Massachusetts spy and Worcester advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1823-1825, 1823-11-19
satsrflLarrp.
ARABIAN CALIFF,S

The follow:eg is from a transfatiAn Of
:" Sismondi's Historical view of the III
erainre of the south of Europe trans
lated by Thomas Roscoe, and published
in London.
I" The celebrated Haroun Alrsscbid
who reigned from 7S6 to so9. acopired
ag!orious name by the protection which
ne otferedito letters. The historian
himacin assures us, that he never nm
dertook Journey without carrying with
nm at least a hundred men of science
in his train. The Arabians are indebt-
r ed'to him for the rapid progress which
xhey made in science and literature for
Haroun never built a mosque without
attaching to tia school. His successors
followed his example, and in short Pc
Rod, the sciences which were cultivated
IN the capital spread themselves to the
very extremities Of the empire of the
caliphs.
butthe true protector and father of
Arabic literature, was Al-Mamoun, the
seventh caliph of the race of the Abas
sides, and the son of Hafoun Alraschid.
Even in his fathers lifetime, and during
Z his journey to Khorasan, he had chosen
for his companions the most celebrated
men of science amongst the Greeks, the
. Persians, and the Chaldeans. Having
succeeded to the throne, (813-833) he
rendered Bagdad the. centre of litera.
ture. Study, books, and men of letters,
entirely engrossed his attention. The
learned were his. favorites, and his min
listers were occupied alone in forwarding
the progress of literature. IT might be
said, that the throne of the caliphs
seemed to have been raised for the mu-
: ses: He invited 10 his court, from all
parts Of the world, all the learned with
whose existence he was acquainted; ard
ne retained them by rewards, hcnors
and distinctions of every kind. He col
iected from the subject provinces of Sy
ria, Armenia andeEgypt, the most impor
tant books which cenld be discovered
and which, in biz eyes, were the mos
precious tribute he could demand. Th,
governors of provinces, and the officer
OF administration, were directed to a
mass, ia preference to every thing else
the literary relics of the, conquere,
countries, and to Carry them to the foo
OF the throne. Hundreds Of camel
might be seen entering Bagdad, loade,
{, with nothing but manuscripts and pa
"a. pers; and those which were though
adapted. to the purposes of public iu
struction, were translated into Arabic
that they might be universally inteligi
bic. Masters, instructors, .transIators
and commentators, formed the court O
Al7Mamoun, which appeared rather I
be learned academy, than the centr
I. OF government in a warlike empire
!, = When this caliPh dictated the terms g
- peace to the Greek emperor, Michae
the Stammerer, the tribhte which b
demanded from him was a collection o
Greek authors Science, in peculia
manner, experienced the favor Of the ca
hph, notwithstanding the dstrustful jea
ousy of some fanatical MusseImen, VIII
a. accused Al-Mamoun of shaking the four
datlon of lslamism. Speculative phi
y losophy was allowed to indulge in tn
Investigation of the most abstruse ques
ticns. The art of medicine boosted
.. under his empire, of some of her mos
Il. celebrated professors. He had been in
structed by the famous K0ssa in tn
science of the law, which, in the eyes 9
the Musselmen, was, Of all the branche
OF human knowledge, the most sacred
and that to which they abandoned them
selves with the utmost degree O.; ardol
= The calph himself was much attache
to The study of mathematics, which h
had pursued with brilliant success. HI
conceived the grand design of measur
a@ ing the earth, which was accomplishe
a.by his maihamaticians at his own ex
pepse. The Elements of Astronomy b.
?, Alfragan, and the Astronomical Table
: of Al-Merwasi, were the productions o
= two OF his courtiers. Not less gener
80 GUS than enlightened, Al-Mamoun, whel
~ ne pardoned one of his relations VIII
had revolted against him, and attempt
- ed TO. usurp the throne, exclaimed, g /
It were known what pleasure expert
'e3ee 40 granting pardon, all who hav,
offended against me-, would come AM
. confess their criines.'' ~
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