sequence of which is, that man is degraded from a rational being to a necessary agent. Knowledge must be held in light estimation in countries so situated, and a contempt for every thing exists, save the Koran and its expositions. The conflagration of the library at Alexandria by the Caliph Omar, shews the early existence of such fanaticism and bigotry among the followers of the Arabian Prophet! The precepts of the Koran are unfavourable to sculpture or the kindred art of painting, from their liability to be perverted to pur a • "Mahometans are at all times ready to acknowledge our superiority in every thing connected with manufactures and arts. This concession, indeed, could not well be withheld, as most articles of a finer quality are imported from Europe into the East, and the greater portion of them from England. Nevertheless, it is surprising that a people so bigoted to their own superiority in most respects, have allowed us a pre-eminence even in this. They reconcile it however to their vanity, by observing that we, as infidels, have our enjoyments in this life, while theirs, as true Believers, will be in a world to come. In short, that we are as superior to them, as the children of this world are, in their generation, wiser than the children of light." -Keppel's Narrative, vol. i. p. 6, &c. poses of idolatry; and also to their improvement in physic and anatomy, from the foolish superstition respecting the examination of the sepulchre. At one period of their history there flourished among them poets, astronomers, historians, orators, and physicians. Al-hazen improved optics, and Mahomet Mose is said to have discovered algebra. During the reign of Al-mamon, which may be termed their Augustan age, the learning of the Greeks was transfused into the Arabian language, learned foreigners were invited, schools and colleges founded, whilst Europe comparatively was in ignorance, and to their translations we are indebted for the recovery of several b Al-mamon, the seventh Caliph of the family of the Abassides, who flourished about the year 820, has the honour of being the founder of the modern Arabian learning. Almanzor, about fifty years before Al-mamon, commenced the literary reform, when he moved the imperial seat from Damascus to Bagdad, and extended the Arabian literature, which had been confined to medicine, and a few other branches, to sciences of every denomination. Al-mamon completed the work which Almanzor begun. my works of the ancients; but this does not affect our general position, being a partial exception super-induced by peculiar circumstances; but even then their particular tenets counteracted the benefit that might have been reaped from the great masters of antiquity: the precepts of liberty inculcated by the orators and historians found no congenial echo in the breasts of men inured to despotism; and the finest flights of poetry connected with heathen thology, were at complete variance with their principles and prejudices; so that generally speaking, as nations, those under the Mohammedan yoke, must be allowed far inferior in march of mind and civilization, and even centuries behind them in improvements. The system does not keep pace with the increased and growing information of the times, perhaps it may have nearly reached the grand climacteric, for it may be truly said, "Vix ultra quo jam progrediatur habet." Exclusive of its repugnance to any thing like discussion or comparison, and the severities practised on those who renounce the errors of their creed, the doctrine of fatalism excludes the possibility of amelioration in their state, until some great mental revolution be effected: for believing all events with their incidents unalterably fixed, a general apathy and neglect of the means is prevalent amongst them; the horrible consequences of which have been experienced in times of infectious sickness, when many lives have been sacrificed, which under proper care and management might have been preserved. "The Koran inculcates in the most absolute sense, the tenets of fate and predestination, which would extinguish both industry and virtue, if the actions of men were governed by his speculative belief." Again, "the degraded condition of the females and the practice of poly gamy is opposed to sound policy and happiness." Our great Master restored marriage to its primitive honour, and graced it with the first miracle that he wrought, in Cana of Galilee; the excellent instructions, in consonance with the dicta of their Master, conveyed by the Apostles on the subject, place the institution in the most respectable light, and tend to the well-being and happiness of society. The Musulmans are allowed four either wives or concubines by their law, but the Prophet, as has been before stated, assumed greater licence by way of special prerogative; and the inutility of the measure is exemplified in himself; his daughter Fatima, whom he had by his wife Khadijah, alone surviving him, notwithstanding all the latitude of promiscuous concubinage. In fine, the nearness between the sexes, making a suitable allowance for the surplus of males, indicates the original intention of Providence. Further, |