Alexandria, originally, was no doubt a military colony; it was not long, however, before it became a general place of resort for all nations, such as was scarcely to be met with in any other town of that day. The inhabitants were divided into three classes; _Alexandrines_, (that is to say, foreigners of all nations, who had settled in the place; next to the Greeks, the Jews were, it appears, the most numerous,) _Egyptians_, and _Mercenaries_ in the king's service. The Greeks and Macedonians divided into wards ([Greek: phylas]), constituted the citizens; they were under municipal government; the others, such as the Jews, formed bodies corporate according to their respective nations. The more important, in so many respects, that Alexandria is for history, the more it is to be regretted that the accounts respecting it, which have reached us, are so far from satisfactory!--Concerning the topography of ancient Alexandria: BONAMY, _Description de la ville d'Alexandrie_ in the _Mem. de l'Academie des Inscript._ vol. ix. Compare: # J. L. F. MANSO, _Letters upon ancient Alexandria_, in his _Vermischte Schriften_, vol. i. 2. Ptolemy I. surnamed Soter, the son of Lagus, received Egypt for his share, at the first division after the death of Alexander. Aware of the value of his lot, he was the only one of Alexander's successors that had the moderation not to aim at grasping all. No doubt he was, by the ambition of the other princes, entangled in their quarrels, but his conduct was so cautious, that Egypt itself was never endangered. Twice attacked in that country, first by Perdiccas, afterwards by Antigonus and Demetrius, he availed himself successfully of his advantageous position, and moreover, in this period, added to his dominion several countries without Africa, such as Phoenicia, Judaea, Coele-Syria, and Cyprus.