considerable Alterations of late Years in their Laws and Customs, by which they have endeavour'd to retrieve the Virtue and Majesty of this falling Empire, and which they owe chiefly to the Skill and Ability of the Renegado Vizier Ibrahim, who flourish'd in the middle of this Century. Many of them I sincerely wish with some Alterations could be transplanted into our Country and Constiution, and, if that Excess of Liberty we abound in would allow it, I doubt not we should find our Account in them.
The first I shall touch upon is the Method he took to cure the Defects of their Discipline and Courage, which he found so low, and endeavour'd to raise so high. To effect this, he divided all the Troops into Battalions and Squadrons of about 1000 or 1500 Men. Each of these Bodies were raised from one particular Province, whose name they carried, from whence alone their Officers and Recruits came; and consequently whenever they fought, the Glory or Disgrace of the Country to which they belong'd, and where they were born, was directly concern'd. By this means both Men and Officers fought still with the greater Emulation and Desire of distinguishingthem-
