[Footnote 139: After the conquest of Mecca, the Mahomet of
Voltaire imagines and perpetuates the most horrid crimes.
The poet confesses, that he is not supported by the truth of
history, and can only allege, que celui qui fait la guerre a
sa patrie au nom de Dieu, est capable de tout, (Oeuvres de
Voltaire, tom. xv. p. 282.) The maxim is neither charitable
nor philosophic; and some reverence is surely due to the
fame of heroes and the religion of nations. I am informed
that a Turkish ambassador at Paris was much scandalized at
the representation of this tragedy.]