584 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [aNNO 1755. 



them; nor have they proper preceptors or masters to instruct. They have formed 

 a sort of an academy at Mount Athos, for their youth, which will scarcely sur- 

 vive the person who has undertaken it : he has himself but the mere elements of 

 science. However, his desire of knowing may improve him ; and he may per- 

 haps lay the foundations in some youth with success. 



The Turks have many books among them, though exceedingly dear ; folios 

 he had seen cost 100 to 2 and 300 dollars each; i.e. from 15l. to 45l. The 

 few printed folios, some of which he picked up some years before, cost 5l. to 61. 

 sterling. Their scribes spend many years about a few copies. Their learning 

 consists principally in abstruse metaphysics : some few touch the surface of 

 science. He had looked out with great industry for old Arabian manu- 

 scripts in the mathematical way : what they brought him were translations of 

 some propositions of Euclid, Theodosius, Archimedes, and ApoUonius. They 

 have some parts of Aristotle ; but their favourite philosophy is the atomical or 

 Epicurean, which with them is called the Democritical, from Democritus. 

 Many of their speculative men have adopted that system, and conform to it in 

 their secret practice. The institutes and practice of physic are taken from Galen. 

 Eben Zyna, or Avicena, is a principal guide : Mathiolus is known. But with 

 all this, as the sole drift and end of their study is gain, there does not seem the 

 least emulation towards true knowledge : so that the state of letters may be said to 

 remain deplorable, without the least glimmering or remote prospect of a recovery., 

 P. S. Mr. P. corrects the report of the Capuchin concerning inocula- 

 tion in Georgia. One of their physicians, a most ignorant fellow, who 

 lives by his profession here, avers that, among those who follow the true 

 Greorgian rites, not Romanists, the practice is common. It has its rise from 

 mere superstition. He tells us, " That the tradition and religious belief of 

 that people is, that an angel presides over that distemper ; that therefore, to 

 show their confidence in him, and to invite him to be propitious, they take a 

 pock from the sick person, and, by a scarification, they insert it in one in health, 

 generally between the fore-finger and thumb. It never misses its effect, and the 

 patient always recovers. To attract the angel's good-will more effectually, they 

 hang the patient's bed with red cloth or stuff, as a colour most agreeable to him. 

 He has been assistant to this practice, and declares it to be common." The 

 Capuchin acknowledges, that it might be among the Georgians the Doctor men- 

 tions, and not have fallen under his knowledge. 



XXII. Extracts of Two Letters to Thomas Mollis, Esq. concerning the late 

 Discoveries at Herculaneum. p, lOQ. 



Near the royal palace at Portici, has been discovered a large garden, with a 

 palace belonging to it. In one room of this palace was found a mosaic pavement. 



