for regulating the manners of the people, the kings should refer it to some person of approved integrity and wisdom, and abide by his determination.  Omar easily foresaw, that when the opinion of Almoran and Hamet should differ, the opinion of Almoran would be established; for there were many causes that would render Almoran inflexible, and Hamet yielding:  Almoran was naturally confident and assuming, Hamet diffident and modest; Almoran was impatient of contradiction, Hamet was attentive to argument, and felicitous only for the discovery of truth.  Almoran also conceived, that by the will of his father, he had suffered wrong; Hamet, that he had received a favour:  Almoran, therefore, was disposed to resent the first appearance of opposition; and Hamet, on the contrary, to acquiesce, as in his share of government, whatever it might be, he had more than was his right by birth, and his brother had less.  Thus, therefore, the will of Almoran would probably predominate in the state:  but as the same cause which conferred this superiority, would often prevent contention, Omar considered it, upon the whole, rather as good than evil.

When he had prepared his plan, therefore, he sent a copy of it, by different messengers at the same time, both to Almoran and Hamet, inclosed in a letter, in which he exprest his sense of obligation to their father, and his zeal and affection for them:  he mentioned the promise he had made, to devote himself to their service; and the oath he had taken, to propose whatever he thought might facilitate the accomplishment of their father’s design, with honour to them and happiness to their people:  these motives, which he could not resist without impiety, he hoped would absolve him from presumption; and trusting in the rectitude of his intentions, he left the issue to God.

CHAP.  III.

The receipt of this letter threw Almoran into another agony of indignation:  he felt again the loss of his prerogative; the offer of advice he disdained as an insult, to which he had been injuriously subjected by the will of his father; and he was disposed to reject whatever was suggested by Omar, even before his proposal was known.  With this temper of mind he began to read, and at every paragraph took new offence; he determined, however, not to admit Omar to the honour of a conference upon the subject, but to settle a plan of government with his brother, without the least regard to his advice.

A supercilious attention to minute formalities, is a certain indication of a little mind, conscious to the want of innate dignity, and felicitous to derive from others what it cannot supply to itself:  as the scrupulous exaction of every trifling tribute discovers the weakness of the tyrant, who fears his claim should be disputed; while the prince, who is conscious of superior and indisputable power, and knows that the states he has subjugated do not dare to revolt, scarce enquires whether such testimonies of allegiance are given or not.