478 M. Hammer's Memoir on the Diplomatic Relations 



imposed on all men, noble and simple, the duty of obeying him, and has subjected them 

 to the statutes of the prophet. He has devised the union of the monarchs of Islam, and 

 the agreement of these foster-fathers of the human kind, as the means of destroying the 

 enemies of the faith, and as a cause of cutting the veins of innovators; he has promised 

 to the concord and alliance of these heavenly bodies (the Kings), the purification of the 

 earth from the weeds and useless herbs of this imprudent race of men (the disbelieving 

 and innovators). Then be infinite praises and benedictions offered to the Lord of 

 exalted station, the leader of the prophets, and commander of the believers; to the best 

 of men, the Lord of the fountains of paradise, and Judge of the day of judgment ; who 

 has proclaimed to the world the commands and prohibitions of the Koran, and has 

 particularly enjoined Kings and Princes to exercise justice and equity; who has com- 

 mitted to Moslem Princes the especial duty and obligation of fighting against the oppo- 

 nents of truth and erring innovators, and has decreed to the success of their endeavours 

 the happiness of both worlds. Praises be also offered to the pure and selected, the family 

 of the Prophet ; of whom it has been said, "He has purified you by purification ;" — to 

 this liighly connected family, of whom the Prophet said, " I will ask for you no other 

 reward than the love of my kindred ;" — these sayings are evident proofs of the necessity 

 of loving this high-minded and noble race of instructors; this incomparable mixture of 

 water and clay, who annoiuiced the mission of the Prophet, and spread abroad his com- 

 mands. The scriptural text, " God be propitious to them," is a convincing argument 

 that the creator of heaven and earth is pleased and satisfied with those who accompanied 

 the Prophet in his flight, and afterwards assisted him ; and that the repose of these faith- 

 ful friends is insured in the inmost paradise, and that they are entitled to the highest 

 degree of beatitude. 



Considering that the tic of religion is the strongest of ties, and the concord of sects 

 the most perfect warrant of union ; although, for a long time, the gates of correspond- 

 ence have not been thrown open between tliis illustrious family of Khalifs and your high- 

 linked lineage ; and although the curtain impeding nearer acquaintance has not been 

 lifted up ; yet in these happy days, prayers, on which the inhabitants of the highest 

 heaven might glorify themselves, are put forth in the most constant way ; and exquisite 

 wishes, with the repetition of which the cherubs would be gratified, are offered for his 

 most high Majesty, who is sublime like the spheres and expansive like the skies, who 

 occupies the station of Alexander and the throne of Solomon; glorious like the sun, 

 powerful like heaven, guarding the precincts of Islam, and guiding the sphere of mag- 

 nificence; the possessor of the empire of Alexander, and keeper of the two sanctuaries 

 (Mecca and Medina) ; the glory of the Caesars, the pillar of the Khosroes, who adorns 

 the throne of empire, and graces the seat of the conqueror of the world; who dissemi- 

 nates memorials of equity and justice; who avenges the deeds of wickedness and oppres- 

 sion ; the Sultan of the champions of the holy war : the Khakhan of the Moslem kings ; 

 who enhances the splendour of the Ottoman dynasty, and exalts the standard of that 

 powerful family : — may God extend the days of his reign so long as time shall last ! 



The cause of opening this gate of correspondence, and lifting up this veil, is to notify 



