I 
8 CONSTANTINOPLE. 
CHAP, but, in this distant period, viewing the events 
of those times without passion or prejudice, it 
may become a question, whether, at the capture 
of Constantinople, the victors or the vanquished 
were the most poUshed people. It is not 
necessary to paint the vices and the barbarism 
of those degenerated representatives of the 
antient Romans, who then possessed the imperial 
city; nor to contrast them with those of the 
Turks: but when it is urged, that Mohammad 
and his followers, upon taking possession of 
Constantinople, were busied only in works of 
destruction', we may adduce evidence to the 
contrary, derived even from the writings of 
those by whom they were thus calumniated. 
I Gyllius and Bandurius have permitted observa- 
tions to escape them, which have a remarkable 
I tendency to establish a contrary opinion : they 
acknowledge, that certain magnificent palaces, 
temples, baths, and caravanserais % were allowed 
to remain ; and the Temple of St. Sophia being of 
the number, as well as the antiquities in the 
(1) " Capta a Turcis Constantinopoli, antiqua ilia ac veneranda mouu- 
menta olim a variis Imperatoribus Christianis magnificentissime con- 
structa, quae Barbari illi adhuc Integra in regU urbe repererant, alia solo 
aequarunt, alia spoliata suis ornameaitis reliquerunt, I'onec sic neglects 
in ruinam diffluerent." Bandurii Imperium Orientals, torn. II. p. 1007. 
ed. Par. 1711. 
(2) " Quae magnifice exstnicta visuntur." Ibid. 
