advanced between 400 and 500 piastres, in order to have their chains knocked off: after this is accomplished, their state will be much more tolerable. The firmness which they have displayed during the whole of this painful occurrence is truly remarkable: they have appeared before the Grand Vizier, the Reis Effendi, and the Chief Dragoman, not to mention inferior Officers, and before all they have witnessed a good confession. The day afer their removal to the Arsenal, John Cohen's father found access to him; and, declaring that he would much rather have seen him become a Turk than a Christian, offered him a large sum of money. The Youth, regarding it as a bribe, would not receive the least part of it, even though he was at the time in great want. They have been loaded with heavy fetters; Peter the Rabbi and John Baptist Castro being chained together, and John Cohen and the Armenian.

Dec. 12, 1826-I am grieved to find, that the sorrows of our friends have by no means reached their termination. We have reason to fear that the Jews have bribed their guards to treat them ill; as they have not yet been freed from their fetters, though the sum has been offered which is usual for that purpose. They are very much beaten and maltreated.

Dec. 13-Called, for the third time, on the Turkish Officer with whom I had interceded for the Sufferers. He gave me the positive promise of liberating them in six months; and affords hopes of assisting the Armenian in a` shorter period. An Armenian Priest, who acts as Chaplain in the Arsenal, came to inform us how severely they are treated: they are still loaded with their chains; and the Armenian has been so much hurt, that he is obliged to wear his arm in a sling: to-day, notwithstand ing the heavy and incessant rain, they are compelled to be abroad at work.

The father and mother of John Cohen yesterday came to visit him, and attempted to bring him back to Judaism. He is still unmoved, though making trial of such cruel sufferings. I am glad to find, from the Priest's information, that they are comforting themselves in the best manner: their language is," Christ our Saviour has said, Fear not them which kill the body, and have no more that they can do and when we die, we hope that we shall be received into heaven." Mr.

Leeves has kindly advanced more money, in hopes of releasing them from their chains.

Dec. 14-Wrote a Letter of encouragement to the Converts. G learned to-day from a Turk some particulars. relative to Jacob Levi and Menahem Castro: he stated himself to have been present when they were brought before the Seraskier: a Jewish Rabbi appeared as their accuser, and offered a thousand purses to the Seraskier, if he would put them to death: they affirmed that their belief in Jesus of Nazareth was the only reason of their being brought before him: they were bastinadoed, and sent to the Arsenal. I hear of a Young Jew at Ortakeny, who has been delivered by his brethren into the hands of the Turks: he received 50 blows, and is thrown into prison. How many believe in Christ, and how many suffer for His sake, it is impossible for us to tell.

Dec. 15-This morning we sent the money which has been demanded for knocking off the chains; a positive promise having been yesterday given, that our wishes should be complied with: what, then, were our feelings on receiving the answer-" An order has come from the Vizier, NOT to take off the chains; but to use every possible severity toward the prisoners!" We are also informed, that the Jews have divided 2000 piastres among the Turks who have charge of the prisoners, for the purpose of obtaining their exertions in tormenting them to the utmost possible degree. Thus are our poor friends suffering a continual martyrdom! Happy would it have been for them, to have terminated their woes by the bowstring or the sword, in comparison of their perpetual torments. The object of the Jews is clear: they hope to wear out the constancy of the converts, by incessant sufferings; or, if that attempt should fail, to bring them to the grave. The whole system of Turkish proceedings is so utterly corrupt, that I see no prospect of a happy termination of this affair, except in Divine Interposition. Let us fall into the hand of the Lord, and not into the hand of man!

Dec. 19-I was much struck with a Jew, whom I met to-day on the quay. I conversed with him on the subject of the Messiah: instead of that angry and immediate opposition which unbelieving Jews usually make, the tears were in

his eyes; and he regarded me with a seriousness and a silence, which appeared little short of the language, "I believe." Dec. 21, 1826-G informs me, that, yesterday, a Jew inquired very eagerly of one of the hawkers, for a New Testament, and gave him orders for a copy. Thus we see, that all the fury of persecution has not been able to destroy the thirst for Divine Knowledge, which has been excited in the breasts of the people of Israel. I believe, that, by God's blessing, this disposition will, ere long, triumph over all opposition. The Armenian, Bagdasar, sent word last night, that if they were not soon released from their fetters, he apprehended the most fatal consequences. They have indeed suffered so much, that it is surprising that they have not sunk under it. Dec. 22-G saw, this morning, our imprisoned friends. They are as steadfast as ever, but suffer greatly. John Cohen had a large present of clothes from his Jewish Friends; but he thought it his duty to send them all back. They actually heard his father reasoning with the Turks, for not beating them more severely, and reminding them of the money which he had given them for that purpose!

Mr. Leeves, in a communication to the British and Foreign Bible Society, states some additional particulars, which we here subjoin.

The

During the critical interval between the 1st of December and the 7th, which they passed at the prison of the Porte, they were cut off as much as possible from all intercourse with their friends, and were assailed by the Jews with every kind of temptation to renounce their faith: a full pardon and immediate deliverance were promised them, if they returned to their old religion; and death was held out to them as the consequence of their perseverance. Young Man was the principal object of these assaults: he has, however, shewn, throughout, an admirable firmness, and a lively faith and zeal; nor does he appear to have had more than one moment of weakness during the whole course of his severe trials: this was shortly after his apprehension, when he was assured, that, if he returned to his parents and old religion, he would not only secure himself from punishment, but that this would be the only means of saving the lives of the Armenian and his two friends

turning to whom, he said, “For your sakes I must yield:" they, however, exhorted him not to be deceived by the professions of the Jews, but to stand firm; and that, if necessary, they would all die together: his courage was imme. diately restored; and he has ever since, by his example, been the main support and encouragement of the little band. On one occasion, especially, their fortitude was put to the test; for the Jews, seeing that they could not work on them by promises, had it finally announced to them, that their fate was sealed, and that the next morning they would be led to execution: thus, for a whole night, they had the view of death before their eyes; and they spent it in reading the New Testament with weeping and prayer. Two other Jews were left in prison with them, whom John Baptist reproved for their unbelief in the Messiah; exhorting them to follow their example, and become martyrs for the name of Christ: these Jews, unmoved by their behaviour and exhortations, wrote to the Rabbies to inform them that there was no hope of their ever returning to the Jewish Religion, and that the only course to be pursued with them was to get them put to death.

The punishment of prisoners in the

Bagnio consists in being chained, two and two, with heavy chains, and em

ployed in the laborious works of the Arsenal, under the superintendence of Turkish Guards, who beat them if they do not perform the task to their liking: there are about 700 persons in this prison; of whom about 300 are Greek Slaves, the greater part prisoners taken in the Greek War. The circumstances of this affair, having produced a general sensation and sympathy throughout the city, had penetrated within the walls of the Arsenal; and the prisoners, when brought there, were kindly welcomed by the poor Christian Slaves, who went in a body to the Aga and Officers, to beg they might be kindly treated and not put to severe labour. In consequence of this mediation, they passed the two first days unmolested; but, after this, several Jews came, and among them the father and intended father-in-law of the Young Man, who, after another fruitless attempt to bring them back to Judaism, went and gave a considerable sum of money to the Officers of the prison to put them to hard work, and to beat and torment them. They suffered severely under

this persecution for five or six days; until the matter coming to our knowledge, our Ambassador was so kind as to send his dragoman, and, by his representations, to procure the cessation of this wanton and cruel treatment, and the weight of their chains was diminished one half; although, being still in the class of chained prisoners, they have continued to labour with the rest. A few days ago, two of them were thrown down and bruised in working at a large wheel used for raising the masts and fixing them in the vessels of war, by a similar accident to which two men had been before killed before their eyes: they are now, however, recovered from their bruises; and will not, I believe, be henceforth employed in similar works.

The father of the Young Man has been indefatigably persevering in his endeavours to recover his son; and has repeatedly come to the prison with his mother and relations, persuading and entreating him with tears to return to them, and promising him every thing that he could desire: but he has constantly repulsed them; telling them to lay aside all hope of changing his resolution that Jesus Christ was now his father and mother-that he preferred his chains with Christ to all that they could offer him-and that when they

renounced their errors and became Christians, he would then acknowledge them as his relations.

Among other encouragements which they have had in their trials, have been messages from some of their Jewish Friends from without who partake in their sentiments; exhorting them to stand firm that they gloried in their fortitude-and that their own hope was in their perseverance. I trust, indeed, I may say with truth, that they have conducted themselves like true Christians; and it has been remarked, that the faith and love to Christ shewn by these new converts may put to shame those, who have long borne the Christian Name. When in the height of their sufferings, they professed themselves ready to die for the love of Christ and said, that their Saviour taught them that if their enemies took away their life, this was all they could do, and that they hoped their souls would be happy with him for ever.

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P.S. I cannot resist adding one additional circumstance which I have just learnt concerning our three Christian

Jews. During the time they were in concealment, they never entirely liked the idea of quitting Constantinople, though they thought that they saw a necessity for it in the hot persecution which awaited them if they remained. They thought they could be more useful here than any where else, and their hearts were set upon proclaiming the Gospel to their brethren: they, therefore, often made it their prayer to God, that, if he saw it good, they might be found out and taken, and that they afterward might remain in Constantinople to be the Evangelists to their brethren in error.

These affecting testimonies to the constancy of these Christian Confessors cannot but awaken sympathy and fervent prayer on their

behalf.

From Mr. Hartley's Journal we add an account of an Interesting Interview, in behalf of the Jewish Converts, with a Turkish Officer.

Dec. 4, 1826-The Jews, according to their ancient custom, have laid many and grievous accusations against the converts, which they are not able to prove. They have paid immense sums, in order to satiate their vengeance; and, as we cannot think of out-bribing the Judges, we must leave the affair in the hands of God. These were my feelings in the morning. At noon, my heart condemned me; and I could not rest without making some further attempt in behalf of my persecuted brethren. I went in consequence to the Pasha-Rapysy, or to the Porte, as it is usually called by Europeans, and obtained admission to a Turk of distinction: he had himself once been a Jew; and informed me, almost immediately on my introduction, that he was well acquainted with the New Testament, and also with the peculiar sentiments of the Protestants, and that though he was a Mussulman, he was yet a Philosopher." I told him the simple story, that the three prisoners had been convinced of the truth of Christianity before, in fact, I saw them; and that, on one of their friends having been seized by their countrymen, they had fled to me, and I had assisted in concealing them, and had baptized them. I think I fully succeeded in convincing him, that nothing of a political nature was connected with this proceeding. He declared his willingness to do all that

was possible for their safety. I particu. larly urged the request, that the converted Jews might be permitted for the future to live secure from the molesta tion of their countrymen-“ A thing," he replied jocosely, from which Pilate could not save Jesus Christ Himself."

This Officer told me plainly, that the Turkish Government were at a loss to comprehend the proceedings of the Re ligious Society in England, which was at such expense in printing and circulating books: they were well acquainted with the conduct of the Jesuits in China and in other countries, and also with the enthusiastic superstition evinced by the Spaniards in former times; but they had always considered the English a nation free from superstition: they were led therefore to suspect that there was some political plot in these proceedings. I assured him that the Society, to which he alluded, was wholly unconnected with the British Government; and that though there were, unhappily, Englishmen who were indifferent to all religions, yet the persons who composed this Society were men who did indeed believe that the Gospel was from God, and thought it therefore their duty to communicate so inestimable a gift to the whole world. He then indulged in some playful remarks on the impossibility of converting the world by books, alleg. ing that St. Paul had been converted in a different manner, and that this was by no means the method of Moses. asked me so very particularly what was Mr. Leeves's object in this country, that I am led to think Mr. Leeves has been for some time an object of jealousy to the Turkish Government. I told him, that Mr. Leeves's object was, 66 to sell the Holy Scriptures." Much more was said as to religion; and I feel confident that the conversation removed from his mind all suspicions, that our proceedings have a political tendency, or that we are a plotting, Jesuitical fraternity. We became extremely sociable: he said that he would introduce me to other Turks, and take me to the School in which French and various branches of science are taught.

He

The whole of the scene was to me full of uncommon interest: I was come to rescue, if possible, from death, four persecuted Christians: I was in the building which contained the great offices of the Ottoman Empire, and which is dignified with the appellation of the April, 1827.

Sublime Porte: the domes and minarets of the Mosque of Sultan Suleyman, one of the most magnificent structures in Turkey, were towering above my head: I had passed through spacious halls and passages, all exhibiting specimens of Turkish taste: I was encircled by nu merous guards and attendants, arrayed in the splendid diversity of costume ob servable in Eastern Countries; and I was surrounded with all the pomp of Oriental manners. The window of the room in which I found myself, coinmanded a view of the large Court, in which were seen horses richly caparison. ed awaiting their lordly masters, and in which objects wholly novel to a European eye were continually presenting themselves. "Do you see that Officer riding out of the Court ?" said my Turkish Friend. I observed a man whose dress and carriage denoted a personage of considerable rank. “He is going," said he, "according to his daily custom, to the Sultan, to acquaint him with the affairs which have been transacted here." "Does the Sultan," I asked, " pay minute attention to business? Does he know of this affair of the converted Jews?" "Yes, certainly," said he: "there is nothing that escapes his attention. In Europe you imagine that we are all barbarians; and that the Sultan does nothing all day, but loll on his divan and amuse himself: but it is far otherwise. The princes of Europe are far more effeminate than Sultan Mahmoud." He then made various remarks relative to the recent public events, which led me to suppose that the Turks have really been awakened to a sense of their public interest, beyond what I had ever suspected.

I just notice other subjects of conversation, because it may serve to shew that the Turks have men in their service much better informed than is usually supposed. The following topics came forward: Religious Liberty in England

- Roman-Catholic Emancipation-the King of England, in his character of Head of the Church-Spanish proceedings in America-the existence of Greek Manuscripts in the Seraglio-Conic Sections-the site of ancient cities in Asia Minor-the Korân, &c. He informed me, that he was very fond of mathematics, and that he had translated from the French a Treatise on Conic Sections. He also demanded of me, if Mr. Leeves had been concerned in the

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