be ſet on Fire, to make good half the Damage they bring on their Neighbours; and that all Slaves who by Negligence endangered an Houſe by Fire, (tho' it ſhould be extinguiſhed) ſhall be branded on both Cheeks with a red hot Iron, and their Noſes cut off as a Mark of perpetual Infamy.
It is certain, my Lord, many of theſe Laws ſeem too ſevere; but indeed, that is no more than what is neceſſary in Turky, both from the Nature of the People, and alſo becauſe ſuch numbers of them are now no ways reſtrain'd by the Injunctions of their Prophet, (which they conſider no longer as the Commands of God, but the meer Inventions of Men,) and muſt therefore be the more ſeverely watch'd over by the Hand of Juſtice, and the moſt ſanguinary Laws. A Reflection which while I am making, I can't but turn my Eye and Thoughts, with Grief and Shame on the Chriſtian World, where I fear the ſame Neceſſity will call too ſoon for the ſame Severity; while we behold ſo many Miſcreants, ſlighting the Reſtraints of our holy Religion, and deriding the Faith and Principles, that us'd to Influence the Piety of their leſs corrupted Anceſtors.
But
