“It is a spondee, and I will maintain it,” interrupted a voice on his left hand. This assertion was followed by a very rapid recital of some verses from Homer. “That figure,” said the gentleman, “whose clothes are so bedaubed with snuff, was a schoolmaster of some reputation: he came hither to be resolved of some doubts he entertained concerning the genuine pronunciation of the Greek vowels. In his highest fits, he makes frequent mention of one Mr. Bentley. “But delusive ideas, sir, are the motives of the greatest part of mankind, and a heated imagination the power by which their actions are incited: the world, in the eye of a philosopher, may be said to be a large madhouse.” “It is true,” answered Harley, “the passions of men are temporary madnesses; and sometimes very fatal in their effects. From Macedonia’s madman to the Swede.” “It was, indeed,” said the stranger, “a very mad thing in Charles to think of adding so vast a country as Russia to his dominions: that would have been fatal indeed; the balance of the North would then have been lost; but the Sultan and I would never have allowed it.”—“Sir!” said Harley, with no small surprise on his countenance.—“Why, yes,” answered the other, “the Sultan and I; do you know me? I am the Chan of Tartary.” Harley was a good deal struck by this discovery; he had prudence enough, however, to conceal his amazement, and bowing as low to the monarch as his dignity required, left him immediately, and joined his companions. He found them in a quarter of the house set apart for the insane of the other sex, several of whom had gathered about the female visitors, and were examining, with rather more accuracy than might have been expected, the particulars of their dress.