the several denominations of Christians in this state is stated as follows:-Baptists fifty-seven; Friends eighteen; Congregationalists eleven; Episcopalians five; Moravians one; Jews one. The legislature is composed of a council of twelve, including the governor and lieutenant-governor, all chosen annually, and a house of representatives, consisting of seventy-two members, chosen twice a year; viz. on the third Wednesday in April, and on the fourth Tuesday in August. Judges and other civil officers are appointed yearly. The legislature meets at Newport twice a year, at Providence once, and once a year alternately at East Greenwich and South Kingston. This state sends two representatives to congress.

The rivers are Pawtucket, Providence, Pawtuxet, Pawcatuck, and Wood River. Narraganset Bay extends up from south to north between the mainland on the east and west, and embosoms many pleasant and fertile islands; among which are Rhode Island, from which the state derives its name, Canonicut, Prudence, Patience, Hope, Dyer's and Hog Islands. Block Island, off the coast in the Atlantic, is the most southerly land belonging to the state.

The face of the country is mostly level, except in the north-west part, which is hilly and rocky. The soil is generally better adapted to grazing than tillage. A large proportion of the western and north-western part of the state has a thin and lean soil; but the islands and the country bordering on Narraganset Bay are of great fertility, and are celebrated for their fine cattle, their numerous flocks of sheep, and the abundance and excellence of their butter and cheese; cedar, rye, barley, oats, grasses, and culinary roots and plants are in great abundance and perfection. The rivers and bays swarm with a variety of excellent fish. Iron ore is found in large quantities in several parts, and some copper; there is also an abundance of limestone, particularly in the county of Providence.

The manufactures of Rhode Island are extensive. They consist chiefly of iron, cotton, woollen, paper, and hats. The exports consist chiefly of flax-seed, lumber, horses, cattle, beef, pork, fish, poultry, onions, butter, cheese, barley, grain, spirits, and cotton and linen goods. They amounted, in 1816, to 612,794 dollars. The climate of this state is as healthy as that of any part of America; and it is more temperate than the climate of any of the other New England states, particularly on the islands, where the breezes from the sea have the effect not only to mitigate the heat in summer, but to moderate the cold in winter. The summers are delightful, especially on the island of Rhode Island.

RHODE ISLAND, Indian name Aquedneck Island, from which the state takes its name, situated in Narraganset Bay. Long. 71° 20′ W., lat. 41° 25′ N. It is about fifteen miles from north to south, and three and a half wide, and is divided into three townships, Newport, Portsmouth, and Middletown. It is a noted resort for invalids from southern climates. The island is exceedingly pleasant and healthful. Travellers, with propriety, call it the Eden of America. It suffered much by the revolutionary war. VOL. XVIII.

Some of its most ornamental country seats were destroyed; and their fine groves, orchards, and fruit trees, wantonly cut down. The soil is of a superior quality. Between 30,000 and 40,000 sheep are fed on the island, besides neat cattle and horses. There is a valuable coal mine on the north-west part of the island.

RHODES, a celebrated island in the Archipelago, the largest and most easterly of the Cyclades, was known in ancient times by the names of Asteria, Ophiusa, Æthrea, Trinacria, Corymbia, Poessa, Attabyria, Marcia, Oloessa, Stadia, Telchinis, Pelagia, and Rhodus. In latter ages, the name of Rhodus, or Rhodes, prevailed, from the Greek word rhodon, a rose the island abounding very much with these flowers. It is about twenty miles distant from the coasts of Lycia and Caria, and 120 miles in compass.

Pliny and several other ancient authors assert that Rhodes was formerly covered by the sea, but gradually raised its head above the waves, and became an island. Philo ascribes this event to the decrease of the waters of the ocean. If his conjecture be not without foundation, most of the isles of the Archipelago, being lower than Rhodes, must have had a similar origin. But it is much more probable that the volcanic fires which in the fourth year of the 135th Olympiad raised Therasia and Thera, known at present by the name of Santorin, from the depths of the sea, and have in our days thrown out several small islands adjacent, also produced in some ancient era Rhodes and Delos. The first inhabitants of Rhodes, according to Diodorus Siculus, were called the Telchinæ, who came originally from the island of Crete. These, by their skill in astrology, perceiving that the island was soon to be deluged, left their habitations, and made room for the Heliades, or descendants of Phoebus, who took possession of the island, and excelled all other men in learning, invented navigation, &c. In after ages, however, being infested with great serpents which bred in the island, they consulted the oracle in Delos, which advised them to admit Phorbus, a Thessalian, with his followers into Rhodes. This was done, and Phorbus, having destroyed the serpents, was, after his death, honored as a demigod. Afterwards a colony of Cretans settled in the island, and, a little before the Trojan war, Tlepolemus the son of Hercules was made king of it, and governed with great justice. After the Trojan war all the ancient inhabitants were driven out by the Dorians, who continued to be masters of the island for many ages.

A little before the expedition of Xerxes into Greece a republican form of government prevailed here; during which the Rhodians applied themselves to navigation, and became very powerful by sea, planting several colonies in distant countries. In the time of the Peloponnesian war the republic of Rhodes was rent into two factions, one of which favored the Athenians, and the other the Spartans; but at length, the latter prevailing, democracy was abolished, and aristocracy introduced. About 351 B. C. we find the Rhodians oppressed by Mausolus king of Caria, and at last reduced by Artemisia his widow. In 2 P

this emergency they applied to the Athenians; by whose assistance they regained their liberty. From the period above-mentioned to that of Alexander the Great the Rhodians enjoyed uninterrupted tranquillity. To him they voluntarily submitted; and were on that account highly favored by him: but no sooner did they hear of his death than they drove out the Macedonian garrisons, and once more became a free people. About this time happened a dreadful inundation at Rhodes; which, being accompanied with violent storms of rain, and hailstones of an extraordinary size, beat down many houses, and killed numbers of the inhabitants. As the city was built in the form of an amphitheatre, and no care had been taken to clear the pipes and conduits which conveyed the water into the sea, the lower parts were instantly laid under water. Many of the inhabitants fled to their ships. But the wall on a sudden bursting, we are told, asunder, and the water discharging itself into the sea, they were delivered from all farther danger. The Rhodians soon retrieved their losses by trade.

During the wars among the successors of Alexander, they observed a strict neutrality; whereby they enriched themselves so much that Rhodes became one of the most opulent states of the age; insomuch that they undertook the piratic war, and, at their own charge, cleared the seas of the pirates who had for many years infested the coasts of Europe and Asia. But, as the most advantageous branches of their commerce were derived from Egypt, they were more attached to Ptolemy, than to any of the neighbouring princes. When therefore Antigonus, having engaged in a war with Ptolemy about Cyprus, demanded succors of them, they intreated him not to compel them to declare war against their ancient ally. Antigonus immediately ordered one of his admirals to sail with his fleet to Rhodes, and seize all the ships that came out of the harbour; but the Rhodians, equipping a number of galleys, fell upon the enemy, and obliged them to retire with great loss. Hereupon Antigonus threatened to besiege their city with his whole army; and the only terms of accommodation to which he would hearken were, that the Rhodians should declare war against Ptolemy, and admit his fleet into their harbour. The Rhodians now sent ambassadors to all their allies, and to Ptolemy in particular, imploring their assistance; and the preparations on both sides were immense. Antigonus, being near eighty years of age, committed the management of the war to his son Demetrius, surnamed Poliorcetes, or the taker of towns, who appeared before Rhodes with 200 ships and 170 transports, having on board 40,000 men, and 1000 other vessels laden with provisions and warlike engines; so that the whole sea between the continent and the island was covered with vessels.

Having landed his troops beyond the reach of the enemy's machines, Demetrius detached several small bodies to lay waste the country, employing the timber to fortify his camp with strong ramparts. The Rhodians, on their part, prepared for a vigorous defence. Many commanders, who had signalised themselves on other occasions, came to Rhodes to try their skill against Deme

trius. The besieged taking an account of those who who were capable of bearing arms, found that the citizens amounted to 6000, and the foreigners to 1000. Liberty was promised to all the slaves who should distinguish themselves by any glorious action, and the public engaged to pay the masters their ransom. A proclamation was likewise made, declaring, that whoever died in defence of his country should be buried at the public expense; that his parents and children should be maintained out of the treasury; that fortunes should be given to his daughters; and his sons should be crowned at the great festival of Bacchus. Demetrius, having planted his engines, began to batter with incredible fury the walls on the side of the harbour; but was for eight days successively repulsed, and the besieged set fire to some of the most powerful of his engines. He now, therefore, ordered a general assault to be made; but this also was repulsed with great slaughter. In a similar assault, next day, he was again forced to retire, after having lost a great number of men, and some officers. Having seized and fortified an eminence, near the city, Demetrius caused several batteries to be erected, which incessantly discharged against the walls stones of 150 lbs. weight; so that the towers began to totter, and several breaches were opened: but the Rhodians, unexpectedly sallying out, drove the enemy from this post, and overturned their machines. Their enterprising foe now ordered a scalade by sea and land at the same time; the attack was commenced with great fury; but the besieged defended themselves with the greatest intrepidity and success. After the combat had lasted many hours, with great slaughter on both sides, Demetrius retired: but soon returned with new vigor to attack the fortifications which defended the harbour. Here he caused a vast quantity of burning torches and firebrands to be thrown into the Rhodían ships; and at the same time galled them with showers of darts, arrows, and stones. However, the Rhodians put a stop to the fire; and having, with great expedition, manned three strong ships, drove with such violence against the vessels on which the enemy's machines were planted that they were shattered in pieces, and thrown into the sea. Excestus, the Rhodian admiral, encouraged by this success, now attacked the enemy's fleet, and sunk many vessels, but was himself taken prisoner. Demetrius on this ordered a machine of a new invention to be buil., which was thrice the height and breadth of those he had lost. But as it was entering the harbour, a dreadful storm arising, drove it against the shore, with the vessel on which it had been reared. The besieged, while the tempest was still raging, made a sally against the post of the Demetrians; and, though repulsed several times, carried it, obliging 400 of them to lay down their arms.

After this victory Demetrius framed the famous engine called helepolis, much larger than any military engine hitherto invented. See IIELEPOLIS. It was moved upon eight strong and large wheels, whose fellies were strengthened with strong iron plates. To facilitate and vary its movements, castors were placed under it, whereby it was turned in an instant to that side

which the workmen and engineers desired. From each of the four angles a large pillar of wood was carried to about the height of 100 cubits, inclining to each other; the machine consisting of nine stories, whose dimensions gradually lessened. The first story was supported by forty. three beams, and the last by no more than nine. Three sides of the machine were plated over with iron, to prevent its being damaged by fire. In the front of each story were windows defended with shutters covered with skins stuffed with wool. This machine was moved forwards by 3000 of the strongest men of the whole army; but the art with which it was built greatly facilitated the motion. Demetrius caused likewise to be made several testudoes or penthouses, to cover his men while they advanced to fill up the trenches and ditches, and invented a new sort of galleries, through which those that were employed at the siege might pass and repass. He employed all his seamen in levelling the ground over which the machines were to be brought up, to the space of four furlongs. The number of workmen employed amounted to 30,000.

The Rhodians, observing these formidable preparations, raised a new wall within that which the enemy intended to batter. To accomplish this, they pulled down the wall of their theatre, the neighbouring houses, and even some temples, after having solemnly vowed to build more magnificent structures in honor of the gods, if the city were preserved. At the same time they sent out nine of their best ships to seize such of the enemy's as they could meet with, and thereby distress them for want of provisions. As these were commanded by their bravest sea-officers, they soon returned with an immense ooty, and many prisoners. Among other vessels, they took a galley richly laden, on board of which they found a great variety of valuable furniture, and a royal robe, which Phila herself had wrought and sent as a present to her husband Demetrius. The Rhodians sent the furniture, the royal robe, and the accompanying letter, to Ptolemy, which highly exasperated Demetrius. The statues of Antigonus and his son Demetrius, however, were still allowed to remain in the city. Mining and countermining were now tried: and one Athenagoras, a Milesian, who had been sent to the assistance of the Rhodians by Ptolemy, promised to betray the city to the Demetrians. But this was only to ensnare them; for Alexander, a Macedonian whom Demetrius had sent with a body of troops to take possession of a post agreed on, no sooner appeared but he was taken prisoner by the Rhodians, who were waiting for him under arms. Athenagoras was crowned by the senate with a crown of gold, and presented with five talents of silver. Demetrius now placed all his hopes of reducing the city on his battering engines. Having therefore levelled the ground, he brought up his helepolis, with four testudoes on each side. Two others of an extraordinary size, bearing battering rams, were likewise moved forwards by 1000 men. Each story of the helepolis was filled with engines for discharging stones, arrows, and darts. When all things were ready his men assaulted the city on all sides. But, in the heat of the attack, am

bassadors arrived from Cnidus, soliciting Demetrius to suspend further hostilities, and giving him hopes that they should prevail upon the Rhodians to submit to a capitulation. A mo mentary suspension of arms took place; but, the Rhodians refusing the conditions offered, the attack was renewed. At this crisis a fleet which Ptolemy had freighted with 300,000 measures of corn and pulse arrived very seasonably. A few days after came in safe two other fleets: one sent by Cassander, with 100,000 bushels of barley; the other by Lysimachus, with 400,000 bushels of corn, and as many of barley. The Rhodian troops now suddenly sallied out, and set fire to the enemy's batteries; built a third wall in the form of a crescent, which took in all that part that was most exposed to the enemy; and drew a deep trench behind the breach. They also detached a squadron of their best ships under Amyntas, who, meeting with some privateers commissioned by Demetrius, took both the ships and the men, among whom were Timocles, the chief of the pirates, and several officers of distinction of the fleet of Demetrius. These were soon followed by a numerous fleet of small vessels loaded with corn and provisions, sent them by Ptolemy, with 1500 men, under Antigonus, a Macedonian of great experience. While the Rhodians were thus signalizing themselves in the defence of their country, a second embassy arrived from Athens and the other cities of Greece, soliciting Demetrius to make a peace. A cessation of arms was agreed upon, but, the terms offered by Demetrius being once more rejected by the Rhodians, hostilities were renewed; and Demetrius formed a detachment of 1500 of his best troops, under Alcimus and Mancius, two officers of experience, ordering them to enter the breach at midnight, and possess themselves of the strong posts about the theatre. To facilitate the execution of so dangerous an undertaking, he amused the enemy with false attacks by sea and land. Accordingly the detachment entered the breach, and fell upon those who defended the ditch with such vigor that, having slain the most part of them, they advanced to the theatre, and seized on the post adjoining. The darkness of the night prevented the Rhodians from dislodging the enemy. Next day they fought like men in despair, the enemy defending their post several hours without giving ground. At length the Rhodians, breaking into the enemy's battalion, and killing both their commanders, the rest were easily put into disorder, and all to a man either killed or taken prisoners. The Rhodians also lost many of their best commanders; and among the rest Damotetis, their chief magistrate. Demetrius was making preparations for a new assault, when he received letters from his father, enjoining him to conclude a peace with the Rhodians upon the best terms he could obtain : at the same time ambassadors arrived from the Etolian republic, soliciting the contending parties to put an end to the war. Demetrius, how ever, was preparing once more to bring forward his helepolis, when a Rhodian engineer rendered it altogether useless. He undermined the tract of ground over which it was to pass; and when it came to the place it sunk so deeply into the

ground that it was impossible to draw it out again. This misfortune decided the enemy to make peace on the following conditions:That the republic of Rhodes should be maintained in the full enjoyment of their ancient rights, privileges, aud liberties, without any foreign garrison; that they should renew their alliance with Antigonus, and assist him in his wars against all states and princes except Egypt; and that, for the effectual performance of the articles stipulated, they should deliver 100 hostages, such as Demetrius should make choice of. Thus was the siege raised, after it had continued a whole year: the Rhodians amply rewarded all those who had distinguished themselves in the service of their country. They also set up statues to Ptolemy, Cassander, and Lysimachus; to all of whom they paid the highest honors, especially to the first. Demetrius at his departure presented them with the helepolis, and all the other machines which he had employed in battering the city from the sale of which, with some additional sums of their own, they are said to have erected the famous colossus

The Rhodians after this applied themselves entirely to commerce, by which means they became masters of the sea, and much more opulent than any of the neighbouring nations. However, they could not avoid a war with the Byzantines, who, being obliged to pay a tribute of eighty talents to the Gauls, resolved to lay a toll on all ships that traded to the Pontic Sea. This resolution provoked the Rhodians, who first despatched ambassadors to the Byzantines, complaining of the new tax; but they persisted in their resolution: and the Rhodians declared war, engaging the king of Pergamus to assist them: the Byzantines were now so intimidated that they agreed to relinquish the toll. About this time happened the earthquake, which threw down the colossus, arsenal, and a great part of the city walls of Rhodes; on which occasion the Rhodians sent ambassadors to all the Grecian princes and states, to whom their losses were so much exaggerated, that they obtained immense sums of money. B. C. 203 the Rhodians engaged in a war with Philip V. of Macedon.

Philip had invaded the territories of Attalus king of Pergamus; and, because the Rhodians seemed to favor their ancient friend, sent Heraclides, by birth a Tarentine, to set fire to their fleet; at the same he despatched ambassadors into Crete, in order to stir up the Cretans against them. Philip at first gained an inconsiderable advantage in a naval engagement; but the next year was defeated with the loss of 11,000 men, while the Rhodians lost but sixty men, and Attalus seventy. After this he carefully avoided coming to an engagement at sea either with Attalus or the Rhodians. The combined fleet, in the mean time, sailed towards Ægina in hopes of intercepting him: but, having failed in their purpose, they sailed to Athens, where they concluded a treaty with that people; and, on their return, drew all the Cyclades into a confederacy against Philip. The allies, however, wasted their time in these negociations; and Philip, having divided his forces into two bodies, sent one, under the command of Philocles, to ravage

the Athenian territories; and, putting the other aboard his fleet, gave it orders to sail to Meronea, a city in the north of Thrace. He then marched towards that city himself, took it by assault, and reduced a great many others; so that the confederates would, in all probability, have had little reason to boast of their success, had not the Romans come to their assistance. In the war between the Romans and Antiochus the Great king of Syria, the Rhodians were very useful allies to the former. The best part of their fleet was indeed destroyed by a treacherous contrivance of Polyxeniades the Syrian admiral; but they soon fitted out another, and defeated a squadron commanded by the celebrated Hannibal, after which, in conjunction with the Romans, they utterly destroyed the Syrian fleet commanded by Polyxeniades; which, together with the loss of the battle of Magnesia, so dispirited Antiochus, that he submitted to whatever conditions the Romans pleased. For these services the Rhodians were rewarded with the provinces of Lycia and Caria; but, tyrannizing over the people in a terrible manner, the Lycians applied to the senate for protection. This was readily granted; but the Rhodians were so much displeased that they secretly favored Perseus in the war which broke out between him and the Roman republic. For this offence the two provinces above-mentioned were resumed; but the Rhodians, having banished or put to death those who had favored Perseus, were again admitted into favor, and greatly honored by the senate. In the Mithridatic war their alliance with Rome brought upon them the king of Pontus with all his force; but, having lost the greatest part of his fleet before the city, he was obliged to raise the siege. In the war which Pompey made on the Cilician pirates the Rhodians assisted him with their naval force, and had a great share in his victories. In the civil war between Cæsar and Pompey they also assisted the latter. After his death they sided with Cæsar; which drew upon them the resentment of C. Cassius, who advanced to Rhodes with a powerful fleet. When the Rhodians sent ambassadors, promising to stand neuter, and recal the ships which they had sent to assist the triumviri, Cassius insisted upon their delivering up their fleet, and putting him in possession of their harbour. This the Rhodians refused, and began to put themselves in a condition to stand a siege; but first sent Archelaus, who had taught Cassius Greek, to intercede with his disciple. Archelaus could not prevail upon him to moderate his demands; the Rhodians, therefore, hav ing created Alexander, a bold and enterprising man, their prætor, equipped a fleet of thirty-three sail, and sent it out under Mascus, an experienced naval officer, to offer Cassius battle. Both fleets fought with incredible bravery, and the victory was long doubtful; but the Rhodians, overpowered by numbers, were at length forced to return home, two of their ships being sunk and the rest much damaged. This was the first time that the Rhodians were fairly overcome in a naval fight. Cassius, who had beheld it from a neighbouring hill, having refitted his fleet, which had been no less damaged than that of the Rhodians, repaired to Loryma, a stronghold of

the Rhodians on the continent. This castle he took by assault; and hence conveyed his land forces, under Fannius and Lentulus, over into the island. His fleet consisted of eighty ships of war and above 200 transports. The Rhodians no sooner saw it appear, but they went out again to meet the enemy. The second engagement was far more bloody than the first; many ships were sunk, and great numbers of men killed on both sides. But victory once more declared for the Romans, who immediately blocked up the city of Rhodes both by sea and land. As the inhabitants had not had time to furnish the city with sufficient provisions for a siege, some of them fearing that, if it were taken either by assault or by famine, Cassius would put all the inhabitants to the sword, as Brutus had lately done at Xanthus, privately opened the gates, and put him in possession of the town, which he nevertheless treated as if it had been taken by assault. He commanded fifty of the chief citizens to be brought before him, and sentenced them to die; others to the number of twenty-five, who had commanded the fleet or army, because they did not appear when summoned, he proscribed, and commanded the Rhodians to deliver up to him all their ships, and whatever money they had in the public treasury. He then plundered the temples; and is said not to have left one statue in the whole city, except that of the sun; boasting, at his departure, that he had stripped the Rhodians of all they had. From private persons he extorted above 8000

talents.

On the death of Cassius, Marc Antony restored the Rhodians to their ancient rights and privileges, bestowing upon them the islands of Andros, Naxos, Tenos, and the city of Myndus. But these the Rhodians so oppressed with taxes that Antony, though a great friend to the republic, was obliged to divest her of the sovereignty. From this time to the reign of the emperor Claudius we find no mention made of the Rhodians. That prince, as Dion informs us, deprived them of their liberty for having crucified some Roman citizens. However, he soon restored them to their former condition. Tacitus adds, that they had been as often deprived of, or restored to, their liberty, by way of punishment or reward for their different behaviour, as they had obliged the Romans with their assistance in foreign wars, or provoked them with their seditions at home. Pliny, who wrote in the beginning of Vespasian's reign, styles Rhodes a beautiful and free town. But Vespasian obliged it to pay a yearly tribute, and reduced the whole island to a Roman province. The pretor who governed it resided at Rhodes, as the chief city under his jurisdiction. The island continued subject to the Romans till the reign of the emperor Andronicus; when Villaret, grand master of the knights of Jerusalem, then residing at Cyprus, finding himself much exposed to the attacks of the Saracens, resolved to exchange that island for Rhodes. Andronicus the eastern emperor possessed little more in it than a castle: nevertheless he refused to grant the investiture of the island to Villaret. The latter, therefore, without spending time in fruitless negociations, sailed directly for Rhodes,

where he landed his troops, rovisions, and warlike stores, in spite of the opposition made by the Saracens, who then united against the common enemy. As Villaret foresaw that the capital must be taken before he could reduce the island, he instantly laid siege to it. The inhab itants defended themselves obstinately; upon which the grand master thought proper to turn the siege into a blockade; but soon found himself so closely surrounded by the Greeks and Saracens that he could get no supply either of forage or provisions. But having at length obtained this by means of large sums borrowed of the Florentines, he came out of his trenches and attacked the Saracens, with a full resolution either to conquer or die. A bloody conflict ensued, in which a great number of the bravest knights were killed; but at length the Saracens gave way, and fled to their ships; upon which the city was immediately attacked and taken. The Greeks and other Christians had their lives and liberties given them, but the Saracens were all cut to pieces. The reduction of the capital was followed by that of all the other places of inferior strength throughout the island; and, in four years after their landing, the whole was subjugated, and the conquerors took the title of the Knights of Rhodes.

For many years those knights continued the terror of the Saracens and Turks, and sustained a severe siege from Mahomet II., who was compelled to abandon the enterprise; but at length the Turkish sultan Solyman resolved at all events to drive them from it. He attacked the city with a fleet of 400 sail, and an army of 140,000 men. The trenches were soon brought close to the counterscarp, and a strong battery raised against the town; which, however, did but little damage. Unfortunately for the besieged, their continual fire caused such a consumption of gunpowder that they began to feel the want of it; the perfidious d'Amarald, whose province it had been to visit the magazines, having amused the council with a false report that there was more than sufficient to maintain the siege. Solyman therefore thought it now advisable to set his numerous pioneers at work, digging of mines, and, ashamed and exasperated at his ill success, called a general council, in which he made some stinging reflections on his vizier, for having represented the reduction of Rhodes as a very easy enterprise. To avoid the effects of the sultan's resentment, Mustapha proposed a general assault on several sides of the town at once. This was in

mediately approved of, and the time appointed for the execution of it was on the 24th. Accordingly the town was assaulted at four different parts, after having suffered a continual fire for some time from their artillery. But the Rhodians were no less diligent in repulsing them with their cannor and other fire arms, melted lead, boiling oil, &c. The Turks at last, alike beset by the fire of the artillery and the arms of the Rhodian knights, were forced to abandon the attack with a considerable loss. In these attacks there fell about 15,000 of Solyman's best troops, besides several officers of distinction. Solyman was so discouraged by his ill successes that he was on the point of raising the siege, and would have ac