t, as much wit and civility, nay
liberty, as among us. 'Tis true, the same customs that give them so
many opportunities of gratifying their evil inclinations (if they
have any), also put it very fully in the power of their husbands to
revenge themselves, if they are discovered; and I do not doubt, but
they suffer sometimes for their indiscretions in a very severe
manner. About two months ago, there was found at day break, not very
far from my house, the bleeding body of a young woman, naked, only
wrapped in a course sheet, with two wounds of a knife, one in her
side, and another in her breast. She was not quite cold, and was so
surprisingly beautiful, that there were very few men in Pera, that
did not go to look upon her; but it was not possible for any body to
know her, no woman's face being known. She was supposed to have been
brought, in the dead of the night, from the Constantinople side, and
laid there. Very little inquiry was made about the murderer, and the
corpse was privately buried without noise. Murder is never pursued
by the king's officers, as with us. 'Tis the business of the next
relations to revenge the dead person; and if they like better to
compound the matter for money (as they generally do) there is no more
said of it. One would imagine this defect in their government should
make such tragedies very frequent, yet they are extremely rare; which
is enough to prove the people are not naturally cruel. Neither do I
think, in many other particulars, they deserve the barbarous
character we give them. I am well acquainted with a Christian woman
of quality, who made it her choice to live with a Turkish husband,
and is a very agreeable sensible lady. Her story is so
extraordinary, I cannot forbear relating it; but I promise you, it
shall be in as few words as I can possibly express it.

SHE is a Spaniard, and was at Naples with her family, When that
kingdom was part of the Spanish dominion. Coming from thence in a
felucca, accompanied by her brother, they were attacked by the
Turkish admiral, boarded and taken.--And now how shall I modestly
tell you the rest of her adventure? The same accident happened to
her, that happened to the fair Lucretia so many years before her.
But she was too good a Christian to kill herself, as that heathenish
Roman did. The admiral was so much charmed with the beauty and
long-suffering of the fair captive, that, as his first compliment, he
gave immediate liberty to h