digious size; and also a great number of chariots, in which were not only the statues of kings, but those of several deities.

After these, came a chorus of six hundred men, among whom were three hundred who played on gilded harps, and wore golden crowns. At a small distance from this band marched two thousand bulls, all of the same colour, and adorned with golden frontlets, in the middle of which rose a crown of the same metal. They were also adorned with a collar, and an egis hung on the breast of each. All these habiliments were of gold.

The procession of Jupiter, and a great number of other deities, advanced next; and, after all the rest, that of Alexander, whose statue of massy gold was placed in a chariot drawn by elephants; on one side of this statue stood victory, and on the other, Min

erva.

The procession was graced with several thrones of gold and ivory, on one of which was a large diadem of gold, and on another a horn of the same metal. A third supported a crown; and a fourth a horn of solid gold. On the throne of Ptolemy Soter, the father of the reigning prince, was a golden crown, which weighed ten thousand pieces of gold, each containing four drachms.

In this procession were likewise three hundred golden vases, in which perfumes were to be burnt;

A kind of buckler which covered the breast.

< The Attic stater, usually called xpuss, was equal to ten livres of French money; the value therefore of this single crown amounted to 100,000 French livres, which are about 50001, sterling.

fifty gilded altars, encompassed with golden crowns. Four torches of gold, fifteen feet in height, were fastened to one of these altars. There were likewise twelve gilded hearths, one of which was eighteen feet in circumference, and sixty in height; and another was only twelve feet and an half high. Nine Delphic tripods of gold appeared next, having six feet in their altitude; and there were six others, nine feet in height. The largest of all was forty five feet high; several animals in gold were placed upon it, and its upper part was encompassed with a golden crown, formed of a foliage of vine leaves.

After these were seen several gilded palms, twelve feet in length, together with a caduceus, gilt also, sixty six feet long; a gilded thunderbolt, in length sixty feet; a gilded temple, sixty feet in circumference; a double horn, twelve feet long; a vast number of gilded animals, several of which were eighteen feet in height. To these were added several deer of a stupendous size, and a set of eagles thirty feet high.

Three thousand and two hundred crowns of gold were likewise carried in this procession; together with a consecrated crown, containing an hundred and twenty feet, undoubtedly, in its circumference; it was likewise adorned with a profusion of gems, and surrounded the entrance into the temple of Berenice. Several large crowns of gold were also supported by young virgins, richly habited. One of these crowns was three feet in height, with a circumference of twenty four.

These ornaments of the procession were accompanied with a golden cuirass, eighteen feet in height; and another of silver, twenty seven feet high. On this

latter was the representation of two thunderbolts of gold, eighteen feet in length; with an oaken crown embellished with jewels; twenty golden bucklers; sixty four complete suits of golden armour; two boots of the same metal, four feet and an half in length; twelve basons; a great number of flagons; ten large vases of perfumes for the baths; twelve beakers; fifty dishes, and a large number of tables; all these were of gold. There were likewise five tables covered with golden goblets; and a horn of solid gold, forty four feet in length. All these golden vessels, and other ornaments, were in a separate procession from that of Bacchus, which has been already described.

There were likewise four hundred chariots laden with vessels, and other works of silver; twenty others filled with golden vessels, and eight hundred more appropriated to the carriage of aromatic spices.

The troops that guarded this procession were composed of fifty seven thousand and six hundred foot, and twenty three thousand horse, all dressed and armed in a magnificent manner.

During the games and public combats, which continued for some days, after this pompous solemnity, Ptolemy Soter presented the victors with twenty crowns of gold, and they received twenty three from his consort Berenice. It appeared, by the registers of the palace, that these last crowns were valued at two thousand two hundred and thirty talents, and fifty minæ, about three hundred and thirty four thousand four hundred pounds sterling. From whence some judgment may be formed of the immense sums to which all the gold and silver employed in this splendid ceremonial amounted.

Such was the magnificence, shall I call it religious, or rather theatrical and of the comic strain? exhibited by Ptolemy Philadelphus, at his coronation. If Fabricius, the famous Roman, whom I have formerly mentioned, and who had rendered himself so remarkable for his contempt of gold and silver, had been a spectator of this procession, I am persuaded that the sight of it in all its parts, would have proved insupportable to him; and am inclined to think he would have thought and spoken like the emperor Vespasian, upon an occasion which had some resemblance to this. He and his son Titus made a triumphant entry into Rome, after the destruction of Jerusalem; but finding himself fatigued with the excessive length of that pompous procession, he could not conceal his displeasure, and declared, that he was justly punished by that tedious ceremony, for his weakness in desiring a triumph at his advanced age.

In this festival of Ptolemy Philadelphus, no part of it was conducted with any elegance, or had the least air of taste and genius. An amazing prodigality of gold and silver was displayed, which makes me recollect a passage in Sallust, the beauty and force of which I have the mortification not to be able to render in our language. Cataline intended to represent the immoderate luxury of the Romans his contemporaries, who lavished immense sums in the purchase of pictures, statues,wrought plate, and superb buildings. "They draw out," says he," and torment their gold and silver by all imaginable methods;" I must entreat the reader's excuse for this literal translation; "and yet this excess of prodigality is incapable of exhausting and overcoming

their riches."

"Omnibus modis pecuniam trahunt, vexant; tamen summa lubidine divitias suas vincere nequeunt." In such profusions as these, did the whole merit of Philadelphus consist on this occasion.

What could there be truly great or admirable in this vain ostentation of riches, and waste of such immense treasure in a bottomless abyss, after they had cost the people so many fatiguing labours, and perhaps had been amassed by a long series of violent exactions? The spoils of whole provinces and cities were sacrificed to the curiosity of a single day, and displayed to public view, only to raise the frivolous admiration of a stupid populace, without conducing to the least real advantage or utility. Nothing ever argued a more profound ignorance of the true use of riches and solid glory, and of whatever else has any just pretensions to the esteem of mankind.

But what can we say, when we behold a sacred procession, and a solemnity of religion, converted into a public school of intemperance and licentiousness, such as are only proper to excite the most shameful passions in the spectators, and induce an utter depravity of manners; by presenting to their view all the utensils of excess and debauch, with the most powerful allurements to indulge them, and that under pretext of paying adoration to the gods! What divinities must those be, that would exact, or so much as suffer so scandalous a pomp in their worship!

These metaphorical terms, "trahunt, vexant, vincere nequeunt," may possibly be derived from the combats of the athlete, wherein, after one of them has thrown his adversary, and imagines himself victorious, he drags him along the arena, in sight of the spectators, twists, shakes, and torments him, without being able to extort a confession from him of his defeat. In this contest, therefore, wherein the Roman author represents luxury and riches to be engaged, all the profusions of the former were incapable of exhausting and overcoming her riches.