CHARACTERS. 
no means of making gold and 
silver ; that these metals were ob- 
tained only from the earth; and 
that the advantage of philosophy 
was in being able to employ the 
best means of raising them from 
mines, and purifying them for use. 
1 doubt whether he was satisfied 
with this reply, or did not still 
believe in further mysteries of the 
alchemic art. The desire of gold 
and longevity are natural to a 
despot; and especially to one 
who, like Ali Pasha, has been ever 
pursuing a scheme of ambitious 
progress, 
Our conversation had often a 
referenceto the politics of the day, 
on which I found him well and 
accurately informed. It was at 
this time that Bonaparte was pur- 
suing his memorable campaign in 
Russia; in all the events of which 
Ali Pasha felt a lively interest, na- 
turally arising out of his relation 
to thetwo great Powers concerned. 
It was obviously for his advantage, 
that they should mutually wear 
out their strength, without either 
of them obtaining the prepon- 
derance. While at peace, they 
checked each other as to Turkey : 
when at war, if cither were emi- 
nently successful, there was even- 
tual danger to him. The vicinity 
of the French in the Illyrian pro- 
vinces would speedily give effect 
to any designs they might adopt 
in that quarter, either from views 
of general ambition, or from mo- 
tives of personal hostility to him- 
self, which he might be well 
aware that he had created by his 
conduct at Prevesa, his recent 
connection with the English, and 
by other circumstances of less 
notoriety. Of the power of Russia, 
and the ultimate danger to the 
451 
Turkish empire from this source, 
he was well informed; and he, 
as well as his sons, had felt and 
known the weight of the Russian 
armies pressing upon the Danube. 
He understood, too, that all fo- 
reign attempts at the restoration 
of Greece, whether with selfish 
or honourable motives, must of 
necessity imply a previous attack 
upon his power ; and I believe he 
was fully sensible of his incapa- 
city of resisting permanently the 
efforts of a regular European 
army. At various times I have 
heard him converse, more or less 
directly, on these topics; and in 
general there was an air of sound 
judgment in his remarks, which 
implied as well sagacity, as free- 
dom from the prejudices of his 
nation. 
[ happened to be with him at 
the Seraglio, on the evening of the 
day when he received information 
of the French having entered 
Moscow. Hewas evidently in low 
spirits, and discomposed by the 
intelligence. I spoke to him of 
the perseverance and resources of 
Russia, and of the evils that might 
arise to the French army from the 
burning of Moscow, and the ap- 
proach of winter. He was not 
satisfied by these arguments, but 
alluded in reply to the pacific tem- 
per of Alexander, to the mistakes 
which had been committed in the 
last Polish campaign, to the treaty 
of Tilsit, and above all to the 
character of Bonaparte, which he 
justly characterized ‘as one that 
the world had never before seen.” 
The assiduity with which he 
applies himself to all his business 
is very great. He rises commonly 
before six, and his officers and 
secretaries areexpected to be with 
Pied G72 ' 
