PHALARIS, a remarkable tyrant, born at Crete, where his ambitious designs occasioned his banishment: he took refuge in Agrigentum, a free city of Sicily, and there obtained the supreme power by stratagem. Two circumstances have contributed to preserve his name in history. His cruelty, in one act of which he gave an example of strict justice. It is thus related: Perillus, a brazen bull, bigger than the life, with an opening in the side, to admit the victims; who being shut up in the body, a fire was kindled under it to roast them to death; and the throat was so contrived, that their dying groans resembled the roaring of a bull. The artist brought it to the tyrant, expecting a great reward. Phalaris admired the invention and workmanship, but ordered the inventor to be put into it to make the first trial. At last the tyrant was put to death by his own subjects. Some epistles are attributed to him, concerning the genuineness of which there was a dispute in the last century between Mr Boyle and Dr Bentley.