\ 



Before Chrift 33 1 — 326, 73 



ceflbrs, but much more by the advantages mfeparable from its fituation, 

 it became, in time, the principal mart of the Eafi:. And it continued, 

 notwith {landing the convulfions of empire, to be for many centuries 

 the point of union between the remoteft regions of the eaflern and wefl- 

 ern worlds. 



331 — Alexander, freed of all apprehenfion from maritime enemies, 

 by the defolation of Tyre, and the fubmiflion of the other Phcenician 

 communities, together with Cyprus, Rhodes, and the neighbouring 

 Hates, met with fcarcely any oppofition in his great defign of fubvert- 

 ing the Perfian empire, which the decilive battle of Gaugamela effeded. 

 In the capital cities he found gold and filver to the value of thirty mil- 

 lions of pounds fterling. This fum, amounting to the revenue of many 

 years, fhows, that the Perfian monarchs, with all their magnificence and 

 profufion, were really economifts, and that their expenditure was greatly 

 within their income *. 



327 — Alexander, having overrun almoft the whole extent of the Perf- 

 ian empire, attacked and ravaged the country watered by the branches 

 of the Indus, which is called the Panjab. Having defeated fome of the 

 Indian kings in battle, he difplayed his generofity, by permitting them 

 to retain their own dominions, which he probably faw the impollibility 

 of keeping in fubjedion to himfelf. Such condud, however criminal 

 in the eye of reafon, was prodirtlive of fome advantage, by conveying 

 to the weftern world, in the works of feveral writers who attended Alex- 

 ander, the earliefi: knowlege of many particulars of the fiHce of that rich 

 and populous country, wherein the arts and fciences had flourifhed for 

 many centuries before they began to dawn upon Europe. 



326 — It was probably with a view to commerce, as well as to con- 

 queft, that Alexander undertook in perfon a voyage of dilcovery down 

 the great river Indus. At the head of the Delta of that river, he built 

 a fort at Pattala, and alfo conllruded a harbour, or naval arienal. 

 [yirrian, L. vii ; — Agatharchides, L. v, r. 51.] This place was apparent- 

 ly the modern Tatta, four miles below the head of the Delta ; and hav- 

 ing the advantage of a vaft inland navigation through a rich and popul- 

 ous country, together with eafy accefs to the Ocean, and thereby to In- 



* Having now gone throsgh the liiftory of the ceived identity of Corefli, the great friend of the 

 Perfian race of kings, it is proper to obferve, that Jews, with Kyros or Cyrns, tlie great hero of 

 I have been obh'ged to 'oUovv the Grecian writers, Grecian hillory, and of Grecian and modern ro- 

 the acconnt given by the modem Perfian hiilorians niance, is attended with great difficulties. The 

 beliig fo totally different, that it is utterly inipof- name of Ahafuerus lias been given to at leaft three 

 fible to connect any event in it with the received of the Perfian kings of Grecian hillory. Neither 

 hiUories of other nations, if we only except the have the names or actions mentioned in the Bible 

 conqueft of the country by Elcander, for fo they any greater agreement with thoie related by the 

 call Alexander. The incidental notices of Perfian Perfian hiftorians. The fuppofition of Mr. Rich- 

 affairs in the Bible, have terribly diftreffed the aTdfon, that titles have been lometimes fubilituted 

 critics and chronologers, in attempting to reconcile for names, fcems the only poffible way to get out 

 them with Grecian hillory. The generally-re- of the labyrinth. 



Vol. T. K 



