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Some moderns＇89＇ have imbibed these prejudices。 What has become； say they； of the cities described by Hanno； of which even in Pliny's time there remained no vestiges？ But it would have been a wonder indeed if any such vestiges had remained。 Was it a Corinth or Athens that Hanno built on those coasts？ He left Carthaginian families in such places as were most commodious for trade； and secured them as well as his hurry would permit against savages and wild beasts。 The calamities of the Carthaginians put a period to the navigation of Africa； these families must necessarily then either perish or become savages。 Besides； were the ruins of these cities even still in being； who is it that would venture into the woods and marshes to make the discovery？ We find； however； in Scylax and Polybius that the Carthaginians had considerable settlements on those coasts。 These are the vestiges of the cities of Hanno； there are no others； for the same reason that there are no others of Carthage itself。
The Carthaginians were in the high road to wealth； and had they gone so far as four degrees of north latitude； and fifteen of longitude； they would have discovered the Gold Coast。 They would then have had a trade of much greater importance than that which is carried on at present on that coast； at a time when America seems to have degraded the riches of all other countries。 They would there have found treasures of which they could never have been deprived by the Romans。
Very surprising things have been said of the riches of Spain。 If we may believe Aristotle；＇90＇ the Phoenicians who arrived at Tartessus found so much silver there that their ships could not hold it all； and they made of this metal their meanest utensils。 The Carthaginians； according to Diodorus；＇91＇ found so much gold and silver in the Pyrenean mountains； that they adorned the anchors of their ships with it。 But no foundation can be built on such popular reports。 Let us therefore examine the facts themselves。
We find in a fragment of Polybius； cited by Strabo；＇92＇ that the silver mines at the source of the river B？tis； in which forty thousand men were employed； produced to the Romans twenty…five thousand drachmas a day； that is； about five million livres a year； at fifty livres to the mark。 The mountains that contained these mines were called the Silver Mountains：＇93＇ which shows they were the Potosi of those times。 At present； the mines of Hanover do not employ a fourth part of the workmen； and yet they yield more。 But as the Romans had not many copper mines； and but few of silver； and as the Greeks knew none but the Attic mines； which were of little value； they might well be astonished at their abundance。
In the war that broke out for the succession of Spain； a man called the Marquis of Rhodes； of whom it was said that he was ruined in gold mines and enriched in hospitals；＇94＇ proposed to the court of France to open the Pyrenean mines。 He alleged the example of the Tyrians； the Carthaginians； and the Romans。 He was permitted to search； but sought in vain； he still alleged； and found nothing。
The Carthaginians； being masters of the gold and silver trade； were willing to be so of the lead and pewter。 These metals were carried by land from the ports of Gaul upon the ocean to those of the Mediterranean。 The Carthaginians were desirous of receiving them at the first hand； they sent Himilco to make a settlement in the isles called Cassiterides；＇95＇ which are imagined to be those of Scilly。
These voyages from B？tica into England have made some persons imagine that the Carthaginians knew the compass： but it is very certain that they followed the coasts。 There needs no other proof than Himilco's being four months in sailing from the mouth of the B？tis to England； besides； the famous piece of history of the Carthaginian＇96＇ pilot who； being followed by a Roman vessel； ran aground； that he might not show her the way to England；＇97＇ plainly intimates that those vessels were very near the shore when they fell in with each other。
The ancients might have performed voyages that would make one imagine they had the compass； though they had not。 If a pilot was far from land； and during his voyage had such serene weather that in the night he could always see a polar star and in the day the rising and setting of the sun； it is certain he might regulate his course as well as we do now by the compass： but this must be a fortuitous case； and not a regular method of navigation。
We see in the treaty which put an end to the first Punic war that Carthage was principally attentive to preserve the empire of the sea； and Rome that of the land。 Hanno；＇98＇ in his negotiation with the Romans； declared that they should not be suffered even to wash their hands in the sea of Sicily； they were not permitted to sail beyond the promontorium pulchrum； they were forbidden to trade in Sicily； Sardinia； and Africa； except at Carthage：＇99＇ an exception that proves there was no design to favour them in their trade with that city。
In early times there had been very great wars between Carthage and Marseilles＇100＇ on the subject of fishing。 After the peace they entered jointly into economical commerce。 Marseilles at length grew jealous； especially as； being equal to her rival in industry； she had become inferior to her in power。 This is the motive of her great fidelity to the Romans。 The war between the latter and the Carthaginians in Spain was a source of riches to Marseilles； which had now become their magazine。 The ruin of Carthage and Corinth still increased the glory of Marseilles； and had it not been for the civil wars； in which this republic ought on no account to have engaged； she would have been happy under the protection of the Romans； who were not the least jealous of her commerce。
12。 The Isle of Delos。 Mithridates。 Upon the destruction of Corinth by the Romans； the merchants retired to Delos； an island which from religious considerations was looked upon as a place of safety：＇101＇ besides； it was extremely well situated for the commerce of Italy and Asia； which； since the reduction of Africa and the weakening of Greece； had grown more important。
From the earliest times the Greeks； as we have already observed； sent colonies to Propontis and to the Euxine Sea colonies which retained their laws and liberties under the Persians。 Alexander； having undertaken his expedition against the barbarians only； did not molest these people。＇102＇ Neither does it appear that the kings of Pontus； who were masters of many of those colonies； ever deprived them of their own civil government。＇103＇
The power of those kings increased as soon as they subdued those cities。＇104＇ Mithridates found himself able to hire troops on every side； to repair his frequent losses； to have a multitude of workmen； ships； and military machines； to procure himself allies； to bribe those of the Romans； and even the Romans themselves； to keep the barbarians of Asia and Europe in his pay；＇105＇ to continue the war for many years； and of course to discipline his troops； he found himself able to train them to arms； to instruct them in the military art of the Romans；＇106＇ and to form considerable bodies out of their deserters； in a word； he found himself able to sustain great losses； and to be frequently defeated； without being ruined；＇107＇ neither would he have been ruined if the voluptuous and barbarous king had not destroyed； in his prosperous days； what had been done by the great prince in times of adversity。
Thus it was that when the Romans had arrived at their highest pitch of grandeur； and seemed to have nothing to apprehend but from the ambition of their own subjects； Mithridates once more ventured to contest the mighty point； which the overthrow of Philip； of Antiochus； and of Perseus had already decided。 Never was there a more destructive war： the two contending parties； being possessed of great power； and receiving alternate advantages； the inhabitants of Greece and of Asia fell a sacrifice in the quarrel； either as foes； or as friends of Mithridates。 Delos was involved in the general fatality； and commerce failed on every side： which was a necessary consequence； the people themselves being destroyed。
The Romans； in pursuance of a system of which I have spoken elsewhere；＇108＇ acting as destroyers； that they might not appear as conquerors； demolished Carthage and Corinth； a practice by which they would have ruined themselves had they not subdued the world。 When the kings of Pontus became masters of the Greek colonies on the Euxine Sea； they took care not to destroy what was to be the foundation of their own grandeur。
13。 Of the Genius of the Romans as to Maritime Affairs。 The Romans laid no stress on anything but their land forces； who were disciplined to stand firm； to fight on one spot； and there bravely to die。 They could not like the practice of seamen； who first offer to fight； then fly； then return； constantly avoid danger； often make use of stratagem； and seldom of force。 This was not suitable to the genius of the Greeks＇109＇ much less to that of the Romans。
They destined therefore to the sea only those citizens who were not considerable enough to have a place in their legions。＇110＇ Their marines were commonly fr