Chap. II. 
the Defcription of t\\t Perjian Empire, at the Beginning 
of this Sedion, that in Point of Territory, the Shah’s 
of Perfia are very little inferior to any of the great Mo- 
narchs in the Univerfe ; but we know experimentally, 
that for all this, the Princes of this Country, from the 
Time of Shah Ahhas^ have made but a very indifferent 
Eigure, and are not like to make a better in Time to 
come. This fhews us the terrible Effeds of arbitrary 
Power, a Thing altogether infupportable ; but from 
the Wifdom of fome great Princes, who by diffembling 
and letting it down, preferve it. Shah Nadir had this 
in his Will, but never in his Power ; he had acquired 
his Authority by being at the Head of an Army, and 
he found itimpoffible to fuftain it any other Way than 
by remaining at the Head of it •, for he neither durft 
disband his Troops, nor could he truft them any longer 
than they were employed *, this was the true Reafon of 
his Indian Expedition, and this muft be the Cafe, till 
fuch Time as the Army, by which he attained his So- 
vercinty, is in fome Meafure worn out, and then per- 
haps, the Feeblenefs of the State may draw upon it 
foreign Invafions. 
If either the Extent, or the Quality of Countries, 
could make Princes eafy or happy, the Sovereigns of 
Perfia might be fo without making Slaves of their Sub- 
jeds, ordirturbing their Neighbours. We may from 
hence alfo difcover the Value of right Principles with 
Regard to Induftry and Commerce, which always in- 
clude due Refped to Liberty and Property, without 
■which the former can never fubfift, and the latter can 
never be attained. If we could, with any Probability, 
fuppofe that a well-conftituted Government could take 
Place and be thoroughly eftablilhed in Perfia^ it is very 
evident, that in the Space of a Century, hot only the 
Affairs, but the very Face of the Country would 
be changed their great Cities would be repeo- 
pled, the Trade through Perfia to India and Tartary 
would be revived, their Silk-works and Manufadures 
would be reftored, and Multitudes of People would 
flock into all their Provinces for the Sake of that Plenty, 
which, in fuch a Situation of Things, they would be 
fure to enjoy. But as this Suppofition is, on the one 
Hand, improbable ; fo, on the other, it is very evident, 
that for this very Reafon the Perfian Monarchy muff, 
for a long Series of Years, continue broken and weak 5 
891 
for it is by Commerce only that the People of that 
Country can become formidable •, for while, on the 
one Side, they want a Naval Power to maintain the 
Sovereignty ol iht Cafpian Std.^ to which they pretend 5 
and on the other Hand, to have no Fortreffes of great 
Strength to fecure their Frontiers againfl: the JJsheck 
Tartars on the North, and the Turks on the Weft, they 
will always be in Danger from both thofe Neighbours. 
Thefe Things are fo plain, that they cannot be denied 
or doubted. The fingle Inference I would draw from 
this is, that fo far as human Forefight reaches, there 
fee ms to be a Difpofition in Providence to over- 
turn the Mahometan Vosn tvs every where; for if we 
compare the prefent State of Things with the paft, we 
cannot help feeing, that they are much in the fame 
Situation that the Greeks were at the Time their Empire 
began to decline ; and though it may be fome Centu- 
ries before their total Deftrudion comes on, yet we 
muft fhut our Eyes againft Evidence, if we are not 
convinced that it is coming. We muft indeed allow, 
that there were fome vilionary People here in Europe^ 
who apprehended mighty Things from the Shah Nadit\ 
and believed that he would overwhelm the TurkifhEm- 
pire ; but there was no Kind of Reafon for this, except 
the known Weaknefs of that Empire ; and if it were 
not for this, we might with more Reafon exped, that 
the Turks^ at this Jundure, fhould make fome Impref- 
fion upon Perfia^ which however I am perfwaded will 
not happen. But if the Feuds of Chriftian Princes 
were once laid afleep, there is no Improbability in the 
Conjedure, that the Ruffians might make themfelves 
Mafters, at leaft, of fome of the Provinces of this Em- 
pire, which lie neareft to the Cafpian Sea ; and when- 
ever it fhall happen, it may prove a Beginning to much 
greater Revolutions, fince there are Multitudes of Chrif- 
tians in the adjacent Countries, who are either of the 
Greek Religion, or very little removed from it ; and if 
their Spirits lliould once revive, the Weaknefs of the 
Mahometans^ i 5 oth here and elfewhere, would be quick- 
ly feen. I know very well how little Heed the prefent 
Generation will give to Remarks of this Nature ; but I 
flatter myfelf, that how weak or how impertinent fo- 
ever they may be now efteemed, Experience will juftify 
them to Pofterity. 
of the Empire of Persia. 
SECTION III. 
Of the Dilpofition and Temper of the PerJianSy their Perfons, Habits, 
Manner of Living, their Artificers and Mechanicks, the Relped 
paid to Merchants, the Method in which their Inland Trade is car- 
ried on, the paft and prefent State of the EngUJh Commerce, and 
other Particulars; together with fome curious Obfervations on the 
Nature of the Silk T rade, and a Computation of the annual Balance 
in Favour of Perfia. 
ColleSied as well from private Memoirs, as from Accounts that have been publijhed. 
I, An IntroduBory Account of the SuhjeSi of this Self ion, the Dijiculty of drawing National CharaBers^ 
the likelief Way of coming at the Tdruthy the general T’empery Difpoftion and GeniuSy of the modern Per- 
lians. 2. Of their PerfonSy JfirefSy great Value of their furbantSy and of the Magnificence and Pro-* 
JuJion into which all Ranks of People are apt to run in that Country y in every Thing that regards Ap- 
pearance and Equipage. 3. Of the Womens Habit Sy their Paint ingy their Head-dreffies ufually adorned 
with FeatherSy frequently jet out with f ewelsy and more efpecially with Pearlsy which were efieemed the 
bed in the Worldy fo long as the Perfians were poffiefed of the IJtafid of Baharen. 4. The Manner of 
Living in Perfia, the Method oj eating and drinkingy their Cudoms^ at their Mealsy the Commonnefs of 
Cooks-Shops and Ordinaries amongfl themy and of the open and general Hofpitahty in Perfia. 5. A View 
of their Entertainments y the Ceremonies and Civilities that pafs upon fuch UccafionSy their laudable 
Temperance 
