root on this shore, became prosperous and wealthy, covered the Mediterranean with their fleets, and its shores with their factories.  Tyre in the course of time became the dominant city, and under her supremacy were founded the Phoenician colonies in Greece, Sicily, Africa, and Spain.  The wealth of her merchant princes had often tempted the cupidity of the despots of Asia.  Salmanassar, the Assyrian conqueror of Israel, directed his attacks against Tyre, and continued them for five years, but was finally compelled to raise the siege.  Nabuchadonosor was more persevering, and succeeded in capturing the city, after a siege that lasted thirteen years.  The old town, situated on the continent was never rebuilt; but a new Tyre rose from its ruins.  This occupied the area of a small island, described by Pliny as two miles and a half in circumference.  On this confined space a large population existed, and remedied the want of extent by raising story upon story, on the plan followed by the ancient inhabitants of Edinburgh.  It was separated from the main land by an armlet of the sea, about half a mile in breadth and about eighteen feet deep.  The city was encircled by walls and fortifications of great strength and height, and scarcely pregnable even if accessible.

Family Library, No. 3.

* * * * *

SIR WILLIAM DEVEREUX,

A Portrait—­by the Author of Pelham.

My uncle did as his ancestors had done before him; and, cheap as the dignity had grown, went up to court to be knighted by Charles II.  He was so delighted with what he saw of the metropolis, that he foreswore all intention of leaving it, took to Sedley and champagne, flirted with Nell Gwynne, lost double the value of his brother’s portion at one sitting to the chivalrous Grammont, wrote a comedy corrected by Etherege, and took a wife recommended by Rochester.  The wife brought him a child six months after marriage, and the infant was born on the same day the comedy was acted.  Luckily for the honour of the house, my uncle shared the fate of Plimneus, king of Sicyon, and all the offspring he ever had (that is to say, the child and the play,) “died as soon as they were born.”  My uncle was now only at a loss to know what to do with his wife, that remaining treasure, whose readiness to oblige him had been so miraculously evinced.  She saved him the trouble of long cogitation,—­an exercise of intellect to which he was never too ardently inclined.  There was a gentleman of the court celebrated for his sedateness and solemnity; my aunt was piqued into emulating Orpheus, and six weeks after her confinement she put this rock into motion,—­they eloped.  Poor gentleman! it must have been a severe trial of patience to a man never known before to transgress the very slowest of all possible walks, to have had two events of the most rapid nature happen to him in the same week.