from the Arabic "Eclilan Mahmudan, an honourable crown, hence Mahomet."

A short time after the birth of the prophet, Abdallah, already far advanced in years, died, Amena soon followed her husband, and the care of the child devolved upon his grandfather Abdal-Motalleb, and latterly upon Abu Taleb, Mahomet's uncle, the brother of Abdallah. It appears after the death of Abdal Motalleb, Abu Taleb bore the chief sway in Mecca, and under his supreme protection Mahomet had great opportunities of nourishing his celebrated imposture. Abu was kind to his nephew and we have every reason to suppose he merited his kindness. We now find Mahomet remaining a few years with Abu Taleb, carrying on the trade of merchant, and travelling with his uncle's camels to Syria, until, the age of 25; when journeying with his uncle to Syria, he was entertained by a Christian Monk at Bosrah, who is said to have given Mahomet his first ideas regarding religion.

In Mecca there lived a rich widow by name Cadiga, whose husband dying, and being unable to carry on trade alone, struck with the appearance of the young man, (for Mahomet was of a very prepossessing intelligent countenance) she took him into her service, when he traded for her

three years, and acquitted himself so well on his journies to Damascus, and other cities of merchandise, that about the 28th year of his age, Cadiga became the wedded wife of Mahomet; as yet Mahomet's character does not seem peculiar ; industrious in his profession, thriving in trade, and married; not an uncommon sequel to success in early life. Being now instead of the servant of the widow, her husband, like many men of fortune in the prime of life, he relinquished all mercantile pursuits, but to pursue a higher ambition, the height of that ambition was nothing less than, the Sovereignty of Arabia.

During his travels into the various countries, he naturally became acquainted with the existing state of the East, from visiting the throngs of merchants, he would meet in the cities; finding that the whole of Asia was in an unsettled state, it occurred to him, that no way could succeed so well in establishing him conqueror of Arabia, as the introduction of a new religion; the mind of Mahomet must have been composed like that of Oliver Cromwell's, of hypocrisy and ambition to the fullest extent.

From his conversation with the Christian Monk at Bosrah, he might have observed the fall of the Roman Empire after the introduction of Chris

tianity; and though it is strange, still it is remarked by one of the British Historians of Hindostan, "That the spirit and power, and we may say even the virtue of the Romans declined with the introduction of a new religion, among them, whilst the Arabians, in the space of a few years after the promulgation of the faith of Mahomet rose to the summit of all human greatness." Now relinquishing all connection with the world, we find the Lion in the 38th year of his age beginning to withdraw himself into a solitary cave near Mecca, by name the cave of Hera. His former way of living seems to have been licentious and wicked, so no other plan could suit his purpose so well as leaving off all the fashions of the world, and living like a hermit; for we know that appearance operates strongly on the minds of others. In this our enlightened age there are many who like Mahomet, more for vain show than for true religion, shut themselves up from the world, people who imagine that the world is bad, who go into society not to find out the good that dwells in it but to discover the evil cxisting therein, I say there is such a tribe existing even among Britannia's sons. The love of solitude is peculiar to some men and it has been noticed that the Arabs in particular are great lovers of soli

tude; Elphinstone in his India says, "the dreary aspect of external nature naturally drives an Arab to seek for excitement in contemplation, and Mahomet had particular opportunities for indulging in such reveries during periods of solitude to which he habitually retired."

POLYPHILUS.

Thursday, February 15, 1844.

No. 21.

An Essay on the Life and Character of Mahomet.

(Continued.)

We have now followed our Prophet into the cave of Hera, let us now close the door and discover what was going on in that receptacle of Imposture.

He declared to his wife Cadiga and his companions, that he had been visited by the angel Gabriel, appointing him the prophet to eradicate Idolatry from his native country. Having by his winning manner and seeming sincerity gained over a few, he thought that the whole of Mecca would receive his doctrine with a similar credulousness; his new religion denominated Islam, (i.e. resignation) was scoffed at by the people of Mecca, which it appears only made him the more zealous in his cause; we are told he was treated with contempt as an Impostor and a disturber of the public tranquillity. The perseverance of Mahomet must have been intense, for we even find the citizens at length became so combined against him that they conspired against his life. His uncle Abu-Taleb being informed of the design against