here fixed on; and this inſtance would argue, that Herodotus uſed a ſtadium conſiderably greater than even the Olympic. Again, Herodotus lays, that the Propontis is 1400 ſtadia in length; Of the Prpontis but by the large map it meaſures, including the Bofporus, which Herodotus ſays belongs to it, 142.5 Engliſh miles. Say then, 142.5: 1400:: 69.5: 683 nearly, ſftrange diſproportion between two diſtances ſo nearly connected.
The ſame writer eſtimates the length of the Helleſpont at 400 ſtadia; but it meaſures, from Gallipoli to the opening into the Ægean ſea, no more than 38 Engliſh miles, or about 331 Olympic ſtadia; though it winds ſo much, that Herodotus's calculation of the courſe of the Strait may be nearly juſt, and indicates, that he meaſured on this occaſion by the Olympic ſtadium. But the truth is, that the meaſurements of Herodotus are in general ſo inaccurate, or ſo corrupted, as not to be depended on, and cannot be regarded as a foundation on which any ſtandard meaſure can be eſtablifhed, and fully juſtify the obſervation of Dr. Blair[1], that "nothing is more common than to find a confuſion of numbers in the diſtances given us by ancient authors."
Mr. Rennel obſerves truly on the diſtance between Piſa and Athens, as laid down by Herodotus, that the diſtance from Heliopolis[2] to the ſea, which Herodotus deſcribes as equal to the other, is not in reality more than 80 Greek miles.
Let us then apply to Xenophon, who, as he travelled himſelf,
