_Byzantium_ therefore seems alone exempted from those Inconveniencies and Incapacities which have happen’d to her Neighbours, and to many other potent and flourishing Cities, which for several Years having lain in their own Ruins, are either not rebuilt with their ancient Grandeur, or have changed their former Situation. All its neighbouring Towns are yet lost: There is only the Name of _Memphis_ remaining. Whereas _Babylon_, seated in its Neighbourhood, from a small Fort, is become a large and populous City; and yet neither of them is so commodious as _Constantinople_. I shall take no Notice of _Babylon_ in _Assyria_, who, when she was in her most flourishing State, had the Mortification to see a City built near her, equal in Largeness to her self: Why is not _Alexandria_ rebuilt, but because she must support her self more by the Industry of her People, than the Agreeableness of her Situation? ’Twas the Sanctity of St. _Peter_, and the Grandeur of the _Roman_ Name, that contributed more to the rebuilding old _Rome_, than the natural Situation of the Place itself, as having no Convenience for Ships and Harbours. I pass by in Silence _Athens_ and _Lacedæmon_, which were more remarkable for the Learning and resolute Bravery of their People, than the Situation of their City. I omit the two Eyes of the Sea Coast, _Corinth_ and _Carthage_, both which falling into Ruins at the same Time, were first repaired by _Julius Cæsar_; afterwards, when they fell entirely to decay, nobody rebuilt them: And though _Carthage_ is seated in a _Peninsula_ with several Havens about it, yet in no part of it are there two Seas which fall into each other: For though _Corinth_ may be said to lie between two Seas, and is call’d the Fort of _Peloponnesus_, the Key and Door of _Greece_; yet is it so far from uniting in one Chanel two Seas, or two Bays adjoining to the _Peninsula_, that she was never able to make Head against the _Macedonians_ or _Romans_, as _Cyzico_ and _Negropont_ did; the one by its well built Forts and other War-like Means, and the other by the Strength of its natural Situation. But _Constantinople_ is the Key both of the _Mediterranean_ and _Black Sea_, which alone, by the best Skill in Navigation, nay though you were to make a Voyage round the World, you will find to meet only in one Point, and that is, the Mouth of the Port. I shall say nothing of _Venice_, which does not so much enclose the Sea for proper Harbours, as ’tis enclosed by it, and labours under greater Difficulties to keep off the Swellings and Inundations of the Seas, than unite them together. I pass by the Situations of the whole Universe, wherever there are, have, or shall be Cities; in none of them shall you find a Port abounding with so many and so great Conveniencies, both for the Maintenance of its Dominion over the Seas, and the Support of Life, as in this City. It is furnish’d with Plenty of all manner of Provisions, being supply’d