SECTION II.

The Author, in this Section, returns to the Consideration of the Wealth obtained by ALEXANDER, and its Dispersion by his Successors, the PTOLEMIES of EGYPT, the SELEUCIDE of SYRIA, and the MACEDONIAN Sovereigns. -A Description, from ATHENAEUS, of a magnificent Festival, of the Phallic Kind, celebrated at ALEXANDRIA, in EGYPT, in which a very large Portion of the Golden and Silver Spoils of BABYLON was displayed.-A Second Description, from the same Writer, of the splendid Pomp and Procession solemnized by ANTIOCHUS EPIPHANES, at DAPHNE, in SYRIA; and exhibiting a still farther Display of the plundered Treasures of the PERSIAN Empire.-A Third from Plutarch, of the Riches found in the Palace of PERSEUS, the last King of MACEDON, and displayed to the ROMAN People during the Triumph of PAULUS MILIUS, the Conqueror of MACEDONIA.-The Whole accumulated Treasures of ASIA stated to have finalty centred in ROME, and Instances enumerated of the astonishing Wealth possessed by some of the private Citizens of that Republic.

-Of those Treasures, a considerable Part dissipated by their unbounded Profligacy; a still more considerable Portion fell to the Lot of the GOTHS, VANDALS, and other barbarous Nations who plundered Rome; but by far the most considerable Portion was buried during the Times of Tyranny and Turbulence, that marked the Reigns of the latter Emperors, in that Earth from which it originally came.

THE extent of the dominion and the magnitude of the spoil obtained by Alexander, exciting not less the ambition than the avarice of his captains, for a long time engaged them in the most unrelenting hostilities, and became the occasion of deluging Asia with new torrents of blood. The final result of those contests. for wealth and empire, it is well known, was the firm establishment of Ptolemy on the throne of Egypt and its vast dependencies; Seleucus, on that of Syria, with all those rich provinces of Asia that formed the Persian empire; Cassander, on the throne of Macedon and Greece; and Lysimachus on that of Thrace, Bythinia, and all the remaining territories won by the sword of Alexander. It may, indeed, be reasonably supposed, that no inconsiderable share of the coined money in the treasury of Babylon was dissipated in the course of the violent

struggles of the contending parties, but still the great mass of bullion remained unviolated; and each competitor carried away to his respective dominions such a proportion of gold and silver vases, statues, and other ornamental furniture of the superb palace of Babylon, as might be mutually agreed on. But Ptolemy, the most powerful, from interest, talents, and kindred, (for, he is with great reason, supposed to have been the brother of Alexander,) seems to have obtained the largest share; since, without it, he never could have executed those stupendous projects, kept up that magnificent court and those expensive establishments, and maintained those vast armies and fleets, whose number we have before recapitulated. particular project, indeed, that of reviving the trade of Egypt with Arabia, India, and the higher Æthiopia, could not fail of being attended with circumstances the most auspicious to his revenues; and bringing such an influx of wealth into that kingdom as it had never witnessed under the most potent of her ancient sovereigns. Near the close of a long and glorious, though, during its early periods, turbulent, reign, this wise prince, to prevent the court-cabals and jealous contentions usual at the decease of great eastern Monarchs, resolved to associate with himself in the imperial

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dignity, his son Ptolemy Philadelphus; and it was at the grand procession, which took place at the coronation of that august prince, that all the wealth of Egypt in these articles was displayed. The particulars of this pompous festival are related by. Athenæus with a minuteness which there is no occasion for me to imitate, my object being, principally, to present in order before the reader's view the costly remains of the Assyrian and Persian grandeur, and I may also add that of the ancient Pharaohs; not only that portion of it which was plundered by Cambyses, but, in all probability, much of that which the brave, but unfortunate, Nectanebus, the last of her proud dynasty of native sovereigns, carried away with him into Æthiopia, when he fled before the ravages of Darius Ochus; and which might have floated back to Alexandria in the reflux of the revived commerce of Egypt with the empire beyond the cataracts.

A series of tents, the hangings of which were fabricated of the richest materials which the looms of the East could furnish, the gold and silver brocades of Persia, the fine linen of Egypt, and the delicate cottons of India, composed the royal pavilion. It was adorned with numerous statues, sculptures, and emblematic paintings, allusive to the grand occasion; the elaborate work of the most exquisite artists

that Greece could produce. The pillars that sustained the pavilion were of massy silver, and shields of gold, suspended on high in every part of it, proclaimed at once the magnificent and warlike genius of the sovereign of Egypt.

An artificial cavern, sunk in a remote part of the pavilion, was assigned to the comic, tragic, and satyric, actors, who there feasted upon gold plate, and drank out of gold cups, and who, occasionally issuing from their recess, alternately entertained the company with the display of their respective talents. On the roof glittered two golden eagles, the ancient banner of Persia, and probably from that nation adopted by their victors; each eagle fifteen cubits in height. Along the sides of the pavilion were ranged one hundred sofas, adorned with rich embroidered coverlets, and of which all the solid parts were gold; the feet having the form of sphinxes. Before each of these sofas were placed golden tripods or footstools, two for each; while on one side of the sofas were placed one hundred gold dishes, with golden phials for lavation; and on the other as many golden vessels, richly set with jewels. The whole value of the plate thus exhibited to view, our author informs us, amounted to ten thousand talents.

No adequate conception can be formed of the grandeur and brilliancy of the procession.