140 CONSTANTINOPLE. 
CHAP, rather more tolerant than usual in their be- 
■ haviour towards the English. Masquerades 
were frequent in all the houses of the Foreign 
Ministers; and there were also public masque- 
rades, in taverns, open to all comers : the latter 
of course formed of the lowest company, and 
being for the most part nothing better than the 
most public exhibition of disgusting sensuality. 
Society of The Only circle that can be called by the name 
of Society in Per a, is formed by the families, 
secretaries, chaplains, interpreters, and agents 
of the different Envoys : and this may be con- 
sidered as naturally exhibiting an entertaining 
masquerade, without any licence from the season 
of Carnival. It is the same in all seasons; a 
mixed and motley assembly of many nations 
and languages. The chief amusement, at their 
evening parties, consists in card-playing. The 
French Government, always famous for the skill 
with which it conducts political intrigue, when 
it wishes to employ a spy who may collect the 
State secrets of the Ministerial hive at Peray 
takes care to send one who is an adroit gam- 
bler; and who, by his address among the 
women, becomes a popular man at their card- 
tables; the generality of the young men being 
Spies, engaged in dancing. One or two such spies 
had at this time obtained situations in our 
