born at Miletus, an eminent Greek philosopher; friend, scholar, and successor of Anaximander. He diffused some degree of light upon the obscurity of his master's system. He made the first principle of things to consist in the air, which he considered as immense or infinite, and to which he ascribed a perpetual motion. He asserted, that all things which proceeded from it were definite and circumscribed; and that this air, therefore, was God, since the divine power resided in it and agitated it. Coldness and moisture, heat and motion, rendered it visible, and dressed it in different forms, according to the different degrees of its condensation. All the elements thus proceed from heat and cold. The earth was, in his opinion, one continued flat surface.

a Greek historian and rhetorician, was born at Lampacus about 580 years before Christ. Diogenes, the Cynic, laid the principles of erudition in the mind of this great man. Some writers ascribe to him, "A Treatise on the Principles of Rhetoric," which bears the name of Aristotle; and it is reported that Philip of Macedon invited him to his court to instruct his son Alexander in that science. Alexander was attended in his expedition against Persia by this learned philosopher and many other eminent men. The inhabitants of the city, which had the honour to give him birth, having espoused the cause of Darius, upon Alexander's conquering them, they entreated their countryman Anaximenes to intercede with Alexander in their behalf. He humanely undertook to interpose for them; but the king being informed of his intention, as soon as he came into his presence, swore that he would grant him nothing that he should ask. He instantly replied, "I entreat you to destroy Lampacus, to burn its temples, and to fell the inhabitants for slaves." Alexander, struck with this dexterous reply, kept his word, and saved the city.

Another pleasing anecdote is related of Anaximenes. For some unrecorded cause, he being displeased with the historian Theopompus, in order to revenge himself, wrote a severe satire against the Spartans and Thebans, in a style exactly similar to that of Theo-

pomus, and under his name addressed it to the Athenians. Theopompus was generally believed to be the author of that work, and consequently it brought upon him the odium and indignation of all Greece. Whilst this action afforded an illustrious proof of the strength of his talents, it afforded an equal evidence of the quality of his heart. The history of Philip, of Alexander, and likewise twelve books on the early history of Greece, were the productions of his pen, but are now unfortunately lost. (Gen. Biog.)