The accomplished Editor has executed his task in a skilful and felicitous manner. The fraternal interest which he took in the work, has not betrayed him into any exaggerations. Most readers would probably be glad, had the events of Dr. Dwight's life been narrated with more fulness and minuteness of detail. This remark applies especially to the period of eight years in which he was Pastor of Park Street Church. His connection with that church at so early and critical a period of its existence, the state of permanent prosperity in which his ministry was instrumental in placing it, the conspicuous part which he bore in the ever memorable conflict between the Evangelical and Liberal parties and in all the important religious movements of the time, would seem to have rendered desirable a more copious narrative. We, however, appreciate the motive which prompted the writer to study brevity, a feature unfortunately so rare in biographical sketches.

mons.

The narrative of Dr. Dwight's life is followed by a selection from his serThe discourses on the Death of Christ comprise the larger portion. These were delivered and published in 1826. They well deserve a republication. They are constructed on a somewhat peculiar plan. The facts connected with the death of Christ are first given. The phraseology in which its purpose is set forth in the Bible, is then subjected to a rigorous examination. After specifying the different erroneous theories that have been framed of the purpose of Christ's death, it is shown that no one of these theories gives an adequate solution of the facts connected with it, nor harmonizes with the language in which the Bible sets forth its purpose. A comparison of what the author esteems the true theory with these facts and with the phraseology of the Scriptures, is then instituted and the conclusion arrived at, that inasmuch as the evangelical view of Christ's death most satisfactorily explains the facts and agrees best with the scriptural phraseology, it is the only correct theory. This method of discussing the subject has the advantage of novelty and impressiveness, and affords scope for much ingenious and conclusive reasoning. Its great evil is the sameness of manner in which each error is combated; causing the reader to become sensible of a degree of weariness. With this abatement, the public will doubtless attach a high value to these discourses; although many of the errors which are discussed in them, have long since ceased to be anything else than objects of dim remembrance.

For most purposes which a scientific theologian has in view, sermons, designed to produce their whole effect while listened to, have not the value of regular treatises on separate doctrines. Yet the preacher and theological student may often derive much benefit from noticing the means, by which those who have preached effectively on doctrinal subjects, have succeeded in doing so. These Discourses, in this point of view if in no other, will reward a close examination.

The remaining sermons in the volume are of a practical character. The reader would not hesitate to infer what is stated in the Memoir, that Dr. Dwight studiously aimed in his preaching, not to win admiration by the charms of his style, but to convince his hearers of sin and be an agent in

their conversion. The modesty of the Editor will be thought, however, by many to have led him to underrate the merits of these sermons in respect to style. With the exception of here and there a word or form of expression which elegant usage perhaps does not approve, there is little to offend a fastidious taste. The truth is presented in a direct and forcible style, simple and by no means destitute of elegance; and with a remembrance of the oratorical talents of Dr. Dwight, it is easily seen how his auditories must have been powerfully moved by his sermons.

Notwithstanding the great number of books of this character which are at present published, no injury can be apprehended from even the indefinite multiplication of well executed biographies of good men. Let the dead speak as well as the living. And let us be allowed, in order that we may become wise, sometimes to walk with the wise men who have departed.

VI. THE PALACES OF NINEVEH AND PERSEPOLIS.1

THIS is one of the monographic treatises that naturally follow in the train of the recent explorations in Assyria by Botta and Layard.

The architecture of ancient Assyria and Persia, as developed by Mr. Fergusson in this work, is thought by him to throw light on the architecture of southwestern Asia, particularly on that of Solomon's temple at Jerusalem, and thus indirectly to elucidate the sacred Scriptures. We propose to exhibit some of the details.

1. Mr. Fergusson considers certain distyle halls, found among the ruins at Persepolis, as being cells or rooms in front of the main building, corresponding to the propylæa of the classic writers. These halls appear to be called duwarthim (accus. case) in the inscriptions. If we suppose the gate, where Mordecai overheard the conspirators, where he refused to bow to Haman, and where he could not enter clothed in sackcloth (Est. 2: 21. 3: 2, 3. 4: 2, 6.), to be one of these gateways, and not a mere gate or entrance, these passages of Scripture will acquire increased significance. See Fergusson, p. 112.

2. Some of the pillars found at Persepolis have capitals of seven feet, and even of sixteen and a half feet in height. These dimensions make the chapiters or capitals of the pillars Jachin and Boaz, which measured five cubits (1 K. 7: 16.) quite conceivable. See Ferg. p. 159, 160, 220.

3. The staircases of the ancient Persians were highly ornamented with sculptures and paintings, as was their architecture generally. If we suppose the same of the ascent or stairway into the house of the Lord (1 K. 10: 5. 2 Chron. 9: 4.), it will easily explain how these steps could excite the great admiration of the queen of Sheba. See Ferg. p. 248.

4. The cells or guard-chambers surrounding the palace of Darius at Per

1 The Palaces of Nineveh and Persepolis Restored: an Essay on Ancient Assyrian and Persian Architecture. By James Fergusson, Esq. London. 1851. 8vo. pp. xvi. and 368.

sepolis, explain the nature of the side-chambers (1 K. 6: 5, 6.) in the temple of Solomon. See Ferg. p. 178, 179, 221.

5. The inner halls at Persepolis are found to be square. This agrees with the temple of Solomon, as described in the Bible, and by Josephus and the Talmudists. See Ferg. p. 221.

6. Stages, with canopies, on the roofs of houses are supposed to have been used by the ancient Persians for the worship of the heavenly bodies, perhaps also by the ancient Israelites (2 K. 23: 11, 12. Jer. 19: 13. 32: 29. Zeph. 1:5.). See Ferg. p. 126 ff, 181.

7. The architecture of the ancient Assyrians and Persians was decorated with figures of composite animals, as the Hebrew architecture was with cherubic figures. See Ferg. p. 351.

8. Mr. Fergusson finds in Assyrian architecture a throne supported by figures of men and animals, which accords with the throne of God supported by cherubs, as in the vision of Ezekiel. See Ferg. p. 184. These results show that the author has not labored in vain.

G.

PART II.1

VII. ARNOLD'S GREEK PROSE COMPOSITION. THIS work is offered to the public by its author as a completion of his "Practical Introduction to Greek Prose Composition," the first part of which was published several years ago, and has been reproduced in this country by two different editors. One of these was Mr. Spencer, the American editor of the present volume; the other, a Mr. Harris, an undergraduate of Waterville College, whose early promise was soon after blasted by death, before the completion of his college course. The author apologizes for the delay which has attended the completion of his work, on the plea partly of ill health, and partly of more pressing engagements. No one who has endeavored to follow the track of his successive publications will think of charging him with tardiness or indolence. Among the announcements of the last three months, we have an edition of the Philippics of Demosthenes, with English notes, by T. K. Arnold; and an edition, nearly ready, of the whole of Homer's Iliad, with copious English notes, by the same author; besides an edition of Cicero's Tusculan Disputations, with a Commentary translated from the German by another person, but announced as edited by T. K. Arnold; and lastly, a New Handbook of Grecian Mythology, from the German, by the same indefatigable hand. With such a list before us, we could more readily allow the excuse of pressing engagements, than credit that of ill health. It deserves to be ranked with the achievements of Mr. James and M. Dumas, among the prodigies of book-making.

In the present work, the Greek particles are arranged in alphabetic order, each with a description of its various uses, and one or more illustrative exer

1 A Practical Introduction to Greek Prose Composition. Part II. (The Particles.) By Thomas Kerchever Arnold, M. A. First American Edition, revised and improved. New York: D. Appleton & Co. 1852. 12mo. pp. 248.

cises, to be turned from English into Greek. The alphabetic arrangement, though not without its convenience, has the disadvantage of separating many things, which belong properly together. Thus the connectives xai and té are found in different parts of the volume. The exercises consist of sentences or paragraphs, taken from the Athenian classics and rendered into English; the business of the pupil, therefore, is to reproduce as nearly as he can, the form of the original. We are thus secured against the intrusion of modern objects and conceptions, such as could not well be expressed by the resources of an ancient idiom. The pieces are taken for the most part from Xenophon, Plato, Thucydides and Demosthenes. They are amply sufficient, as regards both variety of forms and complexity of construction, to test the power of the most capable and thorough scholar. The American editor has regarded it as not expedient to attempt to supply an English-Greek vocabulary; he refers the student to "the excellent English-Greek Lexicon of Yonge," adding that it will soon be accessible to the American public in an edition by Professor Drisler. We cannot help thinking, however, that a table, containing at least the most remarkable peculiarities of idiom and construction, which the exercises present, would have contributed materially to the convenience and usefulness of the work.

A noticeable desideratum, but one easily supplied, is a list of the abbreviations. The letter M. found at the end of several remarks, refers possibly to Matthiae's Grammar; but so far as we have seen, there is nothing to prevent the reader from thinking of Madvig, or any other grammarian, whose name may begin with M. A simple H. leaves us in doubt whether we have the authority of Hoogeveen, or Hermann, or Hartung, or some one else, for the statement in question. Kühner, Krüger and Klotz are generally so cited as to keep them distinct; but we are puzzled occasionally by a K. which would answer for any one of them.

A large proportion of the peculiar idiom of the Greek language stands connected with its numerous and finely-shaded particles. At the same time, there is much, which does not admit of being placed in such a connection. Many points, therefore, not less important than those treated in this work, are excluded from its plan. In this respect the book, though intended by its author, as a completion of his Introduction to Greek Prose Composition, has not all the completeness that could be desired. Of course, however, this fact does not impair its value as a copious description and illustration of the particular subject to which it relates.

ARTICLE IX.

CORRESPONDENCE.

Letter from Rev. Dr. J. Perkins, Orûmiah, Aug. 9, 1851.

"I recently (though not for the first time), passed an ancient sculpture of interest, in Salmas, which, you will recollect, is on the eastern border of ancient Armenia, and on the western boundary of modern Persia. The Plain of Salmas is sixty miles north of the city of Orùmiah. It is from ten to fifteen miles broad, and at least twenty miles long, and almost a water level; its eastern end lying on the lake of Orûmiah, and its western end and north and south sides being bounded by the Kûrdish mountains. On the southern border of this beautiful plain, about four miles west from the shore of the lake, is the sculpture in question. It is on the southern face of an isolated, craggy cliff of dark colored limestone, that rises abruptly from the plain, just at the foot of the mountain range on the south. It is not more than one hundred feet north of one of the roads, which lead from the upper or western portion of Salmas over the mountains to the Plain of Orûmiah, the road here passing between this isolated cliff and the mountain. The sculpture is perhaps forty feet above the plain. It is carved on the perpendicular face of the rock, which is hewn to receive it. It consists of two figures, or rather, clusters of figures, three or more feet apart, each, a horse on which is mounted a noble rider, armed with a sword, and a humbler footman at the head of the horse, facing the rider and grasping his right hand, as if to receive a pledge or implore pardon. The figures are as large as life. The horses and riders face the west. The riders are beautifully clad; their heads being mounted with ample turbans having streamers flying from them. The work is very finely executed. Every feature is distinct, spirited and life-like. The figures are entire and perfect, with the exception of a slight injury on the face of one of the riders, caused by the weather. The rock itself being hard, and the sculptured face perpendicular, and on the southern side of the cliff, and thus shielded in a great measure from the common direction of storms, the work remains almost uninjured from age to age. The face of the cliff is broken around the hewn surface on which the sculpture is carved, so that it is impossible to determine in what relation the work originally stood. It may have formed a portion of the interior of a palace, hewn from the natural rock; but any such supposition is of course conjectural. There are no inscriptions on this cliff, nor in the vicinity. The sculpture may probably date from the early periods of the ancient kingdom of Armenia.

"Near the northern side of the old town of Salmas (without the town), now containing about three thousand inhabitants (Jews, Mohammedans and Armenians), which is situated quite at the western end of the plain, are two VOL. IX. No. 33.

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