henfion of being defrauded of the ranfom agreed on, for there has never occurred an inftance of the head of a commercial house having failed in performing his engagements. The Moors accordingly fay, that Chriftians may be depended on, as their religion, which they fcrupuJoufly obferve, forbids them to lie. This received opinion gives great facility to commerce, and tends much to cafe the fufferings, or those unhop ppy men who are fhip-wrecked on the coast of Barbary; for as foon as fuch an event happens, the inhabitants immediately inform the Christian merchants, but never give advice to the emperor, who only hears of it by accident.. Among a people fo fuperftitious as the Moors, it is not fuprifing that ambitious men frequently endeavour to make parties in the fate. The abule of power, their countrymen's fondnels for novelty, the defire of i ependence to natural to man, all concur in fimulating fuch turbulent characters to fpread their opinions among the country people. They bave ever recourfe to the fpecious plea of religion, and however abfurd their arguments, never fail of finding fanatical partizans, efpecialy if the impoftor has dexterity enough by fome artful trick to furprize the mind, and gain the attention of thefe ignorant people: he takes care above all to boaft a divine intercourfe with the prophet, and his doctrine never fails to allow of all kind of pillage; a powerful incitement to a nation naturally addicted to rapine. His fectaries run to arms and fall upon the poffeffions of the emperor. The latter immediately fets an army on foot, being unwilling to depend upon the zeal of the provinces, who have nothing to gain, but every thing to lofe, and who might very probably be drawn into the fedition, through the deûre et novelty, and the hope of meeting with better treatment. The en peror's troops, well difciplined, and under the conduct of able leaders, bred up in arms, foon difperfe the rebels, who not daring to appear in their provinces after their defeat, where they would be treated as facriligious perfons, take refuge in the mountains of Atlas, from whence it is not poffible to diflodge them. Here they form themselves into bands of robbers, and attack every one who falls in their way. They frequently make incurfions into the plains, and as they are dreffed and fpeak like the natives, there is no guarding against them. They get information of the departure of the caravans, which they attack and `generally plunder. Thofe of the emperor, tranfporting the royal revenue arifing from the customs of the dif ferent fea-ports, are not more refpected than the others. But the ef corts are in general fo ftrong, that these caravans are rarely pillaged. A rebel of this defcription, under the reign of the prefent emperor,purfued his conquests to the very city of Morocco. The multitude, on whom his miracles, his revelations, and a thoufand other pious abfurdi. ties had impofed, were ready to join the standard. The emperor was only fuftained by his French renegadoes, who had haftily repaired to the capital, and by a fmall body of his moft faithful Moors. The prince, perceiving that force could be of no avail, had recourfe to ftra agem, and advancing toward the people at the head of his renegadoes cried out with a loud voice, that if the man before him were really a meflenger of the prophet, he would be the first to kiss the duft of his feet; but that it was at least neceffary to know the will of the great prophet, and that for that purpofe he was going to the mofque. The rebel chief obferving that the people applauded thefe fentiments, and finding himfelf at the head of a numerous party, while the emperor was abandoned by his fubjects, conceived he had | fpoken, no one dares to reply; fuch nothing to tear. Taking an escort prefumption would be attended with of cholen men, he repaired thither certain and inftant death. The allikewife. They remained there about caide of the French renegadoes was half an hour, and on their return to the only perfon who ever attempted the people, the emperor asked the it with impunity. "Thou favoured impoftor what it was that the pro- the flight of thy countrymen," said phet had infpired him with. "To the emperor to him, in the presence dethrone thee," replied he, "and of the people; "I know it from to ufe violence if thou do not fubmit good authority, and thou art to exwith refignation."-" Well, then," pect the punishment which fuch a faid the emperor, "the prophet has crime deferves." "O mighty revealed to me, that I fhould ac- prince! thou hast been deceived," knowledge for my fucceffor the per- replied the aleaide, "What," faid fon who, lying proftrate on the the emperor, "thou dost not admit ground, in the prefence of all the the charge ?"-"No," my lord, people, should continue in that pos- "command my accufers to appear in ture with a stone weighing five thou- thy prefence, and thou wilt know fand pounds, fufpended over his head, the truth." This determined anand ready to crush him. Lay thy-fwer would have been for any other felf down then, if thou art truly font by the prophet; and if all the wonders which thou haft hitherto performed, be not falfe miracles invented to deceive the people, the ftone will remain fufpended over thee in the fame manner as over Mahomet's tomb at Mecca. I fhall then be the first to submit to thy laws, and to give to my people the example of 'fidelity." The impoftor did not chuse to accept this propofal; but the people having applauded the renegadoes, laid hold of him, notwithstanding the refiftance made by his guard, raised over him a large ftone, which instead of remaining fufpended, fell and crushed him to death. a sentence of death, but it saved the life of the alcaide. His accusers, among whom was a Pacha, were ordered to appear; and although the charge was true, yet it could not be proved, and they were inftantly put to death. The alcaide: on the contrary was rewarded. I heard him relate this circumstance himself. THE HONEST VICEROY: A TALE. (From the Abbé Blanchet.) This fortunate stratagem, and the A Mandarin, who was viceroy of Johor, governed his pro vince with fo much injuftice and cruelty, that the people, no longer able to endure his oppreffion, mure courage of the renegadoes, who were not to be intimidated by the number of their enemies, preferved the emperor, and infured to them the in-dered the petty tyrant, and hook violable attachment and lafting generofity of that prince, who reviews them once a year, clothes them anew, and allows them pay in proportion to the eminent fervices difplayed on the above most critical occafion. When a person is accufed before the emperor, and the prince has off the yoke of their lawful fovereign, Shaon Malon, king of Siam; at once the proudest and fillieft prince of the age in which he lived. The enraged monarch foon appeared with a powerful army, determined to pu nith the revolters, and d luge their country in blood; but the rebels, feized with confter aon, attemp D 2 jefty, your ferene viceroy will find in his minifter more zeal for his fervice than abilities; but I hope he ing no refiftance, he contented himfelf with throwing their leaders to his elephants; and fummoned the chiefs of the province to appear be-will condefcend to inftruct me in fore him in the great hall of the palace of Johor. There, feated on a fuperb throne, and furrounded by his mercenary guards, Shaon-Malon harangued the affembly in thefe words: " Vile reptiles! ye have dared to roufe the vengeance of the king of the white elephant: Ifhall not yet crush you; I wish to try the fincerity of your repentance, and you shall exift till further orders. But you deferve not to be governed by one of my mandarins. Proftrate yourselves before the viceroy whom I appoint; and render your felves worthy of my clemency and his protection." "Here Barkout," faid he, "to a prodigious large dog that was lying at his feet, come and take thy feat on the throne, where thou shalt be my reprefentative. Reign by my authority over thefe wretches, and exterminate them if they be difobedient." Then addreffing himself to a Chinefe, who had been a long time fettled at Johor; "Mani," faid he, "I appoint you first minifler to my viceroy Barkout. Serve him with fidelity, procure the fame refpect to his commands as to mine, and, if neceflary, affit him with advice fuitable to your wildom." matters of importance, and that his genius will fupply my want of capa city. Fortunately, I poffefs one advantage, not very common, without which it would be impoffible for me to receive his orders. I understand the language of dogs, and even® fpeak it with elegance and facility Suffer me to use it, while I render, in the name of the whole province, the humble homage which we owe your reprefentative." Mani, then, turning towards the dog, after having touched the ground three times with his forehead, imitated for fome minutes the barking, of a dog, but in a foft and refpectful tone. Barkour immediately returned an aufwer, which refounded through the palace; and this answer, ably tranflated, im. preffed every one with a high idea of his understanding and abilities. The whole affembly was delighted. Sha on- Malon, above all, admired the fpirited eloquence of the viceroy, and the uncommon erudition of his interpreter. He departed, a few days after, extremely contented with the double choice he had made, and openly declaring that Johor would be better governed than any province in the empire. Mani was an understanding man, Notwithstanding his air of feroci. who well knew an angry defpot wasty, Barkout was in reality one of not to be contradicted, and that the the worthiest dogs in the world; Siamefe might be perfuaded to be the most tractable and the moù dolieve any thing; he inftantly deter- cile. Won by the attention and camined how to proc ed, and refolved refies of Mani, he entertained the to take advantage of the humour of greateft efteem for that fage minider, the king, and the abjectnefs of the and improved fo much, by his lef people in the name of Barkout heons, that he acted the part of vicedetermined to do all the good in his power; and in fuch a manner that Barkout fhould be expofed to all the danger, or receive all the honour of what he planned. He therefore replied, with much coolness: roy with no lefs cafe than dignity. He rofe carly, and for form fake appeared at the levee, after which he went into the council chamber. -There the firft minifter propofed the question in debate, which was May it pleale your fublime ma- amply difcuffed, every one freely giving his opinion. The viceroy, ed to every part of the government. after having barked with Mani on The administration of justice, the the fubject, pronounced himself the management of the finances, agriculfinal decifion, which the latter tranf-ture, commerce, and the ar's, were lated into Siamese, with a fidelity to no one ever difputed. animated with new life in every thing good order was established, and every thing profpered. On the breaking up of the council, Barkout entered the hall of audi- Nothing was thought of but peaceence, where a croud of people wait-ably to enjoy the public happiness; èd for him in refpectful filence. He when an army of Barbarians, from liftened with patience, granted with the peninfula of Malacca, fuddenly prudence, and refufed with courtefy.made incurfions into the province, In short, he and his interpreter ac- and marked their progrefs by ravage quitted themselves fo well, that every and defolation. petitioner returned home either contented or confoled. At this news Barkout and his minifter collected the few troops left After this a dinner was ferved up them by the king; and, joining the to the viceroy; fimple, it is true, but volunteers, who offered themfelves folid in quality, and ample in quanti-in great numbers, bravely marched ty; at which Barkout gave proofs to meet the enemy. of an appetite equal to that of the heroes in the earliest ages. As the viceroy knew but little of tactics, he left to Mani and his geneAfter dinner he, utili accompanied ral officers the care of chufing an by his interpreter, diverted himfelf advantageous poft, and drawing up by exercifing his troops, or hunting the army in order of battle; as for in his park, and when he returned to himself, after having ran through his palace he was closeted with Mani, the ranks, and animated his foldiers regulated affairs of lefs importance, by his warlike cries, he put himself and figned the difpatches, which at the head of his guards, and, withwere ready, by laying upon them his out any other armour than a collar paw dipped in ink, at once his fig-fet thick with fteel points, charged nature and feal. This bufinefs over, a familiar barking took place for half an hour; the viceroy fupped as he had dined, and then retired to rest. This was his daily routine. Govern thy felf well, faith the proverb, and thou fhalt govern the world. It will eafily be believed that, conducting himself fo wifely, and guided by the counfels of fo able a minifter, the viceroy of Johor found no difficulty in governing his province. He re-established the laws, which had been almott abolished during the administration of his predeceflor. He enacted no new ones, except to explain and amend the old, and took care that they were all put in force. He did more'; he corrected the manners of his people, or, rather, reformed them by his example. His judicious emprovements were extend 7 the enemy with an intrepidity more than human. The Malays were put to flight, or cut to pieces; but the brave Barkout did not long furvive his victory; he lost his life by a poifoned arrow, with which he was wounded while pursuing the fugitives. pro 1 fhall not attempt to describe the regret and defpair of the whole vince: a judgment may be formed of it from the discourse of the depu, ties, who came in deep mourning to notify to the king this melancholy event. Great monarch, faid Mani, who was at the head of the deputation, we have been deprived by death of that ineftimable gift for which we were indebted to your goodness, the prince Barkout, our viceroy, our father; had almost faid your other felf. He united, with the probity of the most virtuous private perfon, all the understanding and abilities of a flatefinan; and accompanied the pureft morality and impleft mannera with fentiments and actions truly he roic. He had repaired, in your province, Johor, the evil of which he himself was not the occafion, and has been the author of good, which feemed to have been rendered impoffible. He lived only for the public fervice, and at last died in battle, combating for our prefervation and your glory. Alas! your faithful province has but too much reafon to weep at fo affecting a lofs. How much greater must be our affliction if, while we mourn the virtuous Barkout, we should be forced to lament the pride, extortion, rapine and cruelty of his fucceffor. O king of the White Elephant! you have yourfelf faid, we deferve not to be govern ed by one of your mandarins. LADIES' DRESSES on ber MAJESTY'S Deign, therefore, to command that we always be ruled by a dog; we perhaps deferve it; and, if we may be allowed to confefs the truth, we should prefer fuch an administration. Shaon Malon took great care not to grant a request, the confequences of which appeared to him fo dangerous. He feared left his people, contracting too great an effection for quadrupeds, fhould never more be brought to fubmit to his mandarins, nor perhaps to himself, and that his own crown might at length be tranfferred to the White Elephant. He therefore answered, with an affected kindness, that he would beftow on his province of Joher much more than it had loft, by appointing the mandarin Miracha, his principal coun&lior, and the most fublime genius of the Indies, its governor. He, moreover, deereed that Mani, who appeared to have given fuch fatisfaction, fhould retain, under Miracha, the fame important poft he had occupied under Barkout." Eut what were the confequences BIRTH-DAY. The Queen. her birth-day, in a crimfor ERY plainly dreffed, as ufual, on fatin, with a gold border. Princess Royal. A very rich embroidered petticoat, with purple foil leaves, in fmall sprigs tied toge ther, with a running pattern of gold fpangles, divided with wreaths, of purple foil flowers; the train a rich purple and gold fatin. Princefs Augufta. A crape petticoat, richly embroidered with blue foil and white fatin in thells, to form ftripes across the petticoat; between the ftripes a rich embroidery of gold a loote drapery of crape, embroidered, tied up with plumes of oftrich feathers and gold flowers. Princess Elizabeth, Mary, and Sophia, The fame pattern in green. Dutchefs of Fork. White crape petticoat, richly embroidered in filver foil and stone, the flounce beautifully embroidered in Oak and May, and green filk and filver drapery, drawn up |