Is among the first who appears in this history. This extraordinary man, notwithstanding the violent passions which incited him at some times to the wildest actions, and the most extravagant enterprises, possessed talents which not only fitted him to conquer, but to govern the world. He was capable of framing those bold and original schemes of policy, which gave a new form to human affairs. The revolution in commerce, brought about by the force of his genius, is hardly inferior to that revolution in empire occasioned by the success of his arms. It is probable that the opposition and efforts of the republic of Tyre, which so long checked the career of his victories, gave Alexander an opportunity of observing the vast resources of a maritime power, and conveyed to him some idea of the immense wealth which the Tyrians derived from their commerce, especially that with the East Indies. As soon as he had accomplished the destruction of that state, and reduced Egypt to subjection, he formed the plan of

rendering the empire which he proposed to establish the centre of commerce, as well as the seat of dominion. With this view he founded a great city, which he honoured with his own name, near one of the mouths of the river Nile; and by the Mediterranean sea, and the neighbourhood of the Arabian gulf, that it might command the trade both of the east and west. This situation was chosen with such discernment, that Alexandria soon became the chief commercial city of the world.

Not only during the subsistence of the Grecian empire in Egypt and in the east, but amidst all the successive revolutions in those countries, from the time of Ptolemy, to the discovery of the navigation by the cape of Good Hope, the commerce of the East Indies continued to flow in the channel, which the sagacity and foresight of Alexander had marked out for it. His ambition was not satisfied with having opened to the Greeks a communication with India by sea; he aspired to the sovereignty of those regions, which furnished the rest of mankind with so many precious commodities, and conducted his army by land. Enterprising, however, as he was, he may be said rather to have discovered than to have conquered any country. He did not, in his progress towards the east, advance beyond the banks of the rivers that fall into the Indus, which is now the western boundary of the vast continent of India.

Amidst the wild exploits which distinguish this part of his history, he pursued measures that mark the superiority of his genius, as well as the extent of his views.

He had penetrated as far into India, as to confirm his opinion of its commercial importance, and to perceive that immense wealth, which might be derived from intercourse with a country, where arts of elegance having been more early cultivated,

were arrived at a greater perfection than in any other part of the world.

Full of this idea, he resolved to examine the course of navigation from the mouth of the Indus to the bottom of the Persian gulph, and if he should find it practicable, to establish a regular communication between them. In order to effect this, he proposed to remove the cataracts, with which the jealousy of the Persians, and their aversion to correspondence with foreigners, had obstructed the entrance into the Euphrates, to carry the commodities of the east into that river, and the Tigris which unites with it, into the interior parts of his Asiatic dominions; while, by the way of the Arabian gulf, and the river Nile, they might be conveyed to Alexandria, and distributed to the rest of the world. Nearchus, an officer of eminent abilities, was intrusted with the command of the feet fitted out for this expedition. He performed this voyage, which was deemed an enterprise so arduous and important, that Alexander reckoned it one of the most extraordinary events which distinguished his reign. Inconsiderable as it may now appear, it was at that time an undertaking of no little merit and difficulty. In the prosecution of it, striking instances occur of the small progress which the Greeks had made in naval knowledge; having never sailed beyond the bounds of the Mediterranean, where the ebb and flow of the sea are perceptible: when they first observed this phenomenon at the mouth of the Indus, it appeared to them a prodigy, by which the Gods testified the displeasure of heaven against their enterprise. During their whole course, they seem never to have lost sight of land, but followed the bearings of the coast so servilely, that they could not much avail themselves of those periodical winds which facilitate navigation in the Indian ocean.

Accordingly, they spent no less that ten months in performing this voyage, which, from the mouth of the Indus to the Persian gulf, does not extend twenty degrees. It is probable, that amidst violent convulsions and frequent revolutions in the east, occasioned by the contests among the successors of Alexander, the navigation to India, by a course which Nearchus had opened, was continued; the Indian trade carried on at, Alexandria not only subsisted, but was so much improved under the Grecian monarchs of Egypt, that it proved a great source of wealth, which distinguished that kingdom.

JOHN I.

SURNAMED the Bastard, obtained secure possession of the throne of Portugal, by the peace concluded with Castile, in the year one thousand four hundred and eleven. He was a prince of great merit, who, by superior courage and abilities, had opened his way to the throne, which of right did not belong to him. He instantly perceived that it would be impossible to preserve public order or domestic tranquillity, without finding some employment for the restless spirit of his subjects. With this view, he assembled a numerous fleet at Lisbon, composed of all the ships that he could fit out in his own kingdom, and of many hired from foreigners. This great armament was destined to attack the Moors settled on the coast of Barbary. While it was equipping, a few vessels were appointed to sail along the western shore of Africa, bounded by the Atlantic, and to discover the unknown countries situated there. At this time the art of navigation was still very imperfect, and the Portuguese had never ventured to sail beyond