men.

fluous in his own ftores, in order to procure what is neceffary or defiderable in thofe of other Thus a commercial intercourfe begins, and is carried on among the membres of the fame community. By degrees, they discover, that neighbouring tribes poffefs what they themfelves want, and enjoy comforts of which they wish to partake. In the fame mode, and upon the fame principles, that domestic traffic is carried on within the fociety, an eternal commerce is established with other tribes or nations. Their mutual intereft and mutual wants render this intercourse defirable, and imperceptibly introduce the maxime and laws which facilitate its progrefs and render it fecure. But no very extenfive commerce can take place between contiguous provinces, whofe foil and climate being nearly the fame, yield fimilar productions. Remote countries cannot convey their commodities by land, to those places, where on account of their rarity they are defired, and become valuable. It is no navigation that men are indebted for the power of transporting the fuperfluous ftock of one part of the earth, to fupply the wants of another. The luxuries and bleffings of a particular climate are no longer confined to itself alone, but the enjoyment of them is communicated to the moft diftant regions.

In proportion as the knowledge of the advantages derived from navigation and commerce continued to spread, the intercourse among na

tions extended. The ambition of conqueft, or the neceffity of procuring new fettlements, were no longer the fole motives of visiting distant lands. The defire of gain became a new incentive to activity, roused adventurers, and fent them forth upon long voyages, in fearch of countries, whofe products or wants might increase that circulation, which nourishes and gives vigour to commerce. Trade proved a great fource of discovery, it opened unknown feas, it penetrated into new regions, and contributed more than any other cause, to bring men acquainted with the fituation, the nature and commodities of the different parts of the globe. But even after a regular commerce was establifhed in the world, after nations were confiderably civilized, and the fciences and arts were cultivated with ardour and fuccefs, navigation continued to be fo imperfect, that it can hardly be faid to have advanced beyond the infancy of its improvement in the ancient world.

Imperfection of navigation among the ancients,

Among all the nations of antiquity the ftru, cture of their veffels was extremely rude, and their method of working them very defective, They were unacquainted with fome of the great principles and operations in navigation, which are now confidered as the firft elements on which that science is founded. Though that property of the magnet, by which it attracts

of the magnet, by which it attracts iron, was well known to the ancients, its more important and amazing virtue of pointing to the poles had entirely escaped their obfervation. Deftitute of this faithful guide, which now conducts the pilot with so much certainty in the unbounded ocean, during the darkness of night, and when the heavens are covered with clouds, the ancients had no other method of regulating their courfe than by obferving the fun and ftars. Their navigation was of confequence uncertain and timid. They durft feldom quit fight of land, but crept along the coaft, expofed to all the dangers, and retarded by all the obstructions, unavoidable in holding fuch an aukward course. An incredible lenght of time was requifite for performing voyages, which are now finished in a fhort space. Even in the mildeft climates, and in feas the least tempeftuons, it was only during the fummer months that the ancients. ventured out of their harbours. The remainder of the year was loft in inactivity. It would have been deemed moft inconfiderate rafhness to have braved the fury of the winds and waves during winter a).

Navigation and commerce of the Egyptians.

While both the science and practice of navigation continued to be fo defective, it was an undertaking of no fmall difficulty and danger to vifit any

a) Vegetius de Re milit. lib. iv,

remote region of the earth. Under every disadvantage, however the active spirit of commerce exerted itself. The Egyptians, foon after the establishment of their monarchy, are faid to have openeda trade between the Arabian Gulph or Red fea, and the western coaft of the great Indian continent. The commodities which they imported from the eaft, were carried by land from the Arabian Gulph to the banks of the Nile, and conveyed down that river to the Mediterranean. But if the Egyptians in early times applied themselves to commerce, their attention to it was of fhort duration. The fertile foil and mild climate of Egypt produced the neceffaries and comforts of live with fuch profufion, as rendered its inhabitants fo independent of other countries, that it became an eftablifhed maxim among that people, whose ideas and inftitutions differed in almost every point from thofe of other nations, to renounce all intercourfe with foreigners. In confequence of this, they never went out of their own country; they held all fea-fearing perfons in deteftation, as impious and profane; and fortifying their own harbours, they denied ftrangers admittance into them b); and it was in the decline of their power, that they again opened their ports, and refumed any communication with foreigners.

b) Diod. Sicul. lib. 1. p. 78. Ed. Weffelingi. Amft. 1756. Strabo, lib. xvii. p. 1142. Ed. Amft. 1775.

Of the Phenicians.

The character and fituation of the Phenicians were as favourable to the spirit of commerce and discovery as those of the Egyptians were adverfe to it. They had no diftinguishing peculiarity in their manners and inftitutions; they were not addicted to any fingular and unfocial form of fuperftition; they could mingle with other nations without fcruple or reluctance. The territory which they poffeffed was neither large nor fertile. Commerce was the only fource from which they could derive opulence or power. Accordingly, the trade carried on by the Phenicians of Sidon and Tyre, was more extenfive and enterprising than that of any state in the ancient world. The genius of the Phenicians, as well as the object of their policy and the spirit of their laws, were entirely commercial. They were a people of merchants who aimed at the empire of the sea, and actually poffeffed it. Their ships not only frequented all the ports in the Mediranean, but they were the first who ventured beyond the ancient boundaries of navigation, and paffing the Streights of Gades, vifited the western coafts of Spain and Africa. In many of the places to which they reforted, they planted colonies, and communicated to the rude inhabitants fome knowledge of their arts and improvements. While they extended their difcoveries towards the north and the weft, they did