9. After the total subversion of the western empire, those riches, which Rome had accumulated by so many centuries of successful rapine, were by degrees diffused over all Europe, and gold and silver introduced into the regions of the north. The abundance of gold and silver, which, as history informs us, was displayed with profusion, in the palaces, the dress, the arms, &c. of the ancients, seems astonishing, and almost incredible, to modern readers; and a person who examines the subject only in a superficial manner, is ready to ask this question-What is become of that abundance of those metals which was displayed in certain countries; for example, in Jerusalem and Judah, in ancient times? And why do we not see the same profusion of gold and silver in the present age, especially as the mines of America have produced such abundance?

10. The question is not of a difficult solution, and the answer is obvious. In the ages of antiquity, gold and silver were not so extensively diffused, nor so generally circulated, as at present. In the times here under consideration, and in the countries of which our histories treat, wealth was concentrated within a contracted circle. Egypt, and that small district of Asia which extended from the Levant sea, and the Grecian Archipelago, to the Euphrates, with Assyria and Chaldea, were the only countries where history, either sacred or profane, mentions any such abundance of gold and silver.

11. Those metals had not then circulated any farther from the countries where they were produced, and they were lodged in a few hands. They remained chiefly among the princes and grandees. Commerce had not at that period branched out into a sufficient number of ramifications to disseminate them among the people at large. This is the reason why such a profusion of them was seen in some particular palaces, and with some particular persons.

12. We read of the importation of those metals into the Israelitish dominions by Solomon's fleets; but it is highly probable, that this trade was monopolized by the crown; and, notwithstanding the extraordinary display of wealth in Jerusalem, we are not to suppose, that so great a quantity of

What has become of that abundance of gold and silver which was displayed in some ancient nations?

gold and silver was in circulation among the armers, tradesmen, and mechanics of Israel, as among those of several European countries; nor that the whole quantity accumulated in Solomon's kingdom would bear any comparison with the amount of the circulating cash of England and France. 13. The wealth then accumulated in one narrow corner, was afterwards dispersed among the Persians, then among the Greeks and Carthaginians, next among the Romans; and at last throughout all Europe, where no gold or silver had ever been disseminated before. The treasures, which appeared immense when concentrated within a narrow space, became small, when divided into so many portions, and dispersed into so many countries; and this circumstance made gold and silver extremely scarce, which had seemed so plentiful at a far more early period. Gold was indeed so scarce, that none was ever coined in England before the eighteenth year of Edward the Third, A. D. 1345; nor any silver but pennies, half-pence, and farthings.

THE STAR IN THE EAST.

THE night was moonless-Judah's shepherds kept
Their starlight watch-their flocks around them slept.*
To heaven's blue fields their wakeful eyes were turn'd,
And to the fires that there eternal burn'd.

Those azure regions had been peopled long,
With Fancy's children, by the sons of song-
And there, the simple shepherd, conning o'er
His humble pittance of Chaldean lore,
Saw, in the stillness of a starry night,

The Swan and Eagle wing their silent flight ;t

* See Luke, ii. 8-15.

For the help of those wholly unacquainted with astronomy it is proper to observe, that the Swan, the Eagle, Berenicé's lock, Boōtes, the Pleiades, the Lyre, and Auriga or the Charioteer, are the names of constellations, or the parts of constellations, visible in the northern hemisphere-of course, in Judea-Cynosure is the classical name of the Polestar.

Why do gold and silver now appear less plenty than they did n ancient times?

And, from their spangled pinions, as they flew,
On Israel's vales of verdure shower the dew-
Saw there, the brilliant gems, that nightly flare,
In the thin mist of Berenicé's hair;

And there, Boötes roll his lucid wain,

On sparkling wheels, along the ethereal plain;
And there, the Pieiades, in tuneful gyre,
Pursue for ever the star-studded Lyre;

And there, with bickering lash, heaven's Charioteer
Urge round the Cynosure his bright career.

While thus the shepherds watch'd the host of night,
O'er heaven's blue concave flash'd a sudden light.
The unrolling glory spread its folds divine,
O'er the green hills and vales of Palestine;
And lo! descending angels, hovering there,
Stretch'd their loose wings, and in the purple air,
Hung o'er the sleepless guardians of the fold ;-
When that high anthem, clear, and strong, and bold,
On wavy paths of trembling ether ran―

Glory to God-Benevolence to man

Peace to the world ;"—and in full concert came,
From silver tubes, and harps of golden frame,
The loud and sweet response, whose choral strains
Lingered and languished on Judea's plains.

Yon living lamps, charm'd from their chambers blue,
By airs so heavenly, from the skies withdrew-
All?-all, but one, that hung and burn'd alone,
And with mild lustre over Bethlehem shone.
Chaldea's sages saw that orb afar,

Glow unextinguished ;-'twas Salvation's Star.

BATTLE OF TRAFALGAR.

1. NELSON'S column was steered about two points more to the north than Collingwood's, in order to cut off the enemy's escape into Cadiz-the lee line was, therefore, first engaged. See," cried Nelson, pointing to the Royal Sovereign, as she steered right for the centre of the enemy's line,

cut through it, astern of the Santa Anna three decker, and engaged her at the muzzle of her guns on her starboard side "See how that noble fellow, Collingwood, carries his ship into action!" Collingwood delighted in being first in the heat of the fire; and knowing the feelings of his command er, and old friend, turned to his captain, and exclaimed"Rotherham, what would Nelson give to be here ?" Both of these brave officers, perhaps, at this moment thought of Nelson with gratitude, for a circumstance which had occurred on the preceding day. Admiral Collingwood, with some of the captains, having gone on board the Victory, to receive instructions, Nelson inquired of him where his captain was? and was told in reply that they were not upon good terms with each other. "Terms" said Nelson ;-"good terms with each other!" Immediately he sent a boat for captain Rotherham; led him, as soon as he arrived, to Collingwood, and saying, "Look, yonder are the enemy!" bade them shake hands, like Englishmen.

2. The enemy continued to fire a gun at a time at the Victory, till they saw that a shot had passed through her main-top gallant sail; then they opened their broadsides, aiming chiefly at her rigging, in the hope of disabling her before she could close with them. Nelson, as usual, had hoisted several flags, lest one should be shot away. The enemy showed no colors till late in the action, when they began to feel the necessity of having them to strike. For this reason, the Santissima Trinidad, Nelson's old acquaintance, as he used to call her, was distinguished only by her four decks; and to the bow of this opponent he ordered the Victory to be steered. Meantime, an incessant raking fire was kept up upon the Victory. The admiral's secretary was one of the first who fell he was killed by a cannon shot while convers ing with Hardy.

3. Captain Adair, of the marines, with the help of a sailor, endeavored to remove the body from Nelson's sight, who had a great regard for Mr. Scott; but he anxiously asked-" Is that poor Scott that's gone?" and being informed that it was indeed so, exclaimed-" Poor fellow!" Presently a doubleheaded shot struck a party of marines, and killed eight of them-upon which Nelson immediately desired captain Adair

In what ship was lord Nelson?

to disperse his men round the ship, that they might not suffer so much from being together. A few minutes afterwards, a shot struck the fore brace bits on the quarter deck, and passed between Nelson and Hardy, a splinter from the bit tearing off Hardy's buckle, and bruising his foot. Both stopped, and looked anxiously at each other, each supposing the other to be wounded. Nelson then smiled, and said— This is too warm work, Hardy, to last long."

4. The Victory had not yet returned a single gun-fifty of her men had been by this time killed or wounded, and her main-top-mast, with all her studding sails, and their booms, shot away. Nelson declared, that in all his battles, he had seen nothing which surpassed the cool courage of his crew on this occasion. At four minutes past twelve, she opened her fire from both sides of her deck. It was not possible to break the enemy's line, without running on board one of their ships-Hardy informed him of this, and asked which he would prefer. Nelson replied-"Take your choice, Hardy, it does not signify much." The master was then ordered to put the helm to port, and the Victory ran on board the Redoubtable, just as her tiller-ropes were shot away. The French ship received her with a broadside; then instantly let down her lower deck ports, for fear of being boarded through them, and never afterwards fired a great gun during the action. Her tops, like those of all the enemy's ships, were filled with riflemen. Nelson never placed musketry in his tops; he had a strong dislike to the practice; not merely because it endangers setting fire to the sails, but also because it is a murderous sort of warfare, by which individuals may suffer, and a commander now and then be picked off, but which can never decide the fate of a general engage

ment.

5. Captain Harvey, in the Temeraire, fell on board the Redoubtable on the other side. Another enemy was in like manner on board the Temeraire-so that these four ships formed as compact a tier as if they had been moored together, their heads all lying the same way. The lieutenants of the Victory, seeing this, depressed their guns of the middle and lower decks, and fired with a diminished charge, lest

How many of the Victory's crew were killed before she commenced firing?-On board of what French ship did the Victory run?