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Rome, alfo about eight hundred years, the third period may be reckoned. The fourth period may be faid to extend from the foundation of Rome to the capture of Ba bylon by Cyrus, in the year of Rome 216. The fifth, from thence to the invasion of Afia by Alexander the Great, in the Roman year 420. The fixth, to the total destruction of Carthage, in the year of Rome 608. And the feventh, or laft period, comprizes the interval between the overthrow of Carthage and the Birth of Chrift, which happened in the year of Rome 753.

Having thus divided Ancient Hiftory into periods, we are compelled to treat our fubject more at large.

The first period contains events of the highest importance; the creation of the world from chaos; the birth of Adam and Eve, and their fituation in Paradife, where, however, it is generally fuppofed, they continued but one night, fo fudden was their difobedience and fo immediate the vengeance of God: God's covenant after the fall of man. In this period fome ufeful arts were invented. Enoch, the feventh father from Adam, is faid not to have died, as other men, but was tranflated to the heavens. Methufalah, who fucceeded Enoch, lived to the age of eight hundred and fixty-nine years. It is neceffary to mention the union of the righteous pofterity of Seth, with the depraved offspring of Cain; which at length, evil growing predominant, brought on the general deftruction of mankind, whofe offfpring had probably never revived, if Noah, a righteous man, had not thereby merited an exception from the univerfal deluge, which lafted a whole year.

Cotemporary with the fecond period, are reckoned the covenant God made with Noah after the flood, promifing never again to deftroy mankind by water. The building of

the tower of Babel; the introducing of diverfe languages; the peo pling of the world by Noah's pofte rity; the foundation of the Affyrian monarchy in Nimrod, Ninus, and Semiramis; the overthrow of the four eaftern kings, by Abraham and his three hundred and eighteen houfhold fervants; the deftruction, from heaven, of Sodom and Gomorrah, with other cities of the Plain, by fire and brimftone; the incestuous original of the Moabites and Ammonites, and baftard-brood of the Ifmaelites; alfo the poets fhip, Argos, and Gigantomachia the Giants war with their gods, may have reference to Noah's Ark and the builders of Babel.

During this period, Babylon was built by Nimrod, on the fcite of Babel. After this, but at times not to be affigned with any certainty, appeared Nineveh, Damafcus, Sidon, and Thebes in Egypt. The kingdom of Sicyon, in Peloponne fus, was founded, it is faid, about A. M. 1915, and that of Athens by Cecrops, who conveyed a colony from Egypt in A. M. 2448. This period alfo prefents us with the commencement of that idolatry which in a fhort time became univerfally prevalent: but it must be obferved, at the fame time, that God preferved the pureft religion among the Hebrew patriarchs, by the covenant he made with Abraham about four hundred and thirty years after the flood. In process of time we fee the defcendants of this patriarch, Jacob and his children, departing for Egypt, where they become a numerous people. It may be proper to obferve, that during this period happened the flood of Deucalion in Theffaly, which was mistaken by the Greeks for the univerfal deluge: indeed, they had weighty reafons for this opinion, for it almoft ruined their country. The third period commences with C 2

the

the Ifraelites departure from Egypt under the command of Mofes; and the written law given by God, calculated to diftinguish them from other nations. While they were engaged in conquering Canaan, Ninus, fon of Bel, founded the first Affyrian empire; Nineveh, already mentioned, becoming the capital. Tyre was founded, or rather renewed, in the reign of Ninus; about twelve hundred and fifty-two years before Chrift; a city noted for trade, navigation, and colonies. In Greece, already enlightened by an intercourfe with the Egyptians, Hercules and Thefeus diftinguifhed themfelves. The fiege of Troy, which ended, it is fuppofed, about the year of the world 2820, gave thefe heroes an opportunity of difplaying their genius and intrepidity.

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The Jews, by this time, had tak en poffethon of the Promifed Land, deftroying and driving out its native inhabitants. Thefe chofen people were at first governed by judges, of whom Joshua, the conqueror, was the first; and, afterwards, by kings, of whom David and Solomon are the most distinguished. The first of thefe," fays a learned and pious author, grew famous by the over throw of Goliah in fingle combat, and thereupon after, the bringing in, for a vantage, three hundred foreSkins of the Philiflines." The latter was eminent for wifdom; and finished the Jerufalem Temple in the year of the world 3000. In the reign of Rehoboam, ten of the twelve tribes revolting, occafioned the formation of two kingdoms, that of Judah, and that of Ifrael; a divifion which mutually weakened each party.

Concurrent with these times Plutarch mentions the obfcure pofterity of Eneas in Italy, and Brute in England. Eufebius fpeaks of Co. drus, the last king of Athens, who purchased by his own death the vic

tory of his country: and about this period alfo Juftinian records the birth of Homer. From this, making a tranfition to the facred feriptures, we obferve the famous combat between Abner's men and thofe of Joab, wherein twelve of each fide flew every man his oppofite upon the place: the giants of the Philistines cut off by David and his thirty-feven Worthies: the height of poetry, mufic, and all kind of philofophy, eminent in David's pfalms, and Solomon's three thoufand proverbs and one thoufand and five fongs, with his books of natural philofophy, mentioned in 1 Kings, iv. 32 and, laftly, his progrefs in the art of navigation, by trading with the Tyrians to Ophir for gold.

Egypt and Chaldea made a rapid proficiency in arts and fciences; the former had at once a conqueror and legiflator in her king Sofoftris, who rendered his country no lefs celebrated for excellent laws than for fuperb edifices.-While the Arabs, and afterwards the Jews and Syrians, carried on a trade, by navigation, with India, the Phoenicians alfo extended their navigation, and fettled colonies on all the coafts of the Mediterranean, in Africa, Spain, and Sicily. They founded Carchage about A. M. 3112.

The Affyrian kings reigned at that time in Upper Afia. China was already remarkable for her civil policy. The warlike Scythians made incurfions in Europe and Asia. Zoroafter, legiflator of Bactriana, taught the Magi the fcience of attronomy, the worthip of the fun, and the art of governing. There were alfo, about this time, priefts and philofophers in India, called Bramins or Brach. mans, and Druids in Gaul.

Scarcely any thing is known of thofe Celtic nations which over-ran Gaul, Britany, part of Spain, and the north of Italy; or of the Teutones, who were divided into tribes,

and

and filled that part of Europe afat that terwards called Germany, time for the most part a wild defart overgrown with woods. The more northern nations were still lefs known, having remained longer in a ftate of barbarifm.-Eighty years after the fiege of Troy, the defcendants of Hercules, or Heraclidæ, returned into Peloponnefus, where they reigned in divers cities, as Argos, Lacedemon, Corinth, and Mycene. The Olympic Games, inftituted by Hercules, and laid afide, were renewed, A. M. 3228, and celebrated every fifth year: thefe games formed an æra from which the Greeks dated ever after. About A. M. 3128, Lycurgus gave laws to the Spartans. Athens, and most of the Greek cities, had now fhaken off the kingly yoke, and erected themfelves into republics. Greece, having made a rapid progrefs in navigation, after having increafed her ftrength, and improved her civilization by the reception of foreign colonies, founded fome, in her turn, on the coafts of Afia Minor, in Sicily, and in the more northern parts of Italy. Kings, of the pofterity of Eneas, reigned at Alba: from thefe Romulus and Remus were defcended; who, be fore they laid the foundation of Rome, re-establifhed their grandfather Numitor on the Alban throne.

About the year of the world A. M. 3184 the Affyrian empire ended, in the perfon of its effeminate monarch Sardanapalus. It was, however, renewed by Phul, in A. M. 3227; but was foon after totally difmembered, by the feparation of more than one powerful kingdom.

The fourth period of Ancient History extends, as we have before obferved, from the foundation of Rome to the taking of Babylon by Cyrus.-Rome, the miftrefs of the habitable globe, was founded by

Romulus feven hundred and fifty-
three years before the birth of Our
Saviour. A fhort time after this,
Nabonaffar founded the kingdom of
Babylon; and in the fifty-fourth
year of Rome, Dejoces formed that
of Media, and built Ecbatana. Both
thefe kingdoms were taken out of
Affyria. Cyaxares ruled in Media,
and Nebuchadnezzar in Babylon:
the latter fubdued many nations; in
particular Jerufalem, carrying her
king and people into captivity.

Cyrus, the Perfian monarch, at
length overcame the Babylonian and
Lydian kings: this conqueror fuc-
ceeded his uncle Cyaxares in Media,
and united thofe four powerful king-
doms under his own dominion, in
the year of Rome 216. He per-
mitted the Jews to return back to
Judea, the feventy predicted years
of their captivity being now expired.
When they were fettled in their own
country, they rebuilt Jerusalem and
the Temple.

Six

The Greeks, about this time, were diftinguished for their knowledge in the arts and fciences, which they learnt of the Egyptians and Phoenicians. Solon, one of their wise men, gave laws to the Athenians about the year of Rome 160. teen years after the Ionians founded. a colony at Marfeilles; and, fhortly after, the Gauls under Bellovefe, fettled in the north of Italy; and others in Germany, under his brother Segovefe. Rome, under her first kings, acquired a confiderable degree of ftability, by incorporating the adjacent towns fhe had conquered, particularly thofe of Alba, into the number of her citizens.

Our readers may expect the conclufion of ANCIENT HISTORY, in Number II. when we fhall, of course, come to that of the Middle Age.

HISTORY

HISTORY OF NATIONAL EVENTS.

COMMERCIAL TREATY-REDRESS
OF IRISH GRIEVANCES-SITUA-

TION OF FRANCE-TURKISH AND
RUSSIAN WAR-SLAVE TRADE-

EAST INDIA COMPANY-PRINCE
OF ORANGE-UNION OF RUSSIA
AND GERMANY.

Fo
TOR the clearer understanding
of the modern hiftory of this
country, which we intend to com-
mence with the first month of the
prefent year, it is neceffary to give
aflight fketch of the principal events
which occurred in the year 1787;
a period which hath given rife to
many occurrences, which muft oper-
ate with very confiderable influence
on the politics of future times.

Short as the year muft appear in the calculation of time, the operations of the last have made material alterations in the religion, philofophy, politics, and commerce of the world. Philofophy hath opened the mind's eye, even of the vulgar. In the Roman Catholic countries, lately blinded by fuperftition, and debafed by prieftcraft and tyranny, intellectual liberty hath fpread with aftonishing influence, and political freedom hath followed her footsteps: indeed, mankind feem to have adopted, as general principles, that in religion there can be no dictates contrary to wifdom; and in politics, THAT BY WHATEVER RIGHT ONE COUNTRY POSSESSES LIBERTY, BY THE fame RIGHT EVERY OTHER

COUNTRY MAY CLAIM IT.

The COMMERCIAL TREATY between Great Britain and France, to which fuch ftrong and pointed oppofition was made in both houfes of parliament, is now, on the evidence of experience, admitted to be founded in found policy and wife fpeculation; and will probably prove a means of uniting in amity rival nations, heretofore jealous and envious of each other.

COMMERCE has alfo been the means of creating confidence in Ire land, and infpiring the natives with affection for their natural relatives in England. The emancipation of their legiflature by the repeal of ftatute the 6th of Geo. III. by which the ufurped controu) of the British parliament was given up, hath promoted trade, and effablished manufactures; hath confiderably augmented their fhipping; and of course increased their wealth, which must ultimately circulate through the empire. The power by which Ireland was heretofore ruled, has now given way to the operation of mild authorityjealousy to reciprocity of obligation. The police has been ftrengthened, the magiftrates are obeyed, and the people begin to rife from oppreffion and poverty, to the enjoyment of thofe comforts which flow from induftry, freedom, and a wife difpenfation of juftice.

The ftorm which broke out in Holland, and threatened annihilation to the office of Stadtholder, is now blown over. Unaffifted by France, invaded by Pruffia, and threatened by Great Britain, the difaffected, after very little bloodshed, were forced into fubmiffion; whereby the power, which they would have overturned, hath been augmented in ftrength, and the Prince of Orange hath been able to form alliances, for the fole purpofe of fupporting, what he calls, his rights and privileges. The defertion of France from the cause of the Hollanders, was not, however, as hath been fallaciously reprefented, the confequence of political treachery, but the refult of her own internal imbecillity and convulfions. France feels, to her forrow, the effect of the American war. The affiftance fhe afforded to the infur.

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