 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
Hereditary Genius
153
tame African elephants, the elephants previously used in Egypt having been
invariably imported from India. He founded the city Ptolemais, on the borders
of Ethiopia, expressly to receive the captured African elephants, for the
purpose of training them. He recommenced the old Egyptian enterprise of the
Isthmus of Suez canal, sent voyages of discovery down the Red Sea, founded
the Alexandrian library and caused the Septuagint translation of the Bible to be
made. With all this intelligence and energy, he had, as we have before said, a
feeble and sickly constitution, and the life he led was that of a refined
voluptuary.
[NS.] Ptolemy Euergetes. Was by no means his father's equal in virtue and ability;
but he was scarcely less celebrated for his .patronage of literature and science.
gBP. Pyrrhus, king of Epirus, the famous general. (I am not sure of the second of
these letters, whether B or b.) He was one of the greatest commanders that
ever lived, and might have become the most powerful monarch of his day if he
had had perseverance. The links that connected him in blood with Alexander
appear to have mostly been of a remarkable character, but hardly deserving of
special record here. The character of Pyrrhus resembled that of Alexander,
whom he also took as his model from an early age, being fired with the
ambition of imitating his exploits.
Berwick, James Fitzjames, Duke of. One of the most distinguished commanders of
the reign of Louis XIV. He was the illegitimate son of James II. by Arabella
Churchill, and became commander-in-chief of his father's Irish army. He
accompanied James II. into exile, and entered the French service, where he
obtained great distinction, especially in the war of the Spanish succession. He
was then made lieutenant general of the French armies, and created a Spanish
grandee.
u. John Churchill, the great Duke of Marlborough. See.
Bonaparte, Napoleon I. His extraordinary powers did not show themselves in
boyhood. He was a taciturn lad. The annual report of the Inspector-General of
Schools, made when Bonaparte was aet. 15, describes him as “Distinguished in
mathematical studies, tolerably versed in history
 |
|
 |
|