Thus perished, A. D. 41, in the 29th year of his age, after a reign of three years and ten months, cue of the most odious tyrants that ever afflicted the human race. No sooner were the tidings of his death sufficiently con firmed, than the people gave loose reins to their indig nation. Ilis statues were instantly pulled down, his ca pricious laws annulled, and his memory as much as possible obliterated. The external appearance of Cali gula was no bad emblem of his In in (b—his form, features, complexion, and gestures, all conspiring to produce a sensation of disgust and horror. Ilis countenance, which was naturally repulsive, was, in this respect, improved by art, for we are told that he practised at his mirror all the frowns and distortions of face which he deemed best calculated to inspire terror. Ile was not deficient either in talents or education ; and would have made no con temptible figure as an orator ; but his chief attention was directed to the acquisition of fame as a dancer, musician, gladiator, and charioteer. Caprice and cruelty, those constant attributes of tyranny, were the most prominent features of his disposition, and, combined with sensuality and cowardice, farmed nearly the whole of his character.
As Senoca justly observes, Caligula seems to have been produced by nature for the purpose of stewing ti hat mischief could be accomplished by the greatest depra vity., supported by the greatest power. See Sueionius. Universal History. Crevier. (a) or KHALIF, the title by which the succes sors of Mahomet were distinguished. As the history of the caliphs has already been given in its proper place, (see all we propose at present is to give a short sketch of their general character, and of the na ture of the office with which they were invested.
The immediate successors of the founder of a new re ligion, and a new empire, widely extended, but not yet futile confirmed, found themselves under the necessity of imitating the qualities, by which he had succeeded in establishing his character as a prophet, and his power as a sovereign. An affectation of enthusiastic devotion, and of rigid austerity, was essential to the impostor, who pre tended an immediate commission from heaven. The piety of Mahomet was habitual and ardent ; his peetended intercourse with the Almighty, frequent and ostentatious ; and, except in one species of indulgence, which he grant ed liberally to the faithful, and which formed the most attractive allurement of his paradise, his temperance and sobriety were singular and exemplary. In these quali ties lie seemed even to be surpassed by the enthusiasm, the austerity, and the abstinence of the first caliphs. All
the time which they could spare from the duties of roy alty, was spent in prayer or in preaching, before the se pulchre of the prophet. A bubeker, on being elected to the caliphate, ordered his daughter Ayesha to take a strict account of his private patrimony, that it might be easily ascertained by his subjects, how far he was enrich ed or impoverished by his exalted office. Ile claimed, as his just reward for the service of the state, an annual salary of three pieces of gold, with the maintenance of a Angle camel, and a black slave ; but on the Friday of each week he distributed the remainder of his private fortune, and the public treasure, amongst the most wor thy and the most indigent of the Music ins ; a coarse gar ment, and five pieces of gold, were all the riches he had to bequeath to his successor. The mortifications and the humility of Omar were still more rigid, or more os tentatious than those of Abubeker. Barley bread, or dates, were his only food ; water was his drink ; his gown was torn in twelve places ; and a Persian satrap, who came to do hint homage, found him asleep among beg gars on the steps of the mosque of Medina.
An usurper, who, without any peculiar advantages of tvcaith or fatuity, proposes to raise nimself to absolute power, must secure the affections and the confidence of his countrymen, by profuse liberality, insinuating affabi lity, and humble condescension. The pretended apostle of God, satisfied with the power of royalty, affected to disdain its pomp ; submitted even to the menial offices of the family ; kindled the lire; milked the ewes ; and mended with his own hands his shoes and his garments. Ills faithful adherents were reward«I by munificent pre sents; the wavering were confirmed by splendid pro mises ; and all his countrymen were gratified by the gracious smile of the prophet, who imposed on them the yoke of spiritual and temporal bondage. Tilese popu lar qualifications were cultivated with no less attention and effect by the earliest of his successors. Multitudes were fed by the bounty of Abubeker, the mildness and condescension of whose general denicaoour conciliated every heart. The manners of Omar were equally mo dest and unassuming ; and his bounty, like his trearmres, was still more ample than Bud of his amiable predeces sor. To Abbas, the uncle of the prophet, he assigned an allowance of twenty-live thousand pi( res of silver; to each of the aged warriors, who survived the battle of Be der, he allotted five thousand pieces ; and rewarded with an annual pension of three thousand, the last and mean est of the followers of .NIahomet.