tiful as well as ftrictly virtuous lady, to become the partner of her brother's bed, amongst the great numbers of the fair-fex of noble or royal blood, whom the educed (with that fecret view) within the palace, under her own infpection. Theodofius had declared to his fifter, that his defire was to have a virgin of fuch extraordinary beauty, as might eclipfe the luftre of all the bright damfels of Conflantinople; and if, befides, the were of royal lineage, he fhould fill be better pleased; but that in his eftimation, neither nobility of birth, nor royal descent, nor the addition of wealth, fhould come in competition with beauty and virtue: for that, upon the whole, if her family fhould prove ever fo obfcure, the virgin of the most finished charms fhould be his con fort. The emperor's refolution being fully known in this particular, Pulcheria dispatched divers perfons of judgment into all parts of the world in queft of beauty. And one Paulinus, a young favourite courtier, who had been educated in the palace with Theodofius, made it his whole study and employ. ment to gratify his master's amorous inclinations, and made his unwearried addreffes every where among the female train, to find out a nonpareil, a matchlefs maid. About this time it happened, that Athenais came to Conftantinople on the following very fingular occafion: her father who was a perfect adept in the belles lettres, had inforted the following clause in his will;"I give to my dearly beloved daughter one hundred pieces of gold only; because her beauty together with her acquired accomplishments in every branch of polite literature, in which she excels her whole fex, will be a fufficient portion in the advancement in the world." When the will came to be opened, upon her father's deceafe, and the fair Anais plainly perceived her unexpect ed, as well as undeferved difappointment, and that he was in exprefs terms cut off from a juft fhare of the inheritance, fhe applied herfelf for redress to her two brothers, who were conftituted and appointed her father's co-heirs. She hung upon their knees, befeeching them that they would not infift upon the inequality of the will, but fuffer her to come in for a third part of her father's eftate; efpecially as they very well knew, fhe by no means, or in any fhape, by the leaft mifbehaviour, or indecent treatment of the deceafed in his life-time, had deferved to be so far neglected, and excluded from her rights by the laws of nature. Her brothers however, hurned a deaf ear to all her complaints, treatd her with the utmoft coolness and indiffernce; without the leaft regard to her merit, br natural affection, flew into a paffion, at what they called an unreasonable request; and, in fhort, inhumanly, and like a brace of savages, turned her directly out of her father's house, as no ways entitled to such an act of indulgence. Hereupon Athenais flew to her aunt, by the mother's fide, who not only entertained her as her mother, but gave her protection as a truly virtuous and grofsly injured virgin. This lady conducted her to her father's fifter; and both the aunts, without any further confultation, commenced a fuit against her two unnatural brothers. They acquainted the most religious princess Pulcheria with the too severe, and indeed inhuman treatment fhe had met with from her ftony-hearted and merciless brothers; and at the fame time embraced that opportunity of expatiating on their niece's numerous and invaluable accomplishments. When Pulcheria found that Athenais was a damfel of inexpreffible beauty, as well as profoundly skilled in all the sciences, and all the arts of pleafing in converfation, the afked her relations whether he were a virgin. The princess being exactly informed of the peculiar care which the father of Athenais had taken of her chastity, and how she had been trained up by him in a long and regular inftitution, not only of philofophy, but in the more entertaining arts of mufic and elocution, gave immediate orders that she should be entertained in the palace amongst the ladies, whom Pulcheria had gradually assembled ;- and the two aunts were very gracioufly difmiffed, with an ample and fatisfactory affurance, that their petitions should be soon granted. When the princefs heard the beautiful ftranger make her own complaints, and relate all the circumftances of her injurious treatment, and her own conduct subsequent thereto, fhe was fufficiently convinced of her graceful elocution, as well as of her prudence and that admirable dexterity with which the had managed her own affairs. Upon this, the determined to use her endeavours to marry Athenais to the emperor. And in order to promote fo important a defign, acquainted him, that he had at last found out an unblemished virgin, young, and of moft exquifite form; her forehead fair and smooth; her lineaments lovely; her features regular; her fkin white as fnow; her eyes large and brilliant; her hair flowing in yellow ringlets; her air uncommon; deeply learned, and of Greek extraction. The youthful Theodofius was fired with the defcription of fo rare and confummate a beauty; and fending for his favourite Paulinus, he defired him to appoint Athenais an audience in Pulcheria's apartment, under the pretence of fpeaking to her about her lawfuit by which he and his favourite might behold her unveil ed. ed. She was accordingly introduced into the ancestors. The king, irritated, fent for the apartment of the princefs, where Theodo- man, and fternly faid to him, "Why will fius viewed her with raptures, and Paulinus you not fell me your mill, notwithstanding with admiration. Soon after fhe was con- the advantageous offers I have made to verted to christianity from paganifm, in you?"-The miller repeated all his reafons. which he had been bred up. Whereupon Pulcheria fent for Atticus the bishop who baptized her by the name of Eudofia; and immediately after fhe was married to the emperor, whom she survived, and died in the year 459. A captain S had the misfortune to kill another officer in a duel. He was apprehended, and carried to the main guard. Frederick could not prevent him from being tried according to the laws, and he was condemned. Frederick, who loved the captain, because he was a brave man, thought of an expedient to fave him. He gave fome of his confidential officers to underftand, that he fhould not be forry if the prifoner efcaped. They accordingly prepared every thing for his flight; and, in order to facili tate it, he fent for the captain that mounted guard that day, and faid, "Mind, Sir: if you fuffer S to escape to-night, you may depend upon my word, that I will order you to be put under arreft for twentyfour hours."The captain underflood his majesty's meaning. About midnight he propofed to the prifoner to take a little air in the front of the guard-houfe. His friends were at a distance in a poft-chaife. They approached they gave him an account of their preparations, and carried him off.. The next day, the captain reported this accident to his majefty, who pretended to be much enraged against him, and ordered him under arreft for twenty-four hours. When Frederick built the palace of SansSouci, there was a mill, which difconcerted him greatly in the execution of his plan, and he fent to enquire of the miller what he would have for it. The miller answered, that, for a long feries of years, his family had poffeffed the mill from father to fon, and that he would not fell it. The king was very preffing to gain his point, and even offered to build another mill for him in a better fituation, exclufive of the fum that he might demand of him. The obftinate miller perfifted in keeping the inheritance of his "Don't you know," continued the king, "that I could take it without giving you one penny?"-"Yes," anfwered the miller, if there were no Chamber of Juftice at Berlin."-The king, who had himself inftituted this court for the more speedy relief of the injured and oppreffed, was extremely pleased with this answer, which intimated, that he was thought incapable of an act of injuftice. He fuffered the man to enjoy his mill, and he altered the plan of his gardens. It is well known, that the king caused a great quantity of small bafe money to be coined, that were called pieces of fix fenins. With thefe were paid the foldiers, artificers, and part of the penfions of the civil and military officers. But these fix fenins were never received at any of the royal offices; infomuch that the king amaffed all the good coin in his treafury, never to leave it, and diftributed among the people the bafe money, that was to return no more into the royal treafury. One day, Frederick paffing by the door of a baker at Potzdam, heard him difputing with a peasant. He enquired what was the matter; and was anfwered, that the baker wanted to pay in fix fenins for the corn he had purchased of the peafant, and that he refused to take it. Why,' faid Frederick to the latter, will you not take this money?-The peafant looking at the king, peevishly anfwered, "Do you take them yourself?"-The king answered not a word, but went on. The king one day found a Dutch merchant at Sans-Souci. He politely accofted him, and asked him if he wifhed to fee the garden. The merchant, who did not know his majefty anfwered, he did not think that would be permitted while the king was there.-"Give yourfelf no concern about that," answered Frederick, "I will fhow it to you myfelf." He then led the merchant to the most beautiful fpots in the garden, and defired his opinion concerning a variety of things. When he had fhown him every thing that was remarkable, the merchant took out his purfe, and would have given fome money to his guide. No," faid the king, "we are not allowed to take any thing: we fhould lofe our places if we did." The merchant thanked him very politely, and took his leave, perfuaded that it was the infpector of the gardens. He had fcarce proceeded a few fteps, when he met the gardener, who faid to him roughly, "What do you do here? The king is yonder." The Dutchman told him what had happen. ed, and praised very much the politeness of the gentleman that had fhewn him the garden. And do you know who that is?" faid the gardener: "It is the king himself." -The aftonishment of the Dutchman may be easily conceived. known to have a great deal of vanity, but, A reduced officer, who had ferved with great bravery as lieutenant-colonel during the war of feven years, repaired every day to the king's antichamber, to folicit a pen fion. The king had often faid to him, "Have patience; I cannot, at prefent, do any thing for you."--The officer was not repulied; and wherever he found the king, he did not fail to importune him. The king, tired with this perfeverance, ordered that he fhould be admitted no more. In the mean time, a violent fatire appeared againft Frederick, who, contrary to his ufual cuftom, promised a reward of fifty louis to whomfoever thould discover the author. The next day, the lieutenant-colonel repaired to the palace: he was refused admittance. He perfifted, however, urging, that he had fomething of importance to communicate to his majefty. He is announced, and enters. "Have I not told you already," faid Frederick, "that I can do nothing," for you at prefent?"-" I require nothing," answered the officer: " but your majefty has promifed fifty louis to whomfoever fhould difcover the author of the new pamphlet that has juft appeared against your majefty: I am the author: punish the guilty man; but pay this money to my wife, that The may buy bread for her wretched chil-"You have flept well," faid the king. The dren. '—" The dI confound you" faid the king," you fhall go to Spandau.' "Sire, I fubmit to whatever your majefty orders with refpect to myself: but the fifty louis.". '—" In an hour's time your wife fhall have them: wait a moment."-The king fat down, wrote a letter, and gave it to the officer, faying, " You will deliver this letter to the commandant of Spandau, and tell him that I forbid him to open it until he has dined."He then ordered the officer to be conducted to Spandau. He arrives there, and prefents the letter to the commandant, with the orders he had received. The commandant dines; the officer, the whole time, is in the moft cruel fufpenie: the letter is at laft opened, and read as follows: "The bearer of this letter is appointed commandant of the fortrefs of Spandau. His wife and children will be there foon with 50 Frederick rung one day, and nobody anfwered. He opened the door, and found the page fleeping on a fofa. He was going to wake him, when he perceived the end of a billet out of his pockets. He had the curi-. ofity to know the contents: he took, and read it. It was a letter from the mother of the young man, who thanked him for having fent her a part of his wages, to allift her in her diftrefs. She concluded by befeeching God to bless him for his filial goodnefs. The king returned foftly to his room, took a roller of ducats, and flid them, with the letter, into the page's pocket. Returned to his apartment, he rang fo violently, that the page opened it, and entered. page made an apology, and, in his embar- Note. Engel has made this anecdote the fubject of a little drama, entitled "The Page." Anecdote of Lord Mansfield. louis The former commandant of Span-Bishop of Exeter having established dau will repair to Potzdam, where a better A corporal of the life-guards, who was A fortrefs, where military and flate prifoners are either confined, or obliged to work apon the fortifications. poor-houfe for twenty-five old women, afked Lord Mansfield for an infcription; upon which, his Lordship immediately wrote the following: "Under this roof, The right rev. the Lord Bishop of Exeter Keeps wenty-five women" Portuguese 1 Portuguese Voyages to the Eaft-Indies. Various Voyages and Tranfactions of Pacheco, Alburquer que, and other Portuguese Adven turers. [Continued from Page 241.] HE valour of the Portuguese women tempted to fcale.it, and were repulfed with great flaughter. The affault was repeated, and ftill the enemy came off with lofs. Amongst the wounded men, fent to be dreffed, Fernan Pinteado was one, who, while he waited his turn, heard the noife of a fresh attack, and forgetting the dreffing, ran thither, and received another wound; the veto him the third time, and then he was dreffed of all three by this time there were left in the fort but 250 of the 600 men fit to bear arms. de Vego, a woman of great virtue, and fome beauty, was wife to Manuel de Vefcencelos; who fearing the fort might be loft, and, the taken by the Turks, earneftly in- Solyman, now in defpair, refolved to treated her to go to her father, Francifco make one push for all. The better to fucSerram at Goa; but the begged not to be part-ceed in his defign, he counterfeited. raising ed from him; which with much regret, at laft he confented to. This heroine confidering there were many men employed in works who might fight, and their places be fupplied by as many women, affembled all of that fex who were in the fort; and haying exhorted them to undertake that la bour, to the end fo many men might be added to the number of their defendants, they all cheerfully complied, and followed her as their leader with Anne Fernandez, to whom she had before communicated her defign. This Anne was wife to a phyfician, and fo courageous, that by night the viewed all the pofts, and appeared at affaults encouraging the foldiers; her fon being killed in her fight, the drew him away, and returned to her poft; when the fervice was over, fhe went to bury him. Gafpar de Soufa perceiving the Turks undermined his bulwark, fallied with feventy men to view their works, which he did, and made great slaughter among them. At his retreat, miffing two men, he turned back upon the enemy, and fought bravely; but being furrounded, was hamftringed; yet * ftill he defended himself upon his knees, till oppreffed by the multitude. The mine was countermined; but the continual labour became infupportable, and it was impoffible to repair fo many ruins. At this juncture arrived four veffels, fe nt by the viceroy, Don Garcia de Noronna, which brought only twenty men. Solyman was concerned at this fuccour, though fmall, but much more that the fort flood fo many affaults: Chojah Zaffar having affirmed he would carry it at two. At the beginning of the fiege, there was no more than 600 men in the fort, of whom many were killed, and some cannon burft: but the basha little encouraged thereby, ftill looked toward the fea, fearful of the Portuguefe fleet which he heard was coming upon him. This moved him to prefs the fiege with more vigour. The bulwark of the fea where Antonio de Soufa commanded, was furioufly attacked by 50 barks, two whereof were funk by the cannon of the castle. Then they atGent. Mag. July, 1788. the fiege; and twelve galleys put to fea, that Silveyra might be eafier surprised; but that vigilant commander kept still upon his guard as much as ever. One night, fome noife being heard, at the foot of the wall by water, it was found that the enemy were applying great numbers of fcaling ladders. They were oppofed till morning appeared, which fhewed the place befet all round, and affaulted by 14,000 men. They began by playing the cannon, and then mounted on all fides, chiefly next the commandant's house, where it was weakeft, but he bad. pofted fuch men there as made a terrible flaughter of them. Having failed in this place they attempted a bulwark, pouring in thowers of arrows and bullets. Great was the confufion and havock on both fides. In the interim, came up 14 galleys, furioufly discharging their great shot, but did no execution. At length Francifco Gouva made them draw off, having battered two of their veffels, and killed some men with his cannon. By this time 200 Turks had entered the Bulwark, and planted their colours; scarce 30 Portuguese were there to oppose them; but they rufhing on defperately, to regain the work, none of their fhot were loft, the enemy being very thick; so that having fuftained great damage, fuch as were in this action drew off. However, fresh men fucceeded, and fet up four colours. The Portuguese wounded and burnt, ran for ease; and dipped themselves in jars of falt water, where fecking refreshment, they perifhed with great torture. Antonio de Siiveyra indefatigably repaired to every place, encouraging all. Here a foldier wanting ball, pulled out one of his teeth to load his mufquet. The enemy had much the better this fecond affault, which a few gentlemen perceiving, furiously rushed upon them, among whom Juan Rodrigues, a man of great body, and as great courage, ran with a barrel of powder, crying, "Clear the way, for here I carry my own and many a man's death." He threw the barrel among the enemy, and fuddenly above 100 men were carried into the air, and torn in pieces; 20 lay burnt upon the X x ground, : ground, yet Rodrigues himfelf came off unhurt, and doing other confiderable actions, deferved fome of the firft rewards and honours, gained the fiege. Other fireworks burnt the four enfigns, who had set up the - colours; two of the cannon cleared the place of the enemies; and two bullets threw down two enfigns, that fucceeded the former. The enemy withdrew, and fresh fupplies came on the third time, and placed their colours. The commander of these, fon-in-law to Chojah Zaffar, being killed, his men were dismayed, and turned their backs. These affaults lafted above four hours; the fame fmall number of Portuguefe withstanding still fresh, and numerous detachments, while their women in the fort, and thofe of the enemy on the city walls, were fpectators of the whole action. The Portuguese, all fmeared with powder, appeared like Moors, and were known by their cloaths and voice, not colour; fo black was their appearance with fire, blood and fweat. At length the enemy retired, carrying off above 1000 wounded, and leaving more. than 500 men killed of the Portuguese 14 were killed, and 200 lay useless for want of blood, only 40 remained able to bear arms, and the weapons lay broken to pieces on the ground, fome ferving fuch as could not ftand on their legs, for crutches. No hope was left, if the enemy renewed their attack; the walls were all shattered, and the powder fpent; nothing but horror appeared; only the brave Silveyra's countenance was what encouraged all men. Solyman put an end to all these calamities; for not knowing the condition the fortrefs was in, and terrified with ill fuccefs, he raised the fiege. Anto nio de Silveyra feeing them weigh anchor, and hoift fail, thought it was only another feint, and prepared to refift; as if he could fill refift an attack. He pofted the 40 men, and caused fome that were wounded to lean against the walls, to fhew a number. Thofe who could not rife, ordered themfelves to be carried in their beds, faying, It was to die in an honourable place: fome of the women alfo armed themselves, and appeared upon the works. The night was fpent upon the watch, but the morning was more comfortable to the afflicted; for Solyman was withdrawn in carneft, without any thought of returning. Though fear did much, yet a device of Chojah Zaffar did more towards removing the bafha. Zaffar was moved to it as well by the infupportable pride of that Turk, as an order he had from his king, that in cafe, he found the batha intended to keep that city and fort, (as was feared) he fhould rather endeavour to leave it to the Portuguefe. To effect his purpofe, he framed a letter, intimating, that the viceroy of India would be there next day, with a vaft fleet; which falling into Solyman's hands, as was defigned, he thought fit not to delay his departure; but failed away on the 5th of November, after two months fiege, having loft 3000 men.-The fame night Zaffar's men fired the city, and marched off. This was the first fiege of Diu, which was admired throughout the world, and added new luftre to the Portuguese glory: all due to the invincible courage and vigilance of the heroic Antonio de Silveyra, and thofe valiant gentlemen who were with him. Solyman touching at the ports on the coaft of Arabia, took fome Portuguefe, he found there. He gathered above 140, and cutting off their heads, then their ears and nofes, falted and fent them to the Grand Turk, as we have seen. Among these likewife was Francifco Pecheco, who had not the courage to die like a gentleman in his bulwark. Solyman being arrived at Conftantinople, and not agreeing with one who afpired to his poft, was reduced to kill himself. This famous fiege was far advanced, when the viceroy Don Garcia de Noronna arrived in India, to whom Nunno de Cunna immediately refigned the government. His arrival, (with fo confiderable a relief as he brought) might well have bettered the af fairs of Diu, yet, on the contrary, it much endangered them; for had he not come, De Cunna had relieved Diu, with 80 fail that he had in readiness for that purpose, and prevented fo many miferies, and the death of so many brave men. Still fresh advice was brought of the danger the belieged were in, and ftill Don Garcia wafted the time in confidering the means to relieve them, choofing rather to commit an error through his own wilfuluefs, (for he did not want for courage) than act rightly by the advice of De Cunna. Thus the fiege was raifed, before he pitched on the method of relieving the place, and the expence of preparation thrown away. Antonio Sylva Menefes was the fecond fent with fuccours, being 20 fmall veffels, and came too late: yet he contended with Silveyra for the honour of that victory. The viceroy was ftill at Goa, though ready to fail with a fleet of 160 fail of feveral forts, and in them sooo fighting men, and 1000 cannon, when advice came, that the Turks had railed the fiege. On this news, he fet out with 90 fhips, but moved flowly, as if he did not care to go thither. Hearing at Dabul that Alu Chan and Chojah Zaffar ftill ranged about with fire and fword, he fent against them Martin Alphonfo de Melo, with his galley, and the vessels that went with de Sylva; but being hard fet by the enemy, he was forced to take thelter under the caftle. The viceroy, at the fame flow rate, failed to Bazaim, nothing moved |