Our modern _Geographers_, such as _Mercator_ and _Ortelius_, who herein follow _Ptolomy_, place _Constantinople_ in the Latitude of 43. degrees and 5 minutes: the _Arabian_ and _Persian Astronomers_, as _Abulfeda_, _Nassir Edin_, _Vlugh Beigh_, and so the πρόχειροι κανόνες, _Chrysococcas_ translated out of the _Persian_ tables, place it more Northerly in 45. But by latter and better observation it is found, that they have erred in assigning the Latitude of this City, as of several other places. To salve these differences, there is no just ground of pretence to say, that the _Poles_ are moveable and have changed their situation since their time, whereas it may better be imputed to their want of due care, or to their taking things upon trust, from the reports of _Travellers_ and _Seamen_, not having been upon the places themselves: which certainly is to be said for _Ptolomy_ whose observations, as to places more remote from _Alexandria_, are far from being accurate and true. The learned Mr. _John Greaves_, as I find in a Manuscript discourse, very worthy of being Printed, which he presented to the most reverend and renowned _Arch-bishop Usher_, took the height of the _Pole_ at _Constantinople_ with a brass sextant of above 4 feet _radius_, and found it to be but 41 degrees 6´. but by the observation we made in our Court-yard at _Pera_ with a very good _Quadrant_ we found it but 40 degrees and 58 minutes of North Latitude. There is no place between the _Propontis_ and the walls of the City, except just at the Seraglio-point, which may be two hundred paces in length; where they have raised on a platform a battery for Great guns; but from the point to the end of the Haven West, the space to the gates is unequal in some places about twenty paces broad, in others three or four times as many more. The distance between _Constantinople_ and _Chalcedon_ upon the opposite _Bythinian_-shore may be about three or four miles. In the Walls are engraven the Names of several Emperors, who reigned toward the declension of the _Græcian_ Empire, as _Theophilus_, _Michael_, _Basilius_, _Constantius Porphyrogenitus_, by whose care, and at whose expence the several breaches caused in them by the Sea or by Earthquakes, were repaired. _Kumkapi_ or the sand-gate lies toward the _Propontis_; this the _Greeks_ call in their vulgar language Κονδοσκάλι, _Contoscalium_, or the little scale or landing-place. Here formerly was an Arsenal for Gallies and other small vessels; it being a convenient passage over Sea. Over this Gate was anciently engraven a curious Inscription still preserved in that excellent collection published by[9]_Gruterus_.