178 THE ENGLISH LITURGY; Illustrated by its Version into the Latin and Greek 1. THE Latin Prayer-Book, as printed in the time of James II., exhibits the following erroneous version of an important response in the Catechism on the word "SACRAMENT." "Externum et visibile signum intelligo, internæ ac spiritualis gratiæ, quod nobis datur, ab ipso Christo institutum, tanquain medium quo eam recipimus, et arrabonem ad nos de ea certos faciendos." In the new and much altered edition by Thomas Parsell, 1713, that response is correctly given, and agreeably to the Greek of Duport. Vid. Class. Journ. xxxv. p. 102. "Externum volo et aspectabile signum internæ et spiritualis gratia, collata nobis, ab ipso Christo institutum," &c. &c., 2. Agreeably to the real meaning of the original, and to the Greek version of Duport, both editions of the Latin exhibit the following petition of the Litany; which it is not so difficult to understand aright, as it is to pronounce distinctly in English. "That it may please thee to give to all thy people increase of grace to hear meekly thy word, and to receive it with pure affection, "and to bring forth the fruits of the Spirit." "Ut universo populo tuo incrementum gratiæ, quo verbum tuum humiliter audiat, et puro corde amplectatur, et fructus Spiritus proferat, donare digneris." 3. Both the Latin editions, though with considerable difference in the words employed, render the meaning of that passage in the Exhortation, (Class. Journ. xxxv. p. 102.) sufficiently strong and perspicuous. SIDNEYENSIS. Feb. 10. 1819. 179 NOTICE Of a Second Memoir on Babylon, by Claudius James Rich, Esq. We acknowledged on a former occasion (See the Class. Journ No. XXIV. December 1815, page 287.) our obligations for much interesting intelligence communicated in Mr. Rich's first Memoir on the Ruins of Babylon; a subject hitherto unaccountably neglected by antiquarian travellers. Our readers will, without doubt, be gratified to learn that a second part has lately appeared, corresponding in size and typographical execution to the former, and illustrated with three folding plates, very neatly engraved. In this Second Memoir the ingenious author inquires how far the ancient descriptions of Babylon are confirmed or disproved by the remains still visible on its site; for that the place at present called Hilla, represents the great city of Belus and Semiramis, most antiquaries seem inclined to believe, and is the decided opinion of Mr. Rich. (p. 21.) That this inquiry was suggested by some remarks which Major Rennell offered on the "Topography of ancient Babylon," (in the Archæologia, 1816,) is declared by our author himself, who says, (p. 2.) " I have been more particularly induced to enter into a discussion on the correspondence between the accounts of the ancient historians and the ruins I visited, by a paper written by Major Rennell, professedly to vindicate the truth and consistency of ancient history, as well as his own account of Babylon in the geography of Herodotus; as he conceives my former statements to be at variance with commonly received opinions." And entertaining every sentiment of deference due to an authority of such weight as the distinguished geographer, Mr. Rich cannot coincide with Major Rennell, either in his interpretation of the ancient writers, or in his deductions from the actual appearance of the ruins. (p. 3.) From a volume of barely sixty pages, it would be unreasonable to extract many passages. Our object here is to announce the Second Memoir, and not to anticipate any of the pleasure, which our readers may derive from examining the author's arguments, founded on personal research among the remains at Hilla, against the theory (seldom erroneous) of so eminent a geographer as Major Rennell. We shall, however, notice (from p. 29.) a remarkable circumstance of the Babylonian ruins. In the very heart of a mound, called the Kassr, (or Palace,) and also on the bank of the Euphrates, Mr. Rich saw earthen urns filled with ashes, and some small fragments of bones; and in the northern face of the Mujellibè (that immense heap of bricks, which some have supposed to be the Tower of Belus), he found a gallery of skeletons inclosed in wooden coffins. That the sepulchral urns are of high antiquity, none can possibly doubt. The mode of burial, and a curious brass ornament found in one of the coffins, will serve to prove that the skeletons must have been interred before the introduction of Islam, or the Mohammedan religion. These discoveries," Mr. Rich observes, are of the most interesting nature; and though it is certainly difficult to reconcile them with any theory of these ruins, yet in themselves they sufficiently establish their antiquity. The two separate modes of burial too are highly worthy of attention. There is, I believe, no reason to suppose, that the Babylonians burned their dead; the old Persians, we know, never did. It is not impossible that the difference may indicate the several usages of the Babylonians and Greeks, and that the urns may contain the ashes of the soldiers of Alexander and of his successors." (p. 29.) · In the course of this inquiry Mr. Rich sets but little value on the accounts given by Diodorus Siculus and Ctesias; while he regards Herodotus as the best authority respecting ancient Babylon. (p. 7.) The descriptions, however, left by the Grecian writers, may be perfectly reconciled with the ruins in their present state, without doing violence to either, as he remarks in p. 37. The Notes and Appendix illustrating this Memoir contain much curious and interesting matter; and they please us, by encouraging a hope that the ingenious author means to treat of Niniveh in a future work. (p. 40.) He offers (in the Appendix) some remarks on Babylonian antiques, of which a residence during ten years in the vicinity of Hilla has enabled him to form an ample and most valuable collection. This comprises numerous square bricks, and small pieces of baked clay, thicker in the middle than at the ends; stones of different sizes and kinds; and cylinders, from one inch to three inches long, some of stone, and others seemingly of paste or composition; all bearing inscriptions, and many of them very extraordinary figures. The inscriptions are in that character generally called arrow-headed, nail-headed, or cuneiform. Such is found on the sculptured marbles at Persepolis. To explain this kind of writing, many learned Orientalists endeavoured, but without success, until Mr. Grotefend of Frankfort lately ascertained, by an exertion of considerable ingenuity and persevering diligence, that there are three varieties of these inscriptions; the first and simplest being in Zend, the Persians of Ecbatana; and that the Babylonian forms are but different modes of inscribing the same character. Mr. Rich is of opinion that this cuneiform, or arrow-headed letter, was common to the great nations of antiquity, the Median, Persian, and Assyrian (p, 50.); and he quotes the celebrated Professor Heeren, who observes, "That it is in all likelihood the Assyrian writing of Herodotus, and that which Darius Hystaspis engraved on the pillars which he set up on the banks of the Bosphorus." He adds, that the Persepolitan inscriptions deciphered by Dr. Grotefend are of the times of Cyrus, Darius Hystaspis, and Xerxes; and this sacred or lapidary character probably fell into disuse on Alexander's conquest, when neither the Persians nor Babylonians had any monuments to erect or events to record. Besides the inscribed stones and bricks, small figures of brass or copper are found at Babylon; but Mr. Rich remarks that the ruins have not yet produced any coins. The three plates exhibit various extraordinary devices and inscriptions on cylindrical gems, bricks, and smaller pieces of baked clay, sculptured stones, and brass figures, all monuments of Babylonian antiquity, forming part of our author's very valuable collection. We sincerely hope that, qualified as he is for the task, and advantageously situated for the execution of it by his residence near Hilla, and the influence which he derives from his public character, Mr. Rich may continue his researches among the Babylonian remains, and favor us occasionally with the result of his labors. His communications will be gladly received in Europe, to whatever bulk or number they may extend. A strong spirit of curiosity has been excited on the subject of Babylonian antiquities; and it is in Mr. Rich's power to gratify that curiosity by the publication of a work, which we will venture to recommend; and the compilation of which would not interfere with his learned researches ;—we mean a series of plates containing accurate (however slightly engraved) ́representations of all the Babylonian, and Persepolitan antiques preserved in his own collection, each article to be briefly described in letter-press. It is unnecessary to inform our accomplished author how useful and interesting such a descriptive account or catalogue raisonné would prove. He is undoubtedly well acquainted with the Recueil d'Antiquités of Count Caylus, Raspe's Catalogue of Tassie's engraved gems, the Galerie Mythologique of M. Millin, and a variety of similar works, that are to be found in every archæological library. It is not merely for the pleasure and instruction afforded by his own two memoirs, that we are indebted to Mr. Rich. The first publication elicited a quarto volume, intitled "Observations connected with Astronomy and Ancient History, Sacred and Profane, on the Ruins of Babylon," in which the learned Maurice has displayed his wonted ingenuity, eloquence, and profundity of research. This volume was published in 1816, and a second part, or appendix, has since issued from the press (1818); both are illustrated with engravings, and replete with erudition, such as might be expected from the author of " Indian Antiquities." But we must reserve for a future number of this Journal some remarks on Mr. Maurice's Babylonian inquiries. From the conclusion of a paper communicated to the Society of Antiquaries by John Landseer, Esq. in 1817, (See Archæologia, Vol. XVIII.) containing some very interesting observations on ancient cylinders, we had reason to hope that Captain Lockett's promised work on the ruins of Babylon would have been published before this time. Capt. L. visited the ruins in company with Mr. Rich, and we announced his intended publication so long ago as the year 1813. The attention of various able antiquaries and travellers being thus directed to one point, the result, we may trust, will be copious and satisfactory information on a subject of which we have, until within a few years, been left in almost total ignorance. 66 NOTICE OF ANTAR, a Bedoueen Romance," translated from the Arabic, by Terrick Hamilton, Esq., Oriental Secretary to the British Embassy at Constantinople. ALTHOUGH three months have scarcely elapsed since the publication of this romance, there is reason to believe that it has already found numerous admirers. Some perhaps among them will be pleased to see a few observations concerning it; and those of our readers, under whose inspection it has not yet fallen, will probably thank us for recommending the Bedouin story to their perusal; for, comprised within the small compass of an octavo volume, it delights us with such a picture of the manners which characterised an interesting race of Asiatics thirteen hundred years ago, as we could scarcely have obtained from any other source than an original Arabic manuscript, faithfully translated. That the work before us comes under this description, every page bears testimony indeed we believe it to be not only faithfully translated, but as literally as the different idioms of two languages can possibly admit. With the hero of this romance we have long been acquainted; but he has hitherto appeared only as the celebrated author of verses which merited the high honor of a place in the temple at |