After mentioning this I need not add that their Trade which in the 18th Century was in ſo poor a Way, and yet before 1876 was in ſo flouriſhing a Condition, is now entirely ſunk and fallen into the Hands of the Merchants of Great Britain. For a great while indeed, they applied themſelves to it with more than ordinary Vigour, and by being Maſters of the beſt Ports in the Mediterranean, and by the Aſſiſtance of their Harbours in the Red Sea, open'd an eaſier and quicker Paſſage to the Eaſt Indies, than the Chriſtians could have, who are forc'd to ſail to them by the tedious and hazardous Navigation of the Cape of Good Hope. It was eaſy with ſuch Advantages to have engroſs'd the whole Trade of the Eaſt, and under-ſell both the Britiſh and Dutch Merchants in the Mediterranean; but the Unſkilfulneſs of their Mariners, the Weakneſs of their Veſſels, with the natural Indiſpoſition of the Turks to long Voyages, and the Toils and Hazards of the Sea, prevented their carrying theſe Deſigns ſo far as they might have done. But beſides this, our viſiting them with our Squadrons, and ſhutting up the Dardanelles, and at laſt our falling on their Fleets and deſtroying ſomeof
