WHEN I spoke of their religion, I forgot to mention two particularities, one of which I have read of, but it seemed so odd to me, I could not believe it; yet ’tis certainly true; that when a man has divorced his wife, in the most solemn manner, he can take her again, upon no other terms, than permitting another man to pass a night with her; and there are some examples of those who have submitted to this law, rather than not have back their beloved.  The other point of doctrine is very extraordinary.  Any woman that dies unmarried is looked upon to die in a state of reprobation.  To confirm this belief, they reason, that the end of the creation of woman is to increase and multiply; and that she is only properly employed in the works of her calling, when she is bringing forth children, or taking care of them, which are all the virtues that God expects from her.  And indeed, their way of life, which shuts them out of all public commerce, does not permit them any other.  Our vulgar notion, that they don’t own women to have any souls, is a mistake.  ’Tis true, they say, they are not of so elevated a kind, and therefore must not hope to be admitted into the paradise appointed for the men, who are to be entertained by celestial beauties.  But there is a place of happiness destined for souls of the inferior order, where all good women are to be in eternal bliss.  Many of them are very superstitious, and will not remain widows ten days, for fear of dying in the reprobate state of an useless creature.  But those that like their liberty, and are not slaves to their religion, content themselves with marrying when they are afraid of dying.  This is a piece of theology, very different from that which teaches nothing to be more acceptable to God than a vow of perpetual virginity:  which divinity is most rational, I leave you to determine.

I HAVE already made some progress in a collection of Greek medals.  Here are several professed antiquaries, who are ready to serve any body that desires them.  But you cannot imagine how they stare in my face, when I enquire about them, as if no body was permitted to seek after medals, till they were grown a piece of antiquity themselves.  I have got some very valuable ones of the Macedonian kings, particularly one of Perseus, so lively, I fancy I can see all his ill qualities in his face.  I have a prophyry (sic) head finely cut, of the true Greek sculpture; but who it represents, is to be guessed at by the learned when I return.  For you are not to suppose these antiquaries (who are all Greeks) know any thing.  Their trade is only to sell; they have correspondents at Aleppo, Grand Cairo, in Arabia and Palestine, who send them all they can find, and very often great heaps, that are only fit to melt into pans and kettles.  They get the best price they can for them, without knowing those that are valuable from those that are not.  Those that pretend to skill, generally find out the image of some saint in the medals of the Greek