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 XXV.

To Dgnet Oglou.

IT appears by thy melancholy Letter, thou hast not forgot the Loss thou formerly sustainedst by Fire, but still continuest to di∣sturb thy self, with dismal Apprehensions of spending thy Days in ignominious Poverty. I am afraid, thou didst set thy Heart too much on thy Wealth, which makes thee so uneasy under thy Misfortune. Perhaps, thy Money was thy Master, and God in removing it from thee, has made thee free, and thereby fitted thee for the Contemplation of the Ʋni∣verse.

Never fear Want; the same Providence which took Care of thee before thou camest into the World, will never be wanting to thee now thou art in it. It is but a Little that we need, and it will not be long before it will be impossible for us to want any Thing. Poverty never meets the thinking and indu∣strious. And a Man may satisfy Nature, with∣out the least Obligation to Fortune; who, when she seems most angry with us, scarce ever denies us Necessaries. The Belly, indeed, is a troublesome Creditor, yet is quieted with a Little. Seneca tells us, That Epicurus con∣fined himself to a narrower Allowance, than that of the severest Prisons, to the most hei∣nous Offender; and, found himself at Ease

too in a stricter Diet, than any Man in the worst Condition needs to fear. But the Mise∣ry of it is, we are governed in all Things by Opinion, and every Thing is to us as we think it to be.

The same Great Man tells us, of one Apici∣us, who poison'd himself for fear of starving, when he had Two Hundred and Fifty Piasters in his Coffers. And, another more Modern Philosopher relates, That a rich Man, an Ac∣quaintance of his, falling mad, snatcht up a Straw, and complained he must perish with Hunger, for he saw there was no Grain in the Empty Husks.

It's said of the Emperor Galba, That he was wont to weep, when he saw his Table better covered than ordinary. And, I have read of a certain Christian Mufti, who was so wretchedly covetous, that he would steal privately into the Great Mosque of Rome, and put out the Lamps there to save Charges.

But methinks, I hear thee murmuring me an Answer, That this was never thy Humour, and these Citations make little Impression on a Man, that has had his House and Goods burnt, and narrowly escaped in his own Per∣son.

Shall I tell thee then, what hap'ned lately in these Parts, which will, perhaps, make thee more contented and thankful for thy Life, see∣ing what was these poor Peoples Lot, might have been thine.

Certain considerable Merchants coming to this Town, and Lodging at an Inn, not far

from my Quarters, the House being full of Guests, they were forced to be content with an upper Room; where, entertaining one another with pleasant Discourse, to pass away the Time till Supper, on a sudden the Kitchin was all in a Flame, unfortunately encreased with combustible Matter lying near the Chimney. Some say, there was great Quantity of Oil and Gun-Powder (an odd Store-House to lay such Commodities in.) However, the Fire appeared so suddenly and violently, that in a Moment all the Floor un∣der them, was seiz'd with it.

These Gentlemen, who were Two Stories high, in a Chamber towards the Street; as soon as they heard the Cry of Fire, began to make towards their Trunks and Port-mantles, which were lock'd up in a large Coffer, the Key of which hung at their Hostess's Girdle. They were for going down to fetch it, but the Fire had, in a Manner, consum'd all beneath them. Whilst they were busied in trying to break open the Cof∣fer, and to take out every Man his own, their Chamber became instantly so full of Smoak, as was like to Choak them. They could neither save themselves by going up or down, the House being all over in a Flame. Moreover, their Neighbours seeing their own Houses in Danger, were so concerned for themselves, that they had no time to Pity Others. So that, few People attempted to succour these poor Gentlemen, who, on their side, endeavoured with great Pieces of Wood,

to force a Passage; but the Walls and Win∣dows were too Strong to give Way to their Efforts, being secur'd with thick Iron Barrs, fastned in the Stones. In this lamentable Condi∣tion, having this inexorable Flame before their Eyes, which had already seized on the Cham∣ber, tearing the Hair off their Heads, and stamping on the Ground, they sent forth such dreadful Skrieks, as moved all that heard them to extream Compassion.

They threw their Gold and Silver into the Streets, in vain crying for Help; the Fire being so encreas'd, that before the People could bring Ladders and other Instruments to break a Way into the Chamber, these poor Wretches miserably perished in the Flames.

Thank God thou hast still thy Life and Sen∣ses. Turn these last the Right Way, and thou wilt find thou hast lost Nothing.

Paris, 21st. of the 12th. Moon, of the Year 1644.