The character of Alexander is familiar to every read er; and yet it is not easy to delineate it with accuracy, nor to say whether his virtues or his vices prepondera ted. That he possessed great natural endowments, cannot be denied. In his early days he had a strong turn for literature ; and, under the direction of Aristo tle and other eminent masters, he made rapid progress in all those kinds of learning which were most calcula ted to give him an ascendency in society. He had indeed the same ambition to excel in knowledge that he had to conquer by his arms ; and was much offended with Aristotle for publishing some parts of his instructions, which he thought should have been reserved for him self alone. It would have been well for himself, and probably for tile world, had he confined his ambition to illsmore harmless species of conquest. For the tri umphs of literature have this advantage, that whilst they exalt the indit lanai who acquires them, they tend to enlarge the sphere of human knowledge, and to in crease the sum Of rational enjoyment ; whilst the tri zunphs of war serve only to extend the empire of slavery and desolation. It must also be confessed, that Alexan der possessed military talents of the very highest order; and that many of his actions, which seemed to proceed Bout rashness, were in fact the result of superior dis cernment, which enabled him to perceive the extent of the danger, and to devise- proper measures for surmount ing it. We have often seen commanders who never seemed to make a wrong movement, who were notwith standing never successful ; whilst others, who had cou rage to derail from the trammels of system, have per formed exploits tt hi•h have astonished the world. In addition to these splendid qualities, nobody possessed mnent in a greater degree than Alexander did in the beginning of his career. Even during his most brilliant conquests, he was seldom guilty of any excess either in eating, drinking, or illicit indulgence. Nothing could he more honourable than his treatment of the NS lie and daughters of Darius, 15110 fell into his hands after the battle of Issus. He never visited them but once, and that in the most respectful manner ; and though they were most beautiful WOMell, lie would never permit any to speak of their beauty in his presence, being afraid to trust the frailty of his nature.
Alexander's success was so very extraordinary, that it is no wonder he was in some degree intoxicated by it ; and since his vanity from the beginning was exces sive, as is confessed by one of his most partial biogra phers, a number of worthless sycophants, some of whom degraded the name of philosopher, were continually perverting his judgment the most extravagant adulations. Ile soon laid aside the severity of Grecian manners, and imitated the pomp and luxury of the Per sians. Ile refused to listen any longer to the remon strances of his faithful friends ; and when Clitus, who had saved his life at the Granicus, ventured to contradict Lin, he murdered him on the spot, by running him through the body with a spear ; and though his com punction for this act of cruelty and ingratitude was most severe, yet the perversion of his understanding was manifest from the way in which his sorrow was remo ved ; for he was soon convinced by his flatterers, that the son of Jupiter, and the conqueror of the world, could do no wrong, and that his will ought to be the supreme law to his subjects. His conduct to Callisthe nes also, who refused to pay him adoration, has brought eternal infamy on his name, and is reckoned by Seneca more than a counterbalance to all the good actions lie ever performed. From the history of this prince, we may see how easily uninterrupted success degrades the character, and corrupts the heart ; and how necessary disappointments and are, to teach us com mon sense, reason, and humanity. Alexander had the to believe himseif a god ; but on a certain occasion, being severely mounded, and seeing the blood streaming from the wound, lie exclaimed, " This is not the ichr.e of the gods, but tic blood of a mortal man." In short, he IS aS raised up by Providence as a scourge, not as a Lles,,ing to mankind ; as an instrument of ven geance against the guilty nations, not as a beneficent of ha:ipiness to the human race.—Sir Wil liam Juselcy is at present engaged in writing- a life of Alexander chiefly founded on oriental manuscripts.