( 21 ) 
with the Doors lliut, or in the Back-Shops of fuch as dealt in 
that Commodity. 
This Handle was fufficient to let the publick Coffee-Houies on 
their antient Footing ; and it hkewife happen’d very luckily for 
that Dehgn, that a new Mufti, of a Confcience leis icrupulous or 
more knowing than his Predeceflbr, declar’d, that Coffee ought 
not to be compar’d to Coals ; and that the Liquor made with it 
was no ways againfl the Law. Upon this, the Devotees, 
Preachers, and Dodlors of the Law, were fo far from continuing 
to exclaim againfl it, that they drank it very freely themfelves, 
their Example being follow’d both in the Seraglio, and all over 
the City. The number of Coffee Houfes became more confide- 
rable than ever, and, for that Reafon, foon were made a Prey to 
the Avarice of the Grand Viziers^ who rais’d a vafl yearly Contri- 
bution from them, taxing each Coffee-Houle in proportion to 
the Trade it was fuppos’d to have. But even this exorbitant Im- 
pofition did not diminifh their Number, tho’ they never ask’d 
more than an Afpre for each Dilli 3 which fhews what a prodi- 
gious Confumption of Coffee there mufl have been m thefe Pub- 
lick-Houfes at ConJlantinopJe . 
Here our Hiflorian ends 5 but M. Galand, to whom we are 
obliged for the Tranflation of both thefe Arahick Manuscripts, 
has given us an Account of another fatal Cataflrophe that befel 
this Liquor at ConJlantinopJe, to which he has fubjoin’d the pre- 
fent State of it in that City, or at leafl fuch as it was in the Year 
16^6, in which his excellent Letter was dated. 
The Liberty which the News-mongers took in the publick 
Coffce-Houfes during the late “War of Candia, was fo great, that 
the wife Grand Vizier Cuprulij Father of the two famous Brothers 
of the fime Name, and who have fince bore the fame high Pod:, 
fupprefs’d them all of a fudden, during the Minority of Mahomet 
the Fourth, without having any regard to the vafl Sums of Mo- 
ney he lofl every Year by fo doing. He had, it feems, been at 
the pains to go himfelf incognito to the principal Coffee-Houfes in 
the City 5 where he heard Men of Gravity and Charadler dif' 
courfing ferioLifly concerning the Affairs of the Empire, blaming 
the Miniflry, and deciding very freely concerning things of the 
greatefl Importance. He had been likewife to vifit the Taverns, 
where he met only with People finging, or talking of their 
Amours and warlike Exploits, the greatefl part being Soldiers ; 
and therefore he allow’d the Taverns to continue. Our Coun- 
tryman Mr. Smithy who was then at Conjlantinople, has related the 
dime Story, tho’ not fo particularly, with the Addition of one 
G CircLim- 
