'The travels of Sir John Chardin into Persia and the East Indies, through the Black Sea, and the country of Colchis. Containing the author's voyage from Paris to Ispahan. To which is added, the coronation of the present King of Persia, Solyman the III.' [‎11] (40/594)

through the Black^Sea, an 0/Colchis.
The Venetians Maintain a Co at as alfo
fioefesj yet there are few Merchants, Natives in either ofthofe
two Republicks, that live there ; efpecially of the Genoefes
Who have little or nothing to do in the They were
only fetl d there at firft by reafon of the great Trade which
they drove in Five-SoM-fieces, in regard of the great nrofr
which they gain'd. So that as foon as that Trade was prohi*
bited, their principal Merchants retir'd ; Only two or three
remain'd at Smyrna, and orte at Conftantinople. Thereupon
their Levant A geographical area corresponding to the region around the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Company began to diflblve it felf, and there is no'
queftion but the Whole Eftabliftment of the Genoefes had ut
terly gone to ruine, by the recalling their deficient from the
Fort, And thenConful from Smyrna, had they not been better
advis d then to make that Revocation, upon two Confidera-
rions. Firft, Becaufe the Turks never fuffer Nations that are
fetl-d among 'em to retire for good and all. Secondly, be-
daufe fuch an entire abandoning the Country, would have
too manifeftly difcovefd the beggerly Reafon that fway'd the
Repubhck in an Enterprife that had coft 'em fo dear, and
which had given France an Occafion to fliew how highly fhe
was difpleas'd at their Gondua. For the better under^
Handing of which Tranfaftion, the Reader perhaps may
not think his time ill fpent in viewing three or four Pages.
/
In the firft place therefore give me leave to obferve That
the Genoefes were formerly very powerful in the Levant A geographical area corresponding to the region around the eastern Mediterranean Sea. , as
being the Lords and Mafters of feveral Iflands in the Archi-
pelago, of feveral Places upon the Coaft of the and
leveral Cities upon the [Blacl^-Ssa, Lera alio, now the Su-
burlas of Conftantinople, was Under their Jurifdi^ion. Upon
w'hich there is no need for me to dilate, in regard the Stories
of paft Ages have giv'n a fufficient Account, how and at
What time they loll all this fair Extent of Dominion. But
the War in Candy, which happen'd in the Year 1^4^. encou-
rag'd 'em to revive their Commerce in the Territories of the
Grand Signior ; imagining they fliould make themfelves Ma
fters of that Trade which the Ve drove there before the
War. And to the end they might bring about this Defign
with more fpeed and fecurity, they apply"d themfelves to the
King of France for his Recommendation, as being the trioft
Antient, and moft Confiderable Allie of the Empire.
Which was cafily condefcended to by the King's Council, whd
aad Affairs in their Heads of greater Importance then Trades
In