Lift of PROMOTIONS.

HOn, William Hamilton, envoy extraor

dinary to the court of Naples. Hon. Hans Stanley, governor of the Ifle of Wight.

Humphrey Senhoufe, Efq; deputy lieutenant of Wenmoreland.

Earl Powis, lord-lieutenant and cuftos rotulo um of the county of Salop.

Hon. Edward Percival, Efq; fon to the Earl of Egmont, captain of a troop in the first regiment of dragoon guards.

Colonel Tryan, lieutenant governor of North Carolina.

Lord Robert Kerr, an enfign in the first regiment of foot guards.

Brown, Efq; furveyor to his Majesty's gardens and waters at HamptonCourt.

Hugh Griffith, Efq; ordnance-keeper and paymaster for the islands of Granada, St. Vincent, Tobago, and Domin.que.

Henry Revely, Efq; gentleman-usher to her Majesty.

Samuel Saint! ill, Efq; one of the gentlemen of his Majesty's most hon. privy

chamber.

lady Anne Steuart, third daughter to the earl of Bute.

William Gordon, merchant in Cateatonftreet, to Mifs Turton, daughter of Joba Turton, of Wolverhampton in Staffordfhire, Efq;

Maurice Fitzgerald, Efq; to lady Anne Fitzmaurice, fifter to the earl of Kerry. John Giffard, Efq; to Mifs Hide. John Cave, Efq; mayor of Bedford, to Mifs Bennett of the fame piace.

George Graham, Efq; to Mifs Sally Meads.

William Innes, Efq; to Mifs Cradock. William Williams, Efq, his majesty's attorney general of the North Wales circuits, to Mifs Howard.

Richard Baldwin, Efq; of Dublin, to Miss Freke, with a fortune of 10,000 l.

Colonel Napier, to Mifs Millikin. The widow Pugh of Leather-lane, Holborn, aged 67, to Mr. Curtis, aged 26.

Charles Walcott, Efq; member for Weymouth, to Mifs Lovett.

Sir Charles William Blunt, Bart. to Mifs Peers.

Sir John Eden, Bart. to Mifs Kitty Thompson.

Lift of DEATHS.

THE right hon William Pulteney, earl

of Bath, vifcount Pulteney, lord lieutenant and cuftos rotulorum of the county of Salop, F. R. S. and one of his majesty's privy council, aged 81. He dying without male iffue, the title is extinct, and the paternal eftate defcends to his brother liturenant general Pul eney, who is also far advanced in years.

Right hon. Thomas lord Holmes, barr of Kilmallock, in the county of Limerick, in Ireland, &c.

Ralph Allen, Efq; of Prior Park, near Bath.

The new born fon and heir of lord Digby.
The right hon. James cari of Findlater.
Lord Campbell, fon to the marq. of Lorn.
The right hon. lady Irbin.

Mrs. She lock, relict of the late lord bishop of London.

Sir Orlando Bridgman, Bart.
Lady Grey.

Lady Mary Fitzgerald.
Lady Jane Jenour.

Ms. Harris, many years mistress of the Two Blue Poits, oppofite St. Anne's Scho. She weighed upwards of 40 ft. Forfeman's weight, and was reckoned the largest wo man, not only in England, but in all Furope; and excelled the famous Mr. Bright of Malden in Efix.

A

Mong the dancers of the palace, in the reign of Abbas the great, king of Perfia, there was a young maid, named Idris, whom the mafter of the revels, on the report of her charms, had fent for from Cafbin to Ifpahan. Her mother being of the fame profeffion, fhe had followed the fame way of life: but as the honourably diftinguished herself from her female companions, the demonftrated that virtue is practicable in every fituation of life, however flippery or dangerous it may be.

Scarcely had Idris appeared on the theatre of the capital, but the found herself befet by the grandees, who ftrove to pleafe her by the fame means that had won many others in that ftation. One exhaufted all his rhetoric in commending her fhape and manner; another extolled the form of her face, her complexion, August, 1764.

and the regularity of her features. A third, to give weight to the encomiums he had beftowed on her voice, repeated an air he had heard her fing, and declared his distraction to arrive at that grace with which fhe gave life to the words. A fourth, boafting his fkill and precifion in, dancing, exhibited inftantly fome of the attitudes he had learnt of her. A first-rate Sir Fopling gave her a lift of the pretty women he had deferted from the moment he first faw her. A young Iman, by birth entitled to become a mollah, filently difplayed his figure and his drefs. An old fingerer of the public money dazzled her eyes with a diamond of the first water, and offered it befides the perquifites of contracts which it was his cuftom to beflow upon his miftrefs. An officer of the crown made a pompous defcription of the prefents with which he had recompenfed the friendship of the little Zaki. In fine, every one ex3 E

erted

erted is faculties and addrefs, in order to gain a pic erence over his rivals.

But Idris was not to be caught by fuch baits. At the palace, at affemblies, in the public walks, and in all places the difcourfe turned upon the new dancer: every one talked of her beauty, her wit, and her engaging behaviour; and, which was more than they had ever faid of any other of her profeffion, they agreed in acknowledging her to be very virtuous. It is the property of none but the most exalted virtue, to gain respect and admiration among young courtiers. Mahmut conceived an high opinion of Idris's virtue, from the extraordinary effect it produced. Mahinut bore, among the young lords of the court, the fame character which Idris maintained among the dancers of her fex; proof againft the defects of his equals, and the vices of his fation. As foon as he began to appear in the world, he became fentible of the ridiculoufnefs of that noily, obitreperous giddinefs, which most young people of quality affect; and being happily prejudiced against that idle life he faw them lead, he took care not to fellow their example, yet without feeming to condemn them. While their days were divided between the toilet, the table, villts, ladies bedchambers, and gaming, he fpent the morning in his clofet among his books, or with those whofe converfation could inftru&t him better. In the afternoon he frequented the manufa&ories, and working places about the palace; talked with the ableft hands in the feveral arts; and obferved with the utmost attention how they proceeded in their works. In the evening he was at the play, or other public entertainments, which he en

joyed with that moderation that is ever infeparable from talle and dif cernment: after which he repaired to fome of the most brilliant affemblies of Ifpahan, as well to avoid a fingularity that would have rendered him odious, as to acquire a greater fhare of the complaifance and politenefs which reigned in them. Mahmut's wit, and the use he made of it, rendered him fuperior to those who were his equals in birth; and befides the advantage of a good figure, and a graceful air, he diftinguifhed himself no lefs among them by his natural and acquired talents. Idris could not behold this amiable Perfian without emotion; she immediately fhunned all her importunate fuitors; and complacently fancying him free from all their faults, the fecretly wished that the beauty which they had fo highly extolled might make an impreflion on him. Her wihes were met more than half-way. Mahmut foon let her know that he loved her paffionately, and her anfwer to his declaration, on account of its fingularity, deferves to be given entire.

"Doubtless you give the name of love," (faid the with a charming fraile) "to that which is only an effect of your tafte for novelty. I will not, my lord, go farther at prefent on this head; 'tis your business to fix iny judgment. I will ingenuoutly confefs, though it will give you an unfavourable opinion of me, if you are not the man I take you to be, that I am not difpleafed at your liking me. But if ever I fee occafion to alter the idea I have conceived of you, hope not that I shall in the leaft indulge my inclination. I fhall not take it ill, if you give your heart to a weman more virtuous than I; therefore do not con

plain of your lot, if I difpofe of mine in favour of any man whom I may find fuperior to you in virtue." Mahmut, fruck with admiration, and overflowing with joy, laboured to rife to fuch a pitch as might oblige Idris to be conftant to him. He applied himself with fresh vigour“ to acquire the arts and fciences neceffary for a man in his ftation. He made it his business to relieve indigent merit, and unfortunate virtue. His humanity, generofity, capacity, and modefty, were equally confpicuous, and Idris abundantly rewarded him for all the pains he took to please her. Praife grounded on truth, and coming from the mouth of fo charming a perfor, filled the tender Mahmut's heart with joy and fatisfaction. He read in the eyes of his charming miftrefs, how dear he was to her; he talked of his paffion, and defcribed its violence: Idris liftened to him with pleasure, vowed The would make him a juft return, and thus animated him to give her no occafion to repent her engagement. In thefe overflowings of their hearts, which none but true lovers can know, and feel all the fweetness of, they laid open to each other the moft fecret recefes of their fouls. Mahmut was grieved when? ever he took leave of Idris ; nor could the bear his abfence without a visible concern: they always parted under the greatest impatience to meet again.

Between two neighbours fo powerful as the Grand Seignior and the king of Perfia, there can be no long peace; a war foon broke out, and Mahmut was obliged to fet out for the army. He waited upon Idris, to deplore with her the dire neceflity that forced them afunder: but while he lay at her feet; he durft not dif

clofe to her all his grief; the fortitude of the fair-one daunted him; he was afraid of leffening himself in her efteem, by di'covering any weaknefs. Idris perceived the fore conflict in his breath, and loved him for it the more intenfely.

Mahmut had not been gone a month when he gave way to his defire of an interview with Idris. He flipped away privately from the army, and with the help of relays, which he had got ready on the road, he was at the gates of Ipahan before they miffed him in the camp. Alighting at the house of one of his old fervants, he difquifed himself in the apparel of a perfant, that he might not be known in the city; and impatient of an interview with Idris, he flew to her houfe.

The charming maid was fitting at her balcony as Mahmut was advancing, and knew him, notwithftanding his diguife. Grieved to fee him thus negle&t his glory and his duty, fhe ran directly to her clofet, charging her flave to admit no vifitor whatever. She melted into tears at the weakness of her lover; but foon recovered herfeif, and wrote him the following billet.

Idris to the Peafant.

"Friend, I know that thou art to be forthwith at the army. Call upon Mahmut, and tell him from me, that I defive him to remember the conditions on which the heart of Idris is to be fecured."

Mahmut was too much confounded with these few words to afk any queflions of the flave that delivered him the billet. He went back to his domeftic's house, to put off his. difguife, and foctuating between admiration, grief, and fear, he repaired again to the army, with as much hafte as he had travelled up to 3 E 2 J'pation.

Ipahan. His chief study being to make amends for the fault he had committed, he behaved with fo much ardour, bravery, and conduct, that he was deservedly promoted to a higher poft, which the king conferred on him with the most honourable eulogies at the head of the army. Idris wrote him a congratulatory letter on his promotion, in which, without mentioning his weaknefs, fhe gave him to understand, that he had forgiven him.

Mahimut, tranfported with joy, haftened back to Ifpahan, as foon as the army was ordered into winter-quarters; and listened to no other confideration, but his efteem for this virtuous girl: he entreated her to complete his happiness, by becoming his wife. Your wife, my lord! answered Idris, with a kind of furprize, mixed with indignation: what! would Mahmut forget himfelf fo far! In difpofing of your heart, you may indeed confult nothing but your inclination; but when the queflion is to choose a partner in your dignity and fortune, you are accountable to thofe of whom you hold both. I that am ready to facrifice my life, were it neceffary, to preferve your glory, fhall not be inftrumental myfelf in fullying it.

Sentiments like thefe made the paffionate Mahmut only more preff ing. What are thofe things, faid he, which create so great a disparity between us? An inftant may deprive me of them; but the dowry which you will bring me, charming Idris, is a bleffing that depends not on men nor fortune. In uttering these words, his countenance began to be clouded with grief; fresh denials drove him to defpair, he drew his poignard, and was going to

plunge it into his breaft. The tender Idris could hold out no longer: Ah! Mahmut, cried the, flop your hand, and live; to-morrow I shall be yours; grant me this fhort refpite. She could not utter more; tears put an end to her furprize, and ftopped her breath. Ashamed of her weak nefs, the broke loofe from her lover's arms, and withdrew to her closet, where the foon repented the promise he had made.

In the mean while Mahmut was defperate enough to refolve on death, if he denied his requeft; and the maid, wavering between tender paflion, and her concern for the glory of her lover, foon hit upon a device that would falve both. While fhe was free, notwithstanding the meanness of her condition, she could not give herself to him upon any other terms than marriage, and confidering the distance which fortune had put between them, fhe was fenfible the could not receive the title of wife, without difgracing her admirer. She refolved then to remove thofe obftacles to her Mahmut's happiness, at the expence of what was most dear to her. Wrapping herself up therefore in a long mantle, the left her house in the dusk of the evening, and went to fell herfelf to a dealer in flaves; after this fhe wrote the following letter to Mahmut.

"My Lord,

"You have not thought me unworthy to be your wife, and I have the deepest fenfe of gratitude for this fingle teftimony of your esteem. I think my heart and fentiments would not have disgraced that honourable quality; but what would your relations fay? What would all Perfia fay, whofe eyes are upon you, and who fee nothing in me, but the

mean