6. The form of the lion is ftrikingly bold and majestic His large and fhaggy mane, which he can erect at pleasure, furrounding his awful front; his huge eyebrows; his round: and fiery cycballs, which upon the leaft irritation feem to glow with peculiar luftre; together with the formidable. appearance of his teeth, exhibit a picture of terrific grandeur which no words can describe..

7. The length of the largest lion is between eight and nine feet; the tail about four and its height about four. feet and a half. The female is about one fourth part lefs, and without a mane..

8. As the lion advances in years its mane grows longer and thicker. The hair on the rest of the body is fhort. and smooth, of a tawny color, but whitish on the belly. Its roaring is loud and dreadful. When heard in the night: it refembles diftant thunder. Its cry of anger is much louder and shorter..

9. The lion feldom attacks any animal openly, except when impelled by extreme hunger; in that cafe no danger deters him. But, as moft animals endeavour to avoid him, he is obliged to have recourfe to artifice, and take his prey by furprife..

10.

For this purpofe he crouches on his belly in fome thicket, where he waits till his prey approaches; and then with one prodigious fpring, he leaps upon it at the distance of fifteen or twenty feet, and generally feizes it at the first bound.

11. If he mifs his object, he gives up the purfuit; and turning back towards the place of his ambush, he measures: the ground step by step, and again lies in wait for another. opportunity. The lurking places are generally chofen by. him near a fpring, or by the fide of a river, where he has frequently an opportunity of catching fuch animals as come. to quench their thirst.

12. The lion is a long-lived animal, although natural-:ifts differ greatly as to the precife period of its existence.. Of fome that have been trained in the tower of London, one lived to the age of fixty-three years, and another exceeded feventy.

13.

The afpect of the lion correfponds with the noble and geperous qualities of his mind; his figure is refpecta

ble

ble; his looks are determined; his gait is ftately, and his voice tremendous. In a word, the body of the lion appears to be the best model of ftrength joined to agility.

14. As a proof that he is capable of exercising a generous and friendly difpofition towards mankind, we have the following anecdote of one which was kept in the tower of London.

15. When this lion was confined in the den alone, an accident happened to the lower part of it, which fo impaired the wood-work, that he could not be kept with fafety; the carpenter was therefore called to repair it, who wifely ftood at a distance, and would not approach the den for fear of the lion.

16. Upon this, one of the keepers stepped into the den, and engaged to keep the lion at the upper part of his house, while the carpenter was at work beneath. It happened, however, that the keeper, after playing fome time with the lion, fell faft afleep.

17. The carpenter continued his work, without knowing the danger to which he was expofed; and when he had finifhed his work, called to the keeper to come down and faften the door; but received no anfwer.

18. He then ran out of the den, and was greatly furprifed to fee, through the grate, both the keeper and the lion ftretched upon the floor, and fleeping together. He called to him again, but the keeper was too found afleep to return any anfwer.

19. The lion, however, reared up his frightful head,and after looking fome time at the carpenter, threw his huge paw over the keeper's breaft, and laying his nofe upon his head, again compofed himself to reft.

20. The carpenter, already terrified with his own fituation, was ftill more alarmed when he faw the keeper thus encircled with the paws of the lion, and ran into the house for aid.

21. Some of the people came out, and having bolted the den door, which the carpenter had neglected in his precipitate retreat, they roufed the keeper from his fleep, who, fhaking the lion by the paw, took his leave; but the lion was too well bred to fuffer his friend to go without fome little ceremony or marks of esteem.

22. He

22. He firft rubbed his great nofe against the keeper's knees, then held him by the coat, as if he would have said, "Do stay a little longer ;" and when he found that no entreaties could prevail, he courteously waited on him to the door.

STORY OF THE GRATEFUL TURK.

IT is too much to be lamented, that different nations frequently make bloody wars with each other; and when they take any of their enemies prifoners, instead. of afing them well, and reftoring them to liberty, they confine them in prifons, or fell them as flaves. The enmity that there has often been between many of the Italian states, particularly the Venetians, and the Turks, is fufficiently known.

2. It once happened that a Venetian ship had taken., many of the Turks prifoners, and, according to the barbarous cuftom I have mentioned, these unhappy men had been fold to different perfons in the city. By accident, one of the flaves lived oppofite to the house of a rich Venetian, who had an only foa, of about the age of twelve years.

3. It happened that this little boy ufed frequently to ftop as he paffed near Hamet, for that was the name of the flave, and gaze at him very attentively. Hamet,. who remarked in the face of the child the appearance of good-nature and compaffion, ufed always to falute him with the greatest courtefy, and teftified the greateft pleafure in his

company.

4. At length the little boy took fuch a fancy to the flave, that he ufed to vifit him feveral times in the day, and. brought him fuch little prefents as he had it in his power to make, and which he thought would be of ufe to his friend.

5. But though Hamet feemed always to take the greateft delight in the innocent careffes of his little friend, yet the child could not help remarking that Hamet was frequently extremely forrowful; and he often furprifed him on a fudden, when tears were trickling down his face, although he did his utmost to conceal them.

6. The little boy was at length fo much affected with the repetition of this fight, that he spoke of it to his father, and begged him, if he had it in his power, to make poor Hamet happy. The father, who was extremely fond of his fun, and befides, had obferved that he feldom requefted any thing which was not generous and humane, determined to fee the Turk himself, and talk to him.

7. Accordingly he went to him the next day, and obferving him for fome time in filence, was ftruck with the extraordinary appearance of mildnefs and honefty which his countenance difcovered. At length he faid to him, Are you that Hamet of whom my fon is fo fond, and of whofe gentleness and courtefy I have fo often heard him.

talk?

8. Yes, faid the Turk, I am that unfortunate Hamet, who have now been for three years a captive: during that fpace of time, your fon, if you are his father, is the only human being that feems to have felt any compaffion for my fufferings; therefore, I must confefs, he is the only object to which I am attached in this barbarous country; and night and morning I pray that Power, who is equally the God of Turks and Chriftians, to grant him every bleffing he deferves, and to preferve him from all the miferies Ï fuffer.

9. Indeed, Hamet, faid the merchant, he is much obliged to you, although from his prefent circumstances, he does not appear much expofed to danger. But tell me, for I wish to do you good, in what can I affift you ? for my fon informs me that you are the prey of continual re

gret and forrow.

IO. Is it wonderful, anfwered the Turk, with a glow of generous indignation that fuddenly animated his countenance, is it wonderful that I fhould pine in filence, and mourn my fate, who am bereft of the first and noblest prefent of nature, my liberty? And yet, answered the Venetian, how many thousands of our nation do you retain in fetters?

II. I am not answerable, faid the Turk, for the cruelty of my countrymen, more than you are for the barbarity of yours. But as to myself, I have never practised the inhuman custom of enflaving my fellow.creatures; I have never

Coiled

fpoiled Venetian merchants of their property to increase my riches; I have always refpected the rights of nature, and therefore it is the more fevere

12. Here a tear started from his eye, and wetted his manly cheek: inftantly, however, he recollected himself, and folding his arms upon his bofom, and gently bowing his head, he added, God is good, and man must fubmit to his decrees. The Venetian was affected with this appearance of manly fortitude, and faid, Hamet, I pity your fufferings, and may perhaps be able to relieve them. What would you do to regain your liberty?

13. What would I do? anfwered Hamet; I would confront every pain and danger that can appal the heart of man. Nay, anfwered the merchant, you will not be expofed to fuch a trial. The means of your deliverance are cer tain, provided your courage does not belie your appearance.

14. Name them! name them! cried the impatient Hamet; place death before me in every horrid shape, and if I fhrink- -Patience, anfwered the merchant, we fhall be obferved. But hear me attentively. I have in this city an inveterate foe, who has heaped upon me every injury which can most bitterly fting the heart of man.

15. This man is brave as he is haughty; and I must confefs that the dread of his ftrength and valor has hitherto deterred me from refenting his infults as they deserve. Now, Hamet, your look, your form, your words, convince me that you are born for manly daring.

16. Take this dagger; and as foon as the fhades of night involve the city, I will myself conduct you to the place, where you may at once revenge your friend, and regain your freedom.

17. At this proposal, fcorn and fhame flashed from the kindling eye of Hamet, and paffion for a confiderable time deprived him of the power of utterance; at length he lifted his arms as high as his chains would permit, and cried with an indignant tone, Mighty Prophet! and are these the wretches to which you permit your faithful votaries to be enflaved?

18. Go, bafe Chriftian, and know that Hamet would not stoop to the vile trade of an affaffin, for all the wealth of Venic no, not to purchase the freedom of all his race!