Page images
PDF
EPUB
[merged small][subsumed][merged small][graphic][merged small]

PHILADELPHIA EXCHANGE.

from Dock street. A hall passes through the centre of the building from Dock to Third Streets, and ano

side. The basement story is fifteen feet in height— is arched throughout, and has twelve doorways on the Third street front and flanks. On the right or north side of the hall is the Post Office, seventy-four by thirty-six feet, and on the left are several insurance offices and banks, and the session-room of the chamber of Commerce. Two flights of stairs, one on each side of the hall, ascend to the second floor; at the head of these is the entrance to the Exchange Room, which is on the east front, extending across the whole building, and occupying an area of 3300 superficial feet. The ceiling extending to the roof, is of the form of a dome, and supported by several marble columns. Its pannels are ornamented with splendid fresco paintings, representing Commerce, Wealth, Liberty, &c. beautifully executed, appearing to have as striking a relief as sculptured work. On one side is a

Hitherto in this country, for the most part, architec-ther likewise communicates with this from the north ture has been confined to the useful rather than the ornamental. And it is natural that such should have been the case, in a new country engaged mostly in trade and agriculture, of unsettled manners and policies, and where the impatient desire of accumulation leads to such constant changes of habitation as will never permit the amor loci to gain strength. Love of place is essential to the proper encouragement of the fine arts; and it is only where a population become purely indigenous, and desirous of aggrandizing their native place and permanent abode, that we may expect the establishment of publick institutions, or any munificent local expenditure of money. Boston and its vicinity can boast of some institutions, libraries, and publick works not unworthy of any country; and they owe their existence to the liberality of men who ove their homes, and are not unambitious to enjoy the pleasure and reputation of having contributed some-book containing a list of the daily arrivals and clearthing during their lives to improve and adorn them. New York has few publick institutions but those which are devoted to the exclusive enjoyment of select societies or private corporations. Washington is adorned with the Capitol, a splendid pile; Baltimore has her monuments, and Philadelphia boasts a few fine build-attick story is of the same height as the basement, conings, among the first of which may be enumerated the taining six large rooms, occupied by library associaU. S. Bank, the Mint, and the new Exchange. The tions, artists, &c. The building is further ornamented circumstances which have impeded the study and cul- on Third street, by a sort of piazza, let into the main tivation of architecture among us, however, are now wall, with several marble pillars rising from the top about yielding to the improvements in society, and the of the basement to the roof. The roof of the building increasing stability in the policies of the republick. is oval and surmounted by a circular lantern that rises And there is a fair prospect now before us, that archi- forty feet. The establishment is owned and sustained tecture will soon assume that dignity which is ac- by an association of merchants. It is a most convencorded to it in other countries as a distinct and useful ient edifice for the purposes mentioned, and the picart, worthy the exclusive time and study of its profes-ture which is herewith presented, embracing the Gisors, and the encouragement and fostering care of the rard Banking House, is one of the most imposing for community.

On the preceding page we have placed an engraving of the new Philadelphia Exchange, which may be considered the latest specimen of the progress of the architectural art in that city. We do not introduce it for the purpose of criticism, but merely to gratify our readers with a general description of its construction and object.

ances of vessels. On the right is an extensive readingroom, to which admission is gained by subscription and the payment of an annual tax. The rooms upon the right side of the hall of this floor are appropriated for the meetings of stockholders, brokers, &c. The

architectural display of which Philadelphia can boast. We would respectfully recommend, however, the demolition of Mr. Gowan's wine store, which is the only object that detracts from the beauty of the picture.

The prototype of the Philadelphia Exchange, is the Choragic Monument at Athens, called by modern Athenians the Lanterne of Demosthenes. This monument erected 330 years before Christ, near the east

the Hospitium of the Capuchins, is said to present one of the richest examples of Grecian Corinthian architecture to be found in Attica.

HISTORY.

-

PHOENICIA.

The exchange is situated at the corner of Southern end of the Acropolis, and now partly enclosed in Third and Walnut streets, and on the angle formed by the intersection of Dock with Walnut and Third streets. It was built in 1833 by the merchants and citizens of Philadelphia. It is constructed entirely of marble-is a rectangular parallelogram in form, ninety-five feet front on Third street, by one hundred and fifty on Walnut street. On Dock street however is a semi-circular projection, ornamented from the top of the basement story with six beautiful Corinthian columns; the capitals worked by the best Italian artists. This portico is of the height of two stories, and communicates with the 'Exchange Room' by means of nine separate windows, which may be used as doorways. On either side of this semi-rotunda, which is 72 feet in diameter in the basement, a flight of stone steps leads likewise to the main room of the edifice

The Phoenicians are known in history principally as a navigating and commercial people, among whom the arts were early cultivated. While they were, as we have seen, the most famous of any in olden times for their commercial advantages, they were likewise the most extraordinary for the jealousy they invariably manifested in reference to their commercial interests and relations. The jealousy of the Phoenicians was

xtraordinary from the fact, that in all their business | 1255. Its first king was Abibal-the next Hiram, who transactions, they avoided competitors; on the sea they pursued false courses to deceive them, and whenever opportunity offered they hazarded their own lives to destroy those of their rivals. They would attack ships, murder whole crews, and sink vessels, rather than that their commercial connexions should be made known.

was succeeded by Beleazar, his son. The seventh from him was Pygmalion, the brother of the celebrated Dido. The cruelties of Pygmalion obliged her to flee to Africa, where, being well received by the inhabitants of Utica, a Tyrian colony, she founded the mighty sovereignty of Carthage.

Tyre and Sidon were the most opulent cities in this country. In these cities were cultivated, with success, philosophy, rhetorick, and all the elegant sciences. The wants of commerce brought to perfection arithmetick, geometry and astronomy. Workmen of every kind, sculptors, painters, builders, and architects abounded. The monarchs of adjacent nations, when they wished to erect sumptuous edifices or splendid monuments had recourse to the kings of this small country. To Hiram, king of Tyre, both David and Solomon applied when proposing to build a temple; he furnished them with precious metals and workmen. The Phoenicians are regarded as the earliest navi. gators, merchants and workmen of the world. According to ancient records, they carried on trades, not only over all the coasts of the Mediterranean, but even over the ocean, as far as England, whence they exported tin. Tyre and Sidon are celebrated for their manufactures; the elegance of their works in wood, and the metals; and for the beauty and fineness of the linen they fabricated. It is believed that glass was invented by the inhabitants of Tyre. On its coast was found a small shell fish, which yielded that purple dye, known among us as the Tyrian dye; these fish are now no longer to be met with.

The Phoenicians, notwithstanding their advancement in knowledge, we very superstitious and idolatrous. They worshipped the sun, the moon, and fire, to which last they consigned human victims.

GREECE.

The history of Greece during this period is pursued first in a few details, respecting some of its different sovereignties.

Codrus, the last Athenian king, devoted himself to the good of his subjects. With him royalty was abolished, since the people thought no man worthy of succeeding him. This change occurred towards the close of the present period, viz. 1069 years B. C.

Codrus being engaged in a war with the Heraclida, was told by the oracle that the army would be victorious whose chief should perish. He, therefore, with a chosen band, threw himself into the hottest of the battle, and turned the fortune of the day in favour of his countrymen, at the expense of his own life.

A dispute for the succession arose between two of his sons, and before they could accommodate their difference, the Athenians abolished royalty altogether, but placed Medon, one of the claimants, at the head of the state, with the title of Archon. This office was for life during more than 3 centuries; afterwards it was reduced to 10 years, and finally to one year.

verned in his family 250 years. The last king of this Corinth, having been seized by Sysyphus, was gorace was deposed by the Heraclidæ, 1099 years B. C.

The first great enterprise of the Greeks was the Argonautic expedition, 1263 years B. C. It was led by Jason, and is supposed to have been both a military

and a mercantile adventure. Its destination was to Colchis, the modern Mingrelia, in Asia Minor.

According to some, the object was to open the com

The first king of Sidon, was its founder, Sidon the son of Canaan. We know nothing of his successors til we come to Tetramnestus, who furnished three hundred galleys to Xerxes for his expedition against Greece. Under his successors, however, the Sidonians had become subject to the Persians, and revolt-merce of the Euxine sea, and to secure some established. Darius Ochus marched against them determined ment on its coast. According to others, Jason wished to avenge the death of his kinsman Phryxus, and to to subjugate or destroy them. Obliged to yield or die, recover his treasures, which had been seized by the the Sidonians set fire to their own dwellings, and king of Colchis. Hence, in the language of fiction or themselves and families were buried beneath the ru-figure, it was the "Golden Fleece" that was the ohins. Some of the inhabitants, however, escaped in ject to be recovered. their ships; and after the departure of Darius, they returned and partially rebuilt their city. They ever after retained so implacable a hatred to the Persians that when Alexander made war on the latter, they voluntarily opened their gates and yielded in gratitude to him, in opposition to the wishes of their own king Strato. Alexander, however, with true magnanimity placed one of their own citizens on the throne in his stead. His name was Abdalonimus, a man of modest merit, whom the conqueror found digging in his garden.

This expedition was thought to be of so much importance, that all the heroes of the age were anxious to engage in it. Among the 54 renowned captains who were in the single ship of Argo alone, in which Jason embarked, were Hercules, Theseus, Castor, and Pollux. Pirithous, Laertes, Peleus, Oileus, &c.

In the course of their voyage, they attempted to land for refreshment in a part of Phrygia, but were prevented by Laomedon, king of Troy, for which they took ample revenge on their return, by pillaging that

city.

Tyre was founded by the posterity of Sidon. Her odotus gives to the older Tyre a great antiquity. The new city reared opposite to the ancient, on an island, is said by Josephus to have been built in the year B. C.

The kings already named, who had governed Athens, had raised it to a considerable degree of civilization. But the king who laid the principal foundation of Athenian greatness, was Theseus. He united the 12 cities of Attica into one confederacy.

Theseus is said to have founded a more perfect equality among the citizens, in consequence of which, the state rather resembled a republick than a monarchy. Owing to the inconstancy of the people, he was banished from the country, notwithstanding his many virtues.

On their arrival in Colchis, Medea, the daughter of the king, fell in love with Jason, and, through her assistance, the Argonauts effected the object of their voyage. On their arrival in Greece, Hercules celebrated or instituted the Olympic Games.

A dispute for the divided sovereignty of Thebes, between the brothers Eteocles, and Polynices, gave rise to a war that was terminated by single combat,

in which both were killed. This is called the war of
the seven captains, and occurred 1225 years B. C.
. The sons of the commanders slain in this war
renewed the quarrel of their fathers, about ten years
afterwards. This is called the war of the Epigonoi, a
subject celebrated by Homer in a poem now lost.

But the most celebrated event of this period, in the annals of Greece, is the Trojan war. It commenced 1193 years B. C., and terminated in ten years. Troy was taken and burnt to the ground. This war was undertaken by the princes of Greece to avenge the wrongs sustained by Menelaus, king of Lacedæmon, whose wife, Helen, had been seduced away by Paris, a Trojan prince. The details of this war are derived from Homer; but he is reasonably supposed to have related facts, for the most part.

Troy, the capital of Phrygia Minor, was founded 1546 years B. C. by Scamander who led thither a colony from Crete. Troas, the fifth in succession from Scamander, either built a new city, or enlarged the old one, and named it after himself, Troy. The Trojans were a brave and warlike people.

The number of the Grecian warriors is supposed to have been about 100,000. Nearly all Asia Minor was leagued with Priam, king of Troy. The Greeks, on landing a Troas, were warmly opposed, and they spent the first 8 or 9 years in reducing such cities and islands as favoured the cause of Troy. At length the siege of that capital began, and the most heroick deeds. were performed on both sides. At this juncture, the camp of the Greeks was visited by a pestilence, and a quarrel ensued between Agamemnon and Achilles, the Grecian leaders.

The death of Patroclus, slain by Hector, impelled Achilles to return into the Grecian camp. Hector was killed by Achilles, and Achilles fell by the hand of Paris, who was himself slain by an arrow. At last the Greeks gained possession of the city by stratagem, and utterly destroyed it. No vestige of its ruins now remains.

practice of human sacrifices, and conquered Heliopolis, the ancient capital of Lower Egypt.

Actisanes, king of Ethiopia, united Egypt and Ethiopia under his government. He bore his prosperity with great prudence, and behaved himself in a most affectionate manner towards his new subjects.

Having caused a general search to be made after the Egyptian robbers who infested the country, he commanded their noses to be cut off, and then banished them to the remotest part of the desert, between Syria and Egypt, where he built them a town, which, from the mutilation of its inhabitants, was called Rhinoco lura.

A Memphite of ignoble extraction was exalted to the throne. The priests characterized him as a magician, and pretended that he could assume whatever form he pleased. His Egyptian name was Cetes, which the Greeks rendered Proteus.

It was during his reign, that Paris and Helen were driven on the coasts of Egypt, in their passage to Troy, but when the Egyptian monarch understood the shameful breach of hospitality which the young stranger had committed, he ordered him to quit his dominions

LYDIA.

They were divided into three dynasties. 1. The The history of the kings of LYDIA is very obscure. Atydæ. 2. The Heraclidæ. 3. The Mermnadæ. The history of Atyda is altogether fabulous. Argon was the first of the Heraclidæ, and Candaules the last. Argon reigned about 1223 years B. C. The Lydians are celebrated as merchants and traffickers.

Lydia is supposed to have been founded by Lud, son of Shem. It was, however, called Lydia, from Lydus, one of its kings. It was previously called Mæonia, from Mæon, also one of its kings. It was conquered at length by the descendants of Hercules. that part of Mæonia which was seated on the Egean Lydia Proper was, strictly speaking, at first only Sea; but when the Greeks or Ionians settled there, Such of the Trojans as survived sought new settle- The invaders named the sea coasts where they settled the ancient inhabitants were driven to the interiour. ments in distant regions. Antenor established himself in Italy, where he founded the nation of the Ionia, after the country whence they had emigrated, Heneti. Eneas settled also in Italy, where he foun-lide; while the Lydians gave their name to the new or rather, whence they had been driven by the Heracded the kingdom of Alba.

about 80 years after the destruction of Troy. Hercules, The war of the Heraclidæ, among the Greeks, began the son of Amphitryon, sovereign of Mycenaæ. was banished from his country, with all his family, while the crown was possessed by a usurper. After a period of a century, his descendants, called Heraclidæ, returned to Peloponnesus, and bduing all their enemies, took possession of the states of Mycenae, Argos, and Lacedæmon. This return of the Heraclide is an event often spoken of in history.

A long period of civil war succeeded, and Greece, divided among a number of petty tyrants, became a prey to oppression or anarchy. The difficulties of the times drove many of the Greeks from home, who founded important colonies, as we shall hereafter learn.

EGYPT.

Concerning the EGYPTIANS, during this period, very little is known with certainty. Apophis is thought to have been the Pharaoh who, together with his army, was drowned in the Red Sea. Amosis, Amenophis II., and one or two others, were warriors and conquerors.

A few things may be subjoined respecting some of the Egyptian kings during this period. Moris caused the celebrated lake, called by his name, to be dug, to receive the waters of the Nile, when the inundation was too abundant, and to water the country when it proved deficient.

Hermes Trismegistes is celebrated for his philosophical writings. He added 5 days to the year, which before consisted only of 360. Amosis abolished the

of Lydia were devoted to commerce.
Long before the invasion of the Ionians, the natives
The earliess
found in their history. They were also the first people
instance on record of a gold and silver coinage is
who exhibited publick sports.

countries in which they settled.

ITALY.

ITALY appears to have been inhabited at a remote

era.

So early as 1289 years B. C. we read of a king named Janus, who, having arrived from Thessaly, planted a colony on the river Tiber. Four sovereigns succeeded him in Latium; during the reign of the last of whom, viz. Latinus, arrived Æneas, the Trojan prince in Italy. Eneas married Lavinia, the daughter of Latinus, and succeeded him in the sovereignty. After Æneas there was a succession of kings to the time of Numitor, the grandfather of Romulus and Remus, the founders of Rome.

The history of these kings is, however, very obscure and confused, and very little dependance can be placed upon it. Of the numerous petty kingdoms of which Italy was composed, those of Etruria and Latium alone deserve attention. The Etruscans are thought to have been a very polished people. The inhabitants of Latium were the immediate ancestors of the Romans. A considerable part of Italy was doubtless peopled by the Greeks.

Italy, afterwards the seat of the Roman power, was peopled at an early era, though we cannot determine the particular point of time, with certainty as to the country at large. The colony on the Tiber, as we have seen, was settled nearly 13 centuries before

Christ. There is every reason to believe that a part of Italy was inhabited by a refined and cultivated nation, many ages before the Roman name was known. The Etruscans are justly considered as such a nation; a fact which is indicated by the monuments in the fine arts which they have left, and some of which exist to this day. Their alphabet, resembling the Phoenician, disposes us to believe them to have been of eastern origin.

Though many of the inhabitants of Italy originated from Greece and the east, yet a portion of them, it is believed, must have originated from the Celtic or Gomerian tribes of the north, who entered Italy from that

quarter.

[blocks in formation]

that could check our ardour in the exciting sport. Scarcely a winter day's sun went down, that we did not see the pack well fed and kennelled; and the same sun seldom dissolved the morning frost, before the same hounds might open on a fresh trail in the neighbourhood of the farm yard and the poultry-roosts, in a few moments compelling the sly pilferer to "break cover" from the neighbouring wood. The musick of the hounds was wont to fill our youthful heart with delight, and at the 'death' of the Fox, when we had a hand in it, we were wont to exult with cruel pride.

The Red Fox is found throughout North America,. and the species is particularly numerous in New Eng land and the middle and southern states of the Union. He is notorious for activity and cunning, and especially for his depredations on the poultry yards. His favour ite day-haunts are dense thickets of pine and hemlock, ledges covered with thick underbrush, and ravines deeply overshadowed. At certain seasons however he may be observed lurking in the sun upon hill sides, hunting mice in the meadows, or frisking about among the dry leaves of an open forest. The night is the favourite season for his depredatory excursions, though he often extends them until late in the morning, when not unfrequently he may be seen bearing off his prey to a neighbouring wood. 'Like all his kindred species' observes the lamented Dr. Godman, 'the Red Fox is distinguished by the possession of keen senses* and great sagacity or craftiness, which enables him almost to bid defiance to traps, while his strength and swift ness of foot render it extremely difficult to capture him in the chase. Once fairly roused by the hounds, this animal dashes off with great speed, and soon far out strips pursuit, and did he not lose the advantage of his celerity by remitting his efforts, might soon render the exertions of the sportsman nugatory. But the perseve ring hounds again and again drive him to his utmost speed, and eventually wear him down, though not until a wide extent of country has been traversed, and huntsmen, horses and dogs have suffered severely from fatigue.'

It is only in some of the western and southern states that the Fox is hunted upon horses. In New England he is hunted on foot with hounds; and the hunters lay in wait in the known routes of the Fox, and shoot him down as he approaches with either fowling-piece or rifle, though the fowling-piece is most commonly used. Dr. Goldsmith says, that the true

*Their sense of smell seems to be more perfect than that of sight. We remember one instance which seems to illustrate that their sense of sight is not very acute. In one of our hunting excursions, we saw the Fox that we had roused, playing about the stumps of a field, with the grace and pranks of a kitten, although the hound was in full cry constantly at his heels. We approached within about fifty yards and discharged our piece at the gay fellow, but without effect. After taking a circuit of about a hundred yards, he returned towards us and approached within a few feet of our person; when, having either seen or scented us, he darted off in another direction for the mountains, leaving the dog miles behind him, and ourself as far behind the dog. We heard of neither dog nor Fox again that day! It is obvious the Fox had not seen us before the time on which he took occasion to bid us farewell, although we were in an open field, the snow was several inches deep, and we had once spoken so loudly to him with our fowling-piece.

[graphic]
« PreviousContinue »