oughtful; his religion sincere and
enthusiastic. He was ignorant of letters, and despised all
learning, that was not theological. The cultivation, that had
obtained under the khalifs, had not entirely civilized the
genius of Saladin. His maxims of war were indeed the maxims of
the age, and ought not to be adopted as a particular imputation.
But the action of his striking off with his own hand the head of
a Christian prince, who had attacked the defenceless caravan of
the pilgrims of Mecca, exhibits to our view all the features of
a fierce and untutored barbarian[B] ."

[Footnote A: Bohaoddin, p. 71. He was an eye witness, and had a
considerable share in many of the transactions of Saladin. He is
generally accurate, and tolerably impartial. ]

[Footnote B: Ebn Shohnah, Heg. 589. Abulfarai, Renaudot, p. 243.
D'Herbelot, biblioth. orient. art. Togrul, &c. ]

As the whole of this excellent work is now before us, it may not be
impertinent, before we finally take our leave of it, to attempt an idea
of its celebrated author. We are happy in this place to declare our
opinion, that no author ever better obeyed the precept of Horace and
Boileau, in choosing a subject nicely correspondent to the talents he
possessed. The character of this writer, patient yet elegant, accurate
in enquiry, acute in reflexion, was peculiarly calculated to trace the
flow and imperceptible decline of empire, and to throw light upon a
period, darkened by the barbarism of its heroes, and the confused and
narrow genius of its authors. In a word, we need not fear to class the
performance with those that shall do lasting, perhaps immortal, honour,
to the country by which they have been produced.

But like many other works of this elevated description, the time shall
certainly come, when the history before us shall no longer be found, but
in the libraries of the learned, and the cabinets of the curious. At
present it is equally sought by old and young, the learned and
unlearned, the macaroni, the peer, and the fine lady, as well as the
student and scholar. But this is to be ascribed to the rage of fashion.
The performance is not naturally calculated for general acceptance. It
is, by the very tenor of the subject, interspersed with a thousand
minute and elaborate investigations, which, in spite of perspicuous
method, and classical allusion, will deter the idle, and affright the
gay.

Nor can we a