> window of the convent, without the knowledge of the patriarch, or the

others in his service. This messenger said, that Asaad was in close

confinement, in chains, and was daily beaten; and that the great cause

of complaint against him was, that he refused to worship either the

pictures, or the virgin Mary.



I had written a letter of mere salutation to Shidiak by my messenger,

which letter he enclosed in one from himself, and sent it on by his

brother, returning himself with the messenger from Asaad. This brother

of his, he is much afraid, may be ill-treated by the patriarch.



28. J., the messenger, called, and said, that he himself should not go

to Cannobeen, but twelve or fifteen of his other relatives would go and

endeavour at least to save him from chains and stripes. J. had been to

the emir Beshir the less, who lives at Hadet, begging him, (with a

present) to save his brother, if it should prove that he had suffered by

the suspicion or the resentment of the patriarch. The emir promised to

interfere--"But why," said he, "should Asaad go and join the English?

they are a people I do not love."



June 2. A youth of the neighbourhood said it was reported that Asaad

was a complete maniac; that he rent his garments, raved, reviled, &c.

and that he had been sent to the convent at Koshia, like other lunatics,

for a miraculous cure. This news was brought by priest Bernardus, of

Gzir, mentioned in Shidiak's statement.



3. The brother of J. about whom he was so solicitous, returned last

evening in safety, with the following letter in Asaad's own hand

writing.



"To our respected brother J. ----. After expressing my love to you, I

have to say, that your letter by your brother ----, arrived in safety,

and I have understood it. In it you and ----, inquire after my health.

May the Lord pour out his grace upon you, and follow you with his

blessings. As to me, I am at present in health, with regard to my

body, but as to other circumstances, your brother will give you

information. Love to cousin ----, your wife. Pray send me word

respecting you every opportunity, and may the Lord lengthen your days.

From your brother.



"ASAAD ESH SHIDIAK."



This letter is certainly genuine, and is a full proof of what nature the

insanity is, under which he labours. It has greatly relieved the anxiety

we felt from the report of yesterday.



From the verbal account, given by the lad who brought the letter, the

following are selected as the most important particulars. He entered the

convent on his arrival, and seeing nobody but the keeper of the

prison-room, obtained leave to go in, and see Asaad alone. He found him

sitting on the bare floor, with a heavy chain around his neck, and

firmly fastened at the other end into the wall. His bed had been

removed together with all his books and writing materials, and (what is

considered here the extreme of privation,) he was left without a pipe.



The lad continued with him an hour or two, without being discovered by

any one but the keeper. During the conversation, Asaad observed, that

not long since he was sent to Koshia, as a man possessed of a devil, and

that he escaped from that place and had arrived near Tripoli, when he

was taken by a party of Maronites, and brought back to the patriarch. He

had, since that time, been kept regularly at Cannobeen, subject

occasionally to beating and insult, from such as might call in to see

the heretic. We understood the man to say, that the patriarch even

instructed the common people to spit in his face, and call him by odious

names, in order to shame him into submission. Asaad gave his advice that

we should either send some one with a horse, and get him away by

stealth, or get the consul to interfere by writing to the pasha. The

letter written by Asaad was done through the contrivance of his keeper

for a small reward.