tions are so different. This variety is justly observed by a Heathen poet, who enumerates several particulars

"NATURE these laws, and these eternal bands, "Firft fix'd to certain climes and various lands." Virgil, Geo. 1.

ACCORDING to the history which Moses has given us of the peopling of the earth after the deluge, we might reasonably suppose, that an intercourse between the inhabitants of the East must have subsisted very early, or to speak with greater propriety, must have continued from the beginning; and it is very remarkable, that this fact is confirmed by authors, sacred and profane.

THE first book of Grotius's excellent treatise on the truth of the christian religion and the notes, contain an abstract of many very valuable authorities on the subject.

Ir is most probable, that the Arabians were the first that sailed thither by sea; as we know, that the Ishmaelites who lived in the same country, were the first that carried spices by land into Egypt. Gen. xxxvii. 25. The first mention that is made of ships in history, is in Genesis xlix. 13. in the 2 U

VOL. II.

time of Jacob, nearly two thousand years before the commencement of the christian æra.

(p) CARTHAGE, eager in the pursuit of wealth, neglected her militia, and fatally trusted too much in her fleets and mercenary armies.

Ir is a poor state of national health, to be strong in some of the limbs and weak in the body. When blows of invasion are struck at the breasts of such nations, they cannot stand on their legs.

AGATHOCLES king of Sicily astonished the world, by the manner in which he availed himself of this political position.

He was besieged in Syracuse by a vast Carthaginian force, and was almost reduced to the last extremity. His situation appeared desperate. His daring mind took counsel from that state of his affairs. He embarqued a small army on his remaining gallies, set sail, dexterously eluded the Carthaginian fleet, landed in Africa, burnt his ships, fiercely invaded their dominions on that continent,

conquered all before him, advanced to the walls of Garthage, laid siege to it, and reduced that city to the same distress in which he had left his own capital. The siege of Syracuse was raised, confusion followed, and the besiegers were cut to pieces.

THIS bold enterprize excited Scipio Africanus, as Livy informs us, to a like descent on Africa. That step compelled Hannibal to retire from Italy, and by the defeat of his army quickly after at Zama, Carthage received the shock from which she never recovered.

THE rulers of the Venetian republic following the example of Carthage, placed their reliance for defence on land in a standing army, denying "through jealousy" as history testifies, the use of arms to the people.

In the famous league of Cambray, they fully experienced the mischiefs of such policy. By the single battle of Aignadelle, in which they were defeated, they lost all their dominions on the continent, and their name would have been erased from the list of nations, if the confederates, as in such alliances generally happens, had not quarrelled among themselves.

On the other hand, where the militia of a state is well armed and disciplined, a few defeats do not determine its fate, as was demonstrated by the Ro mans in their last mentioned war,

In less than three years, as Arrian relates, Hannibal had destroyed more than two hundred and fifty thousand of their best troops. Then the militia came forward, and by bravery and prudence united, restored affairs, and saved their country.

SOME authors have ascribed the victories of Hannibal over the Romans, as well as those of Philip of Macedon over the Greeks, to the circumstance of their leading veteran armies against militia.

THIS opinion does not appear to be well founded. It is true, that soldiers strictly disciplined and inured to the hardships of service, will have advantages over men suddenly called together from their several domestic occupations. But, these advantages are of short duration, and of slight consequence as to the summ of the war, if it be conducted prudently on the part of the invaded, and defensive wars only are here intended.

HISTORY affords many instances of unexperienced and even disheartened troops, being by wise management soon brought to such skill in discipline

and to such an animation of mind, as to encounter veteran armies with success...

THE Greeks had by their follies been preparing themselves for destruction, and the battle of Cha ronea subverted their liberty. But, that battle was not lost, for want of courage or discipline in the privates, but for want of judgment and even of common sense in the leaders. The mistakes of these that caused the defeat are particularized by historians. The center and one wing of the Macedonian army were repulsed, and if Lysicles the Athenian general had been a man of abilities, the phalanx which still resisted and at last conquered, would have been broken to pieces, as it was after. wards by Paulus Emilius at the battle of Pydne, or at least it would have been so shattered, that the fatal day would not have been the last of Grecian freedom.

WHEN Hannibal descended from the Alps, his harrassed army, amounted to about twenty-five thousand men. Was it want of courage or disci. pline in the hundreds of thousands of Roman sol diers, that delivered them up to death by his sword? Far from it.. His victories were obtained by superiority of generalship over the commanders who opposed him, and the events that occurred in the course of the war, prove this statement to be

true.