count to their court, not only of the great events which have happened at the Porte, but even of the caufes and the confequences of thefe events. We see these minifters act the most important parts in almost all the negociations of the Porte with the other powers; and when they were idle fpectators, they confidered themfelves only as more obliged to examine the force, the interefts, the intentions even of the power to whom. they were fent; they penetrated by address and money into the cabinets of the viziers, and even into the council of the feraglio, in order that their mafter might be perfectly informed of what could intereft him directly or indirectly. Thefe difpatches have discovered to me, more than any thing else, the genius, the force, the refources, the manners, of that nation I was defirous to describe. I have reaped every poffible advantage from this refource by a long and laborious application in researches in the repository of fo- ' reign affairs. It has given me hopes of diffufing an intereft in my recitals. I shall have the merit at least of having fought after the truth, with all the attention, all the care, and all the impartiality, that could be expected

pected from one, whose aim has been to gain inftructions for himself as well as others.

I WELL know there are a great many unbe lievers in history. Some writers, who, difgufted with tiresome researches, have been defirous of reporting interefting fables, rather than real facts, may have authorised this mistrust. As to myself, I dare affert, that I have written nothing that has not received the ftricteft examination, and that I have taken more pains to guard against error, than the infidel hiftorians have to conceal it.

AFTER the great exactnefs of this extensive narrative, in which I have endeavoured to include nothing that was not worthy a relation, I submit my work entirely to the judgment of my readers. To direct their opinion is, in my mind, to anticipate their rights. I write a history, and not a differtation.

AN HISTORICAL

AN

HISTORICAL DISCOURSE

O N

MAHOMET and his SUCCESSORS.

T

HE Arabians, an ancient people, defcended from Ifhmael according to fome writers, forgot by degrees the God of their forefathers. Ignorance and weakness led them into fuperftition, from fuperftition into idolatry. Being left to the light of their reason, at first they worshipped the stars; to thefe alone they confidered themselves indebted for the fruits of the earth; in a little time they made themselves idols of a workmanship equally rude with their arts. Before the time of Mahomet, this was only an ignorant nation, which immenfe deserts and the sea, by feparating it from the reft of mankind, had concealed from the avidity of conquerors, or kept from their dominion. The whole world almost at that time was immerfed in barbarism; even⠀ Christianity

Christianity had not foftened men's manners, and the bofom of the Church was torn by dif ferent fects and herefies. The Jews, fcattered over the face of the earth, equally the contempt of every nation where they went to enrich themfelves, ftill poffeffed fome hamlets on the confines of Arabia. The Egyptians, the Greeks, and the Romans, fucceffively the luminary or the terror of the universe, were little better than barbarians; and, if there were any people free on the earth, it was because no one had poffeffed the courage or the talents neceffary to enslave them.

Such was particularly the ftate of Arabia, when the empire of Mahomet, or rather that of the caliphs, arofe. The falfe prophet laid only the foundation: his daring hands were aided by others ftill more induftrious, who gave this edifice the dimenfions and folidity requifite for its elevation and duration.

Mahomet, born at Mecca the 5th of May, in the year of Jesus Christ 570, of poor parents, though of confideration among the first of his tribe, lost in his tender infancy both father and mother. He was endowed by nature with exterior graces, great courage, and an immoderate ambition; but he was obliged, through poverty, to feek a livelihood by driving camels. ferved feveral mafters among his countrymen ; at length he fettled with a rich widow, called Cadisja. His attention and agreeable mien

He

attracted

attracted this woman, who, charmed with her fervant, presently conferred on him her hand. Mahomet was twenty-five years old when he was fo fortunate as to please his miftrefs. He foon became one of the richest citizens in Mecca. Cadisja's paffion increafed by poffeffion; Mahomet always treated her with that attention which gratitude feemed to require of him; and though fhe was older than her husband, he took no other wife during her life.

Mahomet, 'till he had reached his fortieth year, appeared occupied only about his commerce, and in contributing to the happiness and welfare of his benefactress; but his ambition gathered ftrength in this obfcurity; he was illiterate, it is faid, but affuredly he did not want talents. This camel-driver aimed at the subjection of his country. His ancestors had been at the head of the fenate of Mecca, and one of his paternal uncles was ftill the chief of his tribe. there. Mahomet would not have been contented with the premier rank where there were others that were his equals; he must have fubjects, and even flaves. A Jew, with whom he had frequent conferences, and a Neftorian monk, expelled from his cloister, whom Mahomet met with in his Syrian journeys, perfuaded him to fubjugate mankind by opinion, and to lay the foundation of a new religion at Mecca. Mahomet had a great deal of audacity: his companions invented, b 2

and.