“Story! bless you—I have none to tell.”—Canning’s Knifegrinder.


It is an old and trite saying: “Good wine needs no bush,” and even the finest and most flourishing bush will fail to put either body or flavor into the growth of a bad vintage. It is left to the reader of this little volume to decide whether or not the author has succeeded in producing an acceptable and readable book.

July 1, 1854.


CONTENTS.

PART I.
THE MOSLEMIN.
Page
CHAPTER I.—Arabia and its inhabitants.—Life and doctrine of Mohammed1
” II.—The Khalifs from Abu Bekr to Hesham53

PART II.
THE FRANKS.
CHAPTER I.—The Frank Confederacy.—Clovis, the Founder of the Frank Monarchy89
” II.—Decline of the Merovingian Princes.—The Mayors of the Palace.—Pepin of Landen.—Pepin of Heristal.—Charles Martel.—The Battle of Tours108