and Egypt. Arabia Petræa has no fmall reputation amongst the Muffulmen, for having given birth to that great deceiver, Mahomet. PERSIA,

one of the most ancient, large, and celebrated kingdoms of Afia, at this day extends from the river Indus in the Eaft, to the Tigris in the West.

It is not extraordinary that the earth in fo vaft an extent should be very different, but the air is al June, 1769.

The people of Perfia were firtt subject to the Affyrians and Medes, but in the year of the world 3406, Cyrus vanquishing' Aftyages, king of the Medes, made Perfia the feat of the general empire, which continued in

this nation till it was transferred to in the year 1635. the Grecians by Alexander the Great,

In the year of the world 3718, Arfaces, the founder of the Parthian family, affumed the royal diadem, which in time expelled the Greeks, and obtained the kingdom of Perfia. This family continued four hundred and feventy years, and was fucceeded by Artaxerxes a Perfian, which line, after twenty-eight defcents, ended in Hormifda, who was vanquished by Haumer the Saracen.

Under the Saracen Caliphs did this. kingdom continue till the year 1030, when Fangrolipix, a Turk, invaded it. His family lafted, however, but three reigns. Caffanes, the third king, in the year 1022 was flaughtered, and Haalon appointed his facceffor by Occate, the Great Cham of” Tartary. This prince exterminated the whole race of the Caliphs of Bagdat, and his pofterity reigned 134 years, when the Tartarians, who in their fury had advanced, deftroyed: the whole family.

In 1405, after almoft an hundred years of confusion, Mirga Charoel the Fourth, fon of Tamerlane, afcended the throne of Perfia, but that line continued only fixty-five years, fince which period it has undergone amazing revolutions, as will be feen hereafter.

CHINA

is an extenfive kingdom, fituated

in the East of Afia: it is bounded on the North by the kingdoms of Tangut and Nialhan, or Cambalu, from which it is feparated in part by mountains, and in part by a wall, 500 leagues in length. On the Weft it has India extra Gangem, from which it is parted by the lake Cineujay and a long ridge of mountains, on the South and Eaft it is furrounded by the Chinese and Indian ocean. Since the year 1630 the Tartars have conquered this once moft potent kingdom.

The extent of this country is im menfe; it is populous, civil, and fruitPp

ful,

SYRIA

is a country fituated in the greater Afia, called by the Jews Aram, or Charam when it is largely taken, it contains Phoenicia, Palestine, or the Holy Land, and the proper Syria. Its length from North to South is four hundred miles, from East to Weft it is in breadth two hundred Italian miles.

In very ancient times, Damafcus was the capital city in the middle times, Antioch, and now Aleppo. This country is by nature fruitful, and was once amazingly populous; but having been conquered by the Turks, and under them moft wretchedly harraffed, it is at length become defolate and uncultivated.

The town of Damafcus is feated.in a plain, which is furrounded with mountains, and is an hundred and forty miles diftant from Jerufalem to the South, and Antioch to the North. This city is fo ancient, that it is not known when, or by whom it was built, but it is mentioned by Abraham.

In the fucceeding ages of the world, it followed the fate of Syria, and was fucceflively fubject to all the four great empires, and famous under all. Near this city the astonishing convertion of St. Paul was effected. It was also one of the first great cities the Saracens took from the Romans, falling under their yoak, after a fiege of fix months, in the year 636, being then taken by Omar, the fucceffor of Abubecher. In the year 813 it was made the feat of one of their Caliphs. Babylon was the fecond, and Grand Cairo the third.

Conradus the Third, emperor of Germany, attempted, in the year 1147, to reduce it, but without fuccefs, the divifions amongst the Chriftians in the holy war proving an impediment.

150 years from this period it was taken by Caffan the Turk, and thirty thousand Saracens flaughtered; but it was foon after recovered by that people, having undergone innumerable changes. Selim the first fubjected it to the Ottoman empire, under which it now remains,

June

The city of Antioch was built by Seleucus, the fon of Antiochus king of Syria, one of the fucceffors of Alexander the Great, and called after his father's name.

During the times that the Greeks and Romans were poffeffed of this country, it was the capital of Syria, or rather of the Eaft, and accordingly the bishop was confidered the third patriarch of the world, Rome being the first, and Alexandria the second. As it had thefe great honours, fo it was excellently built, ftrongly fortified both by art and nature, and very populous until it fell into the hands of the Arabians, Mamalucks, and Turks, who have made it defolate. June the 3d, 1098, it was taken by the Chriftians, but was again betrayed into the power of the Mahometans, who have been the mafters of it ever fince.

This city is encompaffed by a double wall, one of itone, and the other of brick, with four hundred and fixty towers in the walls; the greater part of thefe remain, with a moft impregnable caftle at the Eaft end of the city, but almost all the houfes are fallen to decay, and the patriarch has on that account removed his refidence to Damafcus. It is built on both fides the river Orontes, over which there was a bridge, and ftands about twelve miles from the Mediterranean, the river Pharfar paffing on the South fide of it.

The city of Aleppo is feated upon the river Marfya, which falls into the Euphrates. It is at this day the greateft place in all Syria. A mart filled with innumerable inhabitants, and European merchants, and is fix miles in compals. It has three suburbs, ten gates, and an oblong caftle, which is very strong. The English, French, and Venetians, have each of them a conful there.

A defcription of Palestine and Phonicia, which are comprehended as part of Syria, would require too much room to be entered upon this month; I will therefore only observe, that the method now perfued cannot fail to fix the places defcribed upon the memory, free from all fatigue; for when once their fituations have been pointed out, the historical part will, by conftantly referring to

the

HAT fenfibility and poverty are

299

only have been to forfeit his favour, but to provoke him to the most dire vengeance. He flattered himself, I understood the meaning of his conduct, and generously avoided his whole fex, to fhare his affluence, when all impediments fhould be removed.

As I never put the queftion, fo I cannot affirm what was the abfolute

one of thofe felf-evident affertions that extort, rather than folicit conviction. But though our credulity is firmly fixed by many circumftances we have never experienced, yet, who will fay that experimental knowledge, in every inftance, is not fuperior to fpeculative?

Might I be indulged with a place in your Magazine, though beyond the reach or poffibility of advantage myfelf, a leffon of caution, a leffon of inftruction, would undoubtedly be derived from my little history.

My father dead, 'my mother's fortane confined, fome valuable connex. ions were my only treasure; a lady of fine understanding, and great goodnefs of heart, appeared my most affectionate, and was by much my moft approved friend. The few perfonal perfections I poffeffed, were fo over rated in her eftimation, that the conceived it impoffible for the young and unengaged to behold me with indifference. At her house, and under her aufpice, I became acquainted with a gentleman of family and merit; a coach and fix was his to beftow. Nor was this partial friend in any degree furprized to find me the object he wished to accept it. Humility and modesty were nevertheless mine; in vain I laboured, for the fake of the veracity I loved, to difcover thofe charms, fo liberally imputed: to difcover them was not in the power of the utmost vanity I could collect, and I fighed, from the double motive of confcious unworthiness, and the too apparent marks of infincerity in my firft favourite.

For five years did matters continue in nearly the fame fituation, my prudence unimpeached, the efteem of my friend, the admiration of my declared lover unabated, his father was alive, bis father was haughty and ambitious, and his authority defpotic; to have married unfuitably, would not

he was just the man, that, mistress of millions, I would have wifhed fhould addrefs me; but to expofe him to a moment's mortification, or inconvenience, was a fpecies of love, of which I had no idea.

My friend at this period was moft unfortunately called abroad by a husband, whofe gallantries had once ruined him, and whofe reformation had now reftored to an immenfe fortune. She had a fifter many years younger than herself, and as unamiable a contrast of her perfon and mind, as can be imagined. This fifter had long beheld my noble lover with approbation, me with envy; now, alas! the opportu nity arrived to gratify at least the latter.

She accordingly took an early occafion to quarrel with me ; and as to have received his vifits at my mother's, would have been to wound my reputation, or deftroy him with his father, and common delicacy forbad our clandestine meetings at any other house, the confequence was no lefs than giving each other up for ever.

He intreated we might be privately united; but whom could we truit? His life to have been endangered! his father's hands unnaturally embrued in blood! I fhudder, even at this moment, from the bare idea. Sufceptible of his merits, I could anfwer for the permawrence of my attachment, and if to change was in his nature, better on this than that fide matrimony.

Notwithstanding he had by no means a good opinion of my unprovoked enemy, her intinuations by degrees began to have weight with him, and the felf-denial I practifed from principle, was conftituted into actual art and indifference. Such rigid prudence was judged incompatible with youth and affection, and it was concluded that I was ready to hare his fortune and honours, though I refuf ed incuring the flightest inconvenience for his peace.

300

At public places it had fometimes happened that we were caft in each other's way; no correfpondence fubfifted between us, from the fame reafon that retarded our union, who could be trufted? I foon perceived the coldnefs of his afpect! painful, recollection; he gave into diffipation, he gave into irregularities, and dying, in confequence of dreadful excefs, fome months afterwards, declared what I have now related,

My beloved friend at this crifis returned from abroad a petty emprefs; I flew to congratulate her, and receive her congratulations on our reunion. I was not admitted! Covered with fhame and confufion, I returned home, and, from the anguifh of difappointment, was reduced to the very verge of the grave.

Had her circumfances been on an equality with my own, I would have forced an explanation of her conduct; but the fuperiority was hers, and the little mindedness of mankind fuch, that preferred the fuffering with innocence, to the molt diftant fhadow of infult.

A fevere and lingering diforder feized the beft of mothers; phyficians were expensive, the Bath, the feveral operations prefcribed, but ill adapted to our narrow finances. I intreated, I befought her to wave every confideration of her child, for her own fafety, as that child was incapable of enjoying what could not be spared, without injuftice to herfelf. I accompanied her to the Hot Wells, that laft deception and fource of the faculty, where we had remained only three days be'fore the office of clofing her eyes in death was mine.

To paint my diftrefs on this final Yeparation from a molt indulgent pro"rectorefs, and parent, is equally impolfible, and unneceffary; the tender fympathizing foul will thare, will feel it all; different natures be unaffected by even the ftrongeft defcription.

My pittance, on examination, was fmaller than my worst apprehenfions had fuggefted, Difgufted with the world's friendship, and unacquainted with every method of obtaining a provifion from induftry, I gave my felf up to all the horrors of defpondence.

The woman in whofe houfe I was fituated, was not an inhuman one,

June

but pity to footh must not be unrefined; the wounded in the inftant the defired to heal, and though I was grateful, my gratitude was the result of reafon, and not fpontaneous.

A few days ago having made a flender meal, which, according to my ufual cuftom, was not unmixed with tears, the woman above mentioned broke in abruptly upon me, with a delighted countenance, and a news-paper in her hand. "My dear Mifs, faid the, you are unhappy; you are greatly referved; but I have at feveral times picked out of your converfation, that you would have no objection to waiting on a lady, and quitting England. Here is an advertisement that must answer your purpofe; your appearance cannot fail to recommend you, and there is no time to be lost; do for once let me prevail on you to follow my advice; at wort you will neither be known, nor your prefent condition affected; only go and offer your felf, repeated fhe, with the most honest earnestnefs, and I never will be impertinent or troublefome to you again."

I thanked her with all due cordiality for interefting herself fo kindly on my behalf, and on fome little deliberation refolved to comply with her defire.

The advertisement directed my enquiries to a milliner's at the Weft end of the town, and what more peculiarly engaged me to attend, was, that all, but perfons of unquestioned reputation, were exprefsly forbid applying.

But as this was the firft occafion on which I had offered myself to infpection, fome honeft pride could not be totally fupprefsed. I entered the fhop with timidity, communicated my business in accents fcarcely articulate, when an unfeeling woman glanced an inquifitive eye upon me, then ordered her fervant to inform the gentleman he was wanted.

Notwithstanding my little knowledge of life, I huddered at the found, and modeftly oblerved that it was a lady, not a gentleman, to whom I had expected to be introduced. She smiled with confcious fuperiority at my apparent apprehenfions, and told me, that it was only a friend of the lady's who wanted the companion, and that having fatisfied his interrogatories, I fhould be referred to fome of the most emi

nent