Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1823-11-20

ieratme IF the South Of Europe
transldiedby Thomas Roscoe and
published in London, the prescn.
year:
"The celebrated Haroun aI.Rsscid.
who reigned from 7S6 to 500, acqnf.
ed glorious name. hv the protection
which he afforded 20 letters. The
historian Elmac,n assures us, that he
never undertooka journey without car.
tying with him, at least, o hundred
men OF science in his tram. The ar.
abians arc indebted to him for the RI.
pid progress which they made in
science aud literature; for Raroun ne.
yer built mosque without attaching
10 it, school. His successors follow.
cd bis example, and in short period
the sciences which were cultivated il,
the capital, spread themselves to the
very cxtremities OF the empire Of the
cahphs.
But the true protector and father az
Arabic literature was AL Manoun, the
seventh caliph OF the race ofthr Aba.
sides. and,'s sonof Harounal. Raseh;d.
Even in his fathers life time, and slu.
ring his journey TO Khorasau. he lad
chosen for his companions the n,Ost ,.c
LIBERATED men Of science among the
Greeks, the persians and Chalsirar..
Having succeeded to the throne (8l3.
1851 he rendered Bagdad the centre
of literature Study, books and men
of letters, almos, entirely cngrosscd his
attention. The learned were his "a.
vourites; and his ministers were oceu.
pied alone in forwarding the progress
of literature. 1t might be said. that
the throne ofthe calipl seemed TO have
been raised for the MUSES.. He invi-
ted 10 his court, from all parts OF the
world, all the learned with whose
existence he was acquainted; and he
retained them by rewards. honors, and
distinctions Of every kind. He COL
Ieeled from the subject provinces Of Sy-
ria, Armenia, and Egypt, the most
important books which could he disco
vered, and which, In his eyes, we're
the most precious tribusc he could de.
mand. The governors Of provinces,
and the officers decentralization, were
directed 10 amsss, in preference to
every thing else. The literary relics Of
the conquered countries, aud TO carry
them to the foot Of The throne. Him.
dreds Of canals might he seen entering
Bagdad, loaded with nothing but
manuscripts and papers; aud those
which were thoughtto he adopted for
the purpose Of pubhc instruction, were
translated into Arabic, that they might
be universally inteliigible. Masters,
instructors, translatnrs. and c0mmen-
tators, formed the courtof Al Mainoun,
which appeared rather to be learned
academy, than the centre OF govern
ment in warlike empire: Whenthis
caliph dictated the terms of peace to the
Greek Emperor, Michael the Siam
merer; the tribute which he demanded
from him was a collection Of Greek
authors Science, in peculiar man.
ner, experienced the favour Of the ca
liph, Notwithstanding the distrustsul
jealousy OF some faDaticaI Musselmens,
who accused Al Mamoun Of shaking
the foundations OF Islamism. Specu.
latige philosophy was allowed to in
! dclgc in the investigation Of the most
abstruse questions. The art of medi..
cine boosted, under his empire, Of
some of her most celebrated profes-
sors.
Gle was instructed by the famous
Kossa in the science OF the law, which
In the eyes ofthe Musseimans, was.
=, of all the branches OF human know
| ledge, the. most sacred, and that 10
| which they abandoned themselves
| with the utmost degree of ardour -
The caliph himself was much attached
| to the study Of mathematics, which he
had pursued with brilliant successes
He conceived the grand design of meas
uring the earth, which was &c omplish-
| ed by his masheuiaticiaBs at his own
expense. The Elements of Astrono-
my by Alfragan, ard the Astrcnomi-
| cal Tables OF AL Merwasi, were the
productions Of two OF his ccurtivrs. -
Not less generous than enlightened,
| AL Mamoun, when he pardoned one
/ of,his relaiionsw had revolted against
him. and attempted to usurp the throns
exclaimed, "If it were known what
pleasure Experience in granting par
don, all who have offended against me