Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1855-10-12
Translated from the Courier des Etats Unis
Abd-eI-hader.

This Arab Emir who at the end of the French
war with Algeria remained a prisoner to the French
government has since his captivity become member
OF the Asatic Society of Paris He appears to have
been amusing his time, which otherwise might have
hung heavily upon his hands, by writing book,
which he has sent to M Reinaud of the Institute, to
De presented 10 him as an offering to the society of
which he is the President. The Paris Monieur con-
talns report addressed by the learned conservaor of
oriental manuscripts to the minister of public in
struction, respecting the Emrs book. The manu-
script which is at present deposited in the imperial
library divided into three chapters, preceded by
introduction. M. Reinaud has given an analysis of
tins curious production and translation of the most
important passages In the introduction Add ell Ka-
DER attempts to enforce love of study, and points
out methods for making reading profitable to ones
self and others. In the first chapter where he treats
especially OF the importance and the advantages of
the sciences, the author complains lis entirely with
out reason y that the learned men of Europe, and
particularly the scholars of France, who have
rIed their researches far, and reached high a
degree OF perfection in all the branches of human
knowledge do not think of eevating their minds to-
wards the author of all things towards God who rules
the universe by supreme wisdom. g Never" he
says, are they heard to speak of the divinity in their
conversations, and never is he spoken of in their
books"
After making somewhat curious comparisons of
the way the moral law is inculcated by the religion
of Mahomet, the Jews, and Jesus Christ he says:
{" We see that at the bottom these three religions
are only ene anu Cnat the QlHerenceS WnCn separate
them are mostly on points of detail. They may be
compared to the children of the same father who are
born of different mothers To reject these three re-
gons or to reject part and receive the other is
little thing If Musselmen and Christians would
believe me, they might agree and treat each other
brethren, in principal and in form. Unfortunately
they do not believe me, apparently because it has
entered into the des gns of Providence 10 to
the Messiah alone the mission of bringing Mussel-
men and christians together. This will take place
as the end of the world draws near, when the Mes
sah will return to the earth, but this result he will
not obtain by the effect of persuasion, although he
will be endowed with the power of raising the dead
and healing the leprous and blind, it will be by the
power of the sword and shedding blood. AS for me-
If man desirous of knowing the truth should en-
quire of me- and should understand my words, could
easily bring him to the point, and that not by mpos
ing my opinions upon him, but by compelling him by
the evidence OF my reasonings to do homage to the
truth"
This comparison between Judaism, Christianity and
Mahometansm, this appeal to species of fusion,
this appearance of toeration the of consider
ing religious forms transltory, this alleged unifor-
nifty of symbols, and al the same time the vague
tncure of European rationalism Joined TO an alto
gether oriental reasoning would be, if there any
thing to be in it but the expression of an ndi-
vidual opinion, one of the most remarkable symp-
toms OF the weakening, or the approaching transfor
nation of the Musselmen faith.
The celebrated Emir afterwards sets forth in the
third chapter the advantages of writing for mer at
least for he forbids women as thinking it constitutes
q method of intoxicating bad manners. In his enthu-
slssm he puts the calamus Deed for wri,ing) much
above the sword. But we very much fear that Add
ell Kadlr IN this copies the fox in the fable, and we
prefer to at this time in his hand which green
old age has not weakened, the caamus the sword.