Connecticut western news., 1882-07-19
THE RUINED CITY.
A Sketch of Alexandria-Its Ancient Renown and Modern Importance.

Alexander the Great sought to found city after the destruction of Tyre, and in 332 B. O. selected the site of Alex andria because of its excellent position for trade. It is twelve miles west of the western Nile and between the Mediter- ranean Sea and Lake Mareotis. The city grew rapidly, and soon became the great centre of eastern commerce. The Ptolemies succeeded Alexander, and under them the city contained 30O,000 free inhabitants and as many slaves. It became the centre of learning, and schools of Grecian philosophy fourished there. Magnificent monuments were erected, among them the Pharos, the Museum, and the Temple of Serapis, and there were many gorgeous palaces and public buildings.
 Julius ICaesar beseiged and took the city in AS B. O., and eighteen years later Augustus made it an imperial city, It now began new season of prosperity. continuing till the establishment of the seat of the empire at Constantinople. The catacombs, public baths, and Pom pey's pillar, with the Roman city wall were erected during this period. In the year 215 the Roman Emperor Cara calla visited the city and ordered gen. eral massacre, and under the rule of Gallienus famine swept off half of the population. In 273 an insurrection re- suited in the destruction of the great library of the museum. In 296 another revolt ended in a general slaughter, and in 365 an earthquake destroyed 50, 900 persons. The persians captured the city in 616, and yielded it to the Arabs in 641. It then contained 400 palaces, 400 theatres, 4,OOO pubic baths and 12, 900 gardens.
 From this time on it rapidly decayed, and its population and trade diminished.
 Cairo took its place as the chief city of Egypt. It finally sank so low that in
 1777 it's population was only 5000. Since then the city had been rebuilt
 and raised to importance again. It re-
 sembled an Italian city and had large
 streets, we'll paved, lighted with gas,
 and abound,ng with fine residences. The great promenade of the Mehemet Ali or
 Franks square, where the massacre o
 June II began, was the central point o1
 the city. Railways connected the city
 with Cairo 13O miles distant, and witt the Suez Canal. The city was great central station for passengers, as the steamers to and from India, the Medi 3 terranean and the Levant, ali stopped , there. Among the prominent buildings , were the palace of the Khedive at Ras
 el-Tin, the large naval arsenel, the maya and military hospitals, the Custom House, Tribunal of Commerce, Italian college, and the various schools.
 The Turkish quarter was irregular but the European quarter had man, 7 good streets and fine buildings. Tn, city has two harbors, one east and on west of Pharos. The former has breakwater, mole and quays. The cit, } was supplied with water from the Nile : and was the seat of several large Gov ernment and other manufactories. Tn principal exports were corn, cotton wool, gums, rice, dates, sugar, cotton 3 seed, wheat, beans, senna and hides , The principal imports were woolen an' silk goods, hardware ard machinery { with timber, coal, petroleum, drugs an ) other products. In 1872 the popula } tion was 212, ,O34, Of whom 47,3l6 wer foreigners.