PT. m. Progress and Civilisation. 155 



from the faith of Christianity, and turned the flank 

 of Europe by their subjugation of Spain. For a 

 moment the fate of the Civilised World seemed 

 doubtful. The Battle of Tours decided the ques- 

 tion, and assured the ascendency of Christianity and 

 of Europe. The Moslem tide ebbed as rapidly as it 

 had risen ; and it is not without a feeling of surprise 

 that we recall to memory, that, for several hundred 

 years afterwards, the Moorish Caliphs retained posses- 

 sion of the fairest Provinces of Spain, and that even 

 to the present day, with the single exception of the 

 recent French conquest of Algiers, the Mussulman 

 continues to rule in the whole extent of Northern 

 Africa, from Morocco to Cairo. The European cha- 

 racter appears to have received a new and important 

 element through the bands of hostile warriors who 

 overthrew the Eoman' Empire. It was the spirit of 

 Chivalry, at the foundation of which lay a high 

 principle of honour, and an intense sense of personal 

 dignity and self-respect. Mr. Burke remarks, that 

 the European nature was composed of two elements, 

 6 the spirit of Keligion, and the spirit of a gentle- 

 man.' These seem to have been blended in the 

 composition of these fierce warriors, and to have 

 infused a moral elevation into their otherwise rude 



