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170

ANNUAL REGISTER

Singular gratitude and generosity of sentiments between two Arabian Lords; extracted from a Miscellany of Eastern Learning, just published.

ALI-IBN-ABBAS, favourite of the Caliph Mamoun *, and lieutenant of the ploice in the reign of this price, relates, in these terms, a story that happened to himself.  :I was one evening with the caliph, when a man, bound hand and foot, was brought in. Mamoun ordered me to keep a watchful eye over the prisoner, and to bring him the next day.  The caliph seemed greatly irritated; and the fear of exposing myself to his resentment induced me to con-fine the prisoner in my haram, as the most secure place in my house, "I asked him what country he was of.  He said, Damascus; and that his habitation was in the quar-ter of the great mosque.  May hea-ven, cried I, shower down the choicest of its blessings upon the city of Damascus, and particularly upon the quarter where you resided! He was sollicitous to know the motive that so much interested me for that district.  It is, said I, that I ow my life to a man that lived there.

"Those words excited his cu-riosity, and he conjured me to gra-tify it.  It is many years since, con-tinued I, that the caliph dissatisfied with the viceroy of Damacus, de-posed him.  I accompanied the person whom the prince had ap-pointed his successor; and at the instant we were taking possession of the governor's palace, a quarrel broke out between the new and the old governor; the latter had posted soldiers who assaulted us: I escaped out of a window, and, finding myself pursued by other assassins, took shelter in your quar-ter.  I observed a palace open, and seeing the master at the door sup-plicated him to save my life.  He immediately conducted me into the apartment of his women, where I continued a month in peace and plenty.

"My host came one day to in-form me, that a caravan was setting out for Bagdad; and that, if I wished to return to my own home, I could not avail myself of a more favourable opportunity.  Shame help my tongue; and I had not

[[footnote]]*Mamoun, son of the Caliph Aroun-Alrachid.  His name is famous all over the east; and he is reckoned the greatest prince of the Abbassidies family.  He reigned twenty-eight years and eight months.  He was a great warrior, of a sweet disposition, and liberal to excess: but what most immortalized him, was his love of learning.  He was himself deeply versed in every science, but more specially in philosophy and astronomy.  This is the prince that caused the most valuable books to be translated from the Greeks, their first masters.--The Mahometan doctors have reproached him with introducing philosophy, and the other speculative sciences, into Mahometanism: for the Arabians of his days were not accustomed to read any other books but what related to their own religion.  This prince shewed equal favour to every man of knowledge, let his religion be what it would.--The question about the creation, or eternity, of the Alcoran, was started in his time, and occasioned much effusion of blood.  He, with the smallest number of doctors, held it to be created.  But the other doctors insisted, that the Alcoran being the word proceeding from God, was eternal like himself: this sentiment is embraced by the present Mahometans, who consider all that deny that doctrine as infidels.[[/footnote]]

courage

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For the YEAR 1772.

courage to confess my poverty: I had no money, and for want of that should be forced to follow the caravan on foot.  But how great was my surprise, when, on the day of departure, a very fine horse was brought me, a mule loaded with all sorts of provisions, and a black slave to attend me on the road!  My generous lost presented me at the same time a purse of gold, and conducted me himself to the cara-van, where he recommended me to several of the travellers, who were his friends.  These are the kind-nesses I received in your city, and that render it so dear to me: all my concern is, that I have not hi-therto been able to discover my ge-nerous benefactor.  I should die content, could I find an opportu-nity of testifying my gratitude.

" Your wishes are accomplished, cried my prisoner in a transport.  I am he, that received you in my palace.  Do you not remember me?  The time that had elapsed since that event, and the grief into which he was sunk, had greatly altered his face; but, on a more close examination of his features, I easily recollected him; and some circumstances he brought to my mind left me not the least room to doubt but that the prisoner, who was then in danger of losing his life, was the very person who had so generously saved mine.  I em-braced him with tears in my eyes, took off his chains, and asked him by what fatality he had incurred the caliph's displeasure.  Some con-temptible enemies, he replied, have found means to asperse me unjustly to Mamoun: I was hurried away from Damacus, and cruelly denied even the consolation of embracing my wife and children: I know not what fate attends me; but as I have reason to apprehend my death is determined, I request you to ac-quaint them with my misfortunes.

" No, said I to him, you shall not die; I dare give you this assu-rance: you shall be restored to your family; be at liberty from this mo-ment.  I presently provided some pieces of the richest gold stuffs of Bagdad, and begged him to present them to his wife: depart immedi-ately, added I, presenting him with a purse of a thousand sequins; haste to rejoin those precious pledges of your affection which you left at Damascus; let the caliph's indig-nation fall on me; I dread it not, if I am happy enough to preserve you.

"What a proposal do you make me! answered my prisoner; and can you think me capable of ac-cepting it?  What! shall I, to avoid death, sacrifice that same life now which I formerly saved?  Endea-vour to convince the caliph of my innocence: this is the only proof I will admit of your gratitude: if you cannot undeceive him, I will go myself and offer him my head: let him dispose of my life at his pleasure, provided yours be safe.  I again intreated him to escape, but he continued inflexible.

" I did not fail to present myself the next morning before Mamoun.  The prince was dressed in a crim-son-coloured mantle, the symbol of his anger.  As soon as he saw me, he enquired where my pri-soner was? and at the same instant ordered the executioner to attend.  My lord, says I, throwing myself at his feet, something very exra-ordinary has happened with regard to the person you yesterday com-mitted to my custody.  Will your

majesty