THE SOURCE OF T H E NIL E. ^7 



empire in her reign, arofe from this queen's having plun- 

 dered fome more ancient and richer nation, as they, in 

 their turn, fell afterwards a prey to a poorer, hut more 

 warlike enemy. But however true this fact may be with 

 regard to Semiramis, it does not folvc the general difficulty, 

 as full the lame queftion recurs, concerning the wealth of 

 that prior nation, which the Afl'yrians plundered, and 

 from which they received their treafure. I believe the ex- 

 ample is rare, that a large kingdom has been enriched by 

 war. Alexander conquered all Alia, part of Africa, and a 

 confiderable portion of Europe; he plundered Semiramis's 

 kingdom, and all thofe that were tributary to her ; he went 

 farther into the Indies than ever fixe did, though her terri- 

 tories bordered upon the river Indus itfelf ; yet neither Ma- 

 cedon, nor any of the neighbouring provinces of Greece, 

 could ever compare with the fmall.diilricts of Tyre and Si-» 

 don for riches. 



War difperfes- wealth in the very intlant it acquires it ; 

 but commerce, well regulated, conitantly and honeftly fup- 

 ported, carried on with ceconomy and punctuality, is the 

 only thing that ever did enrich: exteniive kingdoms ; and' 

 one hundred hands employed at the loom will bring to a* 

 country more riches and abundance, than ten thoufand* 

 bearing fpears and fhields. We need not go far to pro- 

 duce an example that will confirm this. The fubjects 

 and neighbours of Semiramis had brought fpices by land' 

 into AiTyria. The Ifhmaelites and IViidianites, the mer- 

 chants and carriers of gold from Ethiopia, and more imme- 

 diately from Paledine, met in her dominions •; and there 

 was, for a time, the mart of the Eaft India trade. But, by 

 an abfurd expedition with an army into India, in hopes to 



enricli 



