bably framed and fashioned at Tyrus,-then taken in parts over land, (for Hiram "sent them")-and that is the only way the timbers could have reached the Red Sea, from the Mediterranean,—and then the ships were built or put together, by the Tyrians at Ezion-Geber,— and from thence they commenced their voyage to Ophir, (although some doubt the locality) on the shores of India, and their return cargo was " 420 talents of gold." [i. e. two millions and a quarter sterling.]

We are anxious to establish the fact that the Israelites had no Knowledge of Navigation, and that upon the authority of Holy-Writ,-for the Aborigines of North America (who are descendants of Israel) have no nautical knowledge in its enlarged sense,—and, therefore, an analogy will be proved by the absence of Commercial Knowledge.

In concluding the reign of the most renowned of the Tyrian Kings, the record of whom is placed beyond doubt, or question, in that Volume which will endure until the world itself shall become a clouded scroll,a glance may be necessary to review the causes that led to the exalted, and unrivalled character of Tyrus: for that Nation at the completion of the Judæan Temples and Palaces [992 B. C.] was without a rival in station or power,--and beyond those worldly points, it stood unapproached (save by Israel) in the highest attributes of the mind,-in the majesty of intellect,-the chief ministers being Science, the Arts, and the long line of faithful followers, attendant on every refinement and accomplishment.

The great secret of the enviable distinction was,NAVIGATION. This power led the Tyrians into foreign cities, it enabled them to give, or receive from, their Allies in the several parts of the then known world, all that was useful or novel, in exchange for their own exports, until Tyrus became the nucleus of all intelligence. Upon this treasury of gathered knowledge she improved and increased her power, by retaining what was good, rejecting what was useless. Tyrus stood in the estimation of the world like a majestic Temple, which all mankind had aided in building, but when erected and secure, none of the builders were allowed to enter. If a foreign nation required a naval expedition, Tyrus was the only power to furnish it in every department, -material, shipwrights, pilots, and mariners:-this is proved by the fleets loaned to the Kings of Israel and Egypt;-and the Tyrians never made a voyage for another country, that they were not the especial gainers by the expedition. All discoveries of islands were their own, for they alone could keep or reach them afterwards, for other countries were destitute of fleets. The Naval profession in the minds of the Tyrians was (apart from Religion) elevated above all others; they regarded it as a peculiar gift from the Gods, bestowed upon them as a National blessing. This was confirmed in their estimation, because, as a necessity, it was associated with the Sublime study of Astronomy. Religion itself was brought to enhance its value,-thence their Temple to Neptune:-the highest attributes of the mind were brought forward to support the science,

thence even her philosophers were helmsmen:-for in the language of the Prophet ISAIAH,-"Thy Wise men, O Tyrus, that were in thee, were thy Pilots."

When a foreign Nation created a navy, without the sanction of Tyrus, then, as before stated, the latter country made war, or crusades against the vessels as they should appear upon the Mediterranean. The "Daughter of Sidon" attempted no inland conquests; she was content that her throne should be on the Seas: and the means she took to conceal her discoveries, and the secret of her ship-building from foreign countries, were as ingenious and determined, as her resolution to have no rival was indomitable.

To conceal the then secret of Ship-building, the Tyrians resorted to the following means of commercial intercourse with all new, and even with some of the surrounding nations, ancient Iberia and Etruria,— viz., A Tyrian Galley would approach for instance, Britain or Hibernia,-only by night,-the goods were landed, and left unattended upon the rocks or beach. The Galley would then be rowed to such a distance, that the natives in the morning could make no discovery of the manner in which it was built. The Galley, however, from her high mast, served as a beacon to them, and thence conveyed intelligence that a cargo had been landed. The natives would then investigate the goods, and in return, place by their side, metals and other commodities supposed by them to be of equal value: they then (from a previous treaty) would retire out of sight, whereupon a small boat would leave the

Galley and approach the shore; the supercargo would compare the value of the metals or goods offered in return, and if found to be of an equal barter, the Galley would then be rowed to the coast, but at night only, the exchange-goods would be placed on board, and having left before the dawn, the secret was secure. If the natives placed in exchange less than the value, the Tyrian boat would retire; the Aborigines would again approach and increase the payment: if they should place more than the value of the cargo, the honour of the Tyrian merchant (truly 'Singer of the Sea') was such, that he would not take the overplus, but leave something of value, set apart, as a compliment to the generous Islanders. This, without doubt, was the origin of commercial barter, and founded upon the refinement of honour and honesty.

It may be remarked that a similar custom prevails even at the present day at Constantinople,-for when a shopkeeper retires for his meals, or even for a walk, he never closes his door or his windows,-every article has its price marked, or affixed to it the passer-by wishing to purchase, takes the article and puts in its place the amount in money;-fraud is not known, for the merchant leaves it to honour, and that never betrays honesty.

:

The Bard of Avon must have thought of this scene, and of the impossibility of its universal application, when in reply to the announcement "that the world was grown honest" he states that the day of doom must be at hand! What a Millennium will be achieved by

the human race, when every Metropolis shall practise customs in analogy with that in the City of the Sultan, or those of the merchant-princes of ancient Tyrus.

The determination of the Tyrians to keep the secret of their discoveries was as desperate, as their method of concealing the secret of shipbuilding was ingenious. To illustrate this point of National Character, an historical anecdote will be given, as being required by this work, although the incident occurred some ages later.

The Romans having become a maritime power, and having intercourse with Tyrus, ascertained that that Nation imported from a foreign country a white metal, which the Sons of Rome imagined to be Silver, and that it was brought from beyond the Pillars of Hercules, now the Straits of Gibraltar. The metal which had aroused the curiosity and avarice of the Romans was Tin, and obtained by the Tyrians from the Isles of Britain and Hibernia, but especially from the former, -and to the Tyrians is that Island indebted at this day for her ancient name-Britain,-and of her guardian Goddess-Britannia :-for the word is derived from the Tyrian language,-viz., Brit-tan-nack, -i. e. Land of Tin,-so that there is actually a mysterious link in the chain of history, between TyrianBritain and Tyrian-America, which has existed for more than two thousand years!

But to resume:-The future conquerors of Britain resolved to find out the secret, as to where the pseudosilver came from,—and consequently they, unknown to