with his family in the town, not even visiting his country-house, and Bashaw Ali broadly asserted that he had compelled him to quit his head-quarters amongst the rebels, and that he would now take steps to prevent the English Captain and his officers from communicating with the Mescia, and bring them also into the town. We understand that he accordingly wrote to the effect that he had increased his blockading squadron, and that he was determined thenceforth to oppose force to force, to prevent English vessels approaching the coast, and that he would admit of no opposition to this determination. However this might have been, H. M. S. Favourite quitted the harbour immediately, and sailed for Malta, a convention having been entered into between his Highness and her captain, that a certain number of days should elapse before the Bashaw should put in force his late warlike proclamation.

On the return of the above-mentioned vessel of war, it was soon ascertained that the British Commander-in-chief, Sir Josias Rowley, would not listen to the piratical proceedings contemplated by Ali, wherefore the latter wisely desisted from hostilities. He had not, however, been idle during the time of the convention, for, regardless of the word of a prince, he forced several merchant-vessels from the coast a week before the time had expired, firing upon them without a cause; and one fine ship, not being permitted to anchor in the harbour, was driven on shore and completely wrecked, with a valuable cargo on board. By the exertions of the Moors and Arabs on shore, headed by the "Outside Bashaw," the cargo was principally saved, and nothing was stolen or carried away! Such conduct in uneducated barbarians might well be imitated by civilized Europe, and more especially by the coast inhabitants of Wales and Cornwall.

Soon after the above transaction a French brig of war arrived from Smyrna, having on board the Secretary of the French Ambassador at Constantinople. He brought official intelligence most gratifying to Ali and the town party; namely, that a Turkish squadron was fitting out to convey ten thousand troops to his assistance, and that he might look out for them about the middle of May.

Ali, delighted, immediately commenced fresh taxes on his impoverished subjects, and barracks were ordered to be in readiness, coffee-houses built, and many parts of the town, long neglected and dirty, to be polished up for the occasion. The people of the country, with Emhammed at their head, in the meantime were not idle: a grand meeting of all the Sheiks was convened, and the threatened invasion made known.

There were three questions to be settled: First, If the force actually came to assist Ali, would they submit at once, or resist according to their former determination? They solemnly swore to resist Ali, and all allies of his, to the last.

Secondly, If they came in favour of Emhammed, ought not preparations to be made to receive them, and presents prepared? The people were unanimously of opinion that they should be prepared. Twenty thousand dollars were soon collected, and the next morning a coffeehouse was commenced upon the landing-place.

Thirdly, That as the squadron would probably bring a third and new Bashaw, was he to be received?

This was a difficult point.

mmed's minister, Hadji Mahomet,

and the principal Sheiks for fifty miles in the interior, had written to the Grand Seignior expressing their fixed determination never to acknowledge Ali; but that " they would receive any other whom the Sultan might name."

Hadji Mahomet declared the necessity of keeping their word, and carried with him a majority of the voices. Still a considerable party were inclined to refuse any negotiation unless Emhammed was confirmed as Bashaw. The meeting was accordingly dissolved with a division amongst those who for three years had stood together a united body.

We now approach what may be fairly termed the conclusion of the Tripoline drama. The acts were long, the scenes tedious, though full of plot; the commencement tragi-comedy, the finale the deepest tragedy treachery and death.

When the approach of the Ottoman fleet was known as a certainty, the French Consul became extremely anxious to arrange a peace before they should cast anchor; accordingly a deputation was sent, recommending Emhammed and his people to submit at once, as they could not withstand the force dispatched against them from Constantinople. Ali also issued a circular to all the Consuls, stating that military operations by the troops of the Grand Seignior would take place against the Mescia, and recommending all Christians to repair to the town for safety. Nearly all in the Mescia being British subjects, this was of course intended to intimidate them. They became alarmed in consequence, but being advised to keep their ground, they declined obeying the mandate.

The French Consul failed in his negociation, which was therefore broken off; and on the 20th of May the same Turkish brig of war arrived with the same ambassador who had failed in his mission the preceding year.

He soon declared that he had come in favour of Ali, and requested the latter to raise immediately ten thousand dollars as a gift to the General and Commander-in-chief upon his arrival; and he dexterously managed to persuade the French Consul of his sincerity: at the same time he secretly informed the country people that everything would be in their favour, hinting likewise that the General should be propitiated by suitable presents upon his arrival.

Each of the hostile parties fancying themselves secure, poured gifts on board the brig; and on the evening of the 26th (by which day the wily envoy had realized considerable booty) the squadron appeared in the offing, and the following morning anchored a few miles to the northward of the sea-batteries of the town.

The greatest excitement now prevailed both in the town and country, the vessels being more numerous than had been expected. They were in all twenty-three, viz.: one ship of the line, five frigates, three corvettes, two brigs, and two smaller vessels of war, with ten transports with troops and provisions.

Several of the principal chiefs of the Mescia repaired on board, and returned delighted with their reception; and having informed the General that not a shot would be fired by the country against the flag of the Grand Seignior, unless the squadron came in favour of Ali, the small vessels of war and all the transports entered the harbour the same afternoon.

His Highness Bashaw Ali had early in the morning received a letter written by the Ottoman Government, intimating the wish of the Sultan that he should go in person on board the ship of the Commander-inchief, and there make the necessary arrangements for the disembarkation of the troops which were sent "to confirm him upon the throne of Tripoli, and exterminate the rebels."

We have reason to know that Ali, naturally of a suspicious disposition, conceived the possibility of being detained on board, and consequently applied to the French Consul for advice under such critical circumstances, who frankly informed him that no danger was to be apprehended, and that he had lately received official intelligence from Paris, that everything was in his favour, and for him alone. The French Captain also stated, that he had seen the firman for Ali, in which the Grand Seignior assured him, that the troops, consisting of eight thousand men, were to be entirely at his disposal, and that after he had conquered the Mescia, he might transfer them to any other part of the coast.

Bashaw Ali, therefore, regardless of the intreaties of his wife, who upon her knees implored him not to trust himself without equal hostages, but to place confidence in the strength of his batteries, went on board the flag-ship with Mahomet D'Ghies*, and all his principal people. The French corvette saluted him with twenty-one guns as he passed; the French Captain accompanied him in his boat, and in the afternoon the whole party returned in safety to the town, under a salute from the Turkish squadron.

We confess we were surprised that he had not been made prisoner; but when we remarked that the salute was only seventeen guns, we thought that some deep scheme was in meditation. Ali however landed in the highest spirits, and immediately gave orders that every boat in the town should be in readiness the following morning, to assist in the disembarkation of the troops, a portion of which were to encamp upon the plain outside the castle walls, and the other portion upon the Marina.

The 27th was a busy day. The weather was beautiful, and the sea calm. At daylight every ship in the squadron commenced disembarkation, and by noon, 4000 men, exclusive of artillerymen, and 20 fieldpieces, were landed in the town! No one appeared to remember the division which was to encamp in the country, and "Long live the Sultan!" was echoed by the hired slaves of Ali, as the different companies quietly possessed themselves of all the town and castle batteries. The occupation took place in the name of Ali.

It appears that Bashaw Ali received a second letter after the disembarkation, hoping that he had not suffered from sea-sickness during the last visit, and requesting him to go on board in the morning of the 28th, in order that he might accompany the General Commanding-inchief and the Admiral on shore, thereby adding to the solemnity of the occasion; and for this purpose two beautiful and richly-caparisoned horses were in readiness at the Marina, and the streets leading to the Castle were lined with troops, banners displayed, and other arrangements made for the triumphal entry of his Highness into the town. Ali went on board a second time. The wind was strong, the flag-ship

This individual cannot be named without abhorrence, as having been connected with the assassination of the intrepid and unfortunate Major Laing.

three miles off at anchor in the offing, and his Highness, never having been at sea in his life, suffered extremely.

Exactly at midday a royal salute from every ship in the squadron announced that the state barge had left the flag-ship, and as she rounded the Spanish fort the first of the town-batteries commenced saluting, and by the time she had reached the landing-place, two hundred guns had been fired in honour of this second confirmation of Ali as sovereign of Tripoli.

It was curious enough that at this very moment His Majesty's ship Favourite was saluting in honour of King William the Fourth's birthday. The corvette was dressed out with all her flags, and the townspeople, ignorant of the occasion, rejoiced at such a display in compliment to the success and triumph of Ali. Alas! they dreamed not of the treachery that had been practised. When the smoke cleared off, it was discovered that Bashaw Ali was not in the boat. The idea of his detention then flashed across the minds of a few, and the sunken and pallid visage of Mahomet D'Ghies, who was obliged to be supported along the pier, confirmed the suspicions that the late sovereign of Tripoli was now on board-a prisoner of state.

The General and Admiral then mounted their horses, and rode in silence to the castle, when the former immediately occupied the throne prepared for Ali, and then declared himself to be Mustafa Negib, Bashaw and Governor of the Regency of Tripoli, until he should receive further orders from the Grand Seignior. Some of Ali's faithful followers, scarcely crediting even D'Ghies's assertions, put off immediately to the frigate, where they saw their old master reclining in the stern cabin. He addressed them in haste, declared himself to be a prisoner, and his life in danger, conjuring them to return speedily to the town, and attempt to make the people rise in his favour. They did return, but found that the gates toward the country were already open, and that the people of the Mescia had unhesitatingly flocked in, and as for the party of Ali, it existed no more. All had felt his galling oppression, and the hatred to Mahomet D'Ghies was so great, that he dare no longer trust himself in the streets.

We will here pause a moment in our narrative, and introduce one of the first, and the last acts of barbarous despotism committed by this wicked tyrant and his ministers.

An officer belonging to one of the British men-of-war stationed in the harbour of Tripoli, conceived a passion, as sailors are apt to do, for an extremely pretty and interesting Arab girl. She was only sixteen years of age, and formed by nature, and by the climate in which she had been reared, to love and to be loved. In a very short time a mutual understanding arose between the parties. They met in fear and trembling, and exchanged those vows of attachment which are customary in similar cases. Yet there was something in their affection of a more romantic nature than an ordinary affaire de cœur.

The danger and difficulty which attend even the slightest appearance of a communication between a Christian man and an Arab woman is in itself a sufficient charm to attract the adventurous spirit; and since the commencement of the civil war, so detested were the English by Bashaw Ali, that bastinadoes and the torture awaited all those who dared to look with kindness upon them.

The beautiful Miriuma (for such was the name of our present heroine)

inhabited a part of the town usually thronged with the busy multitude; but so well did her lover "watch the auspicious moment," that during the long continuance of the fast of the Ramadan, his presence daily soothed those dreary hours, when neither meat nor drink may pass the lips of the followers of the Prophet; and during which many a fragile being has sunk into the arms of death from mere inanition. It was upon the night of the last of the thirty days of Ramadan, and the eve of the grand feast of Beiram, a day holy above all others in the eyes of the Mahometan, and devoted to the service of their God and our God, that the too guilty Miriuma was seated disconsolate at her latticed window, watching the arrival of her lover, when a spy of the tyrant Ali passed beneath. Suspicion entered his breast, and he concealed himself in a portico adjoining. At that instant the gallant son of Britain reached the spot, approached the door,-a moment passed,—it opened,—they were together.

Shouts of happiness and rejoicing announced the rising of the sun of the Beiram, and the miseries of the long and terrible fast, which had every year become more insupportable to the people, was forgotten in the joy and wantonness of their festivities. It was at this hour our hero escaped from beneath the roof of his beloved, and doubtless plumed himself on his adroitness in making his way unperceived to his floating home in the harbour; but, alas, he little knew that during that night the house had been narrowly watched by a party of the black slaves of Ali, who had orders to allow him to pass unnoticed and unharmed. They knew he was an Englishman, and that many of them would doubtless have met their death before they could have secured the object of their vengeance. The rest of the tale (and horrible it is) is shortly told.

The inhuman monsters entered the house. No words were passed,the wretched Miriuma was dragged by the hair of her head to the public square. The executioner was there in readiness, and before the astonished multitude could inquire into the meaning of the passing scene, her head was severed from her body. The executioner then in a loud voice exclaimed, "Thus dies the slave of God, who dared to look with favour upon an Englishman!"

For three days the mangled body remained exposed upon a platform; an Arab inscription above, reminded the bystanders, "that the English had been the cause of this just retribution," whilst a crier was instantly on the spot, using language to inflame the people against them, and denouncing a similar fate upon every Moorish female who should dare in future to look with kindness upon those dogs of infidels, the enemies of Ali.-Colonel Warrington, on hearing of these outrageous and inhuman proceedings, rushed to the spot; he found the picture had been too truly represented; one moment sufficed to tear down the villainous proclamation, and to drive the miscreant crier from his post; but the horrible sight nearly unmanned him. He had no power to interfere further; he hastily retraced his steps to his consulate-house, where he again heard the cries against his countrymen resumed.

We will not attempt to describe the agony of the British officer; we know how severely he was affected by it, but there existed no means whereby he could obtain redress, or avenge the inhuman outrage. The whole circumstance was reported officially to the English government, but it was a subject upon which they could not well interfere, and this dreadful tragedy still remains unrevenged and unatoned for.