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
