38 AN HISTORICAL DISQUISITION

SECT. the seat os government in Alexandria. By someI, exertions of authority , and many acts of liberality,but chiefly by the fame of his mild and equaladministration, he drew such a number of inhabit-ants to this favorite residence, that it soon becamea populous and wealthy city. As Ptolemy deservedand had possessed the confidence of Alexandermore perfectly than any of his officers , he knew^ well that his chief object in founding Alexandria•was to secure the advantages arising from the tradewith India. A long and prosperous reign wasfavorable to the prosecution of that object, andthough ancient authors have not enabled us totrace the steps which the first Ptolemy took forthis purpose, we have a striking evidence of hisextraordinary attention to naval affairs, in his erect-ing the light-house on the island of Pharos, atthe mouth of the harbour of Alexandraa’ 6 , a workof such magnificence as to be reckoned one ofthe seven wonders of the world. With respect tothe commercial arrangements of his son PtolemyPhiladelphus, we have more perfect information.In order to bring the trade with India (whichbegan to revive at Tyre, its ancient station’ 7 ,)to centre in Alexandria, he set about forming acanal, a hundred cubits in breadth, and thirtycubits in depth, between Arsinoe on the Red Sea,not far from the situation of the modern Suez,and the Pelusiac or eastern branch of the Nile,by means of which the productions of India might

" Strabo, lib. xvii. p. 1140. C. ” Ib\ lib. xvi. 1089, A.