Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1812-09-04
THE CHARACTERS OF
uExANDER THE GREAT AND 30
49, APARTE CONTRASTED.
$1,000 60, b ~ hmhlicnfion.

Il i
Ertracted from a tate Publication.
.ArExANpER.-Fidelit and gratitude, were
,,roncly marked in Alexander, He not only
rewarded those virtues IN his own subjects,
hut practised them towards captive kings, Of
len accompanied with liberality. that render
a their doninions, more extensive than they
we're before.
3oSAPARTE.-Though educated at an aca-
deoly ana at the expense and under the dlrec-
lion Of Louis XVI. IN the very ardor of youth,
wien the passions Of fidelity and gratitude are
generally at The flood, deserted his royal mas
ter; pursued him to the scaffold, and turned
his arms against the religion and laws of his
country.
ALExkNDER.-When Alexander married
Rozaaa If he could not by the powers OF
persuasion he could at least by force OF arms,
have made her his mistress; yet he nobly alb
stained from either dupliclty or violence, and
sought her affections only In an honorable
manner.
BoNApARrE Though an officer of some
rank, and Constantly with the words honor and
dellcacy III his mouth, married IN the prime
Of youth, the cast OF mistress of Barras, APP
parentIy upon no other principle but that base
and sordid one, Of gaining promotion at the
sxpence both of sentiment and honor
ALExANDER.--Inth the career OF Alexander's
victories, he held out no promises which he
did not fulfil, nor oppressed the conquered
after defeat, except irrltated by very parucn-
lar and aggrayating circumstances When
he took Porus prisoner, after hard fought
battle, on the banks of the Hydaspcs, he asked
him how he liked to be treated? Like
king" replied Porus. And hast thou nothing
else TO demand said Alexander. 6 Mop re-
turned Porus, g in the word king every thing
is comprehended." Alexander so far from
being offended with this ssankness, suffered
him to govern his own kingdon as his lieuten-
ant, and added to it several provinces, with
considerable number of towns and villages.
BoNArAxTE IT Though called by his parti
zans the conqueror of Italy, he may truly be
called the betrayer and plunderer of Italy; SO
far from respecting kings,a at one time, the
very name was an object Of abuse and exter-
mination Through all the states which he
passed, liberty, ALLIANCES CT amelioFation oftheir
former government, was the language OF his
declarations and manitestoes: but no sooner
were the people seduced by those high sound
Ing phrases, than their governments became
subject 10 the military despotism Of his army,
and their exchequers seized to Carry on fur
Their revolutionary systems.
Amongst the various pri-
soners Of war taken by this victorious prince,
none has been more the object of history, nor
has set his character In a more amiable light,
than his conduct to the unhappy Darius and
the females Of his unfortunate family. When
hefrst heard of the captivity of the latter, inn
medlasely dispatched one of his principal Off
GERS to tell them, g That Darius was not dead,
and taat they need not fear any i'll usage from
alexander; on the contrary, that they shoEld
hHG. themselves as well provided as ever they
were in Darius's most Furnishing condition,
when his empire was intirc" He was as good
as his word he treated these illustrious pri-
soners according to their rank, their sex, and
their virtues; gave them liberty to bury whom
they pleased of the Persians; allotted them
what garments and furniture they thought
proper, and allowed them larger pensions for
their maintenance, than ever they had before.
he would not suffer them to hear, or receive,
or even so much as to apprehend any thing
Indecent, or to the prejudice of their honor;
SO that they seemed rather lodged in some
holy temple, where they enjoyed their phi
tacy sacred and uninterrupted, than in the
lamp of an enemy" Upon the capture and
teath of Darius, he behaved with the same
sgnity and humanity, taking off his own coat
cover the dead body, and afterwards en-