EGYPT, AND SYRIA. 421 
thofe of Ruflia, he had, with the affiftance of the French, who 
fupplied non-commiffioned officers to inftrudt them, founded a 
regular corps of infantry, conlifting of about one thoufand. They 
were clothed in a tighter drefs, and their arms* fupplied by go- 
vernment. The French have alfo affifted the Turks in cafting 
a great number of brafs field-pieces and battering cannon ; noc 
are they without fome flying artillery. 
The prefent Sultan is not deficient in difcernment, or warm: 
wifhes to promote the happinefs of his people j but through the 
ufual imperfedion of his education, he is the flave of his own 
impetuofity, and a ftranger to the recefles of the human heart. 
His motives are generally right, but the means, oppofed by po^ 
pular prejudices, are often ineffedtual. 
Suftan Selim, after correfling the police of the capital, turned 
his beneficent views to the encouragement of learning among 
his fubjeds. He has revived the mathematical fchool, in which, 
however, fmall progrefs had been made ; his ignorance of the 
world leading him to. think that his orders can form minds, and 
that a penfion confers capacity. He has reftored the printing 
office, and a new Arabic type was cafting by an ingenious Ar- 
menian. But whether the improvement of the type may con- 
tribute to the diffufion of folid knowlege among the Turks, may 
fairly be queftioned. The firft book ordered to be printed was 
a Perfian dictionary. An engraver on copper is alfo fettled 
here, the fubjeds are the armillary fphere, fome plans of forti-. 
fication, the box-compafs, and the like. 
* Mufket and bayonefo 
Tlie 
