nt places become vacant, they are
preferred; but it is to be observed, that they generally attain the age
of forty before they are thought capable of being entrusted with
important slate affairs.

Those who hold any office under the grand signior are called his slaves;
the term slave, in Turkey, signifying the most honourable title a
subject can bear. The grand signior is commonly supposed among his own
people, to be something more than human; for he is not bound by any laws
except that of professing and maintaining the Mahometan religion. A
stranger desiring to be admitted into his majesty's presence, is first
examined by proper persons, and his arms taken from him; he is then
ushered before the royal personage between two strong supporters, but is
not even then permitted to approach near enough to kiss the sultan's
foot.[1] This custom, which is observed by every sultan, originated in
the following manner:--Amurath I. having obtained a great victory over
the Christians, was on the field of battle with his officers viewing the
dead, when a wounded Christian soldier, rising from among the slain,
came staggering towards him. The king, supposing the man intended to beg
for his life, ordered the guards to make way for him; but drawing near,
he drew a dagger from under, his coat, and plunged it into the heart of
the great king, who instantly died.

[1] The ceremony of kissing the foot, as well as the hand, of a
sovereign, is yet observed in the east.

In Turkey, no man marries a deformed wife for the sake of a fortune, as
with us; beauty and good sense, to their credit be it spoken, are the
only inducements to matrimony among the Turks. But they are an indolent
people, and are much averse to improving their country by commerce,
planting, or building; appearing to take delight in letting their
property run to ruin. Alexandria, Tyre, and Sidon, which once commanded
the navigation and trade of the whole world, are at present in the
Turks' possession, but are only very inconsiderable places. Indeed,
observes a judicious author, it is well for us that the Turks are such
an indolent people, for their situation and vast extent of empire, would
enable them to monopolize the trade of the world if they attended to it.
They appear to possess very little genius or inclination for the
improvement of _arts and sciences_ although they live in countries which
were once in the possession of the classic Greeks; but seem to prefer a
slothf