THIS description may serve for all the mosques in Constantinople.  The model is exactly the same, and they only differ in largeness and richness of materials.  That of the sultana Valida is the largest of all, built entirely of marble, the most prodigious, and, I think, the most beautiful structure I ever saw, be it spoken to the honour of our sex, for it was founded by the mother of Mahomet IV.  Between friends, Paul’s church would make a pitiful figure near it, as any of our squares would do near the atlerdan, or place of horses, (at signifying a horse in Turkish).  This was the hippodrome, in the reign of the Greek emperors.  In the midst of it is a brazen column, of three serpents twisted together, with their mouths gaping.  ’Tis impossible to learn why so odd a pillar was erected; the Greeks can tell nothing but fabulous legends, when they are asked the meaning of it, and there is no sign of its having ever had any inscription.  At the upper end is an obelisk of porphyry, probably brought from Egypt, the hieroglyphics all very entire, which I look upon as mere ancient puns.  It is placed on four little brazen pillars, upon a pedestal of square free stone, full of figures in bas-relief on two sides; one square representing a battle, another an assembly.  The others have inscriptions in Greek and Latin; the last I took in my pocket-book, and it is as follows: 

Difficilis quondam, dominis parere serenis
Jussus, et extinctis palman portare tyrannis
Omnia Theodosio cedunt, sobolique perenni.

Your lord will interpret these lines.  Don’t fancy they are a love-letter to him.

ALL the figures have their heads on; and I cannot forbear reflecting again on the impudence of authors, who all say they have not; but I dare swear the greatest part of them never saw them; but took the report from the Greeks, who resist, with incredible fortitude, the conviction of their own eyes, whenever they have invented lies to the dishonour of their enemies.  Were you to believe them, there is nothing worth seeing in Constantinople, but Sancta Sophia, though there are several large, and, in my opinion, more beautiful mosques in that city.  That of sultan Achmet has this particularity, that its gates are of brass.  In all these mosques there are little chapels, where are the tombs of the founders and their families, with wax candles burning before them.

THE Exchanges are all noble buildings, full of fine alleys, the greatest part supported with pillars, and kept wonderfully neat.  Every trade has its distinct alley, where the merchandize is disposed in the same order as in the New Exchange at London.  The besisten, or jeweller’s quarter, shews so much riches, such a vast quantity of diamonds, and all kinds of precious stones, that they dazzle the sight.  The embroiderer’s is also very glittering, and people walk here as much for diversion as business.  The markets are most of them handsome squares, and admirably well provided, perhaps better than in any other part of the world.