lieved of his head by the ready Damascus blade, or, with equal promptitude and facility, strangled by the mutes with the bowstring.

No such fate, however, awaited the pasha sent by the Sultan to Sir Sidney. The commodore certainly enjoyed, his embarrassment, and was highly amused at the trepidation and alarm which the old Turk displayed, and which he, in turn, endeavoured to conceal by an appearance of cheerfulness, a vivacity so awkwardly assumed, that even his own followers were quite surprised at his strange gestures and grimaces. The obstinate resistance that the muscles of his face made to represent anything like a genuine smile, and his fruitless attempts to force them to relax, were perfectly frightful, and provoked the laughter of the whole assembly. This mirth was the means of reassuring him a little, for he took it for granted that such a man as Sir Sidney Smith could not look upon the depriving of a poor Turk like himself of his head, to be the most fitting subject in the world for merriment, and, on daring to look up into his face, he was convinced that he had conjectured rightly. Upon a more earnest survey, his astonishment equalled his joy when he found not the slightest indication of resentment, or even of displeasure, in the admiral's countenance, as he turned his eyes

upon him with an expression that he well understood, and began greeting him with words of peace and good-will, thus entirely removing from him any doubts or fears with which he might still be harassed concerning his personal safety. As a still further assurance of Sir Sidney's kindly intention, and because he knew that there were valuable qualities in the man, he made him, a few days afterwards, the governor of Cyprus.

To return to our narrative. After the surrender of the French army, Sir Sidney Smith seized the opportunity of visiting the holy city of Jerusalem, where the following anecdote of Bonaparte was related to him by the superior of a convent. People may place what reliance they choose upon its authenticity, and either conceive it to be of no more value than is generally affixed to a monkish tale, or give it full credence, on the score that, at that time, so strong was the current of infidelity among the French people, that Bonaparte, who wished to float to power on its stream, might well have been guilty of the ascribed impiety.

When his general, Damas, had advanced with a detachment of the army, within a few leagues of Jerusalem, he (Damas) sent to his commanderin-chief for permission to make an attack upon the place. Bonaparte replied, that " when he had

taken Acre, he would come in person, and plant the tree of liberty on the very spot where Christ suffered; and that the first French soldier who fell in the attack should be buried in the holy sepulchre."

At this period, when men's minds are less excited, such fanaticism of infidelity as is here displayed seems altogether incredible. However, whether this anecdote be true or not, as it was uttered to suit the temper of those times, it is a curious record of the exasperation that was entertained, either by the one party or the other. That much of this kind of senseless bravado on the score of religion was promulgated by Bonaparte in his Egyptian career is but too certain, yet this man died a certified good Catholic, and in a faith the most credulous that ever existed.

Sir Sidney Smith was the first Christian who was ever permitted to enter Jerusalem armed, or even in the customary dress of a Frank. By his means, his followers also, and all who visited it through his influence, were allowed the same privilege.

On the 5th of September of the current year, the transactions of which we have been narrating, Sir Sidney Smith and Colonel Abercromby embarked at Alexandria on board the Carmen frigate, with the despatches relative to the late

campaign. Every one will concede that this honourable mission was justly devolved upon the naval commander; and not the less so was 'it shared by Colonel Abercromby, whose meritorious services had been of the most valuable description, to say nothing of the selection of the herald of the intelligence that was to complete his father's fame being gracefully and properly assigned to a son that was assiduously following in his parent's steps. These two accomplished officers arrived in London on the 10th of November following.

We must presume that Sir Sidney Smith's diplomatic character had now altogether ceased on his accepting this mission with the despatches, even if they had not been supposed to have terminated at the disavowal, on the part of our government, through Lord Keith, of the convention of El Arisch, which we maintain that he so wisely signed. However, we have it upon good authority, that, up to the present time, he was never pecuniarily remunerated for his ambassadorial functions.

Sir Sidney, some very considerable time after, finding himself at Vienna, when the late Marquis of Londonderry, then Lord Castlereagh, was settling the affairs of the European world, stated to his lordship the disagreeable position in which

he found himself, and dwelt forcibly upon the injustice of letting claims for services so valuable as those which he had performed in Egypt remain so long unsettled. Lord Castlereagh immediately assented to the hardship of the case, and proceeded directly to make use of the best remedy, by amply satisfying the demand. "But," as Sir Sidney expressed it himself, "as he thought proper to terminate his existence shortly afterwards, and neglected to leave an official memorandum of the transaction, I was obliged to refund the money, and up to the present moment, although I have been perpetually promised by the different ministers that I should be indemninified and settled with, I have never received one farthing."

Upon Sir Sidney Smith's return to England, one of the first honours with which he was greeted, and at which we have before hinted, was displayed in the following manner.

The Corporation of London, anxious to exhibit a proof of their admiration of the gallant achievements of Sir Sidney Smith at the siege of Acre, resolved to bestow upon him the freedom of their ancient city, and to accompany it with the present of a valuable sword; on the 7th instant, the naval hero attended at Guildhall, in order to be invested with the civic privileges of