"MY LORD-I have been lately informed by the proprietor of The World' that two papers, in which my

Dictionary is recommended to the public, were written by your lordship. To be so distinguished is an honour, which, being very little accustomed to favours from the great, I know not well how to receive, or in what terms to acknowledge.

"When, upon some slight encouragement, I first visited your lordship, I was overpowered, like the rest of mankind, by the enchantment of your address, and could not forbear to wish that I might boast myself Le vainqueur du vain

queur de la terre;-that I might obtain that regard for

which I saw the world contending; but I found my attendance so little encouraged, that neither pride nor modesty

would suffer me to continue it. When I had once addressed

your lordship in public, I had exhausted all the art of pleasing which a retired and uncourtly scholar can possess. I had done all that I could; and no man is well pleased to have his all neglected, be it ever so little.

"Seven years, my lord, have now past, since I waited in

your outward rooms, or was repulsed from your door; during which time I have been pushing on my work through difficulties, of which it is useless to complain, and have brought it, at last, to the verge of publication, without one act of assistance, one word of encouragement, or

had it been early, had been kind; but it has been delayed till I am indifferent, and cannot enjoy it; till I am solitary, and cannot impart it; till I am known, and do not want it. I hope it is no very cynical asperity not to confess obligations where no benefit has been received, or to be unwilling that the public should consider me as owing that to a patron, which Providence has enabled me to do for myself.

Having carried on my work thus far with so little obligation to any favourer of learning, I shall not be disappointed though I should conclude it, if less be possible, with less; for I have been long wakened from that dream

of hope, in which I once boasted myself with so much exultation. My Lord, your lordship's most humble, most obedient servant, SAM. JOHNSON."

DR. ADAMS TRIES TO SOOTHE JOHNSON.

Dr. Adams expostulated with Johnson, and suggested that his not being admitted, when he called on him, was probably not to be imputed to Lord Chesterfield; for his lordship had declared to had declared to Dodsley that "he would have turned off the best servant he ever had, if he had known that he denied him to a man who would have been always more than welcome; " and in confirmation of this, he insisted on Lord Chesterfield's general affability and easiness of access, especially to literary men. "Sir (said Johnson), that is not Lord Chesterfield; he is the proudest man this day existing." "No (said Dr. Adams), there is one person, at least, as proud; I think, by your own account, you are the prouder man of the two."

"But mine (replied Johnson instantly) was defensive pride." This, as Dr. Adams well observed, was one of those happy turns for which he was so remarkably ready. Johnson having now explicitly avowed his

I never had a patron before.

"The shepherd in Virgil grew at last acquainted with Love, and found him a native of the rocks.

"Is hot a patron, my lord, one who looks with unconcern on a man struggling for life in the water, and when he has reached ground, encumbers him with help? The notice which you have been pleased to take of my labours,

from expressing himself concerning that nobleman with pointed freedom: "This man (said he), I thought, had been a lord among wits: but, I find, he is only a wit among lords!"

FROM THE

INTRODUCTORY.

LL classes of readers have their favorite authors, and also selections suited to their own tastes. Some prefer the verses of the poet-the harmony of his lines, his grand conceptions and beautiful imagery-while others will select articles from the pen of the essayist, the historian, or the scientist, and a number will choose a lighter vein of authorship. Even the general reader who peruses everything will have his favorite pieces which he most admires. As authors differ in theme and style, in the large variety of authorship which this book contains much will be found to suit these various tastes. The selections in this article will be of special interest to the student and the thoughtful reader, as, during a period of time when dense ignorance and superstition prevailed among men, they exhibit the life, mode of thought, and form of expression of an interesting people of whom we know but little. Although their literature was very crude-far below that of our own time, and also far below the classic authors of ancient Greece and Rome-yet their writings compare favorably with the literature of other parts of the world during that dark epoch of letters. The bigotry of the Mohamme

dan historian Ahmed Ibn Al-makkari is exhibited throughout his work, but in nothing is it more manifest than in his short prayers for the disciples of his faith and against its enemies. Thus, while speaking of a co-religionist he exclaims, "May God for ever preserve him!" or while referring to those of other faiths, who to him were unbelievers, he says, "May God confound them!" His dislike, however, and the hatred of his people for their enemies, were returned in full measure by the Spanish and other Christians with whom the followers of the Prophet were almost always at war.

In order to enable those of our readers who wish to do so, more fully to pursue the Arabian history and literature during this period, we give the source from which this article is taken. This is also our custom with other selections. Notwithstanding his intolerance, Al-makkari seems to have been a trustworthy historian. He writes with the simple earnestness of one who wishes to be accurate, and supports his statements with quotations from authors who were contemporary with the events which he narrates.

ABDU-R-RAHMAN, SURNAMED AD-DAKHEL, CONQUEROR AND FIRST SULTAN OF ANDA

LUS.

In the year of the Hijra 113, which began March 14 A. D. 731, this illustrious Arab was born at Dayr-hinna, in the territory of Damascus. When he was but a young man the city of Damascus was captured by As

4

midst of the current, and my companions did the same. I, being an excellent swimmer, took charge of my son, whilst my servant Bedr helped my younger brother. When in the middle of the stream my brother felt his strength fail him, and he was seized with the fear of death. Seeing his danger, I returned to him to give him courage and induce him to exert himself, but as I approached I saw him make for the bank, no doubt deceived by the treacherous words of our enemies, and believing that his life would be spared. I then cried to him, "O brother! come to me, come to me!" but he would not listen to my advice, for the promise that his life would be spared and the fear of being drowned made him hasten to the shore. I, moreover, succeeded in crossing the Euphrates. One of my pursuers seemed at one time inclined to leap into the river and swim across in pursuit of me, but his comrades dissuaded him from the undertaking, and he left me alone. No sooner had I set my feet on the shore than I began anxiously to look about for my brother, whom I saw in the hands of the soldiers, and whom I expected every moment to see put to death. I was not mistaken, for the traitors, having dragged their victim to a spot not far from the river, beheaded him immediately, and, leaving the trunk on the spot, marched triumphantly away with the head. brother was then thirteen years old.

My

suit ceased; I then left my place of concealment and fled the country, taking the route to the west until I reached Eastern Africa.

ABDU-R-RAHMAN AFTER HIS CONQUEST OF ANDALUS.

One of his first acts was to supply Cordova with water, by means of an aqueduct which came from the neighboring mountains. He planted a most delightful garden, to which he gave the name of "Munyat Ar-rissafah,' in remembrance of a splendid villa near Damascus which his grandfather Hisham had built, and where he himself had spent the first years of his life. Finding the spot a very charming one, he erected in the middle of it a most magnificent palace, which he ornamented with every luxury which could be procured, and, moreover, made it his residence in preference to the old palace inhabited by the governors of Andalus. Being passionately fond of flowers, he commissioned an intelligent botanist to procure for him in the East such among the fruits and plants of that country as could be naturalized in Andalus, and in this manner he introduced the peach and the pomegranate called Safari. Ibnu Hayyan has preserved us four verses which he is reported to have spoken extempore at the sight of one solitary

PALM TREE.

In the centre of the Rissafah grows a palm tree, born in the West, away from the country of the palm trees.

I once exclaimed, "Thou art like me, for thou resemblest me in wandering and peregrination, and the long separation from relatives and friends.

Thou [also] didst grow in a foreign soil, and, like me, art

far away [from the country of thy birth].

May the fertilizing clouds of morning water thee in thy exile! May the beneficent rains, which the poor implore,

never forsake thee!"