ChapterLXVIII:ReignOfMahometTheSecond，ExtinctionOfEasternEmpirePartI。
ReignAndCharacterOfMahometTheSecond。—Siege，Assault，AndFinalConquest，OfConstantinopleByTheTurks。—DeathOfConstantinePalaeologus。—ServitudeOfTheGreeks。—ExtinctionOfTheRomanEmpireInTheEast。—ConsternationOfEurope。—
ConquestsAndDeathOfMahometTheSecond。
ThesiegeofConstantinoplebytheTurksattractsourfirstattentiontothepersonandcharacterofthegreatdestroyer。
MahomettheSecond^1wasthesonofthesecondAmurath；andthoughhismotherhasbeendecoratedwiththetitlesofChristianandprincess，sheismoreprobablyconfoundedwiththenumerousconcubineswhopeopledfromeveryclimatetheharemofthesultan。HisfirsteducationandsentimentswerethoseofadevoutMussulman；andasoftenasheconversedwithaninfidel，hepurifiedhishandsandfacebythelegalritesofablution。Ageandempireappeartohaverelaxedthisnarrowbigotry:hisaspiringgeniusdisdainedtoacknowledgeapowerabovehisown；