The Virginia Gazette

Letters from Armenian Merchants in Persia, to their Correspondents in Poland, give a most deplorable Account of the Situation of Affairs in that distracted Kingdom. The great and magnificent City of Ispahan now makes a dismal Figure, some Streets being depopulated, and others reduced to Heaps of Rubbish. As the Kingdom is divided between two Rivals, Shah Thamas and Shah Nadir, and that whoever is Master of the Capital is not able to secure it on either Side against the Attacks of his Adversary (the City being twelve Miles in Circumference) the wretched Inhabitants are alternately exposed to the Pillage of both Parties, as one or the other gains the Ascendant. According to these Letters, scarcely a Week passes without some Palace at Ispahan being plundered, burnt or demolished. The stately Buildings with which Shah Abbas the Great had embellished that Metropolis, are quite defaced by the horrid Devastations made by the Soldiers. Shah Thamas had prevailed with his Men to spare the ancient Pleasure Palace of Shah Abbas, call'd Tscheargab, which the Persians looked upon as a Miracle of Art: But Shah Nadir having gained a little Advantage, which enabled him to draw near the City, he abandoned that Palace to the Fury and Rapaciousness of his Soldiers, who thoroughly plundered it, and then left not one Stone upon another. All the Arts and Sciences which had flourished in Persia 'til the Reign of the unfortunate Shah Hussein either languish, or are totally stagnated: No Art nor Business can be safely allowed, but such as are needful in the Armies, or serve to supply the Luxury of the Camps.

Every thing bends to the capricious Will of the Soldiers, who rule the Nation with a Rod of Iron. The People hope for no Deliverance, except some sudden Revolution, which in destroying the contending Parties, might bring the Kingdom under the Yoke of some neighbouring Power. But such a Revolution does not seem to be at Hand, because the Powers of Asia bordering on Persia have an Interest in the Continuance of the Civil War, which leaves that Kingdom a Prey to itself, and hinders it from hatching Designs against any of its Neighbours.