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；forevenifsuchaseekershouldarriveatconclusionsdifferentfrommyown(andIpretendtonoinfallibility)，hewillatleasthavelearntnewfacts，theparentsofnewthought，perhapsofnewaction；hewillhavecomefacetofacewithnewhumanbeings，inwhomhewillhavebeencompelledtotakeahumaninterest；andwillsurelyrisefromhisresearches，letthemleadhimwheretheywill，atleastsomewhatofawider-mindedandawider-heartedman。