The second volume of letters writ by a Turkish spy who lived five and forty years undiscover'd at Paris : giving an impartial account to the Divan at Constantinople of the most remarkable transactions of Europe, and discovering several intrigues and secrets of the Christian courts (especially of that of France) continued from the year 1642 to the year 1682 / written originally in Arabick, translated into Italian, and from thence into English, by the translator of the first volume.

LETTER XIII.

To Cara Haly, Physician at Con∣stantinople.

THere is a Garden in this City, so near resembling that of the Invincible Vizir Azem, on the East of Pera, that I cannot but phansie my self near Constantinople, when I am walking in it. It is called the King's Gar∣den, being allotted by the Royal Bounty of the Kings of France, to the Service and Im∣provement of Students in Physick. There is a Yearly Stipend settled on an approved Physi∣cian, to take Care, that no kind of Physical Plant or Herb be wanting in this Royal Semi∣nary. Who also during the whole Summer, is obliged to read a Latin Lecture every Mor∣ning, on the Simples there growing; whilst a great Auditory of Young Students, with Books, Pen and Ink in their Hands, wait on him up and down the Alleys, and write down his Discourse. He that is now employed in this Office, is a very Learned and Ingenious Man; he takes great Pains to make all his Young Disciples perfect Herbalists; for, all the way as he passes along from one Herb to another,

he stoops down, handles the Simple, and ex∣plains his Verbal Description with his Fingers Ends; giving a most accurate account of the minutest Difference between such as seem to be alike, and demonstrating to the Eye, that those are two distinct Plants, which many take to be but one; tracing out their different Families, in the Number, Texture, Shape or Colour of their Leaves and Flowers: And, this he does with so graceful an Action, such elegant Language, and so composed a Spirit, that he charms all that happen to be present at his Lectures, and makes every Body in Love with the Botanicks. The Garden stands open to all Gentlemen, provided they leave their Swords with the Keeper of the Gate, to prevent Quarrels and Mischief.

I enter daily among the rest, and when the Physick-Lecture is over, I retire my self into one of the most pleasant Shades in the World; it is a Gravel Walk, the whole length of the Garden, on each side of which grow lofty Trees, planted so thick, and intermixing their Leaves and Branches so closely at the Top, that they compose a perfect natural Ʋmbrella over the Walk, from one End to the other, so that not a Beam of the Sun can enter. And, that which creates in me the greatest Complacency, is, that the farther End of the Walk, is not shut up by a high Wall, as is the Custom in some Gardens; but, whether you are sitting, or standing upright, it opens to you a very agreeable and large Pro∣spect of the Country adjacent to Paris, which

affects the Eye with incredible Delight; and mine so much the more, because it perfectly resembles the Country lying East of Pera and Constantinople, which you survey out of the Grotto's of the aforesaid most Illustrious Vizir Azem. 'Tis when I am in this Walk, I ima∣gine I breath the Air of Asia, and am within the Verge of the Imperial Seraglio, the San∣ctuary to which all the distress'd Princes in the World have Recourse.

There are in Paris above an Hundred Mag∣nificent Palaces, and beautiful Gardens belong∣ing to them; but, none wherein I take so particular a Delight, as in this Royal Physick-Garden. Here I spend many a solitary Hour, and sometime I meet with Company.

I tell thee, Dear Haly, that though the French are naturally the most polished and refined People in the World, yet I am ma∣ny times willing to make Excuses, and leave their Society; being by the Force of a power∣ful Inclination either drawn to this Garden, or to a famous Library in this City, in the Custo∣dy of certain Religious Dervises, who at cer∣tain Hours of the Day, are obliged to give Attendance to all Gentlemen, who are pleased to sit there and study.

Toward the Evening I visit the Hospitals, which are the finest that ever I saw in the World, and I believe the best govern'd. There is one named, the Hospital of God, where Per∣sons of Quality themselves, and those of the First Rank, come every Evening, and wait on the sick and the wounded, doing all the

meanest Offices of Inferior Servants, and this with abundance of Tenderness and Hu∣manity. I have seen the Nicest and Gayest Ladies of the Court, dressing the most squalid and putrefied Sores of Wounded Men, not seeming in the least to be disgusted at the loathsom Sight and Stench of their Ulcers. When one first enters the Place, one would imagine it to be a Chamber of Young Jani∣zaries; it being a very long and wide Gal∣lery, with Rows of Beds on both sides, where∣in the Sick are disposed according to the Or∣der of their coming, or the Nature of their Disease. The Curtains of the Beds are all of pure white Linen, prettily wrought here and there with Flowers of Needle-Work. Their Sheets as white as the Curtains; and by each Bed stands a Bason of clean Water, and a fine Towel lying by it. At the farther End of the Gallery, stands an Altar railed in, where the Priests perform their Religi∣ous Mysteries for the Sick. In fine, all Things in this Place speak an Exquisite Decorum and Order, with a generous Regard to the Health and Life of Man. Three of these Galleries make up the whole Hospital, and it is as plea∣sant to me sometimes to walk up and down in them, as in a beautiful Garden.

Certainly, if any Argument could be of Force to recommend Sickness as a desirable Thing, it must be taken from the Circum∣stances of this Hospital, or, an Equivalent Ground. I, for my own part, have often thought, That Death it self would not be

formidable amidst so many Ornaments, Sweets and Comforts. If this Publick and Charitable Regard to the Sick, be an Effect of their Religion, I cannot be so partial to deny it a due Acknowledgment; but must own, That Heroick Vertue and Piety is to be found in an eminent Degree, even among the very Infidels.

Thou wilt pardon me for detaining thee so long in the Theatre of the Sick and Wound∣ed, and presenting thee with the Tragical Scenes of Mortality; since it is thy proper Profession, to converse with the Infirmities, Diseases and Dolors of Humane Bodies, and to be frequently present in the Anti-Chambers of Death.

Suffer me to press thee to an Integrity of continual Love and Friendship between us. Let not Mistakes or Misapprehensions, cool this generous Affection. It is pity, That either the spightful Misrepresentations of insi∣nuating Back-biters, or, our own groundless Jealousies and Suspicions, should dissolve the Union of Faithful and Loving Friends. I had rather suffer a Thousand small Injuries, which I know must proceed from Frailty, and Humane Necessity, than not continue to Love where I have once pitch'd my true Affection. Nothing but apparent wilful Per∣fidiousness and Treachery, ought to break the sacred and inviolable Band of Friendship. Fidelity and Love cover a multitude of lesser Faults. He that breaks with his Friend for small Errors, discovers the Rashness and In∣constancy

of his Mind, and that his Friend∣ship was never well grounded. For, had he been a Wise Man, he would either have been more slow and cautious in the choice of his Friend; or, having once contracted Friend∣ship, he would not break it again for a less Crime than manifest Disloyalty. But thou, who hast ever pursued me with all the Of∣fices of a Generous and Faithful Friend, bear∣ing with my many Infirmities and Failings, dost not deserve this Censure. Yet, consi∣dering the Instability of all Humane Affairs, I could not forbear putting thee in Mind of these Things; lest, through the Malice of Fortune, or the Envy of Men, or any other Cause thou shouldst withdraw thy Affection from me, which I value above all Temporal Blessings. For, besides the many Favours I have received at thy Hands, whereby I am obliged in Honour and Gratitude to love thee perpetually; a Spark of Natural, or ra∣ther of Divine Affection was kindled in my Breast, from the first Time I conversed with thee; whether it proceeds from Agreeable∣ness and Harmony of Spirits, or some other secret Operation, I know not. But, sure I am, and would have thee rest confident, That there is not a Man in the World, who Loves and Honours thee with greater Fidelity than I do.

The Great and Eternal Lord of the Ʋni∣verse, encrease and multiply thy Vertues and Blessings, and make thee Illustrious in thy Generation; granting also this Happiness to

me, That after a lasting and true Friendship between us on Earth, I may drink with thee of the Rivers of Pleasure, which glide along the Fields of Paradise; and, that I may see thy Face brighter than the Stars of Heaven. Amen! Amen! O thou Lord of the Worlds.

Paris, 6th. of the 8th. Moon, of the Year 1642.