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clined to follow out, in consequence of the distance of the mound from Mosul, and its inconvenient position.

M. Botta still continued his excavations in the mound of Kongunjik, and claims the honour of discovering the first Assyrian monument. Having directed measures to be taken for obtaining the sculptures said to exist in the mounds of Khorsabad, at some little distance, what was his surprise on the discovery of a suite of chambers profusely ornamented with representations of battles, sieges, &c., as it were an illustrated history of an unknown people. Numerous inscriptions explaining the events recorded in sculpture, in the cuneiform character, evidenced that the building was of a period preceding the conquest of Alexander, after which time the cuneiform writing was not employed. Hence its erection was reasonably referred to the inhabitants of Nineveh.

On the communication of the discovery to the Institute of France, M. Botta was liberally supplied with ample funds for the prosecution of his labours. He diligently persevered in them, and returned to Europe, enriched with choice relics of Assyrian sculpture, and collections of inscriptions still more valuable. The success of M. Botta's researches, which were not carried beyond Khorsabad, effectually roused Mr. Layard's enthusiasm. After many fruitless applications, sufficient to discourage a less enterprising explorer, he had the high satisfaction of obtaining, through the generosity of Sir Stratford Canning, the pecuniary means which enabled him to prosecute his further discoveries. For many reasons, it was necessary that silence should be maintained as to his proceedings, and on the pretence of going to hunt wild boars in the neighbourhood, Mr. Layard again descended the Tigris from Mosul, on a raft, accompanied by Mr. Ross, a British merchant, his janissary, and a servant. On landing at the village of Naifa, a miserable hovel, inhabited by an Arab family, was their lodging for the night. Not being in the most propitious circumstances for slumber, Mr. Layard thus describes to us the ideas which thronged his excited imagination: "Hopes long cherished were now to be realized, or were to end in disappointment. Visions of palaces underground, of gigantic monsters, of sculptured figures, and endless inscriptions floated before me. After forming plan after plan for removing the earth, and extricating these treasures, I fancied myself wandering in a maze of ch. mbers, from which I could find no outlet. Then, again all was reburied, and I was standing on the grass-covered n.ound. Exhausted, I was at length sinking into sleep, when, hearing the voice of Awad, I rose from my carpet, and joined him outside the hovel. The day already dawned. He had returned

with six Arabs, who agreed for a small sum to work under my directions. Then commenced the exciting research. Awad, Mr. Layard's Arab host at the hovel, had his suspicions of the object of search, which he could scarcely conceive to be limited to mere stones. Carefully collecting the scattered fragments of gold leaf he could find in the rubbish, he presented them in a confidential manner to Mr. Layard. "A Bey," said he, " Hallah, your books are right, and the Franks know that which is hid from the true believer. Here is the gold, sure enough, and, please God, we shall find it all in a few days, only don't say anything about it, or the matter will come to the ears of the pasha." This caution was not without reason, for exaggerated rumours of wealth obtained, had already so excited the jealousy and avarice of the Cadi, that every possible obstacle was henceforward thrown in their way. The excavations, nevertheless, continued to be carried on actively, and more important discoveries of elaborate sculpture were obtained sight of, when an agent of the pasha appeared, to forbid further proceedings. Wearied with these annoyances, Mr. Layard endeavoured to obtain an order from the Porte, to prevent further interference. On returning from a visit to the scene of operations, however, he was acquainted with the fortunate event of another pasha's being appointed, more favourably disposed towards him. And now, each day, important discoveries of mural tablets, winged lions, and figures of marvellous forms were made. One morning, two Arabs, with their mares at full speed, approached Mr. Layard, crying, "Hasten, O Bey, hasten to the diggers, for they have found Nimroud himself. Hallah, it is wonderful, but true. We have seen him with our eyes!" The fugitive Arabs, to Mr. Layard's great regret, who anticipated the consequences, on reaching Mosul, rushed into the bazaars, crying, that "Nimroud had appeared!" An order consequently followed from the pasha, that "the remains should be treated with respect, and only two workmen allowed to carry on their operations."

The winged lions were next discovered. "I used," says Mr. Layard, "to contemplate for hours these mysterious emblems, and muse over their intent and history. What more noble forms could have ushered the people into the temples of their gods! What more sublime images could have been borrowed from nature by men who sought, unaided by the light of revealed religion, to embody the conception of the wisdom, power, and ubiquity of a supreme Being! They had awed and instructed nations which flourished three thousand years ago. Before these wonderful forms, Ezekiel, Jonah, and others of the prophets, stood, and Sennacherib bowed;

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even the prophet Abraham may possibly have looked upon them! For twenty-five centuries hidden from the eyes of man, they stood forth once more in their ancient majesty."

The law of Arab hospitality, "My house is your house," often subjected Mr. Layard to visitors more frequent than welcome. Having been presented by a sheik, as a mark of friendship, with a skin of honey, a cheese, and a Kurdish carpet, an expectation was hinted at, through the medium of his secretary, as to some recomperse. On Mr. Layard expressing his regret that the trifling differences in matters of religion should preclude the possibility of the Effendis accepting anything from him, the secretary replied, "These are his attendants, not so particular as he; and, thank God, we are all one." Mr. Layard's last resource to get rid of his importunate demand was, the reflection that there was no bazaar in the village,-that some time must elapse before such articles as he required could be procured from Mosul, and that he could not think of trespassing on their valuable time by detaining them so long." This was the last importunate visit from a Kurdish chief.

Our indefatigable explorer now turned his attention to the great mound of Kongunjik, opposite Mosul, where again his labours were richly rewarded. Mr. Layard was now desirous of sending home some of the sculptured slabs. Carefully packed in felts and matting, and screwed in roughly made cases, they were placed upon a raft, and floated down the river from Baghdad to Busrah, and from thence to England.

The account of Mr. Layard's visit to the Tigari mountains, inhabited by the Chaldean christians, is both interesting and valuable; as acquainting us with the social and religious condition of this simple and primitive people. The important position the Chaldean church once held in Asia, renders the subject one of much historical interest.

More curious still is his visit to the Yezedis tribe, whose midnight orgies are thrillingly related. "In their creed," says Mr. Layard, "there is a strange mixture of Sabeanism, Christianity, and Mahomedanism; with a tincture of the doctrines of the Gnostics and Manishæans."

The excellent judgment and kindness displayed by Mr. Layard, in his government of the little community of Arabs over whom he presided, and established the most cordial unity among them, is much to be praised. Under these amicable conditions, their labours were successfully continued, and numerous ranges of apartments, sculptured tablets, and the singular obelisk now in the British Museum, were found. "On

Christmas day," says Mr. Layard, "I had the satisfaction of seeing a raft bearing twenty-three cases, in one of which was the obelisk, floating down the river."

The removal of the heavier objects, as the winged bulls, not originally contemplated, was a more difficult matter to achieve. Diligence and skill, however, triumphed over all obstacles. The meritorious and honourable exertions of Mr. Layard were now completed, to which we are indebted for the fortunate possession of materials, sufficient to instruct us in the history and civilisation of one of the most ancient and illustrious nations of the earth.

From the convincing testimony that Mr. Layard's researches have furnished us with, we have enduring evidence of the power and grandeur of that magnificent nation, now become a desolation and a waste, which was once the glory of the ancient world.

Another important feature which gives additional value to the present volumes is, Mr. Layard's able dissertation upon the antiquity of the monuments he has discovered, in connection with the people by whom they were erected, their historical position, intercourse with other nations, religion, arts, and

manners.

The perusal of these volumes cannot fail to interest every intelligent mind, as recording the progress of those important labours, from which we may hope "to fill up a part of a great blank in the history of the world;" as well as by the instruction and entertainment afforded in the observations and anecdotes, most agreeably told, in a lucid and attractive style.

Such recommendations, in addition to the importance of the subject, cannot fail to establish Mr. Layard's volumes as one of the standard works of literature, and bespeak for them an enduring popularity.

Poems. By William Cullen Bryant.*

Ours is an age of rivalry, or rather of mutual co-operation, where the people of every country and clime are eager to show who amongst them will do most for the common good. Free trade has published to the world the sublime mission of nations and individuals, to labour not for themselves alone, but for all to whom a common Father has given a common origin and aim.

* London: Kent and Richards, Paternoster Row.

Already there is a change come over the spirit of the world's dream; Peace, and her attendant companions-the soft humanities of life-the arts that humanize and bless mankind are engaging the attention and are sharing the honours that were at one time exclusively paid to war. Labour, with her million. arms, has come forth to show the world what peaceful industry can do. And the world looks and admires, and loves; and even the poorest workman standing at the loom, or toiling in the mine every day, has higher views of the dignity and blessedness of work, and the purposes that work may serve.

Thus much true in commercial affairs, is yet truer when applied to the poet who sings, or the philosopher who discovers, those spiritual truths which are essential to the world's improvement and the world's life. Here especially it is true that we are members one of another-that men are fellow-workers for one common good; that to confine what of light we have; that to encourage selfish views; that to fan the flame of mutual jealousy and hate, is forbidden by the common origin we all admit, and the common destiny we all obey. Thought is free; it comes to all as the breath of heaven, as the light of day. It overleaps mountain barriers; it penetrates deserts; it divides seas; it lives as well on the eternal snows as beneath the burning sun of the East; nor can it live without utterance. It must find a voice wherever it may be, and that will be one such as the world will hear.

Thus is it, thoughts of power and poems of rare truth and beauty from the far West mingle with our own, and thus help to form the creed and fashion of the age in which we live. Not long since we noticed in our pages the Evangeline of Longfellow as a masterpiece of art. In William Cullen Bryant we see what appears to deserve similar treatment of us; but first let us give a few particulars as to the man. Like that of most poets, of most men of thought rather than deeds, his life is a tale soon told.

He was born in Massachusets, in 1794. His father was a physician there, who saw early indications of his child's genius, and watched over it with wisdom and care. Like Cowley, like Pope, like Scott, indeed like almost all the poets, with the excepition of old Hobbes of Malmesbury, Bryant began his poetical career young. At the age of ten he wrote several translations from the Latin poets, which were printed in a newspaper at Northampton. At this age also he wrote a satire, which was eagerly read and approved. In his sixteenth year he became a student at William's college, where he speedily distinguished himself. In 1815 he married, and commenced practice in the profession of the law. The next year he published

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