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from among the stoutest men, some of whom were six or seven cubits high. Heroism was particularly valued; and the officers, who fell in the contest, were honored with feasts and games after death, and chapels were named from them, where their heroic feats were celebrated. This was at first. the honest effusion of gratitude, but when the merit of the first warriors had become celebrated by the poets in their heroic songs and historic poems, and a more timid spirit had pervaded the community, these heroes were understood to be real gods, and were honored with sacrifices. Emblemat→ ic devices to represent their peculiar merits disfigured the walls of the temples. Hence we find them described with a hundred hands to denote their great power, many heads to characterise their wisdom, and a multitude of eyes to signify their continued vigilance. These are the giants and sons of God, mentioned by Moses, who has also described their violent dispositions, and mentions the great renown, they obtained. In other writers this is the first war of the gods and giants, in which the former were victorious.

During great part of the thirteenth century things continued in a tolerably quiet and flourishing state in the provinces belonging to the Menu. The mountaineers were so `effectually restrained, as to be supposed forever disabled, and the sea might be navigated in safety. Arts revived, and the people in their tranquillity lost that manly spirit, which is always necessary to secure respect and enjoyment. No sooner was Jared's first set of officers dead, than the licentiousness of a military life began to appear in the army. The frontier provinces in the west of Eden as well, as those bordering on Cain's country in the east, were oppressed by those, whose duty it was to defend them. Idolatry had de ́based the mass of citizens, and luxury had corrupted the higher classes. The mountaineers gained province after province; but instead of adopting the arts of more civilized people, such an inundation of barbarians destroyed whatever could be considered, as improvement. With the thoughtlessness, incident to savages, they took no pains to preserve

the artists, with whose works they were gratified. The pia ratical states at the same time infested the seas, and so extensive were their depredations, that this war required the whole energy of the patriarchal empire to repel them. The war is distinguished by the figurative name of the war of Elephants and Crocodiles, that is between the landed powers of Asia and the maritime forces of the Mediterranean. In the course of it the country, now called Syria, then possessed by the Soors, became independent of India by the conquest of Mesopotamia by the Asoors, from whom the country has since attained the name of Assyria. Their setting up a new empire, together with the defection of some of the provincial governors, who declared themselves independent, that they might more freely indulge their rapacity, so completely separated Syria from India, as to form them into entirely distinct states. The savage manners of the Asoors rendered them objects of horror among the loyal subjects of the patriarch, who continued till the final destruction of both monarchies to consider the Asoors, as infernals. This was the declining state of arts and of empire, when Jared died in the year 1422.

Jared was succeeded in the patriarchal office by Noah. Lamech, called Vena by the Hindoos, the great grandson of Jared, and father of Noah, is described by the Hindoos, as being a vicious and tyrannical prince. Moses gives us no hint of that kind, unless we may infer his indolence from the observation, he made upon the birth of his son. "He cal"led his name Noah, saying, this shall comfort us concern"ing the work and toil of our hands, because of the ground, "which the Lord hath cursed." It is possible however, that he may have been averse to the innovations, continually creeping in, and been induced to enforce the standing laws with more vigor, than was fashionable. He was at any rate unpopular. His son, Noah, is described, as the favorite of gods and men, and was elevated to the first dignity in hopes of his being able to save the wrecks of the empire. He was then three hundred and sixty six years old, and was consid

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ered, as in the vigor of life. All the remote provinces had been lost, and the only hope was to save the parent state. But even this hope, humble as it was, proved delusive. A factious spirit seized the heads of families, and civil wars were the consequence. In the fifteenth century the government of the province, now called Dehli, was claimed by rival princes, descendants of Belrut. Jirjowden from accidental circumstances was in possession of the principality, and was supported by a numerous brotherhood. Jewdishter and his four brothers were of course excluded. Many years were spent in fruitless solicitations. At length the parties had recourse to arms, the national government not appearing to have strength enough to decide the quarrel. A great battle was fought near the lake Koorkhet in the province of Dehli. Jirjowden was defeated and slain; and Jewdishter succeeded to the government, which he administered for thirty six years, when he exchanged it for religious retirement. The battle was fought in the year 1521, one hun dred and thirty five years before the flood.*

* Abul Fazil in the Ayeen Akbery dates the flood 4696 before the 40th year of Akbar. He dates the battle 4831 before the same year. The difference is 135. His 105 is therefore a mistake. Vol. ii, 91, and vol. i, pp, 263 and 269.

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EVERY body advised me to go to Paris. Yet what

could I do; as incapable of intriguing, as I was destitute of ambition; without any decided occupation, without any profound knowledge? I was like a traveller, who brings home a great many pieces of small change from the countries, he has traversed, but not a single piece of gold. I know not, what motive triumphed over these powerful reasons. I be gan my journey; and, as I passed Aix, I went to see M. de Bausset, a canon of the Cathedral, born at Aubagne, where his family resided. I was well acquainted with him; he told me, that, the first vacant bishopric being destined for him, he had cast his eye upon me to divide with him the labor and honor, in quality of grand vicar &c; that as soon, as he was nominated, he should go to Paris, whence he would bring me back. He asked me, if the arrangement pleased me I was overcome with joy. I promised every thing, fully persuaded, that fortune would never offer me an establishment more agreeable, or more advantageous. I should have a profession, and I should owe it to a man, who to a very amiable character joined every virtue, and particularly an extreme benevolence, which is the first.

With my mind thus freed from an insupportable weight I arrived at Paris in the month of June 1744. I had a num ber of letters; I presented one to M. de Boze, keeper of the king's medals, one of the French academy, and formerly perpetual secretary of the academy of Inscriptions and Belleslettres. Though naturally reserved, he received me with much politeness, and invited me to his dinners on tuesdays and

wednesdays. The tuesday was destined to many of his associates of the academy of Belleslettres; the wednesday to M. de Reaumur and some others of their friends. It was there, that, besides M. de Reaumur, I first knew Count de Caylus, the Abbè Sallier, librarian to the king; the Abbès Gèdoyn, de la Bleterie, du Resnel, Messieurs de Foncemagne, Duclos, Louis Racine, son of the great Racine, &c. I cannot express the emotion, I felt the first time, I found myself with them. Neither their words, nor their actions, nor any thing escaped me; I was astonished at comprehending what they said; they must have been much more so at my embarrassment, when they addressed themselves to me.

This profound respect for literary men I felt so strongly in my youth, that I ever retained the names of those, who sent enigmas to the Mercury. From this a considerable disadvantage resulted to me; I admired, but did not judge. For a long time I read no books without inwardly avowing, that I was incapable of doing as much. In my later years. I have been more bold in regard to works, that relate to criticism and antiquity; I had by long labor acquired a right to my own confidence.

When I had become a little familiar with some members of the academies, I extended my connexions. I saw the singularities of Paris; I frequented the public libraries ; I thought of M. de Bausset; I sought in the gazette after some vacant bishopric, and I very soon saw it filled by another person.

At nearly the end of the year M. de Boze, whom I often saw, and who had without any apparent design often interrogated me about my projects, spoke to me of his with that indifference, which he affected even for the things, he desired the most. The cabinet of medals demanded more labor, than what his age would permit him to perform. He had at first intended to associate with himself the Baron de la Batie, a very learned antiquarian of the academy of BellesletHe had just lost him; he hesitated upon the choice of an associate; for, said he, this deposit must only be con

tres.

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