Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 8.djvu/435

 Notices of ^rcbacologital ^3ubl (cations. NINEVEH AND PERSEPOLIS : an Iliatorioal Sktt.-Ji of Anoi.-iit Awyriii nn.l Persia : with an Account of the recent llescanheH in those countriiH lU W. S. W. Vaix, M.A. Third Edition. The attractive little volume produced by Mr. Vaux may, very proltalijv. be already known to many readers of the Journal. It lias etfocted murb towards inviting public attention to the interest of tbosc precious acciui- sitions which bavc been secured for the National Depository. Tbe appre- ciation of tbcsc remarkable remains lias tlius been extended ; and, whilst more recent discoveries bave augmented, in a very important de"-ree, tbe evidences regarding the ancient History of Assyria, rescued from oblivion in so remarkable a manner, the useful treatise before us still presents, as we believe, the best and most comprehensive guide which we can commend to the notice of our readers. Tbe object of this work is to lay before those who may have little time for deep research, the general results of the labours of several remarkable travellers in the East, and more particularly in Western Persia and Mesopotamia. With this view the author has separated what seemed to bear most directly on the subject from the more elaborate volumes of Chardin, Niebidir, Morier, Ker Porter, and Ptich, and has endeavoured to bring down the history of the discoveries, and of the discoverers, to the time of the publication of volumes lately put forth by M. Botta and Mr. Layard, and which contain the narrative of the most important inves- tigations of ancient monuments M-bich bave taken place in the East. The author, however, appears to have felt that, if his compilation was confined to a simple account of the travellers themselves, there would still be a considerable want unsupplied — viz., of a succinct statement of what is generally known of the history of those countries previous to the arrival of the travellers, to whom modern students are somewhat indebted. He has therefore added to his account of the discoveries a concise sketch of the history of the countries from which the most curious monuments bavc been brought, or in which they still remain. His object has been, gciicrail}', to elucidate two main points : — first, Tbe History of Assyria and Persia, and, as connected with it, that of the Medes, the Jews, and the Cbaldees, so far as it can be ascertained from the Bible and the works of classified authors ; and, secondly, to give the results of those modern inquiries whic-b bave been carried on by European travellers. In the first part, an outline is given of those empires from the earliest notices in the Sacred writings, down to the time of their decay at the commencement of the historical and classical age ; in this the changes which bave taken place are stated, and the order in which the different empires succeeded each other, are laid before the reader. From the commencement of the classical times some account is given of the state of those countries subsequent to the rise of Muhammed, and the entire extinction of their ancient records, owing to the conduct and peculiar principles of the Mussulman conquerors. The author considers that such a sketch may be found of some u.sc, from the additional facility which it will give to the student of the later discoveries ; at the same time that he hopes, by this means, that such students will