ARABIC LETTERS. S85 faithful, who is courageous in the way of the omniscient God.

L. S.

Ismael son of a shereef ; God illumine and preserve him.

God assist his commanders, and give victory to his forces and armies. Amen ! To the captain of Tangier, Kirke, peace he to those who follow the right way *"; this by way of preface. Your letter came to the lofty place of our residence, and we understand what your discourse contained. As for the asking a cessation of arms by sea ; know, that it was not treated of between us till this present time. Neither did we make truce with you concerning any thing but Tangier alone. When you came to our illustrious house, we treated with you about that matter for four years, and if you had sojourned there yourself, no Muselman would ever have gone into that town hostilely against you, but merely as a peaceable merchant.

As to a cessation of arms by sea, it vvas not negociated by us, neither did we discourse about it ; but, when you desired it of us, we wrote to your Master in England, saying, ** If you desire •» This is a sentence which frequently occurs in the Koran, but when used in epistolary correspondence with Christians (for it is never used by Muhamedans between themselves), it bears the appearance of a salutation, but the allusion is to Muhamedans, who these people think are the only men who follow the true path or right way ; it is, however, a compliment to all who thivk themselves in the right way.

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