St. Germain's Cathedral, Isle of Man.

SAMUEL RUTTER,

Bishop of Sodor and Man, was buried under the uncovered steeple of his own cathedral, with a Latin inscription, on a brass plate, which in English is thus:

In this house, which I have borrowed of my brethren the worms, do I lye, Samuel, by Divine permission, Bishop of this island, in hopes of the resurrection to life: reader, stop, view the Lord Bishop's palace and smile: he died May 30th, 1662.

In the choir of the parish church of Hindlebanch, in Switzerland, is an elegant monument, to the memory of MADAME LANGANS, executed by John Augustus Nahl, late sculptor to the King of Prussia.

This lady, who was esteemed the greatest beauty in Switzerland, died in child-bed, at Hindlebanch, in the delivery of her first infant, at the age of 28. Her husband, who was parson of the village, deeply afflicted at the loss, found, in Mr. Nahl, an artist, who by his efforts eternized the grief of the husband and the memory of the beloved wife.

The innumerable instances of these monuments of human fragility appear to have exhausted all resources of art and genius; but Mr. Nahl was not deterred by this vulgar sentiment. Mad. Langhans having died on Easter eve, the circumstance of the event happening at that critical moment, inspired him with so happy an allusion to the certainty of our resurrection, so new, so simple, and at the same time so sublime, that no person can withhold their admiration.

From a simple block of freestone, but of a very fine grain, he formed the figures and the tomb. The tomb bursts asunder, as if the day of general retribution was arrived, when the sepulchres must deliver up their dead. The stone which covers the tomb rises up as it breaks in the centre, and discovers this beautiful woman and her infant, just recovered from the dead. She rises on the instant of her awaking, and seems on the point of taking

her flight to the heavens. The sentiment of her happy immortality gives a serene and majestic composure to her countenance; with one arm she appears to push up the stone, which yet opposes her passage, and with the other presses to her bosom her re-animated infant, who also, with his little hands, seems inclined to assist in disengaging themselves from the dismal aoode.

The cleft, where the stone separates into three pieces, is so naturally expressed, that the spectator is disposed to wait in expectation of seeing the tomb open altogether. It is placed even with the ground, if not a little sunk, and is closed in with two wooden doors, which are thrown open to such persons as are drawn to the place for the purpose of beholding it.

Walton-upon-Thames.

IN the chancel of the church of Walton-upon-Thames, in the county of Surry, are several brass plates, nailed against the south wall, to the memory of one JOHN SELWIN, celebrated for his remarkable strength, as appears by the following traditionary story:

John Selwin, the person represented on these plates, both in a praying posture, and in the act of killing a stag, was, as appears by the inscription, under keeper of the park at Oatlands, in Surry, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth: the bugle-horn, the insignia of his office, being apparent in both figures. This man was extremely famous for his strength, agility, and skill in horsemanship, specimens of all which he exhibited before the queen, at a grand stag-hunt, in that park, where attending, as was the duty of his office, he in the heat of the chase suddenly leaped from his horse upon the back of the stag (both running at that time with their utmost speed), and not only kept his seat gracefully, in spite of every effort of the affrighted beast, but drawing his sword, with it guided him towards the queen, and, coming near her presence, plunged it into his throat, so that the animal fell dead at her feet. This was thought sufficiently wonderful to be chronicled on this monument, and he is accordingly there portrayed in the act of stabbing the beast,

221

RUINS.

ANCIENT BABYLON.

THE city of Babylon, the capital of the ancient kingdom of Babylonia, is supposed to have been situated in N. Lat. 32° 34', and in E. Long. 44° 12′ 30′′. It was founded by the first descendants of Noah, 2,234 years before Christ; enlarged by Nimrod, the great grandson of Noah, 2,000 years B. C.; and in a manner completely re-built, about 1,200 years before Christ, by the Assyrian queen, Semiramis. It was greatly strengthened and beautified by various succeeding sovereigns; but it was by Nebuchadnezzar, and his daughter Nitroscis, that it was brought to such a degree of magnificence and splendour, as rendered it one of the wonders of the world.

Babylon stood in the midst of a large plain, in a very deep and fruitful soil. It was divided into two parts by the river Euphrates, which flowed through the city from north to south. The old city was on the east, and the new city, built by Nebuchadnezzar, on the west side of the river. Both these divisions were enclosed by one wall, and the whole formed a complete square, 480 furlongs in compass. Each of the four sides of this square had twenty-five gates of solid brass, at equal distances; and at every corner was a strong tower, ten feet higher than the wall. In those quarters where the city had the least natural defence there were also three of these towers between every two of the gates; and the same number between each corner, and the nearest gate on its two sides. The city was composed of 50 streets, each 15 miles long and 150 feet broad, proceeding from the 25 gates on each side, and crossing each other at right angles; besides four half streets, 200 feet in breadth, surrounding the whole, and fronting towards the outer wall. It was thus intersected into 676 squares, which extended four furlongs and a half on each of their sides, and along which the houses were built at some distance from each other. These intermediate spaces, as well as the inner parts of the squares, were employed as gardens,

pleasure-grounds, &c.; so that not above one half of the immense extent which the walls enclosed was occupied by buildings.

The walls of Babylon were of extraordinary strength, being 87 feet broad, and 350 high. They were built of brick, and cemented by a kind of glutinous earth called bitumen, which had the quality of soon becoming as hard as stone, These walls were surrounded on the outside by an immense ditch, from which the earth had been dug to make the bricks, and which, being always filled with water, added very much to the defence of the city.

On each side of the river Euphrates was built a quay, or high wall of the same thickness with the walls around the city. There were gates of brass in these walls opposite to every street which led to the river; and from them were formed descents, or landing-places, by means of steps; so that the inhabitants could easily pass in boats from one side of the city to the other. There was also a remarkable bridge thrown over the river, near the middle of the city, built with wonderful art of huge stones, fastened together by means of iron chains and melted lead; and it is said to have been a whole furlong in length, and thirty feet in breath.

In order to prevent any inconvenience from the swellings of the Euphrates, two canals were cut from that river at a considerable distance above the town, which carried off the superabundant waters into the Tigris. From the place where these canals commenced, down the sides of the river, both above and below the city, immense banks were constructed to confine the stream still more effectually within its channel, and to prevent still more completely all danger of an inundation. In order to facilitate the construction of these works, an immense lake was dug on the west side of Babylon, about 40 square miles, and 35 feet deep, into which the river was turned by a canal till the banks were completed, and it was then restored to its former course. This lake continued afterwards to receive annually a fresh supply of water from the Euphrates, and was rendered very serviceable, by means of sluices, for watering the lands which were situated below it.

At the two ends of the bridge over the Euphrates were

two magnificent palaces, which had a subterraneous communication with each other, by means of a vault or tunnel under the river. The old palace, on the east side, was about thirty furlongs in compass, and was surrounded by three separate walls, one within the other, with considerable spaces between them. The new palace, on the opposite side, was about four times as large as the other, and is said to have been eight miles in circumference. The walls of both these edifices were embellished with an infinite variety of pieces of sculpture; and among the rest. was a curious hunting scene, in which Semiramis was represented on horseback throwing her javelin at a leopard, while her husband, Ninus, was piercing a lion.

The most remarkable structure in the new palace was the hanging gardens, which Nebuchadnezzar is said to have raised, in order to give his wife, Amytis, daughter of Astyages, King of Media, some representation of the beautiful mountainous and woody scenes which abounded in her native country. These gardens occupied a square piece of ground, 400 feet on every side, and consisted of large terraces raised one above the other, till they equalled in height the walls of the city. The ascent from terrace to terrace was by means of steps ten feet wide, and the whole pile was sustained by vast arches, and strengthened on each side by a solid wall, twenty-two feet in thickness. Within these arches were very spacious and splendid apartments, which are described as having commanded a very extensive and delightful prospect. In order to form a proper pavement for supporting the soil, and confining the moisture of the garden, large flat stones, sixteen feet in length and four in breadth, were first of all laid upon the top of the upper arches, over these was spread a layer of reeds, mixed with bitumen; upon this, two rows of brick closely cemented; and the whole covered with sheets of lead, upon which the earth or mould was laid to a sufficient depth for the largest trees to take firm root. In the upper terrace was a large reservoir, into which water was drawn from the river by some species of engine, and kept there ready to be distributed to any part of the gardens.

Near to the old palace stood the Temple of Belus; and in the middle of the temple was an immense tower, about