state of the Janissaries did not escape the notice of the Persian sháh, who taking advantage of it, besieged the fortress of Akhiska. I immediately resolved to relieve it: but not a single Janissary would move from the wine tavern, or the buzá-house; and the consequence was, that the Persians took possession of this noble fortress, which had been so gloriously taken by Sultán Selím. My beglerbegs being like myself disgusted with the dastardly conduct of the Janissaries, united themselves with me by solemn oath to avenge the blood of Sultán Othmán, and each swore to subdue the Janissaries under him. On an appointed day I fulfilled my oath, took possession of the interior fortress of Erzerúm, subdued the Janissaries, and became their master. In the mean time the begs and vezírs, who had taken the same obligation, deserted me. From that hour my affairs have every day become worse. This, my emperor, is a true statement of my conduct. Whatever I have done has been from a pure zeal, for the best interests of the Sublime Porte. Your servant Abáza, a poor slave bought for seventy piastres, is not ambitious to obtain dominion in the world through rebellion.” Thus did Abáza, without fear, boldly detail all the particulars of his conduct, in the presence of the emperor and many thousand spectators. He then kissed the ground, crossed his hands over his breast, bowed his head, and was silent. The emperor listened to his discourse with the greatest attention, and when reminded of the melancholy martyrdom of Sultán Othmán he shed tears of blood, and sighed so deeply, that all who were present lost their senses. The Sultán proceeded to ask him: “But after the battle with my lálá Cherkess Mohammed Páshá at Cæsarea, when I not only pardoned you, but gave you the government of Erzerúm, why did you kill so many excellent men that were sent with Díshlen Husain Páshá? why did you make war against my lálá, Khalíl Páshá? and why did you not give up the castle, and come to rub your forehead on my stirrup? Abáza replied: “My Sultán! not one of those generals who were sent against me, knew how to keep their troops in proper discipline. They plundered wherever they went, like the notorious rebels, Yázíjí Kalender Oghlí and Sa’íd Arab; they crowded every day round the tent of their general with some new claims; they were all a seditious set, to whom I was afraid to trust myself; and instead of devoting myself to a rebellious multitude, who knew no law, I thought it much safer to oppose them as open enemies. When, however, I heard that Lálá Khosrau Páshá was coming from Tokát with an imperial commission, and my spies unanimously bearing witness to his justice, and his determined opposition to the villains, I knew that he was a perfect man, and I was overawed by his power and dignity. He came to Erzerúm like a wolf against a sheep, opened the trenches, and attacked the fortress with seven batteries. Night and day I kept my eyes on the