Massachusetts spy and Worcester advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1823-1825, 1824-07-07

gold and silver were much more plenty
in the time of David and Solomon, and
for 1900 years afterwards, than they are
at present and that the mines of Arabia
being exhausted, and the gold and silver
with which the world abounded being
wasted by the barbarians, the mines of
Mexico, Peru and Brazil, have not been
able to repair the loss. He mentions
two or three instances of the vast riches
of private men in ancient times. Pythi-
as, the Lydian, possessed gold and silver
TO the amount of "a millions of dollars
of our money. Marcus Crassus, the Ro-
man, after feasting all the people of
Rome at 10000 tables, and giving every
citizen corn enough to last him three
months, found the remainder of his estate
to be equal to millions of dollars. Lu-
cullus, Roman senator, used to expend
$4,000 denarii, (about $4,000 every
time he supped in his hall Apollo, and
this was as often as any of the better sort
supped with him.-It has been computed
that ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS golden image.
and the various other images, utensils,
sc. of gold, in the temple Of Belus at
Babylon, amounted in value to $50 mil
lions of dollars. Vast loads of gold and
silver were often carried in triumph be-
fore Roman generals, when they return
ed from conquered Provinces. The gold
with which Solomon overlaid the most
holy place only, a room 80 feet square.
amounted 10 more than 1870 millions of
dollars of our money.
Critic, writer 10 the Christian Spec
tator, supposes also that the amount of
wealth was formerly much greater than
at present. He notices the following in
stances:-The Israelites, soon after their
escape from Egyptian bondage, offered
Tor the tabernacle gold aud silver to the
amount of S850,OOO. Exodus, xxxviii,
"a, 25. This was probably borrowed OF
The Egyptians, but it shows that gold and
silver were plenty in Egypt. The con-
tributions of the people for the sanctua-
ny, in the time of David, exceeded 134
millions ofdollars. Chronicles, xxx. Z
The sum which Hannah offered Ahas-
uerus, on condition of being permitted to
order the destruction of the Jews, was
10000 talents of silver, Is, 200, 900 dol.
lars. Esther, iii. 8, The immense treas.
ures which David is said TO have collect.
ed for the sanctuary, 1 Chronicles. xxi
IA, amountedvto $50 millions of pound:
sterling, (Crito says 789 millions, but er.
roneously,) or $3.50 millions of dollars
sum greater than the British nationa
debt, and exceeding all the money coin
ed since the discovery OF America. /
is supposed by some learned mea tina
David never amassed such an immense
sum, and that an error has been made
by the transcribers of this book. Pri
deaux conjectures that the talents of go!t
and silver given by David and others fol
the temple, might be of another sort, Of
a far less value than the Mosaic talents
lie remarks that if these talents are val
ned by the Mosaic talents, they would
have built the whole temple of solid sill
yer.
Critic estimates the talent of silver al
$40 pounds sterling, and the talent O
gold at 5475 pounds sterling, according
10 DR.. Arhuthnoi's "Tables of ancient
coins," sc. inserted in the translation o.
Jahn's Archaeology.
The versatile originality of character
for which the lower orders Of the Irst
people are remarkable, has been otter
noticed in England, as we'll as on the
Continent and it seems agreed thai
they possess clearer perceptions, ant
more intellect than are to be found il
the same class, in any other country ir
Europe.-Many anecdotes, illustrative
of this character may be related The
following, ludicrous, as it may appear, is
real fact: GA poor Irishman, unable
10 obtain work, attached himself for a
mere miserable subsistence only, TO an
English strolling company of PLAYERS
with whom he played many parts
sticker OF bills, baggage-drawer, scene
shifter, sc. Arriving at the town Of
Taunton, as soon az the necessary dis
positions were made for opening the
Theatre, Pat was despatched to post
the bllls,and announce the performance.
which he did in the streets and market
place, in strong sonornus voice
Well done, Paddy we'll done !! /" ex-
claimed the mob. Pat was heard with
attention, and every thing went on we'll
until an unlucky wight cried out 4" Pad
dy No-Shirt p" which was at once ech.
oed by an hundred voices. Poor Pat
became silent, his honor was deeply
wounded, he retired quite depressed, to
his quarters, pursued by the rabble, vo-
citerating Paddy no-shirt." Pat was
known TO possess kind and warm
heart, and was favorite with the COM
pany--they tried to console him. One
asked why he did not repel the insults