not render their paradise the less agreeable.  It remains to tell you, that the virtues which Mahomet requires of the women, to merit the enjoyment of future happiness, are, not to live in such a manner as to become useless to the world, but to employ themselves, as much as possible, in making little musselmans.  The virgins, who die virgins, and the widows who marry not again, dying in mortal sin, are excluded out of paradise:  For women, says he, not being capable to manage the affairs of state, nor to support the fatigues of war, God has not ordered them to govern or reform the world; but he has entrusted them with an office which is not less honourable; even that of multiplying the human race:  and such as, out of malice or laziness, do not make it their business to bear or to breed children, fulfil not the duty of their vocation, and rebel against the commands of God.  Here are maxims for you, prodigiously contrary to those of your convents.  What will become of your St Catharines, your St Theresas, your St Claras, and the whole bead-roll of your holy virgins and widows; who, if they are to be judged by this system of virtue, will be found to have been infamous creatures, that passed their whole lives in most abominable libertinism.

I KNOW not what your thoughts may be, concerning a doctrine so extraordinary with respect to us; but I can truly inform you, Sir, that the Turks are not so ignorant as we fancy them to be in matters of politics, or philosophy, or even of gallantry.  ’Tis true, that military discipline, such as now practised in Christendom, does not mightily suit them.  A long peace has plunged them into an universal sloth.  Content with their condition, and accustomed to boundless luxury, they are become great enemies to all manner of fatigues.  But, to make amends, the sciences flourish among them.  The effendis (that is to say, the learned) do very well deserve this name:  They have no more faith in the in inspiration of Mahomet, than in the infallibility of the Pope.  They make a frank profession of Deism among themselves, or to those they can trust; and never speak of their law but as of a politic institution, fit now to be observed by wise men, however at first introduced by politicians and enthusiasts.

IF I remember right, I think I have told you, in some former letter, that, at Belgrade, we lodged with a great and rich effendi, a man of wit and learning, and of a very agreeable humour.  We were in his house about a month, and he did constantly eat with us, drinking wine without any scruple.  As I rallied him a little on this subject, he answered me, smiling, that all creatures in the world were made for the pleasure of man; and that God would not have let the vine grow, were it a sin to taste of its juice; but that, nevertheless, the law, which forbids the use of it to the vulgar, was very wise, because such sort of folks have not sense enough to take it with moderation.  This effendi appeared no stranger to the parties that prevail among us:  Nay, he seemed to have some knowledge of our religious disputes, and even of our writers; and I was surprised to hear him ask, among other things, how Mr Toland did.