barism for which
it is difficult to account, many of the original works were destroyed
as soon as translations of them were made. Almamoun in his youth had
associated with the most eminent scholars of Greece, Persia, and
Chaldea; and he now invited them to his court. Bagdad was resorted to
by poets, philosophers, and mathematicians, from every country and of
every creed. Armenia, Syria, and Egypt were explored by his agents for
literary treasures, which were amassed with infinite care, and
presented at the foot of the throne as the richest and most acceptable
tribute that conquered provinces could render. Camels, hitherto
employed exclusively in traffic, were seen entering the royal city
laden with Hebrew, Persian, and Grecian manuscripts. The court assumed
the appearance rather of an academy than of a council guiding the
affairs of a luxurious and warlike {249} government, and all classes
were encouraged to apply themselves to the acquisition of knowledge
with a zeal commensurate to the advantages thus afforded. "I chose,"
said Almamoun, when remonstrated with for appointing a learned
Christian to an office of no small influence over the intellectual
pursuits of his people, "I chose this learned man, not to be my guide
in religious affairs, but to be my teacher of science; and it is well
known that the wisest men are to be found among the Jews and
Christians." [1]

Under such favourable auspices, it is not to be wondered at that the
Saracens became a literary people. The caliphs of the West and of
Africa imitated their brethren of the East. "At one period, six
thousand professors and pupils cultivated liberal studies in the
college of Bagdad. Twenty schools made Grand Cairo a chief seat of
letters; and the talents of the students were exercised in the perusal
of the royal library, which consisted of one hundred thousand
manuscripts. The African writers dwell with pride and satisfaction on
the literary institutions which adorned the towns on the northern coast
of their sandy plain. The sun of science arose even in Africa, and the
manners of the Moorish savage were softened by philosophy. {250} Their
brethren in Europe amassed numerous and magnificent collections; two
hundred and eighty thousand volumes were in Cordova, and more than
seventy libraries were open to public curiosity in the kingdom of
Andalusia."

We know but little of the internal government of the Arabian schools,
or of the studies actually