VOL. 6.] Dumont's Account of his Captivity of thirty-four Years. 61 Whenever the prince happened to meet duced by the example of some Jews, the captives it was a day of feasting; for he always ordered two or three oxen to be slaughtered for their use. Osman's love of justice and system of government is illustrated by the following anecdote: A farmer having lent one of his sous a sum of money on the latter's marrying, which was to be repaid at a fixed time, was unable to get his loan back as stipulated. Upon this he applied to the sheik for redress; and, in reply, was told he might treat the creditor as he thought proper. Satisfied with this authority, the son was bound hand and foot, taken into a large open space, and immolated by his own father! Six mouths after this atrocious deed, Osman sent for the monster who had committed it, and required an immediate tribute to a large amount: this was given with much difficulty, and then a second demanded; till at length, when the sheik supposed the old man had no more to give, he ordered him to be hung. One of the most laborious employments allotted to slaves, was that of carrying large sacks of wheat, for a distance of several miles from immense granaries --some of which are stated to be eighty feet deep, sometimes covering a whole field. It is added, that the corn keeps in them for ten or twelve years as fresh as if it had only been deposited a few mouths. When the stock increases to such a degree as to admit the sheik's selling a portion of it, the slaves are employed in emptying the granaries, and conveying the wheat to the summit of a neighbouring range of hills, beyond which mules are in readiness to receive it. Whenever a slave was induced to embrace the Mahometan faith, his chain was removed, and he was allowed to take unto himself a wife: other advantages, also, occasionally await the apostate. But the example which was once made of a Fleming, who had thus abandoned the creed of his fathers, terrified his former companions to such a degree, that apostacy became much less in Vogue. This unfortunate man having changed his religion, continued rigidly to observe all the rules of his new faith for above four years; till at length, se he was tempted, in an evil hour, to make rather too free with the brandybottle. Taken the very same day in flagranti delicto, he was conducted to the prison for the purpose of being impaled alive. The operation was performed by placing him on an iron spit, one end of which was fastened in a block of marble. The point having entered the loins, two executioners stood by, and at intervals pressed the body down two or three inches, until the spit came out on the opposite side and near his shoulder. The unhappy sufferer lived thirty-six hours in this horrible position, constantly beseeching the slaves to terminate his miseries ;—a proof of pity which would, according to the narrator, have been visited by a similar punishment on those who were guilty of it! Some of Dumont's companions had been in slavery for above fifty years, and were totally insensible to the horrors of their situation; looking forward to their turn for being shot and given to the beasts of prey, with equal indifference and the most settled composure! Whenever a slave did not exert himself at the hour of foraging in his accustomed manner, it was a sure indication of his being tired of life: and, as predicted, either a halter or natural death soon came to his relief. But the Koubals never committed self-murder. When overtaken by melancholy, or weary of life, they merely go into the forests, and are soon saved the trouble of a felo de se, by the lions and tigers. This mode of shaking off the "mortal coil" is, also, frequently resorted to by the women who happen to be discarded from Osman's seraglio, owing to old age, and such a diminution of their personal charms as makes them an object of indifference to a less fastidious voluptuary. Dumont had the good fortune to accompany the sheik in six of his predatory excursions towards the territories of Algiers, Tunis, Constantina, and Tripoly. This was a most delectable period for the slaves selected for such oc casions, for, although they had great fa tigues to undergo, they had plenty of good things to eat and drink. Osman is represented to have pillaged every one who came in his way, from motives of pure devotion! in order that he might be afterwards enabled to make the more acceptable offerings at Mecca; his soldiery not wishing to show less pity in this way than their master, made common cause with him, and frequently cut off the ears of inoffensive women to get at the rings which hung from them! The costume of the women of Mount Felix, consists of pantaloons and a white vest of fine linen thrown over the body, while thick veils, and coloured silk handkerchiefs form the head-dress. Fathers are allowed to sell their sons, and mothers their daughters, as in our own country, husbands can also sell their wives but, in Africa, their sons enjoy the privilege of not only ransoming, but marrying them afterwards. Although subject to violent storms of thunder, and heavy falls of rain during a part of the year, vegetation is represented as most abundant; while poultry and sheep seem to be another great source of support to the population. The chief articles of trade are, oil, honey, wool, skins, wax, elephants' teeth, carpets, &c.; these are exchanged for beads, watches, clocks, and other Euro g ass pean commodities: the whole of their commerce is carried on by Jews, otherwise, it is probable that the productions would be suffered to perish, sooner than the Arabs could be persuaded to give it up to Christians. Dumont thinks that every attempt to convert the people of those prolific and delightful regions into civilized habits by the arin of conquest, would be abortive; and that the savage nature of the country, its mountains, want of communications, &c. present an insurmountable barrier to the progress of an invading army. In admitting the probable justice of his opinions on this subject, it does not militate against our approving or encouraging the suggestions of those who have laboured to prove that nothing less than European establishments, and those of a formidable description, on the coast of Northern Africa, will ever relieve Europe from the curse of seeing its sons consigned to the fate of the narrator, or lead to our drawing any permanent advantages from the richest country on the face of the earth! Having arrived at that point of Dumont's narrative at which the prospect of emancipation dawns on him, we must reserve for our next Number his own unaffected account of those circumstances which led to it. TIME'S MAGIC LANTHERN. NO. II. From Blackwood's (Ed.) Magazine. Galileo in the Inquisition. GALILEO. So, you are come to close the shut ters of my window before nightfall. Surely these bars are strong enough. I would fain have the consolation of viewing the heavens after it is dark. My sleep is unquiet and short, for want of exercise; and when I lie awake, the roof of my prison presents nothing but a sable blank. Do not, I beseech you, conceal from me the blue vault, and those hosts of light, upon which I still love to gaze in spite of all my troubles. Monk. You must not see the stars. It is the stars which have put you wrong. Poor man! to think the earth was turning round. Galileo. Alas! alas! Is it for this that I have studied? Monk. Do you suppose, that if the earth had been turning all this while, the sea would not have drowned every living soul? I put this to you, as a simple question, and level with the most ordinary capacity. Galileo. My good friend, you know that I have recanted these things, and therefore it is needless for me to dispute farther upon the subject. Monk. Your books were burnt at Rome, which, in my opinion, was an idle business. In a few years they VOL. 6.] The Astronomer Galileo in the Inquisition. would have turned to smoke of their own accord. 'Tis the way with all new discoveries, for I am an old Christian, and have seen the fashion of the world before now. Galileo. Do you suppose that glass windows were used in the time of Adam? Monk. No; for the Scripture mentions no such thing. But what then? Galileo. Why then, you must admit that time teaches things which were unknown before. Monk. That is possible enough. But now things are different; for my head is gray, and I have no faith in new discoveries. Galileo. We know not what time may bring about. Perhaps the earth may be weighed. Monk. Go on-you shall receive no interruption from me. You perceive that I only smile gently and good-naturedly when you talk in this manner. Galileo. What is the matter? what makes you look so wise? Monk. Never mind. Go on. Galileo. What is the meaning of this extraordinary look of tenderness and benignity, which you are attempting to throw into your features. Monk. When I consider what is your real condition, it moves my pity. For my part, when the Cardinals made so much ado about your writings, I always thought they were trifling with their office. Galileo. I wish you would convince them of that; for all I desire is, to have the privilege of looking through my telescopes, and to live quietly without doing harm to any man. I pray you, allow the window to remain open; for darkness is gathering, and Jupiter already blazes yonder through the twilight. So pure a sky!-and to be debarred from my optical contrivances. Monk. Study the Scriptures, my son, with care and diligence, and you will have no need of optical contrivances. Galileo. I am well acquainted with the Scriptures; but as I do not suppose they were meant to instruct mankind in astronomy, I think there is no sacrilege in attempting to discover more of the nature of the universe than what is revealed in them. 93 Monk. So you believe yourself capable of succeeding in the attempt? Galileo. Perhaps I do. Monk. Would not your time be better employed, my son, in perusing some rational book of devotion? Do not allow yourself to be led away by the idle suggestions of self-conceit. What is there to be seen about you, which should enable you to penetrate farther into the secrets of the universe than me or the rest of mankind? I do not ask this question with a view to wound your pride, but with a sincere wish for your good. Galileo. Upon my word, you are too kind to me. Pray, father, is there any book of devotion which you would recommend in particular. Monk. Recommend in particular !— There is a book which it would not become me to—but no-recommend in particular '-Hum-I know not. Galileo. Something trembles at your tongue's end. Have you yourself written any book of devotion? Monk. Far be it from me to speak of my own writings. Of all books of devotion, my own was the remotest from my thoughts. But since you desire to see it Galileo. What are the subjects treated of in it? Monk. Life, death, and immortality. There is also a treatise upon the habitations of good men after death, and the delights to be found there. Galileo. Your notions concerning these subjects must be in a great measure fanciful. Monk. By no means. Good reasons are given for every tittle that is advanced. Galileo. And where do you suppose the habitations of good men to be? Monk. Why in heaven, to be sure. Galileo. Is it not possible that their abode may be situated in some of the constellations? When gazing, as I was wont to do, at midnight, upon Arcturus, or the brilliant orbs of Orion, I have sometimes thought, that in the blue depths there might exist worlds suitable for the habitation of an immorta! spirit. Monk. My son, my son, beware of futile conjectures! You know not upon what ground you are treading. Galileo. Does not the galaxy shed forth a glorious light? How gorgeous is its throng of constellations!-To me it seems like a procession of innumerable worlds, passing in review before their Creator. Monk. If the galaxy moves, why may not the sun? Galileo. My judgment is, that they 1785. From the New Monthly Magazine, September 1819. COLLECTED BY THE LATE ABBE MORELLÉ T. The Marshal de Beauveau relates, that some persons were conversing in his presence of the negligence shewn in military hospitals, in ascertaining whether the patient is really dead; so that it often happened that people were buried alive. An old lieutenant-colonel said, "General, I assure you this is a great exaggeration; I have seen these things close at hand, and I can answer for it, that the greater part of those who are buried, are certainly dead." THE HE abbé Morellet, who died at Paris, aged 92, at the beginning of this year, bad acquired great reputation by his writings and by his connection with the most celebrated men of the 18th century. He had been also member of the French Academy ever since The present king restored him the pension which he had enjoyed under the reign of Louis XVI. The origin of this pension is remarkable. The Marquis of Lansdowne having signed, in 1783, the peace between England and France, asked, and obtained a pension for the Abbé Morellet; his lordship grounded his request on the circumstance that the French writer had, as he said, liberalised his ideas, that is to say, contributed to fix in his mind the principles which might more closely connect the two nations, for the happiness of both. Among the unpublished works of the Abbé Morellet, there is a collection of anecdotes and thoughts which he had gathered in society, or in the course of his reading. The following anecdotes are taken from his collec-him to say "if you please;" the child would not do so. His father gave him the cake, and looking at me, said, "Nor I neither; I will not say if you please." tion : Diderot, conversing with the Enpress of Russia on the means of civilizing the Russians, said that property was one of the characteristics of civilization, and that it would be necessary to accustom to it the moustiks, (domestic slaves). "Ah!" said the Enpress, "their soul is but a lodger; how could you require it to take care of the house?" A commander of Sillery lying at the point of death, heard two of his friends dispute on the merit of some wines; he raised his feeble voice, saying, " Gentlemen, I suspend my agonies, to tell you that Sillery wine is infinitely more delicate." Lord Shelburne, afterwards Marquis of Lansdowne, had it nearly in bis power to re-enter the ministry,by making some advances to the king and to a party. I was at this time with him at Bowend, One morning at breakfast, his little child asked him for a cake. My lord desired S Franklin relates, that when he was a printer at Philadelphia, one of his people, an excellent workman, never came to work till Wednesday." Francis," said Franklin to him one day, "surely you do not think of the future? If you would work more diligently, you might lay up something against old age." The workman answered, "I have made my calculation: I have an uncle, a druggist, in Cheapside, who has just set up in business with the resolution to work for twenty years, till he has saved 40001. after which he intends to live like a gentleman. He thinks to make himself a wholesale gentleman; I will be one by retail; I had rather be so,and do nothing for half the week during twenty years, than be so the whole week twenty years hence." Buonaparte when master of Madrid, at the end of 1808, demanded from all the corporations, communities, magistrates, &c. an oath of allegiance, upon the Holy Sacrament. A Spaniard conversing with Cardinal Maury on the subject, the Cardinal said to him, "Ah, he has taken you by your weak side, it will not be possible for you to retract !" "Oh !" replied the Spaniard in a half whisper, "the wafer was not consecrated." Franklin being present at the meet IT 95 ing of some literary society, where many pieces were read, and not well understanding the French when declaimed, but wishing to appear polite, resolved to applaud when he should see a lady of his acquaintance, Mad. de Boufflers, express satisfaction. After the reading was over, his little boy said to him, "but grandpapa, you always applauded, and louder than any body else,when they were praising you." The good man laughed, and explained the matter. Theophile, a French poet, dedicated a book to James the First, king of England, hoping by these means to obtain however, disappointed in his expectaan audience with that monarch. Being, tions, he consoled himself with the following epigram: Si Jaques roi de grand savoir En voici la cause infailible; SAGACITY OF A SHEPHERD'S DOG. From Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine. MR. EDITOR, Tis well known to all those conversant with the hill country that erowns the southern district of Scotland, that the sect now called Cameronians are thinly scattered among the population of the most upland glens, where many of them can to this day trace their descent from those who so heroically suffered and bled during the tyrannical reign of James Duke of York, as they still call him. Their pastors have their fixed stations, generally on the verge of the low country, but are in the habit of taking periodical journies, in the summer season, among their scanty flocks, who have now become, to use the figurative language of the prophet, like the gleanings of the latter vintage, a cluster upon the upmost bough; a berry here and there upon the outermost branches. The preachers undertake these pilgri The mages to look after the few sheep in the At these times the preachers choose the most lonely and retired situations, but generally not far remote from the residence of some person of the sect in better circumstances, where the ministers, elders, and the most respectable members of the sect, many of them coming from twenty and thirty miles distance, are accustomed to meet after |