Jôon, July 10, 1838.My Lord Duke,As the period of my sufferings and humiliation is not yet over, it would be unseemly in me to draw upon myself such an honour as you intend me in sending your royal highness’s portrait. If it is a proof of your friendship for me, as I flatter myself in believing it to be, allow me, by the same title, to ask a favour of you, which I hope you will not consider too bold.At no distant time the world will be convulsed with extraordinary phenomena and horrible scourges, which will bring about changes in everything: it is then that I ask permission to address your royal highness with that freedom I am known for, without fear of displeasing you. Ideas bought by painful experience, and knowledge picked up on a path covered with thorns, may perhaps, at a crisis which will be without example, prove useful to your royal highness.I will not recall the painful recollection of a moment when a high fever obliged me to sacrifice the honour and pleasure of making your personal acquaintance.Be pleased, my lord duke, to accept the assurance of my highest consideration and esteem, and myprayers that your royal highness will soon be restored to the bosom of your family.Hester Lucy Stanhope.I send my cordial salutations to your royal highness’s suite.
Jôon, July 10, 1838.
My Lord Duke,
As the period of my sufferings and humiliation is not yet over, it would be unseemly in me to draw upon myself such an honour as you intend me in sending your royal highness’s portrait. If it is a proof of your friendship for me, as I flatter myself in believing it to be, allow me, by the same title, to ask a favour of you, which I hope you will not consider too bold.
At no distant time the world will be convulsed with extraordinary phenomena and horrible scourges, which will bring about changes in everything: it is then that I ask permission to address your royal highness with that freedom I am known for, without fear of displeasing you. Ideas bought by painful experience, and knowledge picked up on a path covered with thorns, may perhaps, at a crisis which will be without example, prove useful to your royal highness.
I will not recall the painful recollection of a moment when a high fever obliged me to sacrifice the honour and pleasure of making your personal acquaintance.
Be pleased, my lord duke, to accept the assurance of my highest consideration and esteem, and myprayers that your royal highness will soon be restored to the bosom of your family.
Hester Lucy Stanhope.
I send my cordial salutations to your royal highness’s suite.
FOOTNOTES:[31]This is theparolethat the Druzes take of their prisoners, to ensure their not fighting again.[32]Hasbéyah and Rashéyah are two districts, situate midway between Tyr and Damascus, and comprehended in 30° 15′ and 33° 39′ N. lat. on the western flank of Gebel es Shaykh, the vast hump of Antilebanon: they are a part of the Cœle-syria of the Greeks and Romans. In Hasbéyah is the source of the Jordan. The castle, I believe, is one of the many yet remaining from the days of the Crusaders.[33]The loss of the battle of Nasib somewhat altered the nature of these calculations. Had the Turks won that battle, all Syria would have united to expel Ibrahim Pasha; as it was, future conjunctures alone could enable them yet to display their hostile feelings against an innovator, who had few or no partisans in a country too primitive in its manners to rejoice in the introduction of a demi-civilization. This was written in July, 1839. The exploits of the English armaments, sent to expel Ibrahim Pasha from Syria, have since confirmed these details, which are left as they were first penned, although now necessarily devoid of all interest.
FOOTNOTES:
[31]This is theparolethat the Druzes take of their prisoners, to ensure their not fighting again.
[32]Hasbéyah and Rashéyah are two districts, situate midway between Tyr and Damascus, and comprehended in 30° 15′ and 33° 39′ N. lat. on the western flank of Gebel es Shaykh, the vast hump of Antilebanon: they are a part of the Cœle-syria of the Greeks and Romans. In Hasbéyah is the source of the Jordan. The castle, I believe, is one of the many yet remaining from the days of the Crusaders.
[33]The loss of the battle of Nasib somewhat altered the nature of these calculations. Had the Turks won that battle, all Syria would have united to expel Ibrahim Pasha; as it was, future conjunctures alone could enable them yet to display their hostile feelings against an innovator, who had few or no partisans in a country too primitive in its manners to rejoice in the introduction of a demi-civilization. This was written in July, 1839. The exploits of the English armaments, sent to expel Ibrahim Pasha from Syria, have since confirmed these details, which are left as they were first penned, although now necessarily devoid of all interest.