eminent, for in this Academy the _Jews_ had a flourishing and populous Synagogue; but what greatly encreas’d the glory of this Assembly, was that most wonderful Library of _Ptolemy Philadelphus_, [Sidenote: Library of _Ptolemy_.] Son of _Ptolemeus Lagus_, the second of that Name of the Line of the _Egyptian_ Kings, first establish’d by him, and afterwards augmented and enrich’d by his Successors; for this King being an exceeding Lover of all Arts and Sciences, he, with great Labour and much Expence, made a Collection of all manner of Books, as well in Divinity as in all Arts, Sciences, History, and the like, some of which he obtain’d from _Greece_ and other places, but the _Pentateuch_, and the rest of the Old Testament, he procur’d from _Judæa_. Then wrote this King to _Eleazer_ the High Priest, to send him six out of every Tribe to Translate this Book for the common Use. These _Ptolemy_ receiv’d at _Alexandria_ with exceeding great civility, and erected several convenient Mansions for them, wherein every one was by himself to Translate the Holy Law, which they so perform’d, according to the Testimonies of _Josephus_, _Clemens Alexandrinus_, _Eusebius_ _Nicephorus_, St. _Austin_, and other learned Writers, that they not only us’d the same Sense, but the very same Words also, yet that certainly not without the special Grace and Assistance of the Holy Spirit. Now this is the Translation which bears the Name of _Septuagint_ to this very Day. [Sidenote: The _Septuagint_.] Moreover, this King sent to the _Chaldeans_, _Romans_ and other Nations for Books, all which he likewise commanded to be Translated into the _Greek_ Tongue. One _Phalerius Demetrius_, a Learned _Athenian_ Exile, was Keeper of this Library, which amounted, as _Agellius_, _Ammianus Marcellinus_ and _Diodorus Siculus_ alledge, to 700000 Volumes, and was afterwards from Time to Time very much augmented by the succeeding Kings, ’till at length this invaluable Treasure of _Manuscripts_ (for then the _Art_ of _Printing_ was not so much as thought of) was burn’d in the Civil Wars between _Pompey_ and _Cæsar_, in the 183 _Olympiad_, after it had continu’d about 124 Years. This _Cæsar_ ever after accounted the greatest of his Misfortunes, that he, who was so great a Lover of Arts and Sciences, should be Cause of the destruction of so incomparable and unparalel’d a _Library_. [Sidenote: The _Serapion Library_.]