516 
near a sterile dogma is a glowing de- 
seription of human virtues. 
The word Coran signifies the Book 
of Books, as the term Misna of the 
Jews. According to its believers, it 
was sent from heaven during the night 
of the 23d or 24th of the month of 
Ramadan; but the work was not given 
to the world, and vested with public 
authority, until the thirtieth year of the 
Hegira, under the Caliph Omar, se- 
cond successor of Mahomet. The 
first transcripts were in the Copthic ; 
but it is not ascertained whether the 
manuscript now under review is writ- 
ten in those specific characters. 
The work consists of 114 chapters, 
of which the Mahomedan doctors have 
counted the words and the Ictters, in 
order that neither ignorance nor malig- 
nity should add or retrench a syllable. 
The number of words is 77,639: the 
prose consists ef an harmonious and 
flowing rhyme; the metaphors are 
luxuriant, but the conciseness of ex- 
pression frequently renders the sense 
obscure and mysterious. 
Mahomet wrote his work in the 
Koreisitic dialect, which was the 
purest of the Hast. Some coadjutors 
have been given to this eastern pro- 
phet during his composition of the 
Coran, namely, Hertebé the Ara- 
bian, Salman the Persian, Bensalem 
the Jew, and Sergius the monk, with 
whem Mahomet was closely allied 
when he conducted his caravans into 
Syria. ‘The Caliph Al-Mamun pub- 
lished an edict, which subjected’ all 
Mussulmen to believe the Coran 
eternal; which ordinance produced 
many dissenters and martyrs, as it uni- 
formly happens when foree is resorted 
to in cases of theological discussions. 
The devotees for the Aleoran never 
touch or open it without previous 
ablution; and in order to give timely 
notice, to prevent any inadvertency, 
they take the precaution of writing 
these words on the first page :—Do not 
touch this book with polluted hands ; they 
are even scrupulous as to carrying it 
under their girdles, and upon the 
leaves of this work their oath is admi- 
nistered. 
— a 
For the Monthly Magazine. 
GOLDEN RULES {0 RENDER YOUNG 
TRADESMEN RESPECTABLE, PROSPER- 
OUS, AND WEALTHY. 
i HOOSE a good and command- 
ing situation, even at a higher 
rent or premium; for no money is so 
Golden Rules for Young Tradesmen. 
[July f, 
well laid out as for situation, provided: 
good use be made of it. 
2. Take your shop-door off the 
hinges at seven o’clock every morn- 
ing, that no obstruction may be op- 
posed to your customers. 
3. Clean and: set out your windows 
before eight o’clock ; and do this with 
your own hands, that you may expose 
for sale the articles which are most sale- 
able, and which you most want to sell. 
4, Sweep before your house ; and, if 
required, open a footway from the 
opposite side of the street, that pas- 
sengers may think of you while eross- 
ing, and that all your neighbours may 
be sensible of your diligence. 
5. Wear an. apron, if such be the 
custom of your business; and consider 
it as a badge of distinction, which will 
procure you respect and ercdit. 
G. Apply your first returns of ready- 
money to pay debts before they are 
due, and give sueh transactions due 
emphasis by claiming discount. 
7. Always be found at home, and in 
some way employed; and remember 
that your meddling neighbours have 
their eyes upon you, and are constantly 
gauging you by appearances. 
8. Re-weigh and re-measure all your 
stock, rather than let it be supposed 
that you have nothing to do. 
9. Keep some article not usually 
kept, or sell. some current article 
cheap, that you may draw customers, 
and enlarge your intercourse. 
10. Keep up the exact quality or 
flavour of all articles which you find 
are approved by your customers; and 
by this means you will enjoy their 
preference. 
bY. Buy for ready-money as often as 
you have any to spare ; and, when you 
take credit, pay to a day, and un- 
asked. «= 
12. No advantage will ever arise to 
you from any ostentatious display of 
expenditure. 
13. Beware of the odds and ends of 
stock, of remnants, of spoiled goods, 
and of waste; for it is in such things 
that your profits lie. 
4. In serving your customers be 
firm and obliging, and never lose your 
temper,—for nothing is got by it. 
15. Always be scen at chureh or 
chapel on Sunday ; never ata gaming- 
table ; and seldom-at the theatres or at 
places of amusement. 
16, Preter a prudent and discreet 
toa rich and showy wife. 
17, Spend yourevenings by yourown 
fire-side 
