bring me his reply. Tannoos read the
letter, and without saying a word, threw it down in
contempt. I then gave it to my uncle with the same
request, but as yet I have got no reply.[K]

"All my concerns I commit into the hands of God,
who created me. Through the blood of our Lord Jesus
Christ, I hope that all my distresses will be for
the best.

"I accept with pleasure all your kind wishes, and
send you many salutations in the Lord, and pray for
you length of days.

"Yours, &c. ASAAD."

"March 27, 1826."

_His relatives deliver him up to the Patriarch._

31. Information is received, that Asaad has been taken away against his
will, to the patriarch.

_April 4._ Phares Shidiak arrived here in the evening direct from Der
Alma, and said he had accompanied Asaad to that convent a week ago, that
Asaad was still there, and that the patriarch, having in the morning set
off for Cannobeen, would send down for Assad after a few days. He then
handed me the following line from Asaad.

"If you can find a vessel setting off for Malta, in the course of four
or five days, send me word; if not, pray for your brother.

ASAAD."

We were disposed to send off a messenger this very evening, but Phares
said it would not be necessary.

Had some serious conversation with Phares, in which I exhorted him to
continue reading the New Testament, and take particular notice of the
general spirit of it; and then to judge, if all this deceit, confining,
beating, and threatening to kill, was consistent with that spirit. We
observed, that we supposed the patriarch and the bishop were well
pleased with all the violence that Mansoor had used in this affair.
"Yes," said Phares, "priest Hanna Stambodi, at Ain Warka, told me
yesterday, that none of us had any religion, except Mansoor."

In a subsequent part of his journal, Mr. Bird records the following
particulars respecting Asaad, during his last visit to Hadet, and when
about to be violently removed from thence. They were received from
Phares.

A neighbouring emir being sick, one day, Asaad carried him a paper of
medicine, on the outside of which he had written how it was to be taken.
While Asaad stood without, a servant took in this medicine, and gave it
to the prince, saying, "This is from Asaad Esh Shidiak, and here he has
written the directions on