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fluent to form a continuous narrative without the link of inter-Sate circumstance to be derived from tradition alone as the original source of subsequent biography . Mahometan record is rich m this resource the occupations a ° nd characteristics of the Moslems all having Tended to tbe development of tradition . Apart from rehg . ous observances , the employments of a semi-civilized peo e were necessarily reiricted to the pursuit of war or pleasure . In leisure , their discourse Turned upon the revered originator of their claims to conquest , who had bequeaS to them the " keys both of this world and of Paradise . " With the lapse of time the infallible tendency of these recollections was to extravagance aud credulity , and as the narrations of the As-hvb or immediate companions of Mahomet , was taken up by the second generation of labntn , or successors , in proportion as the truth was handed down through succession of evidence it became more difficult to discern , because connected with a greater amount of error and superstition . Other events of moment in considering the history of the Moslem race contributed to expand the mass of tradition . Through' the development of a religion , the very essence of which was the spirit of proselytisiu by the sword , the condition of Islam speedily underwent a remarkable transformation . The Arabs , within the bounds of their sterile peninsula , were originally characterized by a patriarchal simplicity . Emerging from its limits , in obedience to the mandate of their Prophet , enforcing universal subjection to his creed , their zeal was so effectual as to render them masters within a century of the lands between the Oxus and the farthest shores of Africa and of Spain . Ihe administrative code , which had hitherto sufficed to guide their _ simple polity was found insufficient for the complex requirements in legislature and policy of a vast empire . The precepts of Uic Koran appeared scanty and defective , and thus by a singular contrariety the realization of the chief tenet of the Mohammedan religion involved the necessity for its innovation . To meet this exigence the Sunnat , or records of the sayings and practice of Mahomet , were sought for , and consolidated into a supp lement to the Koran . Immediately a marvellous impetus was imparted to the search for tradition , so great as to give rise to a new vocation , and inquirers speeding from region to region of the Mohammedan world were known as collectors . According to Sprenger , the Caliph Othman enforced the collection of all extant traditions , and national enterprise and sovereign authority combined for its preservation . During the Caliphates of Abu Bacr and Omar , Islam , devoted to conquest , was comparatively undisturbed by faction . The incompetent reign of Othman , however , opened the road for faction , and with the opposing claims of the Abassides and Alyites , with attendant prejudices and animosities , came the corruption and degeneracy of tradition . jSIo fabrications were too monstrous for assertion , and the vast amount of worthless and fabulous matter contained in such record is shown from its rejection by Mohammedan critics themselves . Abu David out of 500 , 000 retained only 4000 , and of these European critics reject one-half . A criterion is necessary for the right interpretation of tradition , and the test adopted by Mr . Muir is a comparison between it and the Koran and the discovery of agreement between the leading facts , irrespective of detail , to be found in independent authorities . The result is to prove that a large amount of the historical , when carefully " separated from the fictitious of Oriental fancy , is to be met with in tradition . In addition , are the biographical authorities under the renowned Al Mamun , together with those of recent date , the ancient Arabic histories , and the national poems of Arabia , the authenticity of which has been so ably discussed by M . Caussin de Perceval . Upon these sources the biographer must rely . Effectually to penetrate them , to regard with unswerving eye the seductive medium of tradition , and judicially to calculate the amount of deviation from truth by due consideration of a multiplicity of opposing influences , is a task so complicated as to call for not only unshrinking industry and intimate knowledge , but a keenness of perception and breadth of view which mental attributes of a superior order only can command . When we say that Mr . Muir has in a highly creditable degree proved himself competent to the demands of his subject by his industry , his liberal acquaintance with Arabic literature , and bis integrity of judgment , is to render him praise which cannot be lightly bestowed . We have preferred discussing the grounds of essential investigation to tracing the outlino of the career of Mahomet , the leading events of which arc known to history , as the surost test of Mr . Muir ' s claims in this biography to acceptance and to commendation , believing the medium through which ho has Arrived at his conclusions to be a criterion of tbe justice of his verdict with respect to the character of the great Prophet of Islam . Mr . Muir expresses his conviction that Mahomet was sincere in the belief of the heavenly origin of his revelations . " It would bo against the nnalogy of his entire life to suppose a continuing sense of fraud , a consciousness that the whole was a fabrication of his OAvn mind , an imposition upon his followers , an impious assumption of the name of the Almighty . " Amiable , enthusiastic , and imaginative , there was , however , much in hia temporament tending to selfdeception .
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PUBLICATIONS AND REPUBLICATIONS . Mitsens . Longman . and Co . have published Algiers in 1857 . By the Rov . E . W . L . Piwies . Wo reserve this work lor detailed notice . Wo also reserve a review of the eighth volume of Nichols ' s Literary Illustrations , a work etti generis , and a marvel in these lattor days . Wild Oats , by Captain Lasccllos Wrujsa . ll ( Brown and Co . ) , is a rough and ready melodramatic story , evincing no litt ' e knowledge of a certain sort ^ Of'lifonffitnf ^ peculiar way . From Mr . Cliurchill % vo have a volume of remarkable * excellence and utility- —^ Catoohism qf the Physiology and Philonoplti / of Body , Sense , and Mind , for uao in schools , colleges , iind private studies , by Professor T . Wharton Jones , of University < OollQge , London . The reputation , of the author ' s previous works entitloB this manual to an eager welcome . Messrs . Longman and Co . have published a new edition of the admirable
little volume entitled The Arts of Life , for the instruction of young persons , by the Author of ' Evenings at Home , ' with , additions and alterations by Lucy Aikin . Messrs . Adam and Charles . Black have published a- volume by Dr . R . S . Candlish , entitled Life in a Risen Saviour , being Discourses on the Argument of the Fifteenth Chapter of First Corinthians . From the office of The Indian News we have the Anglo-Indian Almanack for 1858 , accompanied by a very clear and concise sketch , of the Indian Revolt , with a valuable Register of Casualties . Most persons interested in Indian . affairs will be glad to possess this volume . Life Doubled by the Economy of Time ( Hbulston and Wright ) is a concatenation of mere platitude and clap-trap , worth , nothing , and ridiculously pretentious . The multiplication of such books is a great social evil , and they are multiplving apace . The one hundred and eightieth volume of the Parlour Library , published by Mr . Hodgson , contains a reprint of The Heiress of Hanghion , by the Author of ' Emilia Wyndham . ' It is a clever and entertaining story . Mr . Bentley has published the eighth volume of his standard edition of The Correspondence of Horace Walpole , with some letters and several interesting portraits . . Messrs . Chapman and Hall have added to their Select Lihrary of Fiction one of the best of Miss Muloch ' s novels , Agatha ' s Husband . From Messrs . Longman and Co . we have a fifth edition of Dr . Achille Albites ' s well-known educational manual , How to Speak French , or French and France ; Fads , Reasons , Practice . # On the Mechanical Appliances necessary for Hie Treatment of Deformities is a treatise of real importance to the medical profession , by Mr . Henry Heather Bigg , Anatomical Mechanist . It is published by Messrs . Longman and Co . Mr . Murray has issued The Student ' s Blackstone : Selections from the Commentaries on the Laws of England . By Sir William Blackstone . Being those Portions of the Work which relate to the British Constitution and the Rights of Persons . By Robert Malcolm Kerr , LL . D . It would be a mistake to suppose that this masterly and comprehensive volume is adapted only for members of the legal profession . Every man of education should know as much law as it contains—every member of Parliament , unpaid magistrate , and country gentleman , every writer for the press , indeed every one who mixes in general discussion and conversation .
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9 *—THEATRICAL . NOTES . We have an arrear or two to ' post up' in our Theatrical Daybook . At the Haymarket Miss Amy Sedgwick . has been making nightly new conquests as Beatrice in Much Ado about Nothing and Julia in The Hunchback , and we have been glad to perceive in this charming and accomplished actress a love of her art which will not rest satisfied with vulgar applause . In The Hunchback , Mrs . Wilkins ( widow of the Jlate Serjeant Wilkins ) has appeared as Widow Green , and has favourably displayed a succulence of voice and manner , and an amplitude of charms which belong to certain types in the stage-world . The Haytmauket , under Mr . Bbcklstone ' s management , is taking a high and distinct position by the very creditable ensemble of a good working company , always animated by the example of one or two of the best comedians of the day . A slight piece , for the sake of exhibiting Mr . Robson in one of his favourite parts—a compound of rage , mystification , and jealousy—was produced at the Olympic on Monday . It is called Ticklish Times , and is a coiuplete success . An adherent of the Pretender , seeking to escape to France , is befriended by a Mrs . Griyys , who gives out that he is her husfcand . When the fugitive first arrives , the true Griggs ( Mr . Kocson ) is away from home ; and , on his return , he is thrown into an agony of doubt and perturbation by finding himself disavowed , nnd a stranger installed in his place . Oi" course , in the end , the Jacobite gets off , and Griggs is enlightened as to the mystery ; but , ia the meanwhile , his distress and bewilderment arc immense . Admirably is tine state of mind delineated by Mr . Kobson ; but it is nothing more than a reproduction for the twentieth time of one of his stock achievements . Dramatic authors nnd popular actors make , we conceive , a grievous mistake in thus sinking into the ruts of routine—the red-tapeism of art . The effect on Mr . RonsoN is that his style is narrowed instead of widened . Still , the piece is very amusing , and an allusion to the difficulty of obtaining passports in ' these ticklish times , ' is received with boisterous approval by the audience . Wo were agreeably surprised , the other evening by Mr . Charles Dillon ' s acting in the Lady of Lyons . Since lust year Mr . Dillon has made a marked advance in liis art ; to a prodigal supply of physical emotion ho now unites a more subdued feeling aud a more retincd expression , and without sacrifices of force ho hus become less provincial and moro intelligent . Thorc woro many good points in his Claude Atelnotto . Wo cannot say that to our thinking Miss Helen Faucit ' s Pauline Uesc / tapellea is what it -wua in . tho Maokkady days . The munnerlsm is more exaggerated , and the gradations of feeling not so finely toned . But there are passages of dignity and beauty in tho acting , and ' moments' which make us regret that this admirable actress is now so seldom scon on tho London stage . Tho playbill of the Iaoeuji has boon ns changeful as the woatlier of late , and Mr . Dillon , not content with careoring through tho whole tragic drama of his country at the west end of the town , lias been starring it in 8 horuditch . Equally ubiquitous and indefatigable , lie appeared on Thursday , for Mr . Toolk ' b benefit , in a . new ' adaptation ' entitled The Artist of Florence , in which ho personates a blind lover who , contrary to tho experience of most lovers , recovers his eyesight without losing the object of his passion . Oa this occasion IMrrTffoxTST ^ Ivo ^ s ^ toM ' gng' of Wiuoux to tho eccentricity of JLtouso . v , was gratified with a crowded audience . A new farce , and , what is more , itu original farce , by tho name of The Birth-place of Podgera , furnished Mr . Toolk with a capital bit of character , in the shape of a working man who finds that an Englishman ' s house is not his ciistlo , when it is supposed by antiquarian numincs to have boon once tho birth-placo of a celebrated mnn . This is a fresh Itlou , woll worked by the author , but wo must say very imperfectly rendered by tho actors ou tho first night , when its performance was little better than a careless rehearsal . This is very
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Wo 416 . Uador ' 13 , 1858 . 1 V HE LEASER . 259
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Leader (1850-1860), March 13, 1858, page 259, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2234/page/19/
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