many of the stupendous works with which Babylon was dorned. The correct and tasteful in architecture were little known.

By the time now under review, several nations had made considerable proficiency in the arts of statuary, sculpture, and embroidery. The statues of Babylon in particular were quite numerous. The Phoenicians were skilled in the manufacture of precious stuffs, and in a great degree in the art of dyeing in particular.

3. The learning and literature of these times were not great, except in a very few individuals; as, for instance, Solomon, Homer, and Hesiod. As to poetry, it was very ancient in Greece; but though Orpheus, Musæus, and Linus preceded Homer, he was the only master of poetry, and the poet of all ages and nations.

The philosophy of those times was a species of wild mythology; sometimes religious, sometimes moral, and sometimes political; such as is to be found in the Orphics, and in Homer and Hesiod.

4. Commerce flourished in a degree which, for this early period of the world, must appear somewhat sur prising. The fleets of Israel, under the direction of Tyrian mariners, traded to the land of Ophir, which some suppose to be a district in Ethiopia, and others suppose to be some part of India. Their course was probably by the Red Sea.

Doubtless during this period considerable improvement was made in the construction of their vessels, as otherwise so long voyages could not have been prose cuted with any degree of safety or convenience.

5. The monarchical form of government generally prevailed except among the Greeks, some of whom exhibited the earliest, though very imperfect, modes of a republican government and free institutions.

Monarchs were mostly absolute and despotic--masters of the lives and properties of their subjects, and from the samples which we have among the Assyrian and Babylonian princes, and the kings of Israel, we may conclude that they were almost or wholly a very worthless and despicable race.

6. As during the preceding period, so in this, the

light ɔf we true religion shone only among the chosen people of God, unless it may have been, that a few individuals in the surrounding nations obtained some partial and transient glimpses of the truth. It is with considerable reason supposed, that several of the ancient sages, at different times, acquired some portion of the information ontained in the Scriptures.

But, though the true religion was known only to the Hebrews as a community, it began to disappear among them. After the revolt of the ten tribes, for political as well as religious reasons, a new temple and a new priesthood were instituted, in consequence of which very essential deviations from the original institution of Moses crept in, and their religion became a mixture of Judaism and pagan idolatry.

An awful series of vice, wars, massacres, servitude, famine and pestilence followed this separation. Some, however, of the kings of Judah, were pious men, which was not the fact with the kings of the ten tribes, and the revelation of Jehovah was preserved only among the Jews in its purity, by means principally of the temple and worship which existed in Jerusalem

PERIOD VI,

THE PERIOD OF ROMAN KINGS,

EXTENDS FROM

THE FOUNDING OF ROME,

752 YEARS B. C.

ΤΟ

THE BATTLE OF MARATHON,

490 YEARS B. C.

The length of this period is 262 years.

Emportant Events in Period VX.

Six principal events are to be assigned to this period.

First, the Foundation of Rome by Rom'ulus Second, the Carrying of the ten tribes of Israel into captivity:

Third, the Taking of Jeru'salem by Nebu chadnezʼzar:

Fourth, the Conquest of Baby'lon, by Cyrus he Great:

Fifth, the Return of the Jews from their captivity:

Sixth, the Abolition of the regal government at Rome.

Profane history now rises in authenticity and accu racy, and the history of different nations is consequen ly more interesting, and to be depended on. Th fabulous times end soon after the beginning of th period.

1. The Foundation of Rome by Rom'ulus, 752 years before the Christian era, was connected with the rise and establishment of the most powerful empire which has ever existed. The city was peopled by runaway slaves and criminals, and at first had neither laws, nor rules, and but few women.

Rom'ulus was the son of Rhea Sylvia, a vestal, and was, together with his twin-brother Remus, preserved n infancy in a remarkable manner. Being, by the death of his brother, at the age of eighteen years, left sole commander of a band of Robbers, he began the foundation of what has since been called "the eternal city."

It took the name of its founder, and was built upon the Palatine hill. The city was almost square, and about a mile in circumference, containing 1000 houses, more properly huts. Even the palace of Rom'ulus was built of reeds, and thatched with straw.

Having become king, he introduced order and discipline, which gradually improved under Numa, and severa. succeeding sovereigns. The circumstances in which this people were placed, naturally gave rise to continual animosities, which were commonly settled by battles, in which they were almost always victorious.

Romulus divided the people into three tribes, and each tribe into ten companies, each of which consisted of 100 men, headed by a centur'on. He divided the

land into three parts; one for the support of govern ment, another for the maintenance of religion, and a third into portions of two acres to every citizen.

2. The Carrying of the ten tribes of Israel into captivity, by Shalmane'ser, put an end to the Israelitish kingdom. It occurred 721 years B. C. and was the consequence, under Providence, of their awful sinfulness.

The ten tribes had existed as a separate kingdom from the time of Jeroboam, under a succession of irreligious princes. The city of Sama'ria was their capital.

Under their last king Hose'a, Sama'ria was besieged by Shalmane'ser, and, after three years, taken and plundered. The Assyrian king destroyed the kingdom, by leading the greater part of the inhabitants into captivity, who were dispersed throughout Assyria, and never more returned.

Some few, who remained in Ca naan, were intermixed with strangers, and from that mixture sprung the motley race, which were afterwards known under the name of Samar'itans. The prophets describe the sufferings of the Israelites as exceedingly great, and brought upon them by their departure from the institutions of Moses, and by their general and monstrous wickedness.

3. The taking of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnez'zar followed the destruction of Sama'ria, after the lapse of little more than a century, viz. 606 B. C. The city and its temple were razed t their foundations.

After the extinction of the Israelitish nation, already ment oned, the kingdom of Judah enjoyed but a pre carious existence. It was invaded, at different times, by the Babylonians, rendered tributary, and finally

subdued.

Jeru'salem was taken after a twelve months' siege -Zedeki'ah, the king of Judah, and his family, were aken prisoners; the latter were put to death; but the