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PREFACE.
inquiry concerning the Ottoman Empire, ought to foe Considered
WnjB» interesting than an acquaintance with 'dif- •
ferent nations. Their religion, their history, | their man-
oers, and their customs,, are worthy .'of the attention of
every The more considerable a nation is: in itself,
the more connections if has with o the rs,, the more important
ats political situation, the more.it deserves'to be .
fcnown, bpth by it* neighbours, ajld C(?untries con_
nected with its government or eqmmerce,
•-- We admire, and" with reason,’ the rapid progress,
which that, part of Europe, over which Christianity has
spread her.benign influence,,has made in.every department,
ofscience., Ithas thrown a ray of (light' over the
most distant periods of annuity,'dissipated the clouds,
which obscured the origin of.ancient nations, investigated
S W N w risen from.their ashes,
while the spirit of inquiry has h ith e ^ scarcely reached a-
nation, which sprang on the borders of the Caspian
Sm m the thirteenth.century,and has,for near four hm .
dred years, acquired the possession o f. and still reigns