the chief of the ecclesiastical order, or primate of the mufilman religion. The authority of the mufti is very great in the Ottoman empire; for even the sultan himself, if he would prefer any appearance of religion, cannot, without hearing his opinion, put any person to death, or so much as inflict any corporal punishment. In all actions, especially criminal ones, his opinion is required, by giving him a writing in which the case is stated under feigned names; which he subscribes with the words, He shall, or Shall not be, punished. Such outward honour is paid to the mufti, that the grand signior himself rises up to him, and advances seven steps to meet him when he comes into his presence. He alone has the honour of kissing the sultan's left shoulder; whilst the prime vizier kisses only the hem of his garment. When the grand signior addresses any writing to the mufti, he gives him the following titles: To the efad, the wisest of the wise, instructed in all knowledge, the most excellent of excellents, abstaining from things unlawfuls, the spring of virtue and of true science, heir of the prophetic doctrines, resolver of the problems of faith, revealer of the orthodox articles, key of the treasures of truth, the light to the doubtful allegories, strengthened with the grace of the supreme Legislator of mankind, may the Most High God perpetuate thy virtues! The election of the mufti is solely in the grand signior, who presents him with a vest of rich fables, &c. If he is convicted of treason, or any great crime, he is put into a mortar kept for that purpose in the Seven Towers at Constantinople, and pounded to death.