Tth Life and Adventures of Joseph Emin

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V. 1755-1756.

[An Arab horse for Lord Northumberland and his Armenian groom - Northumberland House - Mr. Bale - An interview - Letter of Joseph Ameen to the Earl of Northumberland - All is changed - Duke of Cumberland - Woolwich at the expense of H. R. H. ]

In the month of November, when one morning the author was going along Cheapside, he met a young man in a Turkish habit, and had the curiosity to speak to him in that language, as he found him to be an Armenian; both parties were glad to see each other. Emin after inquiry, was informed that the man had been sent over with an Arabian horse, as a groom, by the English merchants at Aleppo, for his Grace the late Duke (at that time Earl) of Northumberland. The Armenian groom desired him to call on him at Northumberland-house, as he was an entire stranger to the English, in, order to explain some words to the people of the house; to which he agreed very gladly, not foreseeing the happy consequences of it. The next morning accordingly he went, and stood interpreter between him and the servants of the house, more particularly his Grace’s gentleman, Mr. Bale, who wanted to give him a commission for an Arabian horse, and was glad to have Emin’s assistance, to give a particular explanation. His countryman desired him to dine there with the footmen, but not with him at the second table; where his Grace’s gentleman, the Duchess’s gentlewoman, the steward, and head French cook, and Mr. Lambe, groom of the chambers, were; which unpolite behaviour, obliged Emin to reprimand the man pretty smartly; upon which, both Mr. Bale and Lambe appeared, taking him by the hand, made him set with them at the same table at dinner. The Armenian told Mr. Bate as well as he could, that Emin said, though he was taken so much notice of, yet he was a subject of Emin’s. This little circumstance was insinuated to his Grace without the knowledge of the author, who was not in the least aware of the interest Mr. Bale had been making, from the first day of his frequenting the house, to introduce him to his Grace’s audience. While Emin was doing some little writing business here and there, and saved just enough to pay the ten guineas back again to Mr. Davis to whom he said, that as he could not do otherwise, he would work for his passage, nor could accept the money; on purpose that when he arrived in Bengal, understanding the English tolerably well, he might get employment there, and not be obliged to hear the mortifying expressions from the Armenian Banians, nor to bear the cool reception of his relations. Good Mr. Davis used his utmost endeavours to persuade him, but he would by no means accept the money; he said, since he was so worthless as not to be maintained by a whole kingdom, not to be trusted by a father, it was beneath him to submit to meanness. He once trusted in God, and would stand to his word, though his heart was hung by a single hair; but his hope told him, That Great Maker would not desert him. Thereupon Mr. Davis wrote a note, and recommended him to Mr. Crab Bolton in a little square near Bishopsgate-street, that time chairman of the court of directors, who favoured him with a writing to ship himself on board an Indiaman for Bengal. When he came home, he found the Armenian groom waiting for him, and saying, "Lord Northumberland wants you, let us go. " He could not believe it, but went. No sooner had he entered the house, than Mr. Bale told him, that his lordship was desirous to see him. He said "Let me go back to put on a clean shirt, and a more decent coat. " Mr. Bale said, "My lord will know a man without fine cloaths. " Emin consented, called God in his heart to his assistance, and entered the library, where the duke was standing by the side of the table. After making his bow and paying respects due to his greatness, the duke said to him, "The Armenian groom Asataim does not understand English, nor is he, with his broken lingua Franca, able to make us understand him; we are at a loss to explain to him the different marks of horses. Have you seen the chestnut-coloured Arab that he has brought over?" "Yes, my lord. " "Pray, Mr. Emin, what do you think of it; is it a true one?" "Yes, my lord" said Emin; "if your lordship will give me a commission, I give you my word I can procure a better. " "Pray Sir, where is your father?" He answered, "In Bengal, my lord. " "What is your reason for chusing to go to Aleppo?" "My lord, the Indian climate is too hot, it does not agree with me. " "How old were you when you left Persia?" "Between seventeen and eighteen. " "You were too young, " said his lordship, "and cannot be a judge of horses. " He said, "My lord, I know the nature of the Arabs, as I understand Turkish, Persian and Armenian; I can go among them in their own tents; they are the most hospitable people in the universe. I learnt their manners in Bagdad. After making presents of a few yards of English green cloths, with some coffee and sugar, and having tasted bread and salt with the chief of the clan, I shall become one of the family; then I can depend upon them in getting a genuine Arabian horse. " (The author’s intention was to throw himself that way to the mountains of Armenia, since Nadir Shah had then been dead but three or four years, and people were stirring pretty briskly. )

"No, no, " said the duke, "Let us drop the horse story. Pray let me know the motives that brought you hither from Bengal?" The author said, "My lord, my father is a poor man; I came with the black lascars as one of them, and shall go on board in a few days. " "Pray, Mr. Emin, " said his lordship, "conceal nothing from me; tell me the truth, for I see there is some extraordinary thing in your mind; conceal nothing from me; I will upon my honour stand your friend; do not be doubtful of my word. " The author said, "My lord, your gentleman is apprehensive of having introduced a sharper to rob your lordship; you have heard the clack of the door three times since my coming here, you bad him not to come in; I beg your lordship will let him enter, to make his mind easy, then I will begin the history. " Nothing at that time could please his lordship so well as the remark Emin made, the Earl laughing heartily at it, called Mr. Bale in, by ringing the bell, charging him strictly not to tell any person his lordship was at home. Upon which Mr. Bale, seeing his lordship was safe, went out with tranquillity. His lordship then said, "Now, Mr. Emin, let me hear you; " with such condescending affability and good-nature, that the author was encouraged to a degree of inspiration.

When he began to tell him the story of the various misfortunes of his life, the hardships that he had been through, and the adversity which still awaited him in the cause of his country; it affected his lordship so, that he could not refrain from shedding tears. To shew the feelings of the human mind, he is now no more, to the great grief of Emin’s bleeding heart. When the writer was near finishing the narrative of his life, and said that he could read and write, his Grace desired him to draw a short memorial of it, looked at his watch, and found it was one o’clock in the morning; he then asked him, if he was indebted to any one? Emin said, no; he had but a single shilling in his pocket; his Grace offered his purse; the author with much ado took one guinea out, and returning the purse, made a bow, bade his Grace good morning, and went away to his lodgings. He then began the promised letter, and did not sleep the whole morning till he completed it as well as he could. The following is a copy of it.

[A LETTER FROM JOSEPH AMEEN TO THE EARL OF NORTHUMBERLAND. ]

My Lord

I present you with the Specimen of my Writting I promised. It is too bold I am afraid to make myself the Subject, when I write for your Lordship, but forgive my good Lord the Language of a Stranger. I have been in too low Condition to know how to write proper to your Lordship but you speak to me more kind and humbly than mean People, so I am encouraged. I have very good designs and I have suffered very much Hardships for them. I think your Lordship will not despise a person in mean Condition for thinking of some thing more than Livelyhood. I have with a very good will thrown behind me a very easy Livelyhood for this Condition mean as it is, and I am not troubled. If I can carry my Point at last, As long as I can remember my own Family and I remember my Great Grandfather, they have always been Soldiers, and always did Remember Christ, tho’ they were torn out of their Country of Armenia by Shaw Abbas and planted in Hamadan after their Captivity they were Soldiers still: two of my Uncles did Spill their Blood in the Service of Kouli Kan my Father was his Slave for many Years, but he was at last forced to fly into India, because this Tyrant had sharpened his Battle Ax more against his own Army than upon his Enemies. Soon after my Father sent for me to Calcutta in Bengall where he is a Merchant, There I saw the Fort of the Europeans and the Soldiers Exercise, and the Shipping and that they were dextrous and perfect in all things, then I grieved with myself, for my Religion and my Country, that we were in Slavery and Ignorance like Jews Vagabonds upon Earth, and I spoke to my father upon all this, because our Fathers did not fight for their Country, but I understood that the black Armenians in the Mountains were free, and handled Arms from their Childhood, and that those under Patriarch, who are subject to the Turks and Persians did not want Courage, but they are all Ignorant, and fight only with a wild and natural fierceness, and so they have no order and do nothing but like Robbers, but I resolved I wou’d go to Europe to learn Art Military and other Sciences to assist that Art; and I was sure that If I would go into Armenia like an European Officer, I may be usefull at least in some degree to my Country; but my Father did not listen to me, for God did not give him understanding in these things. I could not bear to live like a Beast, eating and drinking without Liberty or Knowledge. I went to Cap t Fox of the Ship Walpole and kissed his Feet a Hundred Times to let me work for my Passage to Europe before he would bend to me, but he did at last admit me, and I came to England with much Labour, but it did not grieve me when I thought of my Country. I ent’red with my little Money into M r Middleton’s Academy. I had the Honour to tell your Lordship so before. I was first a Scholar, and when my Money was gone, I was a Servant there for my Learning, but he was broke, and I lost every thing. I went into the Street to work for my Bread, for I could not bear to go wagging a Tail at Peoples doors for a bit of Meat, I will not grieve your Lordship with the Misery which I went through. I do not want to be Pitied. I got Service at last with M r Roberts a Grocer in the City, in this time I carried burthens of near 200 Lib upon my back and paid out of my Wages to learn Geomerty, and to complete my Writing, and just to begin a little French, but because my Lord I almost starved myself to pay for this and carried Burthens more than my Strength, I hurted myself and could not work any longer, so that I was in dispair, and did not care what become of me, but a Friend put me to write with one M r Webster an Attorney in Cheapside which for a little time got Bread, but I was resolved in dispair to go again to India, because no body wou’d put out his hand to help me to learn, and my Uncle sent ։60 to Governor Davis to carry me back. I am afraid I am too troublesome in my Accounts to your Lordship but we people of Asia can’t say little and a great deal like Scholars. Now I met by chance some Gentlemen who encouraged me, and gave me Books to read and advised me to kiss Colo Dingley’s hands and shew my business to him, he was a brave Soldier, took me by the hand, spoke to his own Serjeant an Honest Man to teach me Manual Exercise and gave me Blands Military Discipline and promised to help me to learn Gunnery and Fortification; but I was again unfortuned, for when light just began to come to my Eyes he died, and I was like before except that I knew a little of Manuel Exercise and read some of the Roman History, could learn no more nor live, I was broke to Pieces, and bowed my Neck to Governor Davis to go over to my Friends without doing any of these things I suffered for. I am in this Net at present but I am happier than all Mankind if I can meet any great Man that can prevail on Governor Davis to allow me something out of the Money he has, only upon Condition I return to blindness again that I may go through Evolutions with Recruits, and learn Gunnery and Fortification; and if there is a War to go one Year as a Volunteer. If Governor Davis writes that I have a Great Man here my Protector my Father who looks upon me as a Person run away and forsaken, will make me an Allowance to learn. If I could clear my own Eyes and serve my Country and my Religion that is trod under foot of Mussulman, I would go thro’ all Slavery and danger with a glad Heart, but if I must return after four years Slavery and Misery to the same Ignorance without doing any good would break my heart my Lord in the End. I beg Pardon; I have experience of your Lordships Goodness else I would not say so much. I would not receive but return, and I want nothing but a little speaking from the Authority of Indian Governor to my Friends, I have always been honest, those I have been Slave to will say I am honest. M r Gray trusted me. here is a Sort of Story nothing but your Lordships goodness can make tolerable to you. I am much Obliged to your Lordship for your Patience and shall be very proud of giving your Lordship all the Proofs in my Power that I am your Lordships very much Obedient and most Obliged humble Servant.

Jo. AMEEN.

NOTE.

Armenians in the mountains who had never been conquered.

[Emin here refers to the five Meliks, or Chiefs of Karabagh, men of noble birth who for some reason or another had quitted their native territories in other parts of Armenia, and had settled in the Karabagh mountains, the natural features of which region, combined with their own valour and skill in warfare, had enabled them to protect themselves against the incursions of hostile peoples and tribes, - such as Turkmans, Kurds, Osmanlis (the real Turks), Lezguis, and others, - and to preserve a certain amount of independence - until that fateful day when the archintriguer and villain, Panah Khan, exshepherd and town-crier, set foot in Karabagh.

The word Black is connected with them in various ways. Kara-bagh in the Turkman language means Black Garden, - probably an allusion to the marvellous fertility of the soil, - and the Meliks of Gulistan were nicknamed the Black-heads - in Armenian, " Sevak’lukh. " This clan possessed from former times the right of bearing on their standard, or coat-of-arms, the royal emblem of an eagle. Not the golden eagle, nor the double spread-eagle of actual royalty, but a black-headed eagle, and, according to the statement of a member of this family (b. 1795, d. 1884) who came to India in 1813, only "half an eagle. " What he intended to convey by this description I have not been able to discover, but from the nickname it would seem that he probably meant the head and neck of the bird - in heraldic parlance, an eagle’s head couped. The first of this clan to settle in Karabagh was the Black Centurion, Sev Apov, so called on account of his swarthy complexion, which was inherited by several of his descendants; not, however, by the one who came to India, for he was a little fair man with brown hair and grey eyes - and of an unparalleled obstinacy!]

That morning (being Thursday) the author carried this writing, and would have given it to Mr. Bale, his friend, to present it, but his countenance was not so kind as before, it appeared full of jealousy; and, with a sinking voice, he told him very coolly, He had nothing to do with it; and then turned his back. Emin, like a faithful dog, following him, said, "Sir, you need not be uneasy in your mind, I am not a person to be suspected, or to undermine any soul in the house. When his lordship last night kindly offered me leave to stay, I thanked him saying, I wished to live and die in the field like a man. Then Mr. Bale, with some indifference, said, "Very well, give it to the porter Jones. " The letter was opened, that Mr. Bale might read it first: the jolly door-keeper lighted a candle, put his own seal upon it, and promised cheerfully to deliver it into his lordship’s own hands.

The author went home, reflecting on the cross reception of Mr. Bale; but comforted his wounded heart with the following sacred verse: "O! put not your trust in princes, nor in any child of man, for there is no help in them; for when the breath of man goeth forth he shall turn again to his earth, and then all his thoughts perish. " He resolved to struggle no more, packed up his things, and, on Monday morning, sent the servant-maid of the house for the porter and waterman. When they came up stairs to him, bargaining for the fare, one to take his things to the water-side, the other to row him on board the ship which lay somewhere down the river, who should come up just at the time but his honest friend old Gilman, the washerwoman’s husband, stamping and roaring, and saying to him, "My dear boy, I called at Northumberland-house to take your countryman’s linen to wash; Mrs. Smithson the housekeeper asked me, What was become of the little Armenian that my wife washed for? I told her I carried his linen home last Saturday evening, when he made me a present of half-a-crown, besides what was due; that when we took leave of one another, he said, Pray for me, I am going on board for Bengal; it will either be to-morrow, or Monday morning. And I told her, he must be gone by that time. Mrs. Smithson said, My Lord has been enquiring, ever since last Thursday, of all the servants of the house, to know where he lodged. I told her, every one of them knew it; and that I had, with my own eyes, seen his countryman, the Armenian groom, almost every day with him in his lodgings; why did not he shew the way? My dear boy, that illnatured fellow was standing by when these words passed. Mrs. Smithson said to him, O fy, fy upon you, Asataim! what do you think his lordship will say to that? The good woman gave me a shilling, and two glasses of wine; and desired me to run as fast as I could, to see if you were not gone away; and to tell you, that the great duke of Somerset wanted you. I have more to tell - that I have given a good character of you; told her that you were an honest boy; and remember that we, the brave people of Ireland, are more true to our friends, and have better hearts than your own countrymen. "

Emin thanked the old man, made him some amends, gave a shilling to each of the men (the porter and waterman); dressed himself, and set out immediately to know his Grace’s pleasure. When he entered the house, honest Jones wished him joy; abusing the groom for keeping his lordship in suspense, which made the whole family uneasy for four days together. The second servant he met was his former friend Mr. Bale, my lord’s gentleman, who, with an outward appearance of good-nature, conducted him into the drawing-room, brought a dish of chocolate with his own hands, and said, "His lordship is busy, rest yourself a little, he will be here presently. " In about five minutes, Emin’s princely protector entered, and received him in his mighty arms, as he hopes his lordship is now received in the bosom of Christ. After blaming him in a kind fatherly manner for not leaving his direction, he said, "His Royal Highness the Duke of Cumberland has seen your memorial, and much approved the spirit of it, saying, the actions of the author will be equal to his writing: henceforward Emin belongs to your lordship, and shall be entirely protected by me. His Royal Highness also promised at court, to send you to the Royal Academy at Woolwich. Now, my dear Emin, you shall not want any thing, His Royal Highness expressed himself sanguinely in your favour before a great many noblemen, and I am sure he will do every thing to forward your good designs; yet you are my own. "

While his noble patron was comforting his new-found son, whom he had given up for lost, twenty messages on cards were brought with compliments, desiring of his lordship to see Emin. His lordship said to him, "Look at these cards, and visit those who sent them, paying your respects one after another. I have this to add, that your letter has been copied by 300 different gentlemen, ever since last Thursday. " His lordship made him accept five guineas whether he would or no; inviting him to his table at all times. He consented to the first favour, and refused the second offer, for which, he said, he was not yet worthy, till a proper time; when his good behaviour should help him to be known better, he would then merit that great honour his lordship generously conferred upon him; and said, "It is not long since I was but a common servant; with what assurance can I take the liberty to sit at the earl of Northumberland’s table? what would the world say of me? or how could I digest my meat without deserving it?" His lordship was very well satisfied with these words; Emin taking leave, went out to his lodging where he related the whole to his friends.

He was introduced for a whole fortnight, from the next day, to a great many gentlemen and ladies. Both the Mr. Burkes were more glad of his success than many envious men were sorry. Among his new friends, were the late Mr. Charles Stanhope my Lord Harrington’s brother; Doctor Mounsey, of Chelsea-hospital; the late Miss Talbot, Lady Anson, Lady Sophia Egerton, the Bishop of Bangor’s wife, the Earls of Pembroke and Bolingbroke, with their countesses; a little after, the Dukes and Duchesses of Richmond and Marlborough, the celebrated Mrs. Montague, the late Earl of Bath, the Earl of Orford, and the late Lord Cathcart; every one of them was kind and very glad at all times to favour him with their countenance; besides many others, who would fill up two pages if he were to name them all.

When his Royal Highness commanded him to go to Woolwich, to be instructed there at the Royal Academy, under several masters, in the arts of gunnery and fortification, he boarded at one Mr. Heaton’s for thirty pounds a year, with a blue uniform and a guinea per month for pocket-money; to be paid by the late adjutant general Napier, at the expence of his royal protector.

EMIN’S NEW FRIENDS.

Mr. Charles Stanhope. John Stanhope, son of John Stanhope of Elvaston had 3 sons, 1. Thomas, who succeeded at Elvaston, M. P. for Derby, who died in 1730. 2. CHARLES, Secretary of the Treasury and treasurer of the Chamber, temp. George I. 3. William, 1st Earl of Harrington, a distinguished soldier and statesman during the reigns of the two first Georges, President of the Council and Earl of Harrington in 1742, later Viceroy of Ireland. Married Anne, daughter and heiress of Col. Edward Griffith, by whom he had twins. His son William, 2nd Earl, succeeded to the estates of his uncle Charles Stanhope, who died unmarried in 1760.

Dr. Monsey of Chelsea Hospital. Dr. Messenger Monsey was the son of a clergyman, born 1698. He became physician to the Earl of Godolphin, and later physician to Chelsea Hospital. He was most eccentric, and, if his portrait at the Soane Museum was like him, hideous in appearance; but he had a coarse, rough and tumble wit, and evidently was so droll in manner, that he became a sort of pet buffoon of the Montagu and Lyttelton circle . . . . . He was at this time a widower with one daughter, Charlotte, whose husband, William Alexander, was elder brother to the 1st Earl Caledon. Mrs. Alexander had one child, a daughter, Jemima, who married the Rev. Edmund Rolfe and was mother eventually of the 1st Baron Cranworth. . . . Dr. Monsey begged Dr. Cruickshank, in case of his dying away from his own doctor (Dr. Forster), to dissect his body before the students, set up his skeleton for instruction, and put his flesh in a box and throw it into the Thames. - Letters of Elizabeth Montagu (Climenson), vol. ii, p. 98.

Catherine Talbot, only daughter of Edward Talbot, who died in 1780, second son of Dr. William Talbot, Bishop of Durham, and brother of Lord Talbot; her mother was daughter to the Rev. G. Martyn, Prebend of Lincoln. Dr. Secker (Archbishop of Canterbury) owed his first preferments to Mr. Talbot’s recommendation to his father, the Bishop of Durham. Dr. Secker never forgot these obligations, and after his marriage to Miss Benson in 1725 took Mrs. and Miss Talbot to live with him, which they did until his death. He left them an easy income for their joint lives. Miss Talbot was intimate with all the "bas bleu" society, Mrs. Montagu, Mrs. Carter, Lords Lyttelton and Bath, and was a very highly educated person and much esteemed by all who knew her - she died in 1770, aged 49. Her mother survived her until 1783, when she died at the age of 92. - Communicated by Mrs. Climenson.

Lady Anson. Elizabeth (b. 1748) eldest daughter of Philip Yorke, 1st Earl of Hardwicke (1690-1764, - Lord Chancellor 1736, Viscount and Earl I754), and sister to Sir Joseph Yorke. Married George, Baron Anson, Admiral of the Fleet and first Lord of the Admiralty. Lady Anson died in 1760, and Lord Anson in 1762. Emin refers to Lady Anson’s kindness in the most grateful way, in many of his letters.

Lady Anne Sophia Egerton, daughter of Henry de Grey, Duke of Kent, wife of the Bishop of Bangor, and niece to Charles John Bentinck, son of Hans William, 1st Hart of Portland.

Henry, 10th Earl of Pembroke, b. 1734. d. 1794. Married Elizabeth, daughter of the Duke of Marlborough. Colonel of 1st Regiment of Dragoons.

Bolingbroke, 3rd Viscount St. John, 2nd Viscount Bolingbroke, born 1734, succeeded in 1751 to the honours of his uncle, Henry, 1st and attainted Viscount Bolingbroke. Married in Sept. 1757 and divorced in 1768 Diana Spencer, eldest daughter of the Duke of Marlborough, "in such a hurry they could not wait for settlements, but were married upon an Article. " - Letters of Elizabeth Montagu (Climenson), vol. ii, p. 116.

Charles, 3rd Duke of Richmond and Lennox, K. G. (I734-1806). In 1765 Ambassador extraordinary to the Court of France, in 1766 principal Secretary of State.

Hugh Smithson, Sir, 1st Duke and 2nd Earl of Northumberland (1714-1786). Married Baroness Percy, only surviving child of the 7th Duke of Somerset, who in 1749 was created Earl of Northumberland with special remainder to his son-in-law, Sir Hugh Smithson. The Duke was succeeded in his dukedom by his heir male, in the barony of Percy by his daughter, and in the earldom of Northumberland by her husband, who was created Duke of Northumberland and Earl Percy in 1766.

George, 3rd Earl of Orford and 2nd Lord Walpole (1730-1791). Lord of the Bedchamber and Ranger of St. James’ and Hyde Parks.

Cathcart, Charles Schaw, 9th Baron (1721-1776). Married in 1753 Jane, daughter of Lord Archibald Hamilton. A. D. C. to the Duke of Cumberland, wounded at Fontenoy.

Lyttelton, Sir George, 5th Bart. and 1st Lord Lyttelton, born 1706. Secretary to Prince of Wales 1737, one of the Commissioners to the Treasury 1744, cofferer to the Household and Privy Councillor 1754, Chancellor and under-treasurer of the Exchequer, elevated to the peerage 1756 by the title of Lord Lyttelton. His son Thomas, 2nd Lord Lyttelton, married in 1772 Apphia, second daughter of Broome Wilts, of Chipping Norton, and relict of Joseph Peach, governor of Calcutta.

George Lord Lyttelton wrote "Observations on Cicero, " a "Monody" on the death of his first wife, a "Dissertation on St. Paul, " a "History of Henry II. " Although Emin does not mention Lord Lyttelton in his book, he seems to have been on very friendly terms with him, no doubt through Mrs. Montagu’s influence. Dr. Monsey, Lord Lyttelton, and later, Lord Bath, were amongst Mrs. Montagu’s most devoted admirers, and all three very friendly with Emin.

Dr. Monsey on Sept. 26, 1760, wrote a letter to Lord Lyttelton describing his visit to Tunbridge to see Mrs. Montagu, saying "It may be new to your Lordship tho’ not strange, that the Earl of Bath is fall’n desperately in love with one who seems not insensible of his passion, and I think ‘tis time for you and I to look about us, for an Earl is better than a Baron or a quack Doctor . . . . . it is impossible to tell your Lordship with what warmth he talk’d to me about her, and so now there are 3 fools of us! - Letters of Elizabeth Montagu.

William Pulteney, 1st Earl of Bath, b. 1684, d. 1764.

 

[LETTER WRITTEN BY EMIN. ]

(Copy of letter to some one unknown, perhaps to Mr. Pitt. )

Sir

My Education was too rough to give me hope I please a Gentleman of Judgement in writing; nor is it my Study to write, but to do something. You give me great Honour to desire seeing poor performance, & unfortunate Story; but this encouragement I receive, gives blood to my Veins; so I do not despair that I may do something at last in Country, that is so low to want to be served by such little Skill as mine; which is now nothing, but what it can be made by the Nobleness of my great Lord Northumberland & Consideration of yours. This thought pays me the labour I already had, & all besides that I shall suffer in time to come in carrying my Designs: I was born S r at Hamadan in Persia, which is one of the Places, where my unfortunate Nation lies in Captivity since Shaw Abbas. My Father taught me, like other Armenians only to write and read our own Language, & to get Psalms be heart, to sing them in the Church, but he did not shew me to handle Arms to fight for that Church, as my Uncle, who was killed at his Church Door, nor any thing to kindle up my Heart to understand great Affairs. He was for good while himself in the Army of Kooly Kan, but after his House was ruined at Hamadan, I travelled to Ghillan, from Ghillan went to Ispahan, from Ispahan to Bassorra & from thence to Calcutta into Bengall, where my Father was Merchant, & had his thoughts to make me the same; but I saw plain, that our People, when they consume their flesh to grow rich, and have made a little money, they are robbed for foolish invented pretence sometimes by Bashaw, sometimes by the Cawns, & sometimes by Nabab; because they have not Sowrd in their own Hands; so they labour in vain, but I saw that People of Europe were wise, & strong in themselves; fighting as one man, & I thought, if I can be like European Soldiers, I will go to my Countrymen the black Armenians in the Mountains; for I heard they were never conquered, & that they were brave bold men; and if I can teach them art of War, it will be great use; for the Soldiers of Turk and Persian are brave on Horse back, but they are not worthy to be called an Army, & the Towns not fortified artfully as I understand in Europe. I spoke my thoughts to my Father, when I saw the Soldiers & the Ships of the Company; but he turned his Countenance from me and abused me; I coud not bear to live so; I ran away, & worked my Passage from Bengall to London; whilst my Money lasted, I was at M r Middletons Academy to learn the English Language, and writing; afterwards I was obliged, to quit my learning to work for my Bread; I suffered much Hardships in a strange Country without Friends or Money; but I will not trouble your goodness with my Misfortune. I was Porter to Mr. Roberts Grocer in the City. h ere I carried heavy Burthens for two Years, and with my Wages paid to learn some Geometry, and to perfect myself in Writing, and to begin French; but my labour was above my Strength; I began to fail, because I was striving without Hopes. I lost my Health, & was at last obliged to quit that Service. A friend recommended me to an Attorney one Webster; here I eat & drank, but I had no peace, because no person looked upon me to give me light in my Design. I fear that I am troublesome Sir, but you are very good; at last, I got some Friends who advised me to apply to Col. Dingley; this brave Gentleman was very kind to me, but he died very soon after he knew me. I was then in my old distress, and almost bended my Neck to my Relations to return to miserable Blindness, and Slavery again in India; when Providence sent me to my Lord Northumberland, who lifted me from the Ground. You Sir, have done me great Honour likewise; you have both put a Seal upon my Heart, & it is Your own always. I am very greatfull Sir

Your most obedient & obliged

humble Servant

JOSEPH AMEEN.