On the reading of the Psalms

On the reading of the Prophetic Scriptures

REMARKS ON THE DEVOTIONAL READING OF THE SCRIPTURES

On the reading of the Historic Scriptures

Hints to Parents on Pestalozzi's method, &c.

361

SKETCHES OF CHARACTER. No. VII.

50

251

258

260

313

314

315

A SKETCH OF GENERAL HISTORY.
(Continued from page 312, Vol. VIII.)

MACEDON, FROM THE DEATH OF DARIUS, B.C. 331, TO THE DIVISION OF
THE EMPIRE, B.C. 283.

THROUGH plains, barren and covered with snow; in
the most inclement season, where all the inhabitants he
found dwelt in houses covered with tiles, the roofs rising
in spires, with openings at the top, whereby they re-
ceived light and let out the smoke, Alexander reached
Mount Caucasus, B.C. 329. We cannot minutely fol-
low him through these useless wars, nor relate the
various cruelties exercised towards those who opposed
him. Those who had the judgment to submit, suffered
little injury by his victorious passage through their terri-
tories. But it seems to have been chiefly towards his
own followers the violent passions of the monarch were
indulged; inflamed and maddened as he was by success,
and the adulation of those around him. At a feast,'
where the courtiers endeavoured to exalt his glory by
depreciating that of the gods and heroes Greece had so
long worshipped, one Clytus, his faithful adherent, and
his foster brother, expressed a hasty indignation at this
impiety; and in doing so, depreciated the actions of

VOL. IX.

B

Alexander on which the enraged monarch slew him on the spot. The deepest regret seems to have followed this action. But in habits of intoxication and excesses of every kind, Alexander was no longer master of his passions; and the policy, as well as virtue of his earlier life, was rapidly yielding to the corruption of unlimited power. He now affected divine honours, and required the signs of adoration paid to the Persian monarchs. To this the Asiatics made no objection; but the Greeks strongly opposed the innovation, particularly the philosopher Calisthenes, on whom Alexander afterwards took a cruel vengeance.

Meantime the European army advanced towards the Indies. In the Indians, Alexander had to encounter brave and formidable foes; and the advance was not made without many difficult sieges and hard-fought battles. We have spoken of these wars in a former section, as belonging more properly to Asiatic history.

In B.C. 327, Alexander passed the Indus and the Hydaspes. He would have proceeded, but the Macedonians refusing to follow him further, he was forced unwillingly to return: after having gratified his vain desire of fame, by sailing down the Indus to the Indian seas, with considerable danger, his mariners being unaccustomed to the tempestuous tides of the ocean, and not having seen any sea but the Mediterranean. Determined to return thence to Babylon by land, it was in vain represented to him that he must pass a trackless desert, where Semiramis, after conquering India, endeavouring to pass with her army, had lost all but twenty men; and Cyrus doing the same, had escaped but with jeven. Nothing was so, likely to confirm Alexander in the project, his great ambition being to do what none before him could accomplish. He persisted in his purpose. The road was uncertain, and lay through deep, loose sands, perpetually sinking under their feet. There were neither towns nor habitations by the way, and .scarcely any provision. The beasts of burthen either

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died of the heat, or were secretly eaten by the famished soldiers. Often the men perished for want of water; and when they met with it, died from drinking to excess. The conduct of Alexander in this dreadful march, gave the only encouragement to his followers; bearing ever himself the greatest privations, and incurring the greatest fatigue, by leading out parties in search of water for the rest. On one occasion, it is told, that a small quantity of water having been extracted from a muddy ditch, was brought to him as a choice present: but as his soldiers could not share it, the king thanked those who brought it, and poured it untasted on the ground.

On the arrival of the wearied army in a cultivated country, they are said to have celebrated a feast to Bacchus, and devoted seven days to rioting and drunkenness. It was soon after this time, that Alexander married two Persian ladies, Statyra and Parasitis, and encouraged his followers to form similar unions. In his march to Babylon, he collected all the statues and other curiosities brought from Greece by Xerxes, and ordered them to be carefully carried back. When he drew near to Babylon, the Persian Magi are said to have sent a deputation, requesting the king not to enter the city, as they foresaw it would be fatal to him. Various other sinister omens were observed, but the monarch disregarded them, entered the city, and amused himself with forming new projects of ambition. It is difficult to find the truth among the various recitals given us of the manner of his death. By some it is asserted, that he feasted to excess, and died next day of the effects of intoxication. By some, that he took a fever, and while under its influence, persisting in going daily to offer sacrifice, and prepare for an approaching expedition, grew gradually worse; and after lingering some time expired, And by others, it is positively maintained that he was poisoned by the contrivance of Antipater. Nothing is agreed upon, but that Alexander died, in the midst of youth and fame, B.C. 323; being about thirty-two years