New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-01-21

readers into the sphere Of Western knowledge aud
Idees-which Is the great object Of the Society as
appears BY the second section Of tho statutes
Aroasjng On interest for science and useful
" knowledge in general, to ihs exclusion of poll
ties and religious polemcs with which the Society
has nothing to do"
In August, 1859, DIR. Smith wrote TO Prot.
Fie;scher: "DurBg tho last Winter our regular
meetings were somewhat thinly attended; on the
{" other band our public lectures had far more hear
" eTs than formerly. Then follows the old story,
whenever the Orient il concerned: 1.-TWO other Cd.
'posine Societies one Of Greeks, one Of Catholics
" have drawn of some OF our members; for al-
though ours purely scientific aud religious con-
" troyersies are excluded by our rules, still some
" care has been taken that its tendency should, on
the whole, be Protestant" Is it to be wondered
Ut that enlightened Syriac patriots after long ex-
perence, should oppose nothing with such vigor as
the accursed spirit of national and religious Sepa-
rstism!
But wAere a real want of intellectual nourish-
ment and craving for mental progress is felt 20
powerfully as in Beyrout, and more especially when
American and Anglo-Saxon perseverance, comes to
their cid, way will be found or made, spite of all
lets and hindrances. Thus, although it does not
appear that the Society has been able to its
public lectures substitute for them is NOT wanting.
AT the beginning of the year (l659) public notice
was given in circular, both English and Arabic, Of
series at least fourteen in number, of lectures in
the Chapel of the American Mission. They were to
BE- exclusively upon scientific and literary topics al
ternately in English, Arabic, and French; were to
be gratis, and under the control Of q committee
made up of Americans, Europeans, and natives.
AT the head of this Committee, as President is the
English Consul, Moore; as Secretary, the Ameri-
can Consul johnson. The three other members
are Michael Medavyar, ButrOs BistsnI (members Of
the Syrian Academy OF Scence) and ChalA el
Churi. editor of the Arabic newspaper of Beyrout-
the Hadikdt 81 Aohbdr, or "Garden of news"
DIR. Van Dyck announced to give the first
English discourse upon "The Connection between
% Science and Revealed Religion" and Butros
BistAni the first Arabic upon 1.-THE Present Condi-
tiOn of Arabic Literature"
In the announcement of these lectures politics
and discussions of religious questions also ex-
pressly excluded.
The greater part of Prof Fleischer's paper is de-
voted to the newspaper above mentioned, including
specimens Of its articles The special interest
nected with il is that il is the first Arabic newspa.
per ever established and edited BY private enter
prise-those of COnstantinople and Cairo being but
organs of the Government and under its immediate
control, ike the MoniteHr, at Paris, or that dish
water sheet at Washington, known as The CORsti-
Triton, quote:
The publisher and editor, still young man, is the
above named Chalil ell Ch0ri-that is literally, Chsi
the Pakor; the latter word, he wever, he wrote
In correction Of something which had written is not
significant Of his class Office, but family name, al
ready 10 years DID, nor Is he, he at the time
informed me, q Maronite United Creek, but member
Of the Orthodox Greek Church His literary quali6ca
Cons for his position editor he proved in 1857 by
volume of Arabic poems, printed at the Mssion press
The gentleman to whom Cha is most indebted for adj
vico and assistance in this enterprise is the above
named merchant, Michael Modavyar Secretary and In
terpreter the French General Consulate in Beyrou
As this noble hearted, highy-cultivated man-whom
we have occasionally seen here IN Leipsc during his
business tourshas always lent his countenance to all
efforts IN the Of science and the general good of
his native land; he has furnished half the capt.
tai necessary for the establishment Of this paper for
a had M hat nd
think ourselves able to recognize If not bis pen
tanly bis spirit and ideas in many article Of the first
year..
Since the LIST Of January, 1853, the Hadikdt has
appeared regularly on Saturdays, single sheet OF
large size, costing for Lebanon and Beyrout l2O
pissters-$6 year--and "a piasters 81 2O) more
when cent by mail Its contents i, Domestic
pews; 3 foreign news; 3, miscellaneous; 4, trade
occasionally extra Price Currently; o, official
and private advertisements. The miscellany offers
great variety; articles literary and scientific, indus
trial and commercial notices, instructive and moral
siauoh that is only amusing anecdotes and jokes
many an old joe Miller among the latter-and seve-
raj long stories translated from the French and
ming through q series of numbers; for instance, "a
Bridal Might" " History of the Marquis de Fon-
tango" and History Of the Two Georges" or the
more specially adapted to the MOhammedan taste,
story Of "The Seven Sleepers" in the form in
which il has been handed down by Arab tradition.
This latter article was furnished by Auton Hasan,
. native Egyptian, Professor OF Arabic In the Poly
technic School here in Vienna, and is accompanied
BY the version of the same legend as given in the
Koran. There is also story in the style of the
Arabian Nights called 1.-The Narrative of Ell Barrak
ben Rauban."
As sober contrast to the foregoing, we find an
Arabic translation of the Criminal Laws az recent
~ published in Turkish at COnstsntinople. DR..
F1eischer says;
OF scecisl interest TO notices showing the
gradual Increased demand for the higher social enjoy
OF the West in the Orient; for instance in No.
%, the description Of Arabic comedy in the Ian
guage of the common people, written in verse by
Nawja Efendi ell Nakkasch, and performed June ID,
1853 a. the house of his brother, Chal ell Nakkasch
one Of the principal officials in the Ottoman Bank at
Beyrout. This performed in the presence Of the
Director and NceDrector of the Bank the Consus Of
the Western Powers, many of the most respectable
Strangers and large number Of the principal natives
Of both sexes The Prologue was spoken by the poet
hiInself closing with prayer, sung TO an aceompan-
Sultan. We find evidences everywhere of the great
efforts made to show honor and devotion TO the head
Of the State. In the very first number there lie rhy me-
pose poem honor Of God and the Sutsn and praises
Of the latter for granting the privilege Of printing to
the H0dfkdt."
The expressions occasionally used in praise of the
Sultan though doubtless thought very fine in Syria
arc at times somewhat strong for our Western
stomaehs-for instance, "The highest ycegerent
of God"
A Joke in No. 80, considering the position of wO-
men in the East, is not little unexpected;
"Wben thou desirest to make an item of news
known throughout the world TO transmit II IN the