PHILADELPHIA EXCHANGE. from Dock street. A hall passes through the centre of the building from Dock to Third Streets, and another likewise communicates with this from the north 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 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 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 Hitherto in this country, for the most part, architecture 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 ex-building, and occupying an area of 3300 superficial pect 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. architectural display of which Philadelphia can boast. On the preceding page we have placed an engraving We would respectfully recommend, however, the deof the new Philadelphia Exchange, which may be con-molition of Mr. Gowan's wine store, which is the only sidered 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. 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 mon-ument 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 a 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 Abiba!-the next Hiram, who transactions, they avoided competitors; on the sea was succeeded by Beleazar, his son. The seventh they pursued false courses to deceive them, and when- from him was Pygmalion, the brother of the celebrated ever opportunity offered they hazarded their own lives Dido. The cruelties of Pygmalion obliged her to flee to destroy those of their rivals. They would attack to Africa, where, being well received by the inhabitships, murder whole crews, and sink vessels, rather ants of Utica, a Tyrian colony, she founded the mighty than that their commercial connexions should be made sovereignty of Carthage. known. GREECE. 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 monarbanished from the country, notwithstanding his many chy. Owing to the inconstancy of the people, he was virtues. Tyre and Sidon were the most opulent cities in this The history of Greece during this period is pursued country. In these cities were cultivated, with suc-first in a few details, respecting some of its different cess, philosophy, rhetorick, and all the elegant sciences. sovereignties. 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, were very superstitious and idolatrous. They worshipped the sun, the moon, and fire, to which last they consigned human victims. 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 Heraclidæ, 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 ject to be recovered. The first king of Sidon, was its founder, Sidon the son of Canaan. We know nothing of his successors till 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 subjugate or destroy them. Obliged to yield or die, to avenge the death of his kinsman Phryxus, and to 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 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 gar den. portance, that all the heroes of the age were anxious This expedition was thought to be of so much imto 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. 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 Tyre was founded by the posterity of Sidon. Her-voyage. On their arrival in Greece, Hercules celeodotus gives to the older Tyre a great antiquity. The brated or instituted the Olympic Games. new city reared opposite to the ancient, on an island, is said by Josephus to have been built in the year B. C. between the brothers Eteocles, and Polynices, gave A dispute for the divided sovereignty of Thebes, 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. the Greeks gained possession of the city by stratagem, and utterly destroyed it. No vestige of its ruins now remains. At last Such of the Trojans as survived sought new settlements in distant regions. Antenor established himself in Italy, where he founded the nation of the Heneti. Æneas settled also in Italy, where he founded the kingdom of Alba. The war of the Heraclidæ, among the Greeks, began about 80 years after the destruction of Troy. Hercules, the son of Amphitryon, sovereign of Mycenæ, 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 Mycena, 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 hereaft learn. EGYPT. I practice of human sacrifices, and conquered Heпopons, 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 Heraclidae. 3. The Mermnadæ. The history of Atyda is altogether fabulous. Argon Argon reigned about 1223 years B. C. The Lydians was the first of the Heraclidæ, and Candaules the last. 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 Ægean Lydia Proper was, strictly speaking, at first only Sea; but when the Greeks or Ionians settled there, The invaders named the sea coasts where they settled Ionia, after the country whence they had emigrated, lide; while the Lydians gave their name to the new or rather, whence they had been driven by the Heraccountries in which they settled. the ancient inhabitants were driven to the interiour. of Lydia were devoted to commerce. The earliess Long before the invasion of the Ionians, the natives found in their history. They were also the first people instance on record of a gold and silver coinage is who exhibited publick sports. ITALY. ITALY appears to have been inhabited at a remote era. So early as 1289 years R. 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. Æneas married Lavinia, the daughter of Latinus, and succeeded him in the sovereignty. After Eneas 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, inany 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. 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 Our acquaintance with this interesting animal is of long standing; and while, we undertake the pleasing task of detailing his history, we will not fail in the outset to accord to him that craftiness and address for which he is meritoriously reputed, the world over. But at the same time we are obliged to regret that our ac-excursions, we saw the Fox that we had roused, playing about quaintance never proceeded to that mutual confidential familiarity which would allow us to approach each other without an inevitable explosion, that always either created a most wide and sudden breach between us, or brought his Foxship to our feet the victim of a cruel passion for fun and fir, that always possessed us. We are constrained to acknowledge, that Fox-hunting was with us an early passion; and although our aching bones may in future compel us to say it with regret, there was neither dingle nor mountain, morasses, swamps, nor "the unforded streams,' in the country, *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 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 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. obvious the Fox had not seen us before the time on which he |