1809.] 
front of the gate. The Marquis would be 
the safer in this place as it was seldom 
opened; and, besides, it was situated at 
the west end of the mosque, and the 
Mahometans always ii their prayers face 
to Mecca, which lies east of Constan- 
tinople, and never turn their heads with- 
out giving cause for scandal; a point on 
which they are so scrupulous, that they 
never turn when they quit the mosques, 
but always go backward to the gate. 
The Marquis D’Arzens, seated at his 
ease, beheld the whole of the ceremo- 
nies of the Turkish religion; yet he gave 
frequent cause of alarm to his guide—al- 
miost every minute he quitted his hiding 
place, and advanced to the middie of 
the tribune, in order that he might have 
a better view of what was passing in the 
mosque. Then the poor Turk, who 
knew he ran no less a risk than tliat of 
being impaled alive, intreated him, by 
the most expressive signs and gestures, 
to retire quickly behind his picture. The 
terror of the man was: a subject of the 
highest amusement to the Knight of 
Malta, who played the more upon his 
féars. _ . j 
Burt they were a hundred-fold, if pos- 
sible, mereased, wlien he téok a flask of 
wine aiid a piece of ham from his pocket, 
and offered him share of both. The disciple 
of Mahomet was in absolute despair; but 
what could he do ?—he must bear all in 
order to conceal his guilt, and save him- 
self from punishment. The Marquis 
threatened him ; and the Turk was com- 
pelled to drink of the wine, and eat of 
the ham, and thus profane himself, his 
religion, and the mosque. The misera- 
ble man was for some instants like one 
petrified: he thought he beheld the 
avenving arm of the prophet raised above 
his head; by degrees, however, he be- 
came more calin: he even began to be 
familiar with his guilt; and’ when the 
devotees had all left the mosque, and 
he saw Ininself alone with the Chris+ 
tian dog, they finished their breakfast 
with a giod grace, langhed at the dan- 
ger they had run, and parted most ex- 
cellent friends, 
The Marquis D’Argens, in his Me- 
mous, exposes with great candour the 
adventures of his’ journey, atid the mo- 
tive which induced hin to’ return tn 
France.- His father anxiously wished 
hin to study the law; but the ardent 
eharacter of the youny mah could nor be 
persuaded by his sage advice. He again 
re-entered the service, and in 1733 be 
Was appointed to the cavalry: he was’at 
Montsiy Mac. No. i186. ~ 
Memoir of the lute Marquis D’ Argens. S75 
the siege of Kehl, where he was slightly 
wounded: in 1734, after the siege of 
Philipsbourg, he got a fall from his horse, 
which so disabled him, that he was never 
able to mount afterwards, and he was 
obliged in consequence to renounce the 
service. | 
Tt appears, that it was at the'time of 
his refusal to enitrace the profession his 
father wished him, when he returned 
from Constantinople, that his father dis- 
inherited him, not being able, owing to 
the smallness of his fortune, to sustain 
with credit the expensive life’ his son led. 
He was’ compelled, when he retired 
from the service, to go to Holland to 
seek resources from his pen. The liberty 
of the press, which then existed in that 
country, allowed him to make choice of 
any subject his fancy suggested. He pub- 
lished successively, the “ Jewish, Chie 
nese, and Cabalistic Letters.” They 
were admired, and ‘brought him some 
money; most of them turning on subjects 
of morality, politics, manners, religious 
customs and ceremonies, and the events 
of nations. ‘Tlie lively manner in which 
_they were written, the boldness of some 
of the ideas, andthe singularity of the 
style, caused them to be much read, and 
generally approved, 
The “ Jewish Letters,” in particular, 
gained him 4 vefy high reputation. The 
King of Prussia, then Prince Royal, read 
them, and wished co become acquainted 
with the author. Heywaseven anxious 
to’ attach him to his service, hopiug by 
that means to draw him’out of the une 
pléasant state his youth had’ thrown hin 
into. He wrote to him, and made him 
the niost honourable offers ; every thing 
seamed'td assure him that the Miardcis 
woud atcept them wirh eagerness, as he 
chiefly proposed that they should Hire 
as’ friends, and study philosophy tozge- 
ther—his 2hswer, however, was not such 
aswas expected. After expressing his 
gratefirl sense of the Honour of the atten 
tion, headds, “ Deign, your Highness, 
to consider, thatan order to be attendant 
on your person, Dmust be always in view 
of three’ battalions of Guards; quartered 
at Potsdam. Can FP therefure vencure 
without danger. I am ouly’ five fect 
seven inches’ high, and but ind:fferently 
mage.” 
It would not probably Have’been very 
politic or agreeable for the Murguis 
D’Argens, then nov mi6ré rhan chreey 
yeats old, to setrle ii’ Pradsia: atid! sb 
near the residence’ of Predeitc Wiliatt; 
father of him to whom he-wrdte- 
4 Fr This 
