Affairs of the GREEKS in SICILY and ITALY; from the Settlement of the SYRACUSAN Government, under DIONYSIUS and HIPPARINUS, to the Restoration of the SYRACUSAN Supremacy over the SICILIAN, and its Extension over the ITALIAN, Greek Cities

SECTION I

Siege of Gela by the Carthaginians; Evacuation of Gela and Camarina. Atrocious Violence of the Opposition at Syracuse. Peace with Carthage

Scarcely was the government of Syracuse brought to some consistency under the administration of Dionysius and Hipparinus, and a rallying point thus provided for the Grecian interest in Sicily, when the movement of the Carthaginian army from Agrigentum spred alarm throughout the iland. Imilcon, if we should believe Diodorus, in quitting Agrigentum, increased the general terror by a measure apparently adapted to that only purpose, and little consistent either with the common policy of the Carthaginians, or with his own previous conduct. He is said to have completely destroyed the city. The direction of his march, not deceiving the apprehension long entertained, was to Gela.

The fortifications of this city were probably sufficient for its defence against any ordinary Grecian power; but its government was aware that they were not equally to be trusted against the force under Imilcon, provided with an artillery far superior to what was common among the Greeks. It had therefore been resolved that the women and children should be sent, for better security, to Syracuse; and as soon as the movement of the Carthaginian army and the direction of its march were ascertained, measures were taken for their removal.

Affairs of the GRECIAN Settlements of SICILY and ITALY, from the Death of the first DIONYSIUS to the Restoration of the second DIONYSIUS

SECTION I

Election of the second Dionysius to the Dignity of General-Autocrator. Peace of Eleven Years. Parties in Opposition under Dion and Heracleides. Banishment of Dion and Heracleides

The discussion of the character of the elder Dionysius and of his government, longer perhaps and more particular than would generally become historical composition, seemed warranted and even required by the importance of the portion of history, and by the obscurity and contradictions in which that portion of history hath been inwrapped; nor may it be less necessary toward exhibiting in just light an important sequel.

On the death of a man who had presided over the government so many years, with uncommon ability, and perhaps yet more uncommon success, it was matter of most serious consideration for all the Sicilian and Italian Greeks, but especially the Syracusans, and most especially those who had been his principal supporters, how and by whom the administration should be in future directed. To preserve peace and union, and means for common exertion against a threatening common enemy, among so many portions of the little empire, longhabituated to discord within each and among all, it seems to have been extensively felt that one chief, with some permanence of power, was necessary, and that, for such a chief, eminence of birth was an important qualification.

Affairs of GREECE during the first Period of the Contest for Possession of the Temple and Treasury of DELPHI, called the PHOCIAN or the SACRED WAR

SECTION I

Persevering Ambition of the leading Grecian Republics. Circumstances of the Council of Amphictyons. Summary History of Phocis. Antient Sacred Wars. Regulation of the Council of Amphictyons by Solon: Treasure deposited by Crœsus King of Lydia. Subjection of Delphi to Lacedœmon, and Depression of the Amphictyonic Authority

while the Athenians were prosecuting schemes of ambition and avarice, wherever, among the Grecian republics and beyond them, their naval strength might avail, neither the Thebans nor the Lacedæmonians had abandoned their pretensions to an imperial authority over the landforce, and a supremacy in the general councils, of all the states of the nation. Much as a superintending power, under just regulation, was wanted, and beneficial, even with very defective regulation, as it had sometimes been, yet the continued contest for it teemed with evil for almost every state, and could hardly fail, in the end, to ruin the independency of all. Hence, in the next year after that in which the Athenians made peace with their revolted allies, a new war, originating with a people hitherto of little name, quickly involved all the European continental republics, and led to consequences most momentous, not for Greece only, but for the whole civilized world.

Affairs of GREECE during the second Period of the Sacred War, when MACEDONIA was implicated

SECTION I

New Views of the War-party in Athens. Trespass on the Delphian Treasury, Methonë taken by Philip. Invasion of Thessaly by the Phocians, assisted by Athens, opposed by Macedonia: Victory of Onomarchus and Distress of Philip: Death of Onomarchus, and liberal use of Victory by Philip

The conquest of the rich territory of the Chersonese, and the reduction of the once formidable monarchy of Thrace to receive law from the Athenian people, were, with whatever uncreditable circumstances accompanied, great and splendid advantages, balancing, in no small degree, the losses in the wars with the allies and with Macedonia, and powerfully promoting among the Athenian people the credit of the party which had put them forward. But the Macedonian war remained, and the Phocian war; in the former of which Athens was a principal party, and in the other had a deep interest. The difficulties and dangers hence arising, one party in Athens, had they power, would easily have obviated. By negotiation with Macedonia, for which its king at every opportunity showed himself ready, they would have made peace for the republic, and by a sincere union with Lacedæmon, for settling the affairs of Phocis, they would have given quiet to distracted Greece. But neither measure suited the professors of war and trouble. The maintenance of the sacred war they considered as especially favorable to their views; and, from the circumstances of Phocis and of Thessaly, their ingenuity drew means for making others fight their battles.

Affairs of ATHENS and MACEDONIA, from the Renewal of Hostility between them, to the End of the War between the ATHENIANS and their Allies, called the Confederate or Social War

SECTION I

Alliance, of Macedonia with Olynthus against Athens. Negotiation between Athens, Macedonia and Olynthus. Hostilities prosecuted. Successes of the Allies

In all Grecian history there is scarcely any period more interesting than that with which we are now ingaged, and for that interesting period we are almost without an antient historian. The Sicilian annalist, Diodorus, fuller on the concerns of his native iland, assists, for the general history of Greece, principally by the ground he affords for connection and arrangement of materials given by others, especially the orators, but even for this he often fails. Occasional assistance we gain from Plutarch, but the orators furnish incomparably the richest mine. The testimony of an orator however must be received with much caution. For facts indeed, of general notoriety among those before whom he spoke, his first object, persuasion, would generally forbid gross falshood. But, whatever he might venture to disguise would receive a coloring from the purpose of his argument: where he might venture to feign, even fiction may be suspected. Toward ascertaining truth, adverse orators, in the scanty opportunities offering, should be compared; the course of events, the character of the times, the characters of parties, the character of the orator himself, his purpose in the moment, and the opportunity for answering him, should be considered.

Affairs of GREECE, from the Election of PHILIP King of MACEDONIA to be General of the AMPHICTYONS, till his Death

SECTION I

Extraordinary Policy of Demosthenes. Confederacy of Grecian States under the Influence of the Athenian War-party. Hostilities against Macedonia, without declared War. Requisition of Forces for the new Sacred, or Amphissian War. Conclusion of the new Sacred War

The election of the king of Macedonia to the office of general of the Amphictyons, making him the constitutional head of a great confederacy of Grecian republics, almost in the moment of failure of the avowed project of the Athenian war party for a great confederacy against him and his Grecian allies, again placed that party in circumstances most discouraging. Opportunity thus was so opened for establishing the prevalence of the peaceful, and for consolidating that friendly connection, of Athens especially, but of all Greece, with Maoedonia, which the peaceful party, as the writings of Isocrates show, earnestly desired, that ground of hope for the war-party again to obtain the lead might seem hardly discernible. But as quicksightedness, dexterity, and boldness were never yet so wanted in the cause, so never beforewere they equally shown. The very conception of the ideä, which Demosthenes next carried into practice, appears extraordinary.