ave not; but I
dare swear the greatest part of them never saw them; but took the
report from the Greeks, who resist, with incredible fortitude, the
conviction of their own eyes, whenever they have invented lies to the
dishonour of their enemies. Were you to believe them, there is
nothing worth seeing in Constantinople, but Sancta Sophia, though
there are several large, and, in my opinion, more beautiful mosques
in that city. That of sultan Achmet has this particularity, that its
gates are of brass. In all these mosques there are little chapels,
where are the tombs of the founders and their families, with wax
candles burning before them.

THE Exchanges are all noble buildings, full of fine alleys, the
greatest part supported with pillars, and kept wonderfully neat.
Every trade has its distinct alley, where the merchandize is disposed
in the same order as in the New Exchange at London. The _besisten_,
or jeweller's quarter, shews so much riches, such a vast quantity of
diamonds, and all kinds of precious stones, that they dazzle the
sight. The embroiderer's is also very glittering, and people walk
here as much for diversion as business. The markets are most of them
handsome squares, and admirably well provided, perhaps better than in
any other part of the world.

I KNOW, you'll expect I should say something particular of the
slaves; and you will imagine me half a Turk, when I don't speak of it
with the same horror other Christians have done before me. But I
cannot forbear applauding the humanity of the Turks to these
creatures; they are never ill used, and their slavery is, in my
opinion, no worse than servitude all over the world. 'Tis true, they
have no wages; but they give them yearly clothes to a higher value
than our salaries to our ordinary servants. But you'll object, that
men buy women _with an eye to evil_. In my opinion, they are bought
and sold as publicly, and as infamously, in all our Christian great
cities.

I MUST add to the description of Constantinople, that the _historical_
pillar is no more. It dropped down about two years before I came to
this part of the world. I have seen no other footsteps of antiquity,
except the aqueducts, which are so vast, that I am apt to believe
they are yet more ancient than the Greek empire. The Turks indeed
have clapped in some stones with Turkish inscriptions, to give their
natives the honour of so great a work; but the deceit is easily
discovered.--The o