ABOLITION OF THE JANISARIES.

465

mission. It is not perhaps possible to imagine a more horrible situation than that of the Janisaries at this time; the houses were in flames around, below and above them, burning fragments falling around, and grape-shot flying among them in every direction. They found that they were to be exterminated, no quarter was asked or offered; they resolved therefore to make their assailants pay as dearly as possible for their victory; they defended themselves like men who have nothing to hope, and whose only satisfaction is to see the blood of their enemies flowing as abundantly as their own.

The sultan's troops suffered severely, the Aga Pacha was badly wounded and had four horses killed under him. The carnage did not cease till there was no longer anything to feed it. The firing slackened and was at last silenced. In the evening the flames became extinct for want of more fuel (1), and the next morning presented a frightful scene of desolation. Huge masses of mangled flesh mixed with smoking ruins partly slaked (2) in human blood. A few of the Janisaries escaped into the town, but were soon murdered in the streets; the whole number destroyed is supposed to be not less than 20,000. On the following day, the sultan publicly anathematized the whole body of Janisaries, prohibited the mention of their name, and ordered a new corps to be raised to replace them, giving it the appellation of Assakiri Mohamoodich, or forces of Mahomet.

(1) Fuel, combustible.

(2) To slake, éteindre, étancher.

Such was the sanguinary end of a corps that had too frequently rendered itself conspicuous in the Turkish annals.

(WALSH. Journey from Constantinople.)

THE STRIKING FATE OF GUILT.

Three inhabitants of Balck travelling together, found a treasure which they divided equally amongst (1) them; and continued their journey, amusing themselves with different schemes (2) for the employment of their newly acquired riches. Their provisions (3) being exhausted, it was agreed (4) that the youngest should go to the nearest town and buy some. On his way thither, he began to think that he might easily become the sole possessor of the money they had found, and determined to poison the food he was about to buy for his companions; he did so, and resolved to excuse himself from eating by saying he had dined in the town. During his absence, avarice had prompted them to destroy him on his return, in order to partake his share. They executed their purpose by poniarding him; then sitting down to their poisoned repast, they soon became the victims of eternal justice.

(1) Amongst, parmi.

(2) Schemes, plans, prononcez squimze.

(3) Provisions, vivres.

(4) Agreed, convenu.

HONOURABLE HOSPITALITY SHOWN TO AN ENEMY.

167

HONOURABLE HOSPITALITY SHOWN TO AN ENEMY.

After the famous battle of Culloden, in which the forces of prince Charles (the Pretender) were defeated, he himself was obliged to ramble (1) in disguise from place to place, and seek an asylum, and even a precarious subsistence, in the most retired and obscure parts of what he had declared to be his kingdom. One day he sought (2) refuge in the dwelling of a poor peasant ; he discovered himself, told the countryman his dangerous situation, and asked an asylum.

The peasant said: "I am your enemy and, had I found and recognised you, I would certainly have delivered you to the king's forces; now that you solicit my protection and take refuge in my house, I consider your person sacred, and will protect and shelter you even at the risk of my life, as long as you choose to remain under my roof, unless you endeavour to sow (3) again the seeds of civil war in the kingdom; for at that moment I denounce you to the government.".

The prince accepted the conditions; the cottager received him into his family, and, though they were almost in a state of starvation, he divided his scanty (4) meals with his refugee. He was frequently reduced to such poverty, that he was under the necessity of robbing to procure a subsistence for himself and guest (5).

(1) To ramble, errer, råder.

(2) Sought, passé de to seek, chercher.

(3) To sow, semer.

(4) Scanty, chétif.

(5) Guest, hôte, la personne entretenue, la personne qui reçoit quelqu'un.

What heightens (1) the merit of this action is that at the moment he was harbouring the prince, he could have obtained a reward of 50,000 pounds sterling (about 750,000 francs) for delivering him either dead or alive. -The fate of this poor man is truly pitiable. Some time after the event we have here recorded, his family being in the greatest want, he stole a cow; he was tried for it and condemned to death. A few moments before his execution, he addressed the multitude that was assembled to witness it, and said, though distress had driven him to commit the crime for which he was about to suffer, he thanked God that he had never be trayed a trust, nor done a wilful (2) injury to any one, but that he had ever been ready to succour distress as far as he had the means of doing it. (Historical.)

PERSEVERANCE.

Few things are really impracticable; some are indeed more difficult than others; but it is more frequently through want of application than want of means that men fail of success. By unwearied application, almost every man may become respectable, if not eminent, in his station; but few are possessed of a genius sufficiently transcendent to render exertion unnecessary.

How frequently do we see men who, with very moderate talents, arrive at eminence by continual application and unremitting perseverance! They are not discouraged

(1) To heighten, rehausser.

(2) Wilful, de sa propre volonté, exprès.

by difficulties, because they know that few obstacles are insurmountable: though foiled once, twice, thrice, they renew their attempts, redouble their efforts, which nine times in ten are crowned with success.

The irresolute and unenterprising man very rarely succeeds; he remains in obscurity, or at most rises only to mediocrity. He generally attributes to chance, or to good fortune, the success that has been obtained by energy and perseverance. He remains stationary (1) in the midst of the great road to fortune, seeing others who have commenced their journey much later, pass him with rapid strides (2); he makes no effort to overtake them. He is content to gather (3) a few wild fruits by the way, instead of hastening on (4) to taste the delicious productions of the garden of science:

«Labor omnia vincit. »

BRAVERY.

GLORIOUS DEATH OF LE CHEVALIER D'ASSAS.

In 1759, the hereditary prince of Brunswick vigorously besieged the town of Wesel, intending, by its capture, to decide the Dutch to unite with him against France, and to attack her with their combined forces on

(1) Stationary, immobile.

(2) Strides, pas allongés.

(3) To gather, cueillir, ramasser.

(4) To hasten on, se presser.