4s4] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1796. 
lodged all together under the same 
roof. 
_« My brothers played on several 
musical instruments, some of our 
new acquaintance had the same ta- 
lents, and as we could not enjoy at 
Bagdat the free exercise of our re- 
ligion, we agreed, that on the so- 
lemn festivals we should meet in a 
room, and chant th® mass. Our 
apartment was towards the street, 
and the people, stopping to listen 
to us, soon discovered the motive 
of these religious exercises. Ma- 
hometan intolerance was alarmed ; 
and obtained an edi¢t from the Ca- 
liph, which was published through. 
out the city prohibiting the Chris- 
‘tians, under pain of death, from 
assembling to celebrate their reli- 
gious rites. They were allowed, 
however, the privilege of perform- 
ing them individually. 
«€ This prohibition offended me 
so highly, that I considered what 
means could be devised to elude 
it. I had always a genius for 
mechanics; and, after some re- 
flection, I conceived ihe idea of 
constructing an instrument which 
might imitate alf those with which 
IT was acquainted, and even the 
human voice. I endeavoured to 
supply it at the same time with so 
prodigious a volume of sound, that 
it might produce to the ear the 
effect of a concert. J worked at 
my invention night and day, and 
in less than six months produced 
an instrument of an enormous size, 
to which I gave the name of Organ, 
and which perfectly answered my 
intentions. I then placed myself 
near my window, and played on 
it every morning and night, chant- 
ing the service at the same time. 
At the end of some days, informa- 
tion was sent to the Caliph, that 
the Christians, notwithstanding the 
rigour of his prohibition, had be- 
gun again their religious concerts, 
and with more audacity than ever. 
The Caliph issued his orders in 
consequence ; and one morning, 
while I was playing on my organ 
at the usual hour, I heard a vio- 
lent knocking at my door. I shut 
up my organ, and rose to inquire 
into the cause ; when at the same 
instant a number of armed men 
came into my room, and testified” 
the greatest astonishment at finding 
me alone. The captain of the coms 
pany asked me, where were m 
accomplices. I replied, that I had 
none. He paid no attention to this 
answer, and sought in vain in all 
my closets for the other: musicians. 
He passed several times in the front 
of my organ, without imagining 
it to be a musical instrument ; 
which was in some measure owing 
to my having given it the appear- 
ance of a chest of drawers. At 
length, not being able to compre- 
hend how my companions had 
escaped, he ordered me to follow 
him. I desired to be conducted into 
the presence of the Caliph. He 
replied, that he was conveying 
me thither. In fact, the prince, 
had resolved to see me, and to 
interrogate me himself. He re- 
ceived me with a gloomy and se. 
vere air, considering me sometime 
in silence; and struck with the se- 
renity of my countenance, ‘ In. 
discreet young man,’? said he, 
“€ what could inspire thee with so 
much audacity, and so much con. 
tempt for life?’? ‘* Sir,” said I, 
in reply, ‘ nothing so effectually 
encourages innocence as the aspect 
of an equitable judge.’’—** Thou 
canst not,’’ answered he, *‘deny thy. 
dispbedience. I myself have been 
i 
