417) allows Constantinople a million of inhabitants, of whom 60,000 horse, and an infinite number of foot-soldiers.

In its present decay, the capital of the Ottoman empire may contain 400,000 souls, (Bell's Travels, vol.ii.p.

401, 402;) but as the Turks keep no registers, and as circumstances are fallacious, it is impossible to ascertain (Niebuhr, Voyage en Arabie, tom.i.p.18, 19) the real populousness of their cities.] In the choice of the attack, the French and Venetians were divided by their habits of life and warfare.

The former affirmed with truth, that Constantinople was most accessible on the side of the sea and the harbor.

The latter might assert with honor, that they had long enough trusted their lives and fortunes to a frail bark and a precarious element, and loudly demanded a trial of knighthood, a firm ground, and a close onset, either on foot or on horseback.