.202 A. D. 272. 



citizens, and often to be their fcourge, while the fplendid delufion of 

 their conquefts feduces their minds, and abftrads their capitals from 

 their proper objects of laudable commercial activity ; whereas the whole 

 community is overwhelmed in irretrievable ruin upon a reverfe of for- 

 tune. Such was the fate of the illuftrious commercial republic of Car- 

 thage ; and fuch was the more fudden fate of Palmyra : for Aurelian, 

 who during a (hort reign revived the military fuperiority of Rome, eager 

 to wipe off the difgrace of a captive emperor languifhing in Perfian 

 chains, and of the fineft provinces of the empire being withheld from 

 Rome by a woman, led his forces into the Eaft, and fpeedily recovered 

 the provinces which formed the Palmyrene empire. The city of Pal- 

 myra, after a refiflance, which does great honour to the military fcience 

 of its defenders, who affailed the Romans with every engine then known 

 in the art of war, fome of which darted artificial fire, being betrayed 

 by their mercenary allies, furrendered to the Roman emperor, who was 

 fo merciful as only to plunder the inhabitants of all their property, in- 

 cluding, befides gold and filver, great ftores of jewels, filk, and other 

 rich merchandize of Arabia and India (ji". 273). 



The citizens of Palmyra having made an attempt to recover their h- 

 berty, their city was de'ftroyed, and all the people found in it, not ex- 

 cepting helplefs age and infancy, were mafllicred by Aurelian ; who fooii 

 after, regreting the lofs of the trade of Palmyra, gave permiifion to 

 fome few of the inhabitants, who had efcaped the general flaughter, to 

 rebuild their city, and reftore their commerce. But commerce does not 

 fiart into exiftence at the command of a tyrant, though any favage, in- 

 vefted with power, may deftroy in one day the accumulated labours of 

 ages of fcience and induilry. The defolation of Palmyra was complete 

 and irretrievable : and, though it was afterwards made the ftation of a 

 band of Roman foldiers, and even fortified and fuppUed with water by 

 the emperor Juftinian, it has in all fucceeding ages been only the re- 

 treat of a few miferable families, whofe wretched huts deform the ftill- 

 fplendid remains of antient magnificence. 



Firmus, an opulent merchant of Egypt, was largely concerned in 

 trade with India, with the Blemyes an Ethiopian nation, and with the 

 Saracens of Arabia, and feems to have alfo carried on very extenfive 

 manufadures of paper and glue, fince he boafted, that he could main- 

 tain an army with the produce of thofe articles. Unfortunately for 

 himfelf he preferred the perilous fituation of a pretender to fovereign 

 power to the calm felicity of a profperous merchant. Perfuading the 

 people of Egypt, that he was able, by his wealth and his foreign con- 

 nexions, to deliver them from the dominion of Rome, he affumed the 

 title of emperor, lliled himfelf the ally of Zcnobia, made himfelf maf- 

 ter of Alexandria, and prevented the ufual fupplies of corn from being 



