Ephore, determin'd after a long debate, notwithstanding the remonftrances of their king ARCHIDAMUS, that the Athenians had violated the leagues. In confequence of this vote they demanded of them to raise the fiege of Potidæa, and repeal the decree against Megara. This ftate offer'd to put the difference in arbitration, but refused to give up their rights, without afferting them vigorously, if they were attacked. I think this fummary neceffary, noble fcribe, not to inform thee, who haft already received information of these events, but to give the better connection to the fequel of my dispatches. It is now generally agreed that an open rupture will fhortly enfue; for advice arriv'd here laft night from Platea, a town of Boeotia, and an ally of this ftate, that the Thebans, who with the reft of Peloponnefus fide with Lacedæmon, had by treafon gained admiffion into the place, and kept poffeffion fome little time; but the citizens taking the advantage of the night, fell upon and cut off the whole party, except 200, who were taken prifoners. The people this very day in an extraordinary assembly decreed, that a supply of troops and provifions fhould forthwith be sent thither; and that messengers should be dispatched to all their allies, with the news of what has paft, and orders to haften their warlike preparations. A report is current, that the Spartans and their allies are affembling their forces at the Ifthmus of Corinth. I find the opinions of the people various about the true fprings of this war. The party oppofite to PERICLES fcruple not to say, that no other reason can be given for it but his perfonal intereft, which engages him to fet Greece in a flame, that the Athenians may be lefs at leifure to examine his conduct, particularly with regard to the public accounts, and be obliged through the neceffity of affairs to commit themfelves to his management. Libels and fatires are difperfed against him with great boldnefs, and at theatrical reprefentations he

is reproached with the vileft accufations and the fevereft language to his face. All these infults he bears with admirable tem per. Indeed fuch is the natural inconstancy and impatience of the Athenians, that in cafe of any fignal ill-fuccefs, or inconvenience from the present measures, he will run the utmost hazard of losing the power and influence he now enjoys. It is befides alledged with good reason, that these divifions in Greece will give great advantage to Perfia, which will never fail to encourage them by playing off one fide against the other, till both are reduced fo low, that our mighty monarch may take ample revenge for the battle of Salamis, and the inglorious peace with CIMON. The friends of Pericles are not lefs induftrious in juftifying him; but I own were I a Grecian, I should exceedingly lament these unhappy quarrels, of which no one can poffibly fee the confequences; or rather, if they continue, the event cannot but be detrimental to the common intereft of Greece.

Thou art happy, illuftrious minifter, in depending, not upon the uncertain pleasure of a mutinous and inconftant people, but the will of a wife and beneficent prince, who measures the counfels of his fervants, not by their success, but their intrinfic goodness; and whofe prudent conduct, inspired by the great OROMASDES, is able to allay the rude clamours of faction, and fuffers nothing to be heard through the wide empire of Perfia, but the ftill fmall voice of peace and unanimity.

From Athens.

P.

LETTER II.

CLEANDER to HIPPIAS his brother, a merchant at Ephefus.

I have enclosed in your packet a letter to GOBRYAS, which you must transmit to the fatrap ARTAPHERNES, and at the same time excuse my not writing to him upon account of the hurry I am in at present, which will not permit me to think of any thing, but the neceffary business of my employment, till I am a little settled. Our voyage from Ephesus was very profperous, and my curiofity encreased the nearer I drew to a city, which is renowned through the world for the wisdom of its laws, the many eminent perfons it hath produced, the magnificence of its buildings, and the stop it has fo often put to the utmost efforts of the Perfian empire; so that it may properly enough be ftiled the barrier of Greece. The entrance into the harbour Pirræeus ftrikes one with astonishment; the vast number of ships, both for trade and war, which are continually lying there; the face of bufinefs which appears in the workmen at the dock; and the crowds. of merchants, and naval officers, paffing every moment between the haven and the city, form a very grand and a very pleasing spectacle to a stranger. One can no longer wonder, that a state, where such a spirit of industry and freedom prevails, though under the difadvantage of a craggy, unfruitful, and narrow territory, fhou'd eclipfe monarchies of fifty times its extent, where the labour of the people wastes its self in cultivating the arts of luxury; and the highest ambition amongst them is, who fhall be the meaneft flave to the fovereign. I have made choice of your old ac

quaintance and hoft, PHILEMON, to be my patron; he seems to be a true republican, and a man of great honour and probity. His advice will be of use to me, with regard to my behaviour here; and his knowledge and experience will greatly affift me in my enquiries into the constitution and affairs of Athens. As this fhip carries you letters from your correspondents in this place, I shall add nothing of the news ftirring here at prefent; and only recommend it to you, to take care of the fpeedy conveyance of my difpatches and remittances. In the midst of that hurry of mercantile bufinefs, which renders you the greateft merchant of the Perfian empire, and a more useful fubject to your king than the wealthieft and proudest fatrap, bestow some moments in thinking of your brother; who though placed in a hazardous and important fituation, remote from his family and friends, will ever preserve the tendereft regards for your welfare and profperity. Whilft I watch over the motions of Greece, and like a sentinel, foretel the approach of every danger to my country, do you perform a far greater service to it, by exporting all those coftly vanities, and that oftentatious magnificence, which have enervated the degenerate posterity of CYRUS. Adieu.

From Athens.

P.

LETTER III.

CLEANDER to ARTAPHERNES the governor of Sardis.

AS my family and myself have been always honoured with your protection, and as you first recommended me to the Perfian court for this employment; there is no one,

who has a better right to be informed of the fteps I take, and the intelligence I receive. You may acquaint GOBRYAS in your next letters, that war is at last declared between the two famous republics, Athens and Lacedæmon. This ftate, by the inftigation of PERICLES, refused to adınit a herald, who was fent by ARCHIDAMUS, king of Sparta, to offer the last terms upon which peace would be concluded. We expect every day to hear, that the army of the allies, which confifts of fixty thoufand men, is in full march for the frontiers of Attica. A few days ago exact lifts of the land and naval forces of Athens were laid before an affembly of the people. The troops of various kinds defigned for the land fervice amount to 31,800 men; but their fleet, on which they principally depend, may be eafily compleated to 300 galleys; with part of which they intend to guard their own coafts, and ravage their enemies; and with the reft to raise contributions from their allies for the fervice of war.

The generality of people here were very eager in promoting such measures, as had an immediate tendency to bring on a war; but they muft foon begin to feel the inconveniencies of one. PERICLES has declared, that they will never carry it on with any prospect of fuccefs, unless they rely entirely on their fleet; fince their land-army is not ftrong enough to keep the field against the united force of Peloponnefus. He has farther told them, that they must abandon and lay wafte the country about Athens, in order to deprive the enemies of fubfiftence, during the time of their invafion. In confequence of his advice, the town is filling daily with vaft numbers out of the country, who have deftroyed their houses, transported their cattle and goods into the neighbouring iflands, and are come to feek a lodging in the houfes of their friends and relations. But the greatest part of the multitude muft take up their quarters in the empty places of the