Bûyûkdere, the mouth of the Black Sea, and the opposite coast of Asia Minor.

Whilst seated together on these cliffs, inhaling the pure breezes of the Euxine, which refreshed and invigorated our bodily frame, how often have I inwardly and ardently longed that a spiritual and divine afflatus might descend from Heaven upon our souls! At one period I formed the strongest hopes of such a blessing. D. was seized with an intense desire to ascertain the truth of Christianity. The infinite value of the human soul, if truly immortal -the incalculable importance of an escape from endless ruin, if such ruin really exist-these considerations appeared to have rushed upon his mind, and to have seized the dominion of his senses, with a force which was resistless. His expressions, at this time, implied that his whole soul was alive to the momentous inquiry, Is this. Volume from God, or merely from man? Impelled by such urgent thoughts, he commenced a most diligent scrutiny into the Inspired Writings. Day after day was the Bible in his hands. His remarks were all directed to this subject; his thoughts all ran in this channel. The man who has been a Missionary may judge of the interest I felt in such an exhibition as this. Constantly did I pray for him; strenuously did I admonish him to seek for divine directions in prayer; and frequently did we unite in prayer together. The vague scepticism, which had

hitherto rested as a cloud upon his mind, appeared to be giving way. Light was flashing in upon his understanding; and though the sun was not risen, there appeared to be every indication of a bright and eternal day to follow.-Love your enemies. Bless them that curse you; and pray for them that despitefully use you, and persecute you. "This language must be from God!" was his expression; "the sentiment is too high, too good, for human invention." Other evidence, also, affected him so strongly, that he inquired of me, seriously, whether he ought to partake of the Lord's Supper; which he had discovered, from the New Testament, was a duty incumbent on Christians. Such were the promising appearances, which gave the flattering hope of a transition from death to life, in the case of my friend. But, alas! how speedily were all my expectations disappointed, and all my efforts rendered abortive! Events soon occurred, which convinced me that D.'s feelings, however intense, and for the moment sincere, were but a passing excitement, and a feverish dream. Though for a short period he seemed to have taken an eagle's flight above this scene of folly, his subsequent conduct convinced me that he was to be ranked amongst the sad multitude,

whose eyes are ever fixed below,

Gazing upon the earth, with thoughts which dare not glow.

The truth was, a fascinating temptation presented

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itself to his view; and he had not strength to resist it. The pure and calm joys of Religion disappeared before the allurements of sense; and, as was natural, Religion now appeared as a gloomy and malignant spectre, to scare and torment him, rather than a ministering angel, to beckon and to guide him to Paradise. Suddenly I found him relinquishing all the arguments for Truth which once had appeared so striking to him, and advancing objections the most frivolous. A specimen of his cavils is this:-Christ is represented as seeking to conceal himself from the intrusion of the multitude; but he could not be hid. How could a Being claim Divinity," he urged, "who found it impossible to conceal himself?"--The fact is, when error is loved, no truth can prevail. The voice of the Almighty, disturbing the serenity of the universe by a voice from the third heaven, would be referred to natural causes, by the man who loves darkness rather than light.-My unhappy friend now assumed an attitude of determined opposition to the Truth. My society was, of course, no longer agreeable to him; and I had to retire from my long-continued efforts, with nothing but the consolatory reflection, I have at least commended myself to this man's conscience in the sight of God.

Subsequently, we both resided in the same island of the Archipelago, but our intercourse was never renewed.

CHAPTER XIV.

JEWS IN TURKEY.

Suffering condition of the Jews in Turkey-Their ill-treatment by the Turks illustrated--Singular question proposed by a Persian-The Shapgee put to death by the Grand Signor-Ill-treatment of the Jews by the Greeks-Pardon asked for the mention of a Jew-Massacre of the Jews at Tripolitza-Jews weary of waiting for the Messiah-Anecdote of a Jew at Salonica-The Gospel at length preached to the Jews of the Levant-Conversion and sufferings of three Jews at ConstantinopleMeans of their conversion-Their concealment-Their apprehension and appearance before Turkish Authorities-Visit paid them by the Author, in the prison of the Porte-Their imprisonment in the Bagnio-Apostacy of one, and constancy of the others-Future prospects.

THE sufferings to which the people of Israel are exposed are a frequent subject of appeal, with those who illustrate the fulfilment of Prophecy. That no exemption has been conferred on Jews in Turkey, from the force and application of these predictions, I myself have been witness. In Turkey, it is true, the stroke of violence spares no head: it falls on the white as well as on the black turban. The very green turban, the supposed ensign of descent from the Prophet, cannot escape. The countries which are celebrated as the cradle of the Arts and

Sciences, which are associated with all that is heroic in Classic recollections, and which are rendered sacred by Scriptural History; and those, too, which lay claim to superiority of climate, of atmosphere, of fertility, and of scenery; these are the regions which, of all others, have been exposed to the most severe calamities. Here, desolation has become doubly desolate: spoliation, demolition, conflagration, pestilence, oppression, and other misfortunes to which human-nature is exposed, have here appeared in more gigantic forms than elsewhere. It might not appear improper to refer this condition of superior distress to a penal visitation of the Almighty, awarding more severe chastisements where superior advantages have been abused. But, whatever woe may be the lot of others, subject to Turkish domination—as far as my own observation has gone-none, in ordinary times, are so insulted and maltreated as Jews.

The name by which a Jew is designated in Turkish (tsephoot) is peculiarly expressive of contempt. The Greeks have assured me, that a Jew is not admitted to the Mussulman faith unless he pass through the previous gradation of Christianity; as though there were something so peculiarly hideous in Judaism, that even to be converted from it could not be permitted by the votaries of the False Prophet. Without vouching for the accuracy of this statement, the existence of such a report amongst