counter-statements; the one built on a contro versial theory, the other bottomed in historical facts; and he will have the means of estimating for himself the measure of injustice, which Mahometanism has, in too many instances, received at the hands of the professed and prejudiced controversialist. Does the question regard the effects of this religion on literature? A sweeping induction is formed from the insulated, if authentic, fanaticism of Omar; while it is denied all benefit from the example of Almamon and his illustrious successors, and from the conspicuous place of the Arabs in the history of letters. Does it relate to its general action on the human mind? The penetrating and enterprising genius of the Saracens is unaccountably lost sight of; and the eye seems to become fixed exclusively upon those barbarians of Mahometanism *, the Turks. 36 European discoveries in science are deservedly put forward to elucidate the social influences of the Gospel: why, then, refuse to those of the Koran, in this particular, their proper place and share? The discoveries of the

* I borrow this characteristic expression from Dr. Miller's "Philosophy of Modern History." Compare Mr. Sharon Turner's " History of England during the Middle Ages," vol. i. pp. 311, 312.

When Christianity and Mahometanism are brought forward together, as conjointly the authors of the grand general revival and advancement of learning, it should be recollected, that their influence on human society, in the production of this result, is a distinction peculiar to themselves,

Arabians, it should be noticed, curiously preceded and prepared the way for our greatest European discoveries: as, for example, how imperfect must have been the uses of the art of printing, but for the prior invention of paper by the Arabs of Spain? The increased facilities of calculation, for which we are indebted to the adoption of the Arabic numerals, have, as is well known to the learned, mainly contributed to the advancement of modern science. A familiar notion of the ground here gained may be easily formed, by the simple comparison of our method, with the cumbrous and elaborate process in use among the ancients.37 The art of medicine was revived, in Italy and Europe, by the schools of Spain and Salerno. "But the science of chemistry," observes Mr. Gibbon, owes its origin and improvement to the industry of the Saracens. They first invented and named the alembic for the purposes of distillation, analysed the substances of the three kingdoms of nature, tried the distinctions and affinities of alkalis and acids,

and which can be affirmed of no third religious polity. In whatever light it be viewed, the fact certainly is most remarkable, and most worthy of consideration, that its brightest lights of knowledge have been, successively, preserved in, and diffused throughout, the world, by the agency of these two creeds.

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and converted the poisonous minerals into soft and salutary medicines."

These important advances in natural philosophy were, however, but introductory steps. -A wholly new system of thought and investigation was to be invented. And the crowning achievement of the Arabs, towards the restoration and advancement of learning, lay in a discovery, which, by changing the direction of the human mind, has proved the prolific parent of its highest attainments both in natural and moral science; the invention, namely, of the experimental philosophy. Their claim to this distinction has been triumphantly asserted by an eminent writer of the present day; who (and particular attention is desired for this independ ent testimony *) further traces the origin of this memorable invention to the peculiar character and influences of MAHOMETANISM.

"The Arabs, under their new tenets †, were precisely the people to effectuate this (the separation of the science of Greece, and Rome from

* The first draft of this Introduction was written in the spring of 1825: the work presently to be cited in the text, came, for the first time, into the hands of the author, in the spring of 1827.

+ The connection, between the doctrine of one God, and the progress of true science, did not escape the comprehensive sagacity of Roger Bacon: "Volo unam sapientiam esse perfectam ostendere. Quoniam ab uno Deo data est tota sapientia, et uni mundo, et propter unum finem." Opus Majus, p. 23. edit. Jebb.

their rhetoric and mythological poetry); and were the only people that could then have accomplished it. To them we are indebted for the revival of natural, and for the rise of experimental philosophy. 38 It was the steady warfare which Mohammed and his followers waged against paganism in all its systems, mythologies, allegories, idolatries, mysteries, and later philosophical purifications and refinements, that led the Arabians to this great improvement in human knowledge, under the tuition of their masters, the Christian Syrians. 39 In the Macedonian establishments at Alexandria the foundations of this happy change were first laid, in the mathematical studies of the philosophers who were there settled and patronized. The mathematical studies are the scientific branch of natural philosophy. * Some great men of the Alexandrian school having peculiarly cultivated them, their works were introduced, by their Syrian teachers, to the Arabs, who immediately appreciated their value, with an extraordinary justness of taste and quickness of discernment; and devoted themselves to these sciences with an avidity and a success, which appropriated the treasures and enlarged the boundaries of all. They translated Euclid,

* "Ancilla Scientiarum." Franc. Bacon. conf. Roger Bacon, Op. Maj. p. 57, &c. + See section xiii, of the present work.

Archimedes, Apollonius Pergæus, Eutochius, Diocles, Diophantus, Hippocrates, and Ptolemy. On these they commented and disserted with emulous ingenuity. The establishment of a separate Caliphate in Spain, and afterwards in Morocco, created new seats of knowledge near the western regions of Europe, where it was zealously cultivated." The well-known providential coincidence between the location of these last Arab schools, and the exigencies of the period in which they were erected, are next forcibly exhibited. "While Europe, in the tenth century, was slumbering in that intellectual torpidity, which followed the downfall of the Latin rhetorical literature, the Arabs were following with ardour those scientific pursuits, which were to give a new spirit of life and knowledge to the western world. Their mental fervour was made to glow peculiarly strong in that part of their dominions, Spain, which was best adapted for the improvement of Europe." Into Spain, accordingly, France, Germany, Italy, and England poured a succession of inquirers; who, attracted by the reputation of the Spanish Mahometans, "ventured to explore what riches they possessed, and imparted to Europe the treasures they obtained. England had its full share in producing these intellectual Columbuses;" whose pro