LETTER CXVII. CLEANDER to GOBRYAS, Chief Scribe. From Delphi. MY Y excursions from Athens are, I hope, by no means useless to the king's service. I enlarge my knowledge of the dispo sitions and government of the Grecian states, I transmit my observations upon the manners and curiosities both of art and nature, which occur in the places I pass through, to the ministers of the sublime court; and I endeavour, at the same time, not to neglect the affairs of that city which is the particular scene of my employment. A meeting of the Amphictyons, or states general of Greece, now held at Delphi, affords me a fair occasion to lay before thee some laccount of their origin, form, and business. They are a part of the Grecian constitution, to which the Persians have but little attended, and with which it may be highly advantageous, not to say neces sary, for them to be better acquainted, in their future negotiations here. This celebrated assembly received its name, as well as institution, from AMPHICTYON, an Athenian king; who, observing that the separate interests and dissensions which prevailed amongst the Grecian republicks, exposed them to the invasions of their more -powerful neighbours, wisely exhorted them to unite, by deputies, in -one common body, which might, in times of danger, concert the best measures for their mutual safety, and prevent, by its salutary influence, the ill effects of private animosities and disjointed counsels. As he was a pious as well as political prince, he put the temple of Delphi, and the sacred territory, under the care and protection of the Amphictyonick tribunal; wisely thinking, that the publick defence The defence and publick religion should be matters of a general concern to the Grecians, however divided on subjects of less importance. ACRISIUS, who reigned several years after at Argos, is reported to have increased the privileges, and regulated the laws, of the Amphictyons; and is for that reason esteemed by some a second founder. states which enjoy the right of sending deputies to this council, are at present twelve; the Ionians, Thessalians, Boeotians, Dorians, Perrhœbeans, Magnesians, Locrians, tians, Phthiotians, Maleans Phocians, and Dolopians; but it is probable, that as some may have forfeited that distinction, and others been admitted in later times, who were not originally included, the number has not been always the same. The assembly meets in the spring and autumn of every year, either at Delphi or Thermopylæ; and every city amongst the people who compose it, chooses two members, the one called the Hieromnemon, and the other the Pylagoras, to represent it. The former is elected by lot, and has the honour to be president of the council in his turn, to gather the voices, pronounce the decree, and administer at the sacrifices, which are made either in the name of all the Greeks, or the particular city by which he is deputed. The latter is chosen by vote, and is properly the orator of the deputation; he delivers the opinion of his state, defends it against any accusation, and takes care of its interest upon all occasions. As soon as these deputies arrive at the place where the Amphyctyons are convened, they offer up a sacrifice to the tutelar deity; at Delphi to APOLLO, at Thermopyla to CERES. Then they repair to the assembly; but before they are admitted to take their seats, the following oath is tendered to them, which being a remarkable one, I shall here insert: "I swear never to contribute towards destroying any of the cities "honoured with the right of choosing Amphictyons; or stop the course "of "of their running waters, either in time of war or peace. If any person steal the offerings out of the temple of APOLLO, or assist "another in so doing, I will oppose them with my hands, feet, voice, "and my whole strength. Whoever infringes this oath, whether it "be a state or a private person, let them be accursed of APOLLO, “DIANA, LATONA, and MINERVA the provident! may their soil prove barren, their women bring forth nothing but monsters, and "their animals not produce in kind! May they never perform a pure sacrifice to APOLLO, DIANA, and MINERVA the provident ; "and may their offerings be an abomination to those deities! May they be alike unsuccessful in war and law-suits, and may their posterity be extirpated from the face of the earth!" A perfect equality is kept up amongst the members of this great council; the representatives of the most powerful republic in Greece have no advantage or pre-eminence over those of the least. Each state, from the flourishing commonwealth of Athens to the petty town of Eretria, possesses the right of two votes in the persons of its deputies; and, by having an equal share in the deliberations of the Amphictyons, looks upon itself as equally concerned in the welfare of Greece. As their meetings are attended with a vast concourse of people from all parts of the country, it has been usual, on particular occasions, for the Hieromnemones to summon all the Grecians, who then happen to be resident in the place where the assembly is held, to assist at its deliberations; with this distinction, that the latter are not allowed to vote, but merely called upon to countenance by their presence, the decrees of the Amphictyons, and to give them a fuller sanction. The power of this diet is very large and extends to the proclaiming of war, and the deciding of publick differences, of which I shall mention two remarkable instances. About the time of SOLON, the Cirrhæans and Acragallidæ, besides VOL. II. M other other insolences, plundered the temple of Delphi, and disregarded the orders of the Amphictyons; upon which that body, after taking the advice of the oracle, declared war against them in the name of all Greece, defeated their forces, reduced the whole nation, as polluted with sacrilege and impiety, to a state of servitude, and devoted their country to the service of the god. In the accommodating way, their endeavours have not been less successful than in the military; for when the Spartans and Argives had harassed each other by a continued war for many years, they referred their difference to the arbitration of the Amphictyons, who, without taking upon them to determine the justice of the cause on either side, ordered them to bring it to a short issue by a combat of four hundred men, chosen out of both armies. Of late years they have intermeddled less than usual in the great affairs of Greece, and held their meetings chiefly for form sake; their chief business at present being to settle a tax upon the Grecian states for some additions and repairs to the temple of Delphi. The end of their institution was certainly to keep up a good understanding in a nation composed of so many different governments and jarring interests; and were the leading republicks disposed to accommodate their disputes, overtures towards a negotiation could not be set on foot any where, with greater weight and propriety, than in this assembly. I rejoice to hear of the vigorous resolutions of our potent monarch. Another year can hardly pass over, before some crisis may offer itself, which may induce him to employ the forces so wisely ordered to be got in readiness. I have now discharged the duty I owe the king, as his minister in Greece; but it is a duty no less incumbent on me, to acknowledge the protection I received from thee, noble scribe, against the aspersions which the malice of enemies would have thrown on my reputation and conduct. Hard is it for a man who is struggling struggling abroad, amidst difficulties and hazards, in the service of his prince, to be exposed at home to the slander of the malicious, the reports of the credulous, and the judgment of the ignorant. But thou, generous GOBRYAS, proceedest not on the common maxims of courts; thou art no less steady in protecting merit, than sagacious in discovering it; and as thy recommendations to preferment are never intended to serve a base unworthy end, thou scornest to give up a minister who serves faithfully, through motives of fear or interest. May the chronicles of Persia, which transmit down thy fame to posterity, as a wise, an honest, and an able minister, when they record CLEANDER, the Ephesian, among those who had the honour to execute thy commands, mention him as one who was a follower, not of thy fortunes, but of thy virtues! Farewel. P. OUR Extract of LETTERS from Athens. UR loss in Ætolia is considerable, not for the number of citizens, which did not exceed one hundred and twenty, but for the quality and valour of the slain. They were, most of them, of the best families in Athens, and distinguished by their experience and gallantry. DEMOSTHENES, our general, has been blamed, with reason, for quitting the siege of Leucas, which he was in a condition of taking, to comply with the persuasions of the Messenians, who flattered him with the hopes of making an easy conquest of Ætolia. Since his defeat he has resided at Naupactus, and lately obtained a reinforcement of a thousand men from the Acarnanians, to secure that important place (whose fortifications are of a large extent) against the attempts of EURYLOCHUS, the Spartan. We have lately received dispatches from M 2 |