TRAVELS IN UPPER 



loaded the productions of European arts and ma- 

 nufacture. A geographical position of sue!) high 

 importance could not escape the genius of Alex- 

 ander. Amidst the rapidity of his conquests he per- 

 ceived, that in this place might be erected the the- 

 atre of mutual communication with all nations, 

 and suddenly he presented Alexandria to the ad- 

 miration and to the commerce of mankind. Dino- 

 crates had traced the plan of it under the eyes of 

 Alexander, and superintended the execution of it. 

 He was one of those men of vast and bold concep- 

 tions, whom Nature is frugal in shewing to the 

 world. History has transmitted to us a remark- 

 able and characteristic trait of his genius. With 

 a design to perpetuate the name and glory of the 

 greatest of conquerors, by a monument that should 

 last for ever, he had proposed to consecrate to this 

 purpose a part of the globe itself; by cutting an 

 enormous mountain, Mount Athos, into a statue of 

 him that should never be removed, having: the solid 

 earth for its basis ; a work that must have effaced 

 all the prodigies which even Egypt has produced. 

 Sublime idea ! It renders the artist worthy of rank- 

 ing with his hero. 



With an Alexander to order the plan of a city, 

 and a Dinocrates to carry it into execution, some 

 conception may be formed how grand and mag- 

 nificent this city must have been. The kings of 



Egypt 



