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ment, or scientific body, or public, to secoud his aspirations for the discovery of ancient Nineveh, Lord Stratford authorised and enabled him, at his own risk and expense, to proceed upon his researches. In 1847, those interesting relics, the Budrum marbles-being, as supposed, the remains of the mausoleum erected at Halicarnassus, by Artemisia, queen of Caria, to her husband, Mausolus were obtained by Lord Stratford, by firman from the Porte, and presented by him to the British Museum.

We only add what of thanks and gratitude are due to his Lordship from the friends of Missions and especially the friends of Missionaries of the American Board at Constantinople, for his very efficient protection and kindness to them extended through many years, which, perhaps no one else could have so effectually performed.

The services rendered by Lord Stratford de Redcliffe to the cause of religious liberty in Turkey, have linked his name imperishably with the names of the great benefactors of mankind. Confining himself within the sphere of his just influence, in view of the relations subsisting between the English and Turkish governments, he was ever ready to make that influence felt in behalf of the persecuted of whatever religious faith, when the rights of conscience were assailed in their persons. In 1843, by a decided and firm course of action, in which he was happily sustained by his own government, and aided by the representatives of other Christian powers, he was enabled to gain a pledge, in the Sultan's autograph, for the non-application of the law making apostasy from Mohammedanism a capital crime, to Moslems who had once been Christians, and returned to the profession of Christianity. This was a step of immense difficulty and the greatest importance, as setting aside, in a large class of cases, an express injunction of the Koran, which is the statute-book of Mohammedan çivil and ecclesiastical law, and implying as a consequence the abrogation of religious intolerance.

On the ground of the understood meaning of that guarantee, Lord Stratford interposed his good offices for protection to Jews, Roman Catholics, and

other religionists, in instances of outrage against such, which were made known to him. But it was more frequently in behalf of converts to Protestantism from among the Armenians that his kind offices were sought. To the American Missionaries, whose discretion, prudence and forbearance as well as zeal in their work, he publicly acknowledged, he gave ready access, although the details of the many cases of grievous persecution which they were obliged to present, made large demands on his fully occupied time; and he pleaded for the oppressed for conscience' sake with a dignity, patience, and perseverance, which the fraud and chicanery of the persecutors, and the frequent ill-will of the Turkish officials, could not withstand. In the end, his efforts resulted in the formal recognition of the right of such native Protestants to protection, and enabled Lord Cowley to secure for them in 1847, during Lord Stratford's brief absence from Turkey, an official decree placing them on the same footing before the law with all other Christian subjects of the Porte.

But the crowning glory of Lord de Redcliffe's diplomatic career is in the stipulations of the remarkable document called the Hatti Sherif or Hatti Humayoun, obtained chiefly by his instrumentality, and given by the Sultan as a Magna Charta to his people at the close of the war with Russia in the begining of 1856. Its most important article is in the following words: "As all forms of religion are and shall be freely professed in my dominions, no subject of my empire shall be hindered in the exercise of the religion that he professes, nor shall be in any way annoyed on this account. No one shall be under restraint in respect to changing his religion.”

This was, and was understood to be, a direct annulment of the law forbidding apostasy from Mohammedanism, and a pledge of the most entire religious freedom for all classes of the population. A change so fundamental, and so at war with oriental fanatical bigotry, Mohammedan, Christian, and Jewish, can be but imperfectly carried out with the best intentions of the supreme government; but during the life of the late sovereign, this guarantee was carried into effect with a good degree of fidelity, at least in

the capital and its vicinity. Converts Cotillon I. (Maria Theresa) had succeeded from Mohammedanism have been bap- in winning over Cotillon II. (Elizabeth tized, and dwelt in safety, where but a of Russia) and Cotillon III. (Madame de few years ago they would have been be- Pompadour), the great king of Prussia headed. Recently a reactionary policy was driven to the very brink of the has been inaugurated; the attempts to abyss. crush Protestantism not going however beyond temporary imprisonments and exile at the capitol. In the interior and Syria lawless violence and the secret action of unprincipled or bigoted officials have, as there is reason to believe, taken the lives of several Moslem converts to Christianity. This sad change has arisen from the fact that the British government is now represented at Constantinople, by Sir Henry Bulwer instead of Lord Stratford de Redcliffe. The Palmerston Ministry have the grave question to determine whether the grandly beneficent fruits of the latter's diplomacy shall be sacrified or preserved.

This is but a brief and imperfect outline of his Lordship's very useful and brilliant public life, which is still prolonged. He resigned his embassy in May, 1858, and retired on his pension. He was sent on a special mission to take leave of the Sultan, in September, 1858. He was chairman of the jury of works in precious metals and their imitations, and jewelry, in the International Exhibition of 1862, and still continues an active and honored member of the English House of Lords at the present time.

Bentley's Miscellany.

A PETTICOAT INTRIGUE. A PERIOD of the last century bears in history the name of the period of the Adventurers. It comprises the epoch when Elizabeth of Parma, Princess Orsini, Alberoni, Ripperda, and people of a similar stamp, kept the world in suspense, and made far more important changes in the map of Europe than in our age can be effected with far greater resources. The whole of the last century continued to work with adventurous means. Through annoyance at the paltry intrigues which were drawn round his policy like spider-webs, until he cut them with his sword; Frederick the Great christened his enemies Petticoats and numbered them Cotillon I. II. and III. When NEW SERIES-VOL. I., No. 6.

Kaunitz was sent to Paris, in order to gain over the French court for an Austrian alliance. The clever diplomatist ostensibly ignored politics entirely, formed the acquaintance of beaux esprits and artists, and constantly kept himself before the public in one way or the other. He was imperceptibly conveyed by the little waves of gossip to the throne, and then he began his game, which consisted in nothing less than doing homage to the Pompadour in the way she liked best, and amusing the wearied king better than any one else could do it. One fine day, however, it happened that he was as little heeded as if he were living in a Trappist monastery or among the Otaheitans. A delicious mystery, a Russian woman of marvelous beauty, occupied the court and the king more especially. She seemed to have come to the world's capital, in order to live there more solitary than on a steppe of Southern Russia. She occupied a ruined castle in the neighborhood of Paris, which had been magnificently fitted up for her, but to which no one was admitted. At times a wild team of Russian horses flew through the Champs Elysées, or a tall lady appeared at a masked ball, so disguised that little was visible of her beyond her eyes, which discharged from behind her velvet mask glances like death's arrows. When Richelieu had reported, in a hunt in the forest of Sénart, the little he knew about the Russian, the king was inflamed with curiosity to learn more. From this time the favorite, only accompanied by one servant, rode daily round the mysterious castle, but could discover nothing. A charcoal-burner in the adjoining forest had once been led into the castle, foreign-looking men conveyed him him through the forest with bandaged eyes, and it seemed to him as if he went downwards and passed through hollow, damp passages. His bandage was removed in a turretshaped vault. He was asked whether he would remain in the lady's service, but he shuddered at the gloomy, damp spot, and returned to daylight by the

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same route.

The charcoal-burner, however, was unable to tell Richelieu where the entrance to the castle was; he merely pointed to the ground, and seemed to wish the duke to understand that a secret subterranean passage led into the building. Richelieu at lenth formed a resolution to watch the castle from one sunset to the next. In the forest he gave his horse to his servant, and sent him away. The duke waited for nightfall at the charcoalburner's fire.

The full moon favored the adventure. At about midnight it emerged from the clouds, and threw a pale shimmer over the grey walls and towers of the building. The duke took a burning log from the charcoal-burner's fire, and lighted himself by its means through the forest. Then he threw it away, and ascended the gentle elevation to the building. Everything was silent in the castle. A few stones stood out from the wall, and Richelieu attempted to clamber up them, but did not get very high. Whenever the attempt failed, however, he repeated it, until a merry laugh rang out above his head. He looked up in surprise, and saw a dark form bending down towards him; the duke laid hand on his sword. "Leave your weapon in its sheath, and go to bed yourself," a rich, wonderful woman's voice cried to him; "here there are no victories to be gained, either in the battle-field, in a duel, or in a boudoir; so go to bed. Go to bed, Richelieu."

Days passed away, and the delicious enigma was not solved. The mysterious château of the Russian lady extended in gloomy monotony over the larger portion of a slight elevation, at the base of which lay a dry sandy plain. In the direction of Paris it was bounded by a thick wood close at hand, but on all the others, and at a greater distance, by farms and villages. The road which formerly led to the majestic edifice now ran into a deep swampy rut. No sound of a carriage, no mark of a hoof or a foot, now showed it to be a human track. The bushes, which advanced beyond the forest, as it were like videttes, shook with amazement in the spring breeze when two horsemen emerged in the morning light and tried to reach the old road. Was here war in the land, a garrison in the

castle, or had a hostile camp been formed behind the forest? According to their garb, the horsemen were bearers of a flag of truce. Their clothes had a military cut, and they were armed with swords and pistols. One of them carried a large white flag, supported on the saddle-bow, while on the shoulder of the other hang the cavalry bugle of those days. From time to time he raised the massive instrument to his lips and blew a tremendous blast, while the other waved his flag simultaneously, as if to protect themselves from a hostile attack or shots.

They halted at the foot of the hill on which the castle stood. The trumpeter blew thrice, the other waved the flag thrice. Not a sound was heard in reply, no form became visible, the castle and neighborhood remained solitary, deserted, silent as before. The horseman with the flag shook his head. The trumpet rang out again thrice. Then the flag-bearer drew a large folded paper from his breast, spread out a species of gigantic proclamation on his horse's neck, and read aloud a declaration of war in the most tender verses. In the name of the Duke de Richelieu and seventeen other cavaliers, whom he solemnly rehearsed, he declared war afloat and ashore against the goddess of Love, who had descended from Olympus, and held her court in this mysterious castle, until she hoisted the white flag, or made the duke and his allies her prisoners. After this the horsemen galloped round the castle, and blew their horn, and read the declaration from the four cardinal points of the compass. Everything remained silent, however. The flag-bearer, greatly annoyed, turned his horse and galloped back to Paris, followed by the trumpeter.

After sunset a troop of horsemen were encamped on the skirt of the forest, looking towards Paris. They were young gentlemen belonging to the court and garde of Louis XV., all splendidly dressed, armed with swords and pistols, and wearing bright red scarfs as a badge of recognition. Some were engaged in dragging withered branches, brushwood, and even whole saplings to a huge fire; while others were unloading a mule, on whose back all the dainties of a French vivandiére tent were packed. A cask was speedily rolled up and tapped, and

the filled glasses were elinked together declined it, and the duke, consequently, amid singing and toasts. Others still emptied it himself. The cavaliers in the arrived singly, and were greeted with meanwhile, were gazing with some cucries of joy. They dismounted and at- riosity at the mysterious horseman, but tached their horses to some branch. A Richelieu allowed them no time to do young lieutenant, the Marquis de Chau- so. "To horse!" he commanded. In velin, amused the company by counting an instant the troop were mounted, and them over whenever a new comer ar- drew up in two lines. "Count Tourrived. At length he arrived at the re-ville," the duke said, "you will form an sult that they were all present, except advanced post with two gentlemen. their leader, the Duke de Richelieu. It You will ride round the castle and sighad grown almost dark, and only a few nal to us whatever may happen. Prince stars stood in the heavens, when two Conti, you will post yourself with anhorsemen slowly approached the bivouac other gentleman on the skirt of the fire from the direction of Paris. No forest, and cover our rear; and now, sooner did Chauvelin notice them, than gentlemen, forwards!" he alarmed the whole troop. "Two horsemen!" he cried; "that is contrary to the agreement. The number is full; it is not the duke, for he will come alone." He quickly leaped into his saddle and galloped to meet them. When twenty paces distant he pulled up his horse, cocked a pistol, and challenged them. A loud laugh from Richelieu answered his manœuvre. Chauvelin bowed politely. "Are you assembled ?" the duke asked. The officer bowed. "We are only waiting for you to begin the campaign. But who is your friend?" he asked, pointing to the duke's com.panion. The man with the iron mask," Richelieu laughingly replied.

As they rode together towards the forest, Chauvelin noticed that Richelieu's companion wore a black velvet mask. With this exception, there was nothing remarkable about his appearance. He seemed a powerful man, and was dressed in an elegant black suit and horseman's boots. On his black hat was a bright red bow, and he wore the scarf distinguishing the whole troop. When they approached the fire, he kept behind and a little apart, while Richelieu dashed up, accompanied by Chauvelin. The cavaliers surrounded the duke with shouts, lifted him off his horse, carried him in their arms with a wild laughing tumult round the fire, and seated him on the wine cask.

"First a glass of wine," Richelieu cried, "and then the war-subordination commences." He emptied the glass which one of the gentleman handed him, had it filled again, aud carried it to the man in the mask. The latter, however,

Tourville galloped ahead with his companions and carried out the duke's commands. Richelieu, who had again been joined by the mysterious horseman, placed himself at the head of the main body, and led it against the castle, while Conti followed slowly and stopped in observation on the forest edge. Richelieu was just riding round the swamp into which the road ran, when Tourville came back at a gallop.

"They are stirring on the walls," he shouted. "Men are running up and down; it will be earnest."

The duke waved his hat joyfully.

"All the better! the adventure is perfect. To your post, Tourville," he commanded.

The count returned, and the duke shouted, "Dismount!" The cavaliers leaped from their steeds and fastened them to the willows which spread out their withered branches over the swamp. "Forwards!"

They crept up the mound to the castle, Richelieu and the man with the mask in front, the rest in open order. Suddenly the sound of a galloping horse was heard, and Tourville dashed up. "Duke," he cried, "this is getting beyond a joke; they are mounting guns on the walls."

"Back!" Richelieu commanded. The cavaliers hurried to the hollow, where they were hidden from the castle, and collected again near the willows. "They have artillery," Tourville repeated.

"Nonsense! they will not fire upon harmless revellers," Chauvelin objected. "They take us for robbers," Tourville was of opinion.

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Supposing they fire?" others shout

ed; and the cry of "A flag of truce!" was repeated on all sides.

"Advance, trumpeter!" the duke said. "I will read the declaration of war once again."

up the rope-ladder, while others tried to ascend by the help of the holes. The head of Richelieu, Chauvelin, and the man in the mask were already raised above the parapet, when there was a Accompanied by the trumpeter, he flash from the castle keep; Bengal lights hurried up the hill; on the walls he now blazed along the walls, and lit up the distinctly saw the outlines of human country for a long distance. Masked forms planting guns, and pointing them men filled the bastion; the guns were down the hill. At the foot of the walls rolled up to the embrasure, and just as the trumpet was blown thrice, and the Richelieu stood on the wall and set a declaration of war read, but Richelieu re-foot on the nearest gun, a full salvo was ceived no answer, and the spectral, me- discharged at the assailants. A wild nacing movement on the walls continued. cry from the wounded and the dead, as The duke returned to his band. "What it seemed, rang through the air. Then is to be done?" he asked. "I expect came noisy shouts of laughter, and she is not in the castle, and her besotted then again a yell from dripping-wet, serfs will blow us away with their guns splashing, half-drowned men-not bullike summer flies." lets, but dense streams of icy water from upwards of a dozen immense fire-engines received the cavaliers, and produced a really annihilating effect upon them. Here flew away a hat, there a sword; one fell off a ladder, and carried two others with him. In vain did Richelieu and Chauvelin attack the enginemen with the flat of their swords-in vain did the man in the mask leap on a captured gun and try to defend it against the garrison. Others advanced with hand-squirts, and completed the victory by their musketry fire.

"To horse!" some shouted; "let us return to Paris." Others caught hold of their reins. In the midst of the tumult Richelieu's voice could be heard: "We will not fly! Shall the nobles of France be intimidated by a couple of cannon? We are here, so let us ad

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Victory or death!" shouted Chauvelin. And the cavaliers burst into a peal of laughter. The enthusiastic lieutenant turned away at this insult, and sharpened his sword-blade on the sole of his boot. After the duke had attempted in vain to make the man in the mask retire, he asked whether the pistols were loaded. "As you ordered," said Chauvelin, "one with bullet, the other blank."

"Very good, now advance!"

The cavaliers crept up the hill, covered by bushes and hollows in the ground, as far as possible. Presently they stopped, and Chauvelin alone crawled along the ground. He reached the wall, and climbed up unnoticed, by putting his feet and hands into holes where stones had fallen out. When near the embrasure, he produced a rope-ladder, fastened it to a projecting stone, and let it fall down. At the same instant, Richelieu leaped up and waved his sword. The cavaliers did the same, and rushed toward the castle with the shout of "Notre Dame!" This was the moment when they expected to be received with a salvo, but the castle guns were silent. The cavaliers reached the wall; some climbed

The cavaliers fled, laughing, cursing, and yelling. Those who had scaled the wall were compelled to follow, if they did not wish to be captured. They rushed, followed by the salvoes of the engines, down the hill to the hollow, where they arrived dripping and shivering. "There is nothing to be done," shouted the duke, "but to blow a retreat." The trumpet rang out, every one tried to gain his saddle, while peals of laughter rang from the walls. Tourville and Conti joined the dripping army, and, followed for a long distance by the laughter of the victors, they galloped back to Paris.

On the morning after the unsuccessful attack on the mysterious castle, the Duke de Richelieu appeared in the king's antechamber, and was not admitted. This had never happened to him before. He asked almost violently for the reason, and the chamberlain on duty declared, with a shrug of the shoulders, that his majesty was very poorly. Richelieu was obliged to content himself with this.

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