overthrow of the Greek monarchy, when the fortunes of Greece were merged in those of Rome. The premature death of Alexander, at Babylon, while, in direct opposition to the decrees of Providence, he was vainly endeavouring to restore that city, and to render it his seat of government, was the signal for the dismemberment of his vast empire. The sceptre had fallen from the only hand capable of wielding it, and the generals of the deceased conqueror hastened to divide his dominions among themselves. After long and sanguinary wars, the "sure word of prophecy" was fulfilled, and four governors of provinces "broke and divided the kingdom, towards the four winds of Heaven." CASSANDER obtaining Macedon, with the western parts; LYSIMACHUS, Thrace and the northern. PTOLEMY, Egypt and the southern, and SELEUCUS, Syria and the eastern. Of the last two of these princes, the posterity continued to reign in Egypt and Syria, respectively, during a long series of years; and it is in the history of these dynasties that we must look for the most important and lasting consequences, both political and moral, of the expedition of Alexander into Asia-consequences, which may be traced even up to the time of the advent of our Saviour. To dilate upon the vicissitudes, which at various periods befell the Jewish nation, in consequence of the sanguinary contests between the Ptolemies and the Seleucidæ, between whose dominions the Jewish territories lay, would require a volume rather than an essay; yet the important events of this portion of Jewish history must be considered as consequences, humanly speaking, of the Eastern expedition of Alexander; as must also the subsequent wars of the Macabees; the atrocious tyranny exercised over the Israelites, by Antiochus Epiphanes, having been the means of arousing the indignation of Judas Maccabeus, the avenger, whom in this extremity, the Almighty raised up for the deliverance of "his chosen people." It is needless to mention, among the consequences of the well known successes of the brave and pious Judas, the restoration of the temple worship, when, after a signal victory over Timotheus, Jerusalem was rescued from the power of Antiochus. Ruined and desolate was the condition of the holy city, when entered, on this memorable occasion, by the victorious army. The streets were forsaken and silent, and the broken columns which encumbered the courts of the temple, were intermixed with weeds and shrubs. And when, by the exertions of the patriot army, the temple was fitted up for public worship, and the feast "It was of dedication celebrated, the sacred solemnities of Divine worship were incongruously mingled with the watch-word of the sentinel, and the severe duties attendant upon war. a scene to which history can hardly furnish a parallel,-a scene, in which patriotism was ennobled by piety, and the watch-word "God and our country," was not an idle cry, but a sober reality." This festival is still, deservedly, annually commemorated by the Jews, as celebrating a victory, which was the means of rescuing the very name of their nation from destruction. The dreadful end of the persecuting Antiochus, the most celebrated, perhaps, of the descendants of Seleucus, one of the four renowned successors of Alexander the Great, needs not to be here enlarged upon; yet it may be mentioned, that that event could not but produce important consequences, as exhibiting for the warning of mankind, the judicial anger of the Almighty Governor of the world, against one of the most notorious oppressors of his people Israel. It is needless to pursue farther the Jewish history, considered as affected, by the career of the Macedonian conqueror. The time was approaching, when, according to the inspired prediction of the patriarch Jacob, the sceptre should "depart from Judah," and when in accordance with the comprehensive prophecy, which had foretold the amazing successes of Alexander, Judea should become a province of the fourth great monarchy, the Roman empire. A few words should be added, to what has been already said, respecting the famous city of Alexandria. The genius of Alexander shewed itself in a remarkable manner, when he made choice of the site of this celebrated city. With extraordinary judgment and foresight, he perceived the advantages which its situation, on the western side of the Delta, would secure for it in future ages; and the event proved his penetration. Alexandria became, in fact, the capital, not only of Egypt, but of the whole commercial world, and continued to increase in wealth and importance, from the time of its foundation, till the invasion of Egypt, by the Saracens, in the seventh century; when its invaluable library, which had been collected from all parts of the world, by the long line of the Ptolemies, was burnt by order of the Chaliph Omar. This city was also distinguished for its schools of mathematics, philosophy, and physic; so that to have been known to have studied at Alexandria, was a sufficient recommendation to a scholar in any country. The literary glories of this famous city departed when the standard of Mohammed was erected upon its walls; but as the trading metropolis of the world, Alexandria retained its pre-eminence, till the discovery of the passage to India, by the Cape of Good Hope, towards the close of the fifteenth century, produced a total revolution in commercial affairs. Some few of the political and moral effects of the expedition of Alexander into Asia, have now been touched upon. It may suffice, to mention in conclusion, one other great and permanent consequence of that ever memorable expedition; namely, the conviction which it must produce in the minds of men, of the agency of an over-ruling Providence. No evidence can be more conclusive in its nature, than that which the astonishing career of Alexander the Great, considered as an ACCOMPLISHMENT OF PROPHECY, affords to the Divine Inspiration of the scriptures; and it is consequently impossible to regard that career otherwise, than as furnishing an extraordinary display of the over-ruling Providence of that God, who can render even the unruly passions of men subservient to the accomplishment of his own PREDICTED PURPOSES. THE FIRST BIRTH-DAY. A SONNET. The Sun, sweet girl, hath run his year-long race And now in her, each germ of life appears, THE LATE DEAN MILNER. ANECDOTE COMMUNICATED BY ONE OF HIS SURVIVING FRIENDS. Among the qualities, by which Dean Milner was eminently distinguished, was the penetrating character of his mind. If there were any unsound parts in an argument,-any representation made to him as to individual character, which representation, however unintentionally, did not give the whole truth, as well as nothing but the truth, he would at once, as by intuition, fix upon the defect, and apply his questions, or his high reasoning powers, directly to that point. The writer of this article, can say truly, for himself, that if, in any case, he had wished to give only partial information on any point, concerning which it was expected that he should give the whole, Doctor Milner was one of the last men in the world, with whom he would have ventured, thus to trifle. While his expressive countenance was all beaming with benevolence, there was a penetration in his eye, which at once assured you, that he would reach the bottom of the subject. The subjoined ANECDOTE,-never, I believe before published, may serve as a familiar illustration of the foregoing observations. * Some friend, having dreamed in India, of the death of a beloved child, in England, noted the night and the hour of the night. He afterwards learned, that at the self-same hour of the same night, his child had actually expired. "Indeed!" exclaimed the Dean, when told of the circumstance-his eager look of inquiry being mixed with tenderness, at the painful event,-"but a little difficulty crosses my mind. Did our friend, in calculating the hour, allow for the longitude ?" How many remarkable coincidences would be overturned by inquiries after the longitude!† *The late Lord Teignmouth.-ED. † It is scarcely necessary to mention, that the difference of time between London and Calcutta, is about six hours.-ED. A FAMILY HISTORY. E are a numerous family, and I, the youngest of the tribe, have thought, that an authentic account of our habits and manners may not be uninteresting. We can boast of very remote antiquity; and I trust, that my conduct will not be imputed to the common desire of persons of obscure birth to lay hold of some illustrious names, if I venture to hint, that we owe our origin, as well as our family name, to the moon herself. None who are in the least acquainted with us, will deny the validity of our pretensions. In antient times. we were obliged to be very particular in rendering due homage to the Queenly Head of our family, and in obeying her laws; but at present, the custom has much dwindled away, and is almost entirely neglected, except in Turkey, and some other half-civilized or uncivilized countries. Our birth-place has been disputed, and, strange as it may appear, I am not quite prepared to settle the point. Some wise men have said that it was Egypt; I am more inclined to think, that it was Chaldea; but I am not certain, and will gladly yield, if I be found to be in the wrong. The old Romans behaved very unkindly to us and would not suffer two of our family to shew their faces in Rome. It is said, that Romulus caused the banishment of these two; and as he was a fiery, hotheaded man, who was more conversant with his sword than with any thing else, I am inclined to believe the charge. However, Numa Pompilius discovered the injury that had been done, and restored my injured brethren to their due place in society. He tried to be just towards us; and I am sure, that if he did not give us entire satisfaction, it was not for want of inclination. After Numa's death, his pugnacious people thought of nothing but wars and fightings; and our race was much neglected, even the High Priests, who were especially required to take charge of us, never once thought about us; so we determined among ourselves, to make our complaints heard. The most effectual way of obtaining redress from stern, hard-hearted people, is to find out some way of affecting their |