ACRE. 101 
beings who inhabit those fearful regions are chap. 
stransrers to its nitiuence. ■. / 
*J3' 
The external view of Jcre, like that of any Present 
, . , • 1 1 State of 
other town in the Levant, is the only prospect Acre. 
of it worth beholdinof. The sight of the interior 
exactly resembles what is seen in Constantinople, 
and in the generality of Turkish cities : narrow 
dirty lanes, with wretched shops, and as 
wretched inhabitants. Yet the early travellers Former 
speak of its pristine splendour, and of the oi Jcre. 
magnificent buildings by which it was once 
adorned '. In the discordant accounts that have 
been published concerning its present state, 
some describe it as interesting in its remains of 
former grandeur ; while others relate, that the 
Saracens, after the final expulsion of the Christians,W' 
left not one stone upon another. It is a very 
common error to suppose every thing barbarous 
on the part of the Moslems, and to attribute to 
the Christians, in that period, more refinement 
than they really possessed. A due attention to 
history may shew, that the Saracens, as they 
were called, were in fact more enlightened than 
their invaders; nor is there any evidence for 
beheving that the former ever delighted in works 
of destruction. Whatsoever degree of severity 
(l) Vid. Tlieatrum Terra Sanctte Adrichomii, p. 6. Colon. 1628. 
