259 that any person before the present time] had ever thought of trying if it could live in the open air. The plant in question was put out three years ago, to take its chance; as they had increased to a greater number than was wanted; and has not suffered in the smallest degree since that time, though last winter, in particular, was more severe than is usual in this climate; and many plants that commonly bear our cold were killed.

From this example I would. recommend it to many gentlemen who have large collections of exotic plants; those especially of the herbaceous sorts, that can be employed in arts, or for other useful purposes, to try a few of each kind, from time to time, in the open air. It may happen, that much benefit may result from these trials, even where the plants are so tender as to require a slight artificial covering. The common artichoke is a plant of this sort; for, without some protection, it is often killed by our winter's frost; though it is one of the most common esculent plants we have. It is remarkable that though we have already had several nights of frost, so keen as to kill down the leaves of many plants that are very hardy with us, yet the calla Ethiopica is at present in full verdure; and its fine flower as fresh in the Octo pen ground as in the hothouse.

ON THE TASTE FOR GARDENING AMONG THE TURKS, ABUNDANCE of running water is reckoned the most efsential requisite for a garden among the Turks; and as ground is generally to be had at a small price, their gardens are often of great extent; but in these a wild irregularity is more in fashion than symmetry and elegance. They know not what we mean by lawns, bowling greens, and that taste for drefsed grounds of great extent which we in Europe have borrowed from the Chinese. Kiosks,

adorned with rich sophas; vast basons, and jets of water playing in them, which they call schaderwan; fhady alleys, paved with various coloured flints, disposed into fi gures of Mosaick work, form the most superb ornaments, and the most coveted conveniences of a Turkish garden.

The people are fond of fruit, and pafsionate admirers of flowers; their gardeners, therefore, who are chiefly from the Grecian Archipelago, bend their chief attention to the culture of these two articles. With the rearing, graf ting, and training fruit trees, they are well acqainted; and are dexterous at preserving fruits in perfection, for as long a time as pofsible. Their flowers are disposed in parterres, where they are planted promiscuously, and without order. A Dutch gardener would condemn this taste as barbarous. Rousseau would have said this must be the most perfect taste, because it most resembles the operation of na

ture.

So fond are the ladies, in general, of flowers, that they have them in their chambers even almost the whole of the year. They have small round tables made of fine woods inlaid with mother of pearl, appropriated solely to the reception of flowers in pots. These are often made of porcelain, and the finest kinds of pottery, and form a kind of parterre within doors, consisting of roses, oranges, citrons, tulips, anemonies, tuberoses, jefsmines, carnations, and a variety of other fhrubs and flowers, the arranging of which and tending them, forms one of the principal amusements of the ladies in their harams.

They make presents of flowers and fruits to their parents, friends, and favourites; which are accepted as a high mark of favour. The grand vizir even is obliged, at stated times, to send presents of this nature to the sul

T

tan, and the ladies of the imperial haram, as marks, on his part, of homage, submifsion, and respect. Every Wednes day the aga of the janifsaries, and on certain occasions the grand treasurers, are equally obliged to comply with this etiquette towards the sovereign and his first minister. An ancient usage requires the grand vizir to adhere to the same, with respect to the ministers of foreign powers on their first arrival; and on the day of their first public audience the grand master of ceremonies takes care that these marks of respect be not omitted, to which the public opinion has affixed a considerable value. Hence the establishment of two officers, known under the names of yemischdjy baschy, and tschitschexdy baschy one of whom has the superintendance of fruits, and the other of flowers. The first furnishes annually the fruits necefsary to the table of the sultan and the ladies of his haram. He always takes care to preserve the rarest kinds in proper conservatories, that he may be able at all times to gratify the fancies of the favourite sultanas during their pregnancy. It is him who provides all the presents of this sort to the first minister and the grandees of the empire. The intendant who performs the same office with regard to flowers, has the charge of furnishing what is necessary for the apartments of the seraglio.

Among flowers, the tulip, here, as in many other places, holds a very distinguifhed rank. The peculiar taste for this flower among the Turks, is said to have been introduced by the famous Ibrahim Pacha, grand visir and sonin-law to Achmet III. in the following manner: Ibrahim had, by some unknown means, collected a vast number of roots of the finest flowers of this sort, which he reared with singular care in the garden of his country seat, situated on the borders of the Bosphorus beyond Baschixtasch. When they were in their highest degree of per

fection, he gave an entertainment to the sultan, his master, which having prolonged till the evening, he then caused his parterre to be illuminated by several thousand small chrystal lamps, disposed with art, so as to produce the most striking effect; when leading the sultan unexpectedly thither, Achmet was so inchanted with the brilliancy of this superb exhibition, that he could scarcely be satisfied with admiring it, and demanded a repetition of it several times from Ibrahim; and ordered, farther, that the same should be renewed every year at the seraglio, at the season of these flowers. This entertainment of a new kind, was commemorated under the name of Lale Tochiraghani, which means the illumination of tulips; and the country house of Ibrahim, is since known by the name of Tochiraghann Yalifsy. Mahomet 1. took also great pleasure in this divertissement during his whole reign; but the princes his succefsors, not having had the same taste, this brilliant fete has been since suffered to fall into neglect; to the regret of the whole seraglio.

Next to flowers, the Mahometans are singularly fond of plantations of large growing trees; the freshness which their fhade affords in a burning climate, being grateful in a high degree. The trees in chief repute among them are the oak, the lime, the platanus, the elm, the fir, the chesnut, the walnut, and the palm; but above all the cypress, which is specially consecrated to burying grounds. These people, in consequence of their superstitious opinions, have a sort of respect for all kinds of trees. Several among them believe that they would expose themselves to some disastrous accident, fhould they cut down, root out, or burn any one of them without necefsity. This sentiment has a force with them, in proportion to the fecundity of the tree, its beauty, or its age; but nothing can overcome the veneration they bear for those trees, which sur

Tound a tomb, and protect it with their fhade. If the doctrine of the unity of the Deity were not the fundamental doctrine of the mufsulmans, one would believe that they inherited the mythological system of the ancients, which filled the woods and forests with divinities. In a word, to cut down, or mutilate a tree, especially in a burying ground, is, in their eyes, to sin against nature, and to insult the manes of those who repose under its shade. These superstitious ideas, which are very general do not, however, prevent the soldiers from exercising their barbarous fury even upon the very trees they meet within an enemy's country. The more respect they bear for these things, the more regret they think their enemies will experience for the lofs of them; and,this is a suffcient reason for exciting their fury. Such are the diabolical ideas that war excites among the children of men! Who then can execrate this mischievous system too much?

REGULATIONS OF THE SPANIARDS FOR THE GRADUAL ENFRANCHISEMENT OF SLAVES, AND THEIR BETTER TREATMENT.

As soon as a slave is landed, his name, price, 'c. are registered in a public register, and the master is obliged by law to allow him one working day in the course of the week to himself, besides Sunday; so that if he chooses to work for his master on that day, he receives for the same the wages of a free man; as whatever he earns by such labour, is so secured to him by law, that the master cannot deprive him of it. This is certainly a step towards abolishing absolute slavery; for as soon as the slave is able to purchase another working day, the master is obliged to sell it him at one-fifth part of its original cost, and So, likewise, the remaining four days, at the same rate, whenever the slave is able to redeem them; after which he is en