lves justice. He takes all pretences of throwing money among
the garrison, and suffers them to make little excursions into
Hungary, where they burn some poor Rascian houses.

You may imagine, I cannot be very easy in a town which is really
under the government of an insolent soldiery.--We expected to be
immediately dismissed, after a night's lodging here, but the bassa
detains us till he receives orders from Adrianople, which may,
possibly be a month a-coming. In the mean time, we are lodged in one
of the best houses, belonging to a very considerable man amongst
them, and have a whole chamber of janizaries to guard us. My only
diversion is the conversation of our host, Achmet Beg, a title
something like that of count in Germany. His father was a great
bassa, and he has been educated in the most polite eastern learning,
being perfectly skilled in the Arabic and Persian languages, and an
extraordinary scribe, which they call _effendi_. This accomplishment
makes way to the greatest preferments; but he has had the good sense
to prefer an easy, quiet, secure life, to all the dangerous honours
of the Porte. He sups with us every night, and drinks wine very
freely. You cannot imagine how much he is delighted with the liberty
of conversing with me. He has explained to me many pieces of Arabian
poetry, which, I observe, are in numbers not unlike ours, generally
of an alternate verse, and of a very musical sound. Their
expressions of love are very passionate and lively. I am so much
pleased with them, I really believe I should learn to read Arabic, if
I was to stay here a few months. He has a very good library of their
books of all kinds; and, as he tells me, spends the greatest part of
his life there. I pass for a great scholar with him, by relating to
him some of the Persian tales, which I find are genuine. At first he
believed I understood Persian. I have frequent disputes with him
concerning the difference of our customs, particularly the
confinement of women. He assures me, there is nothing at all in it;
only, says he, we have the advantage, that when our wives cheat us,
nobody knows it. He has wit, and is more polite than many Christian
men of quality. I am very much entertained with him.--He has had the
curiosity to make one of our servants set him an alphabet of our
letters, and can already write a good Roman hand. But these
amusements do not hinder my wishing heartily to be out of this place;
though th