The mist still lingers over his shoulders, covers his head, and envelops, perhaps entirely, his gigantic form. There is, nevertheless, known to be behind those floating vapours, one of the sublimest marvels of creation; and while it remains unseen, it is pictured by the imagination-it is painted on the very veil that hides it. Then there comes fairer weather; and the dull impalpable screen between the eye and the mountain of snow begins to melt away. At length it is pierced by the wind and the sun; broad openings are made; and the glories behind are revealed in part. Here, stands forth a wall of rock, dappled with rich colours; and there, peer out above the ridges of the fog, like battlements, pinnacles, and spires, the summits of the less lofty and imposing members of the Alpine group; while yonder, looming as an unearthly vision, there may be seen the pure white dome-crest of the father of them all. Something of this kind has been the case in reference to the subject which we have selected for the opening tract of our series. NINEVEH, to a great extent, was long hidden from the world. The inquisitive, the learned, the enterprising, sought for a true history of it in vain. Impenetrable darkness enveloped its annals. Its form, extent, civilization, habits, government, worship, and other characteristics, were all encompassed with doubt and mystery. In the remote past, whither the student eagerly directed his eye, it was known to be one of the most splendid and stupendous of cities-one of the mightiest of empires. That it existed was beyond question. The Scriptures threw some light on its history, and more on its condition; but a full view of it was sought in vain. Imagination was busy with its old traditions; painting and song created gorgeous visions of its glory, which passed like phantasmagoria across the surface of the universal mist-like ignorance. But no one had a clear sight of Nineveh-no one saw exactly what it had been in its meridian glory-until, through the researches of Botta, Layard, and others, an opening was made in the gathered darkness of ages, and the Assyrian city was palpably disclosed before the eyes of the astonished world. Here, in these unparalleled explorations, come out to view fragments of its architecture and sculptures; there, are revealed glimpses of its social, political, warlike, and even domestic life; while yonder, the very records of its history are being unrolled, and we are actually beginning to read portions of its imperishable annals; not in old paper books or parchment scrolls, but on tables of stone, engraved by the contemporaries of the heroes whose achievements they relate. Nineveh, just now, is like Mont Blanc, revealing itself through the rent veil of vapour. Continually is the mist diminishing. Bright patches of artistic, antiquarian, historical scenery are left bare in succession, fixing upon them the intelligent inquisitiveness of a multitude of eager students. As mound after mound is opened, "Earth reveals her store; The gorgeous secret, ages keep no more; It is our purpose in this tract to tell, in brief, the story of Nineveh, so far as we know it-of course a very imperfect story at present, but a deeply interesting one. We shall begin by looking at our subject as it presented itself to the minds of scholars before the recent discoveries were made. As Herodotus, in his great historical work, makes but few allusions to Assyria, and none which throw light upon its early history, but little assistance has been afforded by him. If he ever wrote a book expressly on Assyrian affairs-of which he expresses an intention in such portion of his writings as we possess that book has perished. The main authorities, then, for what was until of late known on the subject before us, were Berosus and Ctesias. The former was a Babylonian, living at Athens in the time of Alexander the Great; and being a priest of Belus, he possessed a large amount of Chaldean lore. He wrote a history of the Chaldees, of which, unfortunately, we have only a few fragments; in these, however, are found some scanty notices relating to the condition of the Assyrian power and people. The second ancient author was Ctesias, perhaps a contemporary of Herodotus, who flourished in the fourth century before Christ. He is called, by Strabo, the historian of Assyria and Persia. He wrote a large work, of which the first six books were devoted to the former subject. The work in its entireness no longer exists, but, happily, an abridgment of it is preserved, so far as Persia is concerned, in the works of Photius. Of the part referring to Assyrian matters, there is no abridgment in Photius, but very large use of it is made by Diodorus Siculus, who may be regarded, in his account of Assyria, as giving the substance of his predecessor's labours. "Of later writers," says Dr. Layard, "who have touched upon Assyrian history, Diodorus Siculus, a mere compiler, is the principal. Eusebius, and the Armenian historians, such as Moses of Chorene, have preserved a few valuable details and hints; they also obtained their information from elsewhere, but in some instances from original sources not altogether devoid of authenticity. Many other authors could be cited who, in their works, have casually alluded to events in Assyrian history, or have introduced brief notices concerning the Assyrian empire; but any particular account of them, or any analysis of the information they afford, would only weary the reader. It is remarkable that none of the authors alluded to, do more than mention by name any of the Assyrian kings, with the exception of the three great monarchs, Ninus, Semiramis, and Sardanapalus, whom traditions have made celebrated, and whose deeds, like those of all prominent characters in an epoch before sober history commenced, have been invested with superhuman features, or have been mixed up with fables." To weave together these materials into anything like a consistent history is no easy task; and a difficulty, perhaps the greatest of all, is presented in the vast difference between the brief statement of Herodotus, with regard to the duration of the Assyrian power, and the chronology of other authors. Dr. Layard, and other accomplished scholars in this branch of learning, can find no satisfaction in the attempts that have been made to reconcile the discrepancies which meet us in this inquiry. "From such contradictory materials, it is not surprising that each writer should have formed a system of his own, and we may, without incurring the charge of scepticism, treat all their efforts as little better than ingenious speculations." From all this it will appear that the certain knowledge possessed respecting Assyria, until very lately, was small in the extreme. It is very true that Holy Scripture afforded some clear and distinct intimations of the state of Assyria and of certain incidents in its history; but these were chiefly such as related to that connection into which the chosen people of God were brought with this military power which so often invaded and oppressed them. A great change has now come over our knowledge of Nineveh and Assyria, through the wonderful discoveries of recent explorers, and revelations of the mighty and teeming past are still |