Spanish work is of the utmost rarity), Pietro della Valle, Sir Thomas Herbert, Mandelslo, Olearius, Thevenôt, Tavernier, Daulier Deslandes, Struys, Chardin, Pietro Bembo, Kæmpfer, Gemelli Careri, Le Brun, Bell (of Antermony,) Otter, Ives, Niebuhr, Sauveboeuf, Francklin, Olivier, Scott Waring, Gardane, Morier, Macdonald Kinneir, Malcolm, Mountstuart Elphinstone, and Pottinger, with the abstract of Captain Christie's Journal. We have made this enumeration, as it may prove useful to those engaged in researches similar to Mr. Hoeck's; and we now proceed to his first section, which contains some general Pramonenda respecting the region of Persis Proper, the province now called Fars or Farsistán. These naturally lead to the "Monumenta Persepolitana, tota Persia facile præstantissima," those magnificent remains now called most commonly Chehil Minar, or the "Forty Columns," and supposed by some to have been Darius's palace, which Alexander partly destroyed, and by others regarded as a Temple. The various conjectures of learned writers on this subject, and concerning the ancient city of Persepolis, Mr. Hoeck examines, and declares that in his own opinion the ruins at Chehil Minar are vestiges of a Palace, which he would ascribe to Darius Hystaspis; though Persepolis (in an extended sense) undoubtedly owed its origin to the illustrious Cyrus.

Our author proceeds (p. 22.) to some inconsiderable reninants of antiquity in the neighbourhood of those splendid ruins above mentioned; and in p. 24, he describes the extraordinary sculptures at Nakshi Rustem, cut in the face of a rock, the sepulchral excavations, resembling those at Persepolis, and an extraordinary square edifice standing on the plain nearly opposite to one of the sepulchres. Some of the sculptures he distinguishes as works of the Sassanidan Kings, whose dynasty commenced in the third century; but the tombs he considers as coeval with the Persepolitan ruins, and the square edifice, on Mr. Morier's authority, he pronounces a pyræum or ancient Fire-Temple (p. 29.). Two turrets, or small towers, called the Sengi Salmun, or, "Stone of Solomon," some remains of columns, altars, and other objects, near Nakshi Rustem, he briefly notices as monuments of an uncertain

age.

Not far from those, are the Sculptures at Nakshi Rajeb; cut likewise in the hard rock, and exhibiting figures of kings and warriors; these, our learned author is convinced, are Sassanidan, and probably relate to the history of Sapor, first Monarch of that name (p. 53.).

Chapter V. is devoted to that extraordinary monument, called Meschid Mader Suleiman," the Temple, or the Tomb of Solomon's Mother," situated near the village of Murghab. It is a small house or chamber constructed of a few very large stones; and was first noticed by Josaphat Barbaro. Mandelslo and Morier have given engraved representations of it. Rejecting the popular VOL. XX. CI. JI. NO. XL. Z

notion that this was the Tomb of Bathsheba, Mr. Hoeck examines and condemns the opinion of those who would derive its name from the mother of Solyman, the fourteenth Khalif. Were it possible to reconcile its geographical position with the classical Pasargada, Mr. Morier acknowledges that he should have regarded this structure as the Tomb of Cyrus; but it lies about fifty miles northward of Persepolis, while geographers place Pasargadæ much farther to the south of that ancient capital. Yet the ingenious Grotefend, adopting Mr. Morier's hint, endeavours to prove that Cyrus's body once occupied the structure now ascribed to the mother of Solomon, and consequently that some ruins visible near it must have belonged to Pasargadæ. Our author, however, (p. 59.) seems inclined to believe that Persepolis and Pasargade were almost the same, both situated on or near the river, now called Bendemir, one facing eastward, the other westward, and the "Tomb of Solomon's mother," he degrades to a sepulchre constructed in the Sassanidan ages.

Some ruins near Shiraz, which bear also the name of Meschid Mader Suleiman, and resemble exactly the Persepolitan structures, Mr. Hoeck (p. 74.) would class among the oldest monuments of Persia, and the sculptures within a mile of them, called Kademgah, he attributes to the Sassanidans. The City of Fasa, about 120 miles south-eastward from Shiraz, and by Arabian authors called Basa, many have supposed to be the ancient Pasagarda or Pasargadæ. From an inhabitant of Fasa, Mr. Morier heard that ruins existed there more worthy of admiration, in many respects, than were the stupendous remains of Persepolis itself; and our author laments that neither Mr. Morier, nor any other European traveller, had personally explored such interesting antiquities. On this subject his curiosity will probably be soon gratified, as Sir William Ouseley tells us in the first volume of his Travels, (Pref. p. vii.) that he had visited Fassa or Passa, "the supposed Pasagarda." Whatever monuments are there visible, we may trust will be described in his second volume not yet published. He also visited Darabgerd (ibid.) a city respecting which Mr. Hoeck (p. 77.) complains that but little information has hitherto been obtained; and he thinks that it corresponds to a place in the inner Persis, near the borders of Carmania described by Strabo as Tὰ ἐν Γάβαις βασίλεια.

Our author next recommends to the attention of travellers, Firuzabad, about twenty leagues distant from Fasa, and remarkable for a square editice of singular architecture, probably a Fire-temple, also a very lofty column and some sculptures, the works of Sassanidan Princes (p. 77). In chapter xi. are described the monuments at Shapour, of which we have lately received ample accounts from Morier, Ouseley, and other English travellers. To the

interesting sculptures at this place, Mr. Hoeck applies a memorable passage, as he styles it, from Ebn Haucal (p. 129). "In the territory of Shapour, there is a mountain; and in that mountain are the statues of all the kings, and generals, and high-priests, and illustrious men who have existed in Pars; and in that place are some persons who have representations of them, and the stories of them written," &c. It cannot be doubted that some of those sculptures relate to the victory obtained by Sapor, or Shapur, over the Roman Emperor Valerian (p. 85.).

We are next introduced into the province of Susiana, now called Khuzistan: the ancient city of Susa is described, and its situation. examined; some placing it on the river Eulæus, others on the Choaspes. Several heaps of clay, bricks, and marble fragments, some of which are sculptured with hieroglyphical figures, indicate, according to Mr. Hoeck, the remains of Susa in the place now denominated Shush (p. 96.). At the neighbouring town of Shuster, or Tuster, the ruins of a castle, a bridge, and a canal are still visible, but imperfectly known. They have been ascribed to one of the most ancient kings of Persia; but may, perhaps, be more reasonably supposed the work of Sapor, the conqueror above mentioned, who probably employed his Ronian captives in the construction of them (p. 99.). Twelve miles southward of Shuster, is Ahwaz, once a flourishing city, and still claiming notice on account of its ruined palace and bridge, besides some extraordinary recesses hollowed in the rock. Mr. Hoeck thinks it probable that Ahwaz was founded by Hormizdas, eighth Monarch of the Sassanidan race (p. 99.).

Proceeding to the greater Media, our author examines the Tak Kesra, near the ruins of ancient Ctesiphon, on the river Tigris. This Tak is the front of a palace, once most magnificent and spacious, and still extending 270 feet, and rising to the height of 86, having in the middle a noble vaulted hall of 148 feet by 97. The name of this edifice (which is built with very large bricks) signifies "the Dome or Palace of Chosroes," and Mr. Hoeck attributes it to Chosroes surnamed Nushirvan, who reigned from 532, to 579. Northward of Baghdad thirty German miles, are remains of walls and subterraneous structures, indicating (as Mr. Hoeck believes, p. 106.) the situation of a splendid palace erected at Dastagerd, by another Chosroes, (surnamed Parviz, who reigned from 590 to 628,) for his beloved mistress Shirin, after whom the ruins are still called the Keser Shirin, or " Shirin's palace."

Our author next advances to the monuments of antiquity near Kirmanshah; various buman figures, angels or genii, hunting parties, and other devices, sculptured in the rock of a mountain called Tak Bostan, and supposed by Danville, Mannert, Della

Valle and others to be the works of Semiramis, described by Diodorus Siculus, as executed in the mountain named Bagistan: σε πρὸς ὄρος τὸ καλούμενον Βαγίστανον” (ii. 13.). But Mr. Hoeck, after a laborious examination of classical and oriental authorities, and of some inscriptions in the Pehlvi language found among those monuments, would assign them to some Mouarch, or to successive Monarchs, of the Sassanidan dynasty, Sapor, Varanes, or Chosroes (p. 128.). In the neighbouring mountain of Bisutun, are other sculptures, of which one, representing a king, before whom several captives or criminals are led, Mr. Hoeck regards as of the Arsacidan age; others of the Achamenidan, or earliest, and some of the Sassanidan, or last period of the Persian empire before the introduction of Mohammedanism (p. 140.). Kengaver, eleven miles from Hamadan, exhibits the remains of a palace or temple; and here our ingenious author places the ancient Koyxaßag, noticed by Isidorus Characenensis as a city of Media (p. 144.).

Ecbatana, celebrated by Herodotus as the work of Deioces, its walls, castle, palace, temple, Tower of Daniel, and other monuments are elaborately investigated by Mr. Hoeck, who finds them in the city at present called Hamadan (p. 153.). Having entered Media Atropatena, he will not allow to Tabris or Tauris the honour of representing ancient Gaza, which he thinks stood between Tabris and Miana, at a place where some large hewn stones are still visible, according to Chardin. He notices several caverns at Maraga as worthy of attention (p. 160.); and the works ascribed to Semiramis in Armenia. He regards Chosroes (Nushirvan) as founder of Derbent and the Caucasian wall, though tradition has named Alexander (p. 169.). In the north of Persia, or Ariana, he would seek the Tomb of Queen Zarina, celebrated by Diodorus (ii. 34.). The cavern and statues at Bamian he examines on the authority of Hyde, Abufazel, Wilford and Elphinstone. To him they appear monuments constructed by the votaries of Budda (p. 182.). In the province of Seistan (Terra Zarangæorum) he notices the scantiness of ancient remains, where several might be expected; and here he takes occasion to lament the untimely fate of our gallant countryman, Major Christie, who fell in a battle between the Russians and Persians. At Kykobad, Kuliput, Pulky, Jullalabat or Dushak, some vestiges of ancient buildings invite inquiry (p. 187.), as the monument called Gumbuz near Nusky in Gedrosia, which M. Pottinger would refer to the Gabrs, or "infidels," as those who worshipped fire are denominated by the Mahommedans, (p. 190.). The epitome here given will probably convince our readers that Mr. Hoeck's volume must prove an excellent companion to travellers in Persia, and a most useful work of reference to those who study at home the antiquities of that interesting country.

A

LETTER

TO THE RIGHT REVEREND

THE LORD BISHOP OF O—D,

CONTAINING

Some Animadversions upon a Character given of the late DR. BENTLEY,

IN A

LETTER, from a late Professor in the University of Oxford, to the Right Rev. Author of the Divine Legation of MOSES demonstrated.

"Jam parce sepulto."

LONDON:
1767.

MY LORD,

A LETTER, subscribed by a late Professor in the University of Oxford, and addressed to a learned prelate now living, fell into my hands no earlier than a few days ago. A very unexpected character, which is therein given of the literary taste and genius of the late Dr. Bentley, has strongly tempted me to address a few observations to the writer of that letter; and as I shall hope to do this with all becoming civility and decorum, I presume the Lord Bishop of O— will make no scruple to avow any opinions, which a late Professor in that University thought fit to advance.

In the correspondence I have now commenced with your Lordship, it is far from my meaning to attempt at measuring weapons with you in the science of letters; I have much too humble a sense of my own powers, and too high a respect for your Lordship's, to entertain such a design. It is an appeal to your candour as a gentleman, not an attack upon your capacity as a scholar, that I meditate. I am willing you should enjoy, whole and unenvied, all the fame you can fairly and honestly acquire; but I would wish your Lordship to believe that no credit is to be gained, either with the present age or posterity, by attempting to demolish the reputation of another.