After the publication of the work || who quit this country will not deserve our compassion, let their disappointments or deprivations be what they may. I am, &c. from which the above information is derived, and after the tardy conviction of Mr. Fearon, prejudiced in favour of America, that it is much better to remain in England, those A CONSTANT READER. LONDON, June 24. THE GENEROUS LOVER: A Tale from the Spanish of CERVANTES. "AND these are now all the remains of the once-flourishing Nicosia; these ruinous walls, still smoking with the blood of their gallant but unfortunate defenders. Alas! were they but capable of feeling, we might together deplore our misfortunes, and perhaps find some alleviation in giving vent to our grief! 'Tis too true, that the only consolation we can receive in misery, is the perception that we are not the only wretched beings upon earth; that there are others who share the same fate, and feel the same anguish as ourselves. Ye towers, though now uprooted from your foundations, and scattered by the devastating fury of the Moslem conquerors along the plain, ye have some chance of recovering your exalted situation, and of being again erected by those hands which have hurled you to the ground: but what end can I ever hope for to my misfortunes? They cannot be repaired; unpitying Fate can only have still greater in store for me, if indeed that be possible: the past is but too sure an omen, that my future fate is destined to be equally wretched." lately made themselves masters. He compared his fate with that of the unfortunate city, and addressing the stones as though they had possessed the power of understanding his complaint, displayed but too clearly the acuteness of his misery, for violent grief produces a state of mind closely allied to derangement: the wretched know not what they say, scarcely are they aware of what they do. Whilst Richard (this was the name of the slave) uttered these words, a young Turk, graceful in his person, and tall and well-proportioned in his figure, suddenly issued from one of the pavilions which were erected on the plain close to the spot where the Christian was standing. "I am convin ced," said the young Mahometan, approaching him, and in a soothing tone of voice; "I am convinced you have wandered to this place only to avoid the sight of those who cannot feel for your grief, to vent in solitude the sad and mournful thoughts which incessantly haunt you: am I not right?"—" I confess it," replied Richard; "and I acknowledge the weakness which Such were the lamentations of a I have suffered to gain the ascenChristian slave whilst gazing on the dency over me. Yet, can I find any ruined walls of the capital of Cy-one to compassionate my misforprus, of which the Infidels had tunes? and I wander here to mourn unseen, though these ruins, far from assuaging my sorrow, only tend to augment it."-" You are speaking of the ruins of Nicosia," rejoined the Turk; "indeed what other ruins can you mean, for no others are present to our eyes. Certainly the destruction is terrible; nothing can be more lamentable. Who that two years since had seen this famous and rich Island of Cyprus; who that had seen her inhabitants, justly renowned as the happiest of human beings, whose lives were so peaceable, so tranquil; who that had beheld the abundance which was spread over their land, the prosperity that blessed their industry, could now view them, banished, dispersed, wandering in foreign lands, or loaded with chains, and become slaves where they had so long lived as masters, without shedding a tear at the pitiable change? But let us no longer discourse of calamities so capable of adding to our own sorrows, since we cannot provide any remedy for them. Let us talk of your misfortunes, and try if it be not possible to find some means of alleviating them. It can be only for your own sake that I am thus urgent with you no longer to conceal them from me; discover them unreservedly to to produce your deep melancholy: but yet this melancholy is excessive, there must be some other hidden cause; for besides that it is not the property of noble minds to suffer themselves to be entirely depressed by such misfortunes as these, you must be aware, that it is not impossible but that you may be able to redeem your liberty. You are not confined on the coasts of the Black Sea, as are too many unfortunate slaves, who can never hope to regain their freedom, at least not without incredible danger and difficulty; you are permitted one day to hope for liberty, and that happiness must depend upon your own exertions. Thus I conclude, that your grief arises from some other cause than that of your state of slavery. I adjure you, therefore, once again to open your heart to me. I offer to you all that I possess; all my means, my interest, every thing in my power shall be devoted to your service. Perhaps Providence has caused me to assume this dress and turban, which I abhor, to make me the happy instrument of rescuing you from despair. You know, Richard, that my master is the cadi of this town. You know the power he possesses, and the influence I have over him. You are not ignorant of my ardent desire of abandoning a religion which I profess but outwardly, and which I was compelled to adopt at an early period, when torn from my home a mere child. Life compared to immortality is as the shadow to the substance; ten thousand deaths ought not to deter us from pursuing that course by which alone we can hope for salvation. I repeat this now only for the purpose of convincing you, || cuse me if I am brief. But, prethat you ought to place confidence viously to commencing my sad tale, in me; and like a sick person, I would fain know for what reason who, if he would be cured, should Azam Bashaw, my master, has reveal to the physician the cause caused these pavilions to be erectand progress of the malady from ed in the country, before he makes which he suffers: you must no his grand entry into Nicosia, where longer conceal from me the origin he is about to take upon himself of that grief which consumes you. the duties of bashaw."-" I will Speak then, dear Richard; you satisfy your curiosity in a few have but too long kept silence; and words," replied Mahomet. "It is be again assured, there is no dan-customary with the Turks, that the ger I will not risk to restore you to liberty and happiness. Much is in my power, through the influence I have over my master the cadi; and can I have stronger motives for using my utmost exertions in your behalf, than the thought that we both possess one faith, and that one beloved country gave us birth?". The unhappy Richard listened in mournful silence, but gratitude for the proffered kindness urging him to make some reply, "My dear Mahomet," (this was the name given to the young Turk), answered he, 66 you have but too truly guessed the cause of my despair; and believe me, could your knowledge of the circumstances which have for ever rendered my days miserable, furnish you with the means of remedying them, I should consider my slavery as a blessing from Heaven, nor would I exchange these ignominious chains for the crown of a monarch. But, alas! my misfortunes are so great, so agonizing, that there does not exist the being who could comfort me ever so little, far less one who could point out to me a remedy for them. I will, however, relate them to you, if the recital can more clearly explain to you the reasons that have so long induced me to carry them in my own breast: ex newly appointed bashaws of a province shall not make their public entry into the city where they intend to reside, until their predecessor has quitted it. For this reason, when the new bashaw arrives, the former one goes out of his palace, and remains for some days in the country, awaiting letters from his successor, without which he dare not present himself to the sultan. These letters are nothing less, properly speaking, than the result of an investigation into his conduct; and on this account he is not permitted to be not permitted to be present when the investigation is made, in order that every one may complain of abuses or ill treatment, unawed by his power and authority. These letters are put into his hands sealed and carefully closed, and he is obliged to present them unopened to the sultan, on his arrival at Constantinople. The vizier- bashaw, and four inferior bashaws, who act as chancellors and counsellors of state, open these letters, read their contents, and according to the information so conveyed, reward or punish him. It is true, that if he knows he is guilty, he may avoid the punishment he deserves, but such immunity will cost him immense sums: even if his conduct be approved, and nevertheless his re ward be withheld, which is not un- || account of them; they are so great, and yet so various, that I doubt the prolix recital of them will tire out your compassion. But first of all, I must ask you one question. Did you not know, or at least have you not heard speak of, a young angel in our native town of Trapana, who was universally reputed the most beautiful woman in Sicily? Without exaggeration, I may venture to affirm, that the ages that are past never beheld one more lovely, those to come will never behold her equal. Her beauty was so perfect, that even those who most envied could find no fault in her. All our poets made her the theme of their Muse; but however brilliant were their expressions, their praises always fell far short of her charms, and but feebly proclaimed the matchless graces that distinguished her frequently the case, he must open his purse largely, if he desires to obtain any other employment. Merit is seldom rewarded in the Ottoman empire; every thing is sold to the highest bidder, and may be purchased by the most notorious villain: indeed, in order to have a greater number of places to sell, those who are in possession are often deprived of them under the most trifling pretences: these are the artifices of the viziers, and of the other ministers who hold the reins of government; and be assured, that I advance nothing I cannot confirm. Every thing is carried on by violence in that empire, and should these principles continue to actuate our rulers, it is morally impossible it can be of long duration; and if it still does exist, is only to render the punish-from the rest of her sex. Can you ment due to our sins greater when not guess the name of this incomit shall descend upon our heads. parable fair-one? Surely you were To return, however, to our subject: not always so insensible to woman's it is for the reasons I have men- charms when at Trapana!"-"I was tioned that the bashaw, your mas- unwilling to interrupt your enthuter, has been encamped without siastic praise," said Mahomet, "but the town these four days. If his if you do not allude to Leonisa, predecessor has not yet left his pa- the daughter of Rodolph of Flolace, as usual, it is on account of rence, I cannot recollect any other a severe indisposition with which person who resembles the picture he has been afflicted; but I believe you have drawn."-" It is indeed he is now much recovered, and to- herself," exclaimed Richard: "her morrow, or the next day, will pro- | adorable yet fatal beauty has been bably repair to the pavilions which the cause of all my misfortunes; it are erected behind yonder hill: is for her loss, not for these galling your master will then make his chains, that tears burst from my state entry into the city. This is all eyes, that my heart is oppressed the explanation I can give you in with woe. It is the remembrance reply to your question." of her that causes the complaints which weary even those who pity me. It is her fate, in short, which has caused me to pass for a mad"man in your eyes, or at least for a "Well then," said Richard, " if it will gratify you, listen to the detail of my misfortunes: yet I fear I shall be unable to give a distinct |