Andwhatwasthiswhichseemedtotheunletteredcamel-driversopricelessatreasure？NotmerelythatGodwasoneGod——vastasthatdiscoverywas——butthathewasaGod"whoshowethtomanthethingwhichheknewnot；"a"mostmercifulGod；"aGod，inaword，whocouldbetrusted；aGodwhowouldteachandstrengthen；aGod，ashesaid，whowouldgivehimcouragetosethisfacelikeaflint，andwouldputananswerinhismouthwhenhisidolatrouscountrymencavilledandsneeredathismessagetothem，toturnfromtheiridolsofwoodandstone，andbecomerighteousmen，asAbrahamtheirforefatherwasrighteous。
　　"AGodwhoshowethtomanthethingwhichheknewnot。"ThatideagavemighttoIslam，becauseitwasarealidea，aneternalfact；theresultofatrueinsightintothecharacterofGod。Andthatideaalone，believeme，willgiveconqueringmighteithertocreed，philosophy，orheartofman。Eachwillbestrong，eachwillendure，inproportionasitbelievesthatGodisonewhoshowstomanthethingwhichheknewnot:asitbelieves，inshort，inthatLogosofwhichSaintJohnwrote，thatHewasthelightwholightenseverymanwhocomesintotheworld。
　　Inaword，thewildKoreishhaddiscovered，moreorlessclearly，thatendandobjectofallmetaphysicwhereofIhavealreadyspokensooften；
　　thatexternalandimperishablebeautyforwhichPlatosoughtofold；andhadseenthatitsnamewasrighteousness，andthatitdweltabsolutelyinanabsolutelyrighteousperson；andmoreover，thatthispersonwasnocarelessself-contentedepicureandeity；butthatHewas，astheylovedtocallHim，themostmercifulGod；thatHecaredformen；thatHedesiredtomakemenrighteous。Ofthattheycouldnotdoubt。Thefactwaspalpable，historic，present。TothemthedegradedKoreishofthedesert，whoastheybelieved，andIthinkbelievedrightly，hadfallenfromtheoldMonotheismoftheirforefathersAbrahamandIsmael，intothelowestfetishism，andwiththatintothelowestbrutalityandwretchedness——tothem，whiletheyweremakingidolsofwoodandstone；
　　eatingdeadcarcases；andburyingtheirdaughtersalive；carelessofchastity，ofjustice，ofproperty；sunkinunnaturalcrimes，deadintrespassesandsins；hatefulandhatingoneanother——aman，oneoftheirownpeoplehadcome，saying:"IhaveamessagefromtheonerighteousGod。Hiscurseisonallthis，foritisunlikeHimself。Hewillhaveyourighteousmen，afterthepatternofyourforefatherAbraham。Bethat，andarise，body，soul，andspirit，outofyoursavageryandbrutishness。Thenyoushallbeabletotrampleunderfonttheprofligateidolaters，tosweeptheGreektyrantsfromthelandwhichtheyhavebeenoppressingforcenturies，andtorecovertheEastforitsrightfulheirs，thechildrenofAbraham。"Wasthisnot，ineverysense，amessagefromGod？ImustdenythephilosophyofClementandAugustine，Imustdenymyownconscience，myownreason，Imustoutragemyownmoralsense，andconfessthat
　　Ihavenoimmutablestandardofright，thatIknownoeternalsourceofright，ifIdenyittohavebeenone；ifIdenywhatseemstomethepalpablehistoricfact，thatthosewildKoreishhadinthemareasonandaconscience，whichcouldawakentothatmessage，andperceiveitsboundlessbeauty，itsboundlessimportance，andthattheydidacceptthatmessage，andlivedbyitinproportionastheyreceiveditfully，suchlivesasnomeninthosetimes，andfewinaftertimes，havebeenabletolive。IfIfeel，asI
　　dofeel，thatAbubekr，Omar，AbuObeidah，andAmrou，werebettermenthanIam，ImustthrowawayallthatPhilo——allthataHigherauthority——hastaughtme:orImustattributetheirloftyvirtuestotheonesourceofallinmanwhichisnotselfishness，andfancy，andfury，andblindnessasofthebeastswhichperish。
　　Why，then，hasIslamismbecomeoneofthemostpatentandcompletefailuresuponearth，ifthetruetestofasystem'ssuccessbethegradualprogressandameliorationofthehumanbeingswhoareunderitsinfluence？First，Ibelieve，fromitsallowingpolygamy。IdonotjudgeMohammedforhavingallowedit。Hefounditoneoftheancestralandimmemorialcustomsofhisnation。HefounditthroughouttheHebrewScriptures。HefounditinthecaseofAbraham，hisidealman；and，ashebelieved，thedivinely-inspiredancestorofhisrace。ItseemedtohimthatwhatwasrightforAbraham，couldnotbewrongforanArab。
　　Godshalljudgehim，notI。Moreover，theChristiansoftheEast，dividedintoeithermonksorprofligates；andwithfarlowerandmorebrutalnotionsofthemarriedstatethanweretobefoundinArabpoetryandlegend，weretheverylastmenonearthtomakehimfeeltheeternalanddivinebeautyofthatpureweddedlovewhichChristianityhasnotonlyproclaimed，butcommanded，andtherebyemancipatedwomanfromheroldslaverytothestrongersex。AndIbelieve，fromhischivalrousfaithfulnesstohisgoodwifeKadijah，aslongasshelived，thatMohammedwasamanwhocouldhaveacceptedthatgreattruthinallitsfulness，hadhebutbeentaughtit。Hecertainlyfelttheevilofpolyamysostronglyastorestrictitineverypossibleway，excepttheonlyrightway——namely，theproclamationofthetrueidealofmarriage。
　　Buthisignorance，mistake，sin，ifyouwill，wasadeflectionfromtherightlaw，fromthetrueconstitutionofman，andthereforeitavengeditself。Thatchivalrousrespectforwoman，whichwassostrongintheearlyMohammedans，diedout。Thewomenthemselves——who，inthefirstfewyearsofIslamism，roseasthemenrose，andbecametheirhelpmates，counsellors，andfellow-warriors——degeneratedrapidlyintomereplaythings。Ineednotenterintothepainfulsubjectofwoman'spresentpositionintheEast，andthesocialconsequencesthereof。ButIfirmlybelieve，notmerelyasatheory，butasafactwhichmaybeprovedbyabundantevidence，thattopolygamyaloneisowingnine-tenthsofthepresentdecayandoldageofeveryMussulmannation；andthattillitbeutterlyabolished，allWesterncivilisationandcapital，andallthecivilandreligiouslibertyonearth，willnotavailonejottowardtheirrevival。Youmustregeneratethefamilybeforeyoucanregeneratethenation，andtherelationofhusbandandwifebeforethefamily；because，aslongastherootiscorrupt，thefruitwillbecorruptalso。
　　ButthereisanothercauseofthefailureofIslamism，moreintimatelyconnectedwiththosemetaphysicalquestionswhichwehavebeenhithertoprincipallyconsidering。
　　AmongthefirstMussulmans，asIhavesaid，therewasgenerallythemostintensebeliefineachmanthathewaspersonallyunderadivineguideandteacher。Buttheircreedcontainednothingwhichcouldkeepupthatbeliefinthemindsofsucceedinggenerations。Theyhaddestroyedthegoodwiththeevil，andtheypaidthepenaltyoftheirundistinguishingwrath。InsweepingawaytheidolatriesandfetishworshipsoftheSyrianCatholics，theMussulmanshadsweptawayalsothatdoctrinewhichalonecandelivermenfromidolatryandfetishworships——ifnotoutwardandmaterialones，yetthestillmoresubtle，andthereforemoredangerousidolatriesoftheintellect。FortheyhadsweptawaythebeliefintheLogos；inadivineteacherofeveryhumansoul，whowas，insomemysteriousway，thepatternandantitypeofhumanvirtueandwisdom。Andmore，theyhadsweptawaythatbeliefintheincarnationoftheLogos，whichalonecanmakemanfeelthat
　　hisdivineteacherisonewhocanenterintothehumanduties，sorrows，doubts，ofeachhumanspirit。And，therefore，whenMohammedandhispersonalfriendsweredead，thebeliefinapresentdivineteacher，onthewhole，diedwiththem；andtheMussulmansbegantoputtheKoranintheplaceofHimofwhomtheKoranspoke。Theybegantoworshipthebook——whichafterallisnotabook，butonlyanirregularcollectionofMohammed'smeditations，andnotesforsermons——withthemostslavishandridiculousidolatry。Theyfellintoacabbalism，andasuperstitiousreverenceforthemerelettersandwordsoftheKoran，towhichthecabbalismoftheoldRabbiswasmoderateandrational。Theysurroundedit，andthehistoryofMohammed，withallridiculousmyths，andprodigies，andlyingwonders，whereofthebookitselfcontainednotaword；andwhichMohammed，duringhisexistence，haddeniedandrepudiated，sayingthatheworkednomiracles，andthatnonewereneeded；becauseonlyreasonwasrequiredtoshowamanthehandofagoodGodinallhumanaffairs。
　　Nevertheless，theselaterMussulmansfoundthemiraclesnecessarytoconfirmtheirfaith:andwhy？BecausetheyhadlostthesenseofapresentGod，aGodoforder；andthereforehankered，asmeninsuchamoodalwayswill，afterprodigiousandunnaturalproofsofHishavingbeenoncepresentwiththeirfounderMohammed。
　　AndinthemeanwhilethatabsoluteandomnipotentBeingwhomMohammed，arisingoutofhisgreatdarkness，hadsonoblypreachedtotheKoreish，recededinthemindsoftheirdescendantstoanunapproachableandabysmaldistance。FortheyhadlostthesenseofHispresentguidance，Hispersonalcare。TheyhadlostallwhichcouldconnectHimwiththeworkingoftheirownsouls，withtheirhumandutiesandstruggles，withthebeliefthatHismercyandlovewerecounterpartsofhumanmercyandhumanlove；inplainEnglish，thatHewaslovingandmercifulatall。
　　Thechangecameverygradually，thankGod；youmayreadofnoblesayingsanddeedshereandthere，formanycenturiesafterMohammed:butitcame；andthentheirbeliefinGod'somnipotenceandabsolutenessdwindledintothemostdark，andslavish，andbenumbingfatalism。Hisunchangeablenessbecameintheirmindsnotanunchangeablepurposetoteach，forgive，anddelivermen——asitseemedtoMohammedtohavebeen——
　　butamerebrutenecessity，anunchangeablepurposetohaveHisownway，whatsoeverthatwaymightbe。Thatdarkfatalism，also，hashelpedtowardthedecayoftheMohammedannations。Ithasmadethemcarelessofself-improvement；faithlessofthepossibilityofprogress；andhaskept，andwillkeep，theMohammedannations，inallintellectualmatters，wholeagesbehindtheChristiannationsoftheWest。
　　HowfarthestoryofOmar'scommandingthebathsofAlexandriatobeheatedwiththebooksfromthegreatlibraryistrue，weshallneverknow。Somehavedoubtedthestoryaltogether:butsomanyfreshcorroborationsofitaresaidtohavebeenlatelydiscovered，inArabicwriters，thatIcanhardlydoubtthatithadsomefoundationinfact。
　　OnecannotbutbelievethatJohnPhiloponus，thelastoftheAlexandriangrammarians，whenheaskedhispatronAmrouthegiftofthelibrary，tookcaretosavesome，atleast，ofitstreasures；andhowsoeverstronglyOmarmayhavefeltorsaidthatallbookswhichagreedwiththeKoranwereuseless，andallwhichdisagreedwithitonlyfittobedestroyed，thegeneralfeelingoftheMohammedanleaderswasverydifferent。Astheysettledinthevariouscountrieswhichtheyconquered，educationseemstohavebeenconsideredbythemanimportantobject。Weevenfindsomeofthem，inthesamegenerationasMohammed，obeyingstrictlytheProphet'scommandtosendallcaptivechildrentoschool——afactwhichspeaksaswellfortheMussulmans'goodsense，asitspeaksillforthestateofeducationamongthedegradeddescendantsoftheGreekconquerorsoftheEast。GraduallyphilosophicSchoolsarose，firstatBagdad，andthenatCordova；andtheArabscarriedonthetaskofcommentingonAristotle'sLogic，andPtolemy'sMegisteSyntaxis——whichlastacquiredfromthemthenameofAlmagest，bywhichitwassolongknownduringtheMiddleAges。
　　Buttheydidlittlebutcomment，thoughtherewasnoNeoplatonicormysticelementintheircommentaries。ItseemsasifAlexandriawaspreordained，byitsverycentralposition，tobethecityofcommentators，notoforiginators。Itisworthyofremark，thatPhiloponus，whomaybeconsideredasthemanwhofirstintroducedthesimplewarriorsoftheKoreishtothetreasuresofGreekthought，seemstohavebeenthefirstrebelagainsttheNeoplatonisteclecticism。Hemaintained，andtruly，thatPorphyry，Proclus，andtherest，hadentirelymisunderstoodAristotle，whentheyattemptedtoreconcilehimwithPlato，orincorporatehisphilosophyintoPlatonism。Aristotlewashenceforththetext-bookofArabsavants。Itwasnaturalenough。TheMussulmanmindwastrainedinhabitsofabsoluteobediencetotheauthorityoffixeddogmas。Allthoseattemptstofollowoutmetaphysictoitshighestobject，theology，wouldbeuselessifnotwrongintheeyesofaMussulman，whohadalreadyhissimpleandsharply-definedcreedonallmattersrelatingtotheunseenworld。Withhimmetaphysicwasastudyaltogetherdivorcedfromman'shigherlifeandaspirations。
　　Soalsowerephysics。WhatneedhadheofCosmogonies？whatneedtotracetherelationsbetweenmanandtheuniverse，ortheuniverseanditsMaker？HehadhisdefinitematerialElysiumandTartarus，astheonlyultimaterelationbetweenmanandtheuniverse；hisdogmaofanabsolutefiat，creatingarbitraryandonceforall，astheonlyrelationbetweentheuniverseanditsMaker:andfurtheritwasnotlawfultospeculate。TheideawhichIbelieveunitesbothphysicandmetaphysicwithman'shighestinspirationsandwidestspeculations——theAlexandriaideaoftheLogos，oftheDeityworkingintimeandspacebysuccessivethoughts——hehadnotheardof；foritwasdead，asIhavesaid，inAlexandriaitself；
　　andifhehadheardofit，hewouldhavespurneditasdetractingfromtheabsolutenessofthatabysmaloneBeing，ofwhomhesonoblyyetsopartiallyborewitness。Soitwastobe；doubtlessitwasrightthatitshouldbeso。Man'seyeistoonarrowtoseeawholetruth，hisbraintooweaktocarryawholetruth。Betterforhim，andbetterfortheworld，isperhapsthemethodonwhichmanhasbeeneducatedineveryage，bywhichtoeachschool，orparty，ornation，isgivensomeonegreattruth，whichtheyaretoworkouttoitshighestdevelopment，toexemplifyinactuallife，leavingsomehappierage——
　　perhaps，alas!onlysomefuturestate——toreconcilethattoofavoureddogmawithothertruthswhichliebesideit，andwithoutwhichitisalwaysincomplete，andsometimesaltogetherbarren。
　　Butsuchschoolsofscience，foundedonsuchagroundasthis，onthemereinstinctofcuriosity，hadlittlechanceoforiginalityorvitality。Allthegreatschoolsoftheworld，theelderGreekphilosophy，theAlexandrian，thepresentBaconianschoolofphysics，havehadadeepermotivefortheirsearch，afarhigherobjectwhichtheyhopetodiscover。Butindeed，theMussulmansdidnotsomuchwishtodiscovertruth，astocultivatetheirownintellects。Forthatpurposeasharpandsubtlesystematist，likeAristotle，wastheverymanwhomtheyrequired；andfromthedestructionofAlexandriamaydatetheriseoftheAristotelianphilosophy。TranslationsofhisworksweremadeintoArabic，first，itissaid，fromPersianandSyriactranslations；theformerofwhichhadbeenmadeduringthesixthandseventhcenturies，bythewreckoftheNeoplatonistparty，duringtheirvisittothephilosophicChozroos。Acenturyafter，theyfilledAlexandria。AfterthemAlmansoor，HairounAlraschid，andtheirsuccessors，whopatronisedtheNestorianChristians，obtainedfromthemtranslationsofthephilosophic，medical，andastronomicalGreekworks；
　　whilethelastoftheOmniades，Abdalrahman，hadintroducedthesameliterarytasteintoSpain，where，inthethirteenthcentury，AverroesandMaimonidesrivalledthefameofAvicenna，whohadflourishedatBagdadacenturybefore。
　　But，asIhavesaidalready，theseArabsseemtohaveinventednothing；
　　theyonlycommented。Andyetnotonlycommented；fortheypreservedforusthoseworksofwhoserealvaluetheyweresolittleaware。Averroes，inqualityofcommentatoronAristotle，becamehisrivalinthemindsofthemediaevalschoolmen；Avicenna，inqualityofcommentatoronHippocratesandGalen，wasforcenturiesthetext-bookofallEuropeanphysicians；whileAlbataniandAboulWefa，asastronomers，commentedonPtolemy，nothoweverwithoutmakingafewimportantadditionstohisknowledge；forAboulWefadiscoveredathirdinequalityofthemoon'smotion，inadditiontothetwomentionedbyPtolemy，whichhedid，accordingtoProfessorWhewell，inatrulyphilosophicmanner——anapparentlysolitaryinstance，andonewhich，initsownday，hadnoeffect；forthefactwasforgotten，andrediscoveredcenturiesafterbyTychoBrahe。To
　　Albatani，however，weowetworeallyvaluableheirlooms。Theoneistheuseofthesine，orhalf-chordofthedoublearc，insteadofthechordofthearcitself，whichhadbeenemployedbytheGreekastronomers；theother，ofevenmorepracticalbenefit，wastheintroductionofthepresentdecimalarithmetic，insteadofthetroublesomesexagesimalarithmeticoftheGreeks。Thesetendigits，however，seem，saysProfessorWhewell，bytheconfessionoftheArabiansthemselves，tobeofIndianorigin，andthusformnoexceptiontothesterilityoftheArabiangeniusinscientificinventions。Neverthelesswearebound，inallfairness，tosetagainsthiscondemnationoftheArabsProfessorDeMorgan'sopinionoftheMoslem，inhisarticleonEuclid:"Somewritersspeakslightinglyofthisprogress，theresultsofwhichtheyaretooapttocomparewiththoseofourowntime。TheyoughtrathertoplacetheSaracensbythesideoftheirownGothicancestors；andmakingsomeallowanceforthemoreadvantageouscircumstancesunderwhichthefirststarted，theyshouldviewthesecondsystematicallydispersingtheremainsofGreekcivilisation，whilethefirstwereconcentratingthegeometryofAlexandria，thearithmeticandalgebraofIndia，andtheastronomyofboth，toformanucleusforthepresentstateofscience。"
　　TothisarticleofProfessorDeMorgan'sonEuclid，{2}andtoProfessorWhewell'sexcellent"HistoryoftheInductiveSciences，"fromwhichI，beingneitherArabicscholarnorastronomer，havedrawnmostofmyfactsaboutphysicalscience，Imustreferthosewhowishtoknowmoreoftheearlyriseofphysics，andoftheirpreservationbytheArabs，tillagreatandunexpectedeventbroughtthembackagaintothequarteroftheglobewheretheyhadtheirbirth，andwherealonetheycouldberegeneratedintoanewandpracticallife。
　　ThatgreateventwastheCrusades。WehaveheardlittleofAlexandrialately。Itsintellectualgloryhaddepartedwestwardandeastward，toCordovaandtoBagdad；itscommercialgreatnesshadleftitforCairoandDamietta。ButEgyptwasstillthecentreofcommunicationbetweenthetwogreatstationsoftheMoslempower，andindeed，asMr。Lanehasshowninhismostvaluabletranslationofthe"ArabianNights，"
　　possessedapeculiarlifeandcharacterofitsown。
　　ItwastherashobjectoftheCrusaderstoextinguishthatlife。
　　Palestinewastheirfirstpointofattack:butthelaterCrusadersseemtohavefound，liketherestoftheworld，thatthedestiniesofPalestinecouldnotbeseparatedfromthoseofEgypt；andtoDamietta，accordingly，wasdirectedthatlastdisastrousattemptofSt。Louis，whichallmayreadsographicallydescribedinthepagesofJoinville。
　　TheCrusadersfailedutterlyoftheobjectatwhichtheyaimed。Theysucceededinanobjectofwhichtheyneverdreamed；forinthoseCrusadestheMoslemandtheChristianhadmetfacetoface，andfoundthatbothweremen，thattheyhadacommonhumanity，acommoneternalstandardofnoblenessandvirtue。SotheChristianknightswenthomehumblerandwisermen，whentheyfoundintheSaracenemirsthesamegenerosity，truth，mercy，chivalrousself-sacrifice，whichtheyhadfanciedtheirownpeculiarpossession，andaddedtothat，acivilisationandalearningwhichtheycouldonlyadmireandimitate。Andthus，fromtheeraoftheCrusades，akindlierfeelingsprangupbetweentheCrescentandtheCross，tillitwasagainbrokenbythefearfulinvasionsoftheTurksthroughoutEasternEurope。ThelearningoftheMoslem，aswellastheircommerce，begantopourrapidlyintoChristendom，bothfromSpain，Egypt，andSyria；andthustheCrusaderswere，indeed，rewardedaccordingtotheirdeeds。TheyhadfanciedthattheywereboundtovindicatethepossessionoftheearthforHimtowhomtheybelievedtheearthbelonged。Heshowedthem——orratherHehasshownus，theirchildren——thatHecanvindicate
　　HisowndominionbetterfarthanmancandoitforHim；andtheircruelandunjustaimwasutterlyfoiled。ThatwasnotthewaytomakemenknoworobeyHim。
　　Theytookthesword，andperishedbythesword。Butthetrulynobleelementinthem——theelementwhichourheartsandreasonsrecogniseandlove，inspiteofalltheloudwordsaboutthefollyandfanaticismoftheCrusades，whensoeverweread"TheTalisman"or"Ivanhoe"——theelementofloyalfaithandself-sacrifice——didnotgounrequited。Theylearntwider，justerviewsofmanandvirtue，whichIcannothelpbelievingmusthavehadgreateffectinweakeningintheirmindstheirold，exclusive，andbigotednotions，andinpavingthewayforthegreatoutburstoffreethought，andthegreatassertionofthedignityofhumanity，whichthefifteenthcenturybeheld。Theyopenedapathforthatinfluxofscientificknowledgewhichhasproduced，inaftercenturies，themostenormouseffectsonthewelfareofEurope，andmadelifepossibleformillionswhowouldotherwisehavebeenpentwithinthenarrowboundsofEurope，todevoureachotherinthestruggleforroomandbread。
　　ButthoseArabictranslationsofGreekauthorswereafatalgiftforEgypt，andscarcelylessfatalgiftforBagdad。InthatAlmagestofPtolemy，inthatOrganonofAristotle，whichtheCrusadersaresaidtohavebroughthome，lay，rudeandembryotic，thegermsofthatphysicalscience，thatgeographicalknowledgewhichhasopenedtothe
　　Europeanthecommerceandthecolonisationoftheglobe。WithinthreehundredyearsafterhisworksreachedEurope，PtolemyhadtaughtthePortuguesetosailroundAfrica；andfromthatdaythestreamofeasternwealthflowednolongerthroughtheRedSea，orthePersianGulf，onitswaytothenewcountriesoftheWest；andnotonlyAlexandria，butDamiettaandBagdad，dwindleddowntotheirpresentinsignificance。Andyetthewhirligigoftimebringsaboutitsrevenges。Thestreamofcommerceisnowrapidlyturningbacktoitsoldchannel；andBritishsciencebidsfairtomakeAlexandriaoncemoretheinnofallthenations。
　　Itiswithafeelingofawethatonelooksuponthehugepossibilitiesofherfuture。Herownphysicalcapacities，asthegreatmindofNapoleonsaw，arewhattheyalwayshavebeen，inexhaustible；andsciencehaslearnttosetatnaughttheonlydefectofsituationwhichhaseverinjuredherprosperity，namely，theshortlandpassagefromtheNiletotheRedSea。ThefateofPalestineisnowmorethaneverboundupwithherfate；andaBritishorFrenchcolonymight，holdingthetwocountries，developitselfintoanationasvastassprangfromAlexander'shandfulofMacedonians，andbecomethemeetingpointforthenationsoftheWestandthosegreatAnglo-SaxonpeopleswhoseemdestinedtospringupintheAustralianocean。Wideasthedreammayappear，steamhasmadeitafarnarroweronethantheoldactualfact，thatforcenturiesthePhoenicianandtheArabianinterchangedatAlexandriatheproduceofBritainforthatofCeylonandHindostan。Andasforintellectualdevelopment，thoughAlexandriawants，asshehasalwayswanted，thatinsularandexclusivepositionwhichseemsalmostnecessarytodeveloporiginalthoughtandoriginalnationallife，yetshemaystillactasthepointoffusionfordistinctschoolsandpolities，andtheyoungandbuoyantvigourofthenew-bornnationsmayatonceteach，andlearnfrom，theprudence，theexperience，thetraditionalwisdomoftheancientEuropeans。
　　Thisvision，howeverpossible，maybeafar-offone:butthefirststeptowardsit，atleast，isbeinglaidbeforeoureyes——andthatis，afreshreconciliationbetweentheCrescentandtheCross。Apartfromallpoliticalconsiderations，whichwouldbeoutofplacehere，Ihail，asastudentofphilosophy，theschoolwhichisnow，bothinAlexandriaandinConstantinople，teachingtoMoslemandtoChristiansthesamelessonwhichtheCrusaderslearntinEgyptfivehundredyearsago。Afewyears'moreperseveranceinthevaliantandrighteouscoursewhichBritainhasnowchosen，willrewarditselfbyopeningavastfieldforcapitalandenterprise，fortheintroductionofcivilandreligiouslibertyamongthedown-troddenpeasantryofEgypt；astheGiaourbecomesanobjectofrespect，andtrust，andgratitudetotheMoslem；andasthefeelingthatMoslemandGiaourownacommonhumanity，acommoneternalstandardofjusticeandmercy，acommonsacredobligationtoperformourpromises，andtosuccourtheoppressed，shallhavetakenplaceoftheoldbrutewonderatourcarelessaudacity，andawkwardassertionofpower，whichnowexpressesitselfinthesomewhatleft-handedAlexandriancompliment——"ThereisoneSatan，andtherearemanySatans:
　　butthereisnoSatanlikeaFrankinaroundhat。"
　　ItwouldbebothuncourteousandunfairofmetoclosethesemyhastyLectures，withoutexpressingmyheartythanksforthegreatcourtesyandkindnesswhichIhavereceivedinthismyfirstvisittoyourmostnobleandbeautifulcity；andoften，Iamproudtosay，fromthosewhodifferfrommedeeplyonmanyimportantpoints；andalsofortheattentionwithwhichIhavebeenlistenedtowhiletrying，clumsilyenough，toexplaindryandrepulsivesubjects，andtoexpressopinionswhichmaybenew，andperhapsstartling，tomanyofmyhearers。Ifmyimperfecthintsshallhavestirredupbutonehearertoinvestigatethisobscureandyetmostimportantsubject，andtoexamineforhimselftheoriginaldocuments，Ishallfeelthatmywordsinthisplacehavenotbeenspokeninvain；forevenifsuchaseekershouldarriveatconclusionsdifferentfrommyownandIpretendtonoinfallibility，hewillatleasthavelearntnewfacts，theparentsofnewthought，perhapsofnewaction；hewillhavecomefacetofacewithnewhumanbeings，inwhomhewillhavebeencompelledtotakeahumaninterest；andwillsurelyrisefromhisresearches，letthemleadhimwheretheywill，atleastsomewhatofawider-mindedandawider-heartedman。