THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 367 



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, but more 

 warlike enemy. But however true this facl may be with 

 regard to Semirarnis, it does not folve the general .difficulty; 

 as flill the fame queilion recurs, concerning the wealth of 

 that prior nation, .which; the AiTyrians 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 lhe 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 frnall diliricls of Tyre and Si- 

 don for riches, . 



War diiperfes wealth in the very^inflant it acquires it; 

 but commerce, well regulated, conttantly and honefiiy fup- 

 ported, carried on with ceconomy and punctuality, is the 

 only thing that ever did enrich 1 extenfive kingdoms ; and; 

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

 country more riches and abundance, than ten tlioufand- 

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

 duce an example that will confirm this.. The fubjecls 

 and neighbours of Semirarnis had brought fpices by land > 

 into AfTyria. The Illimaelites and Midianites, the mer- 

 chant! and carriers of gold from Ethiopia, and- more imme- 

 diately from Paleftine, met in her dominions ; and there 

 was, for a rime, the mart of the Earl India trade. But, by 

 an bfurd ex; edition with an army into India, in hopes to? 



enrich. 1 



