any other writing than that of which I send you specimens. It is exactly like what is observed upon the bricks found at Nineveh. The bricks themselves are the same as those last named, and are equally cemented with bitumen, I have also found at Nineveh fragments of sculptures in a style precisely similar. It is likewise remarkable, that up to the present moment, all the mythological emblems are Babylonian, and quite the same as those so frequently seen on seals and cylinders. Finally, not a trace has yet been discerned of any iron employed in this monument, whilst numerous remains of copper objects have been found; nails, rings, bands, and even part of a small wheel with a slender felloe, about 0m. 50c. in diameter. These facts argue favorably for the antiquity of the monument, but, on the other hand, I have discovered that the stones with which it is built belonged to a still older edifice. Indeed, some of the gypsum slabs bear traces of cuneiform inscriptions, evidently destroyed by time. The writing too, entirely resembles the inscriptions of the actual monument. The specimen I now send will enable you to judge for yourself.*

*See Plan XXXI, 2. This inscription is on the reverse of the lower part of that slab with a bas-relief, the upper portion of which is represented in plate XXII.

I sincerely regret being the only person on the spot to describe these ruins. I am no artist, and the sketches I transmit to you, are not merely unworthy copies of the originals, but, further, they engross much of my time. Besides, I feel myself incompetent, through want of requisite learning, to appreciate the historic value of several details which, perhaps, might set others on the track to make interesting discoveries.

In my opinion, it would be worthy the munificence of the French government to send here some one capable of assisting me in the excavations and who can draw well. The field is large, for, I repeat, this monument extends through the whole interior of the mound; and, in proportion as we advance towards its centre, the sculptures are better preserved. Almost all the bas-reliefs are historical; the inscriptions are very numerous, and, if they can be read, will probably throw great light upon certain facts and unfold many new ones. Above all, it would be necessary to copy everything from those walls which at once decay when exposed to the air; or, pushed by the earth, immediately fall to pieces. Already, notwithstanding my props, part of what I have seen and drawn remains no longer. I hope those persons who prize archæological researches will unite with you in

endeavouring to obtain from our government the means of rescuing as much as possible, and of carefully copying whatever cannot be saved.

E. BOTTA.

NOTE.-On going to ascertain whether the colouring of the plates was exactly according to the given pattern, I observed that, in some copies, already finished, a shade of bistre had erroneously been put upon the staff, held in the hand of the personage with a tiara, in plate XXII. This staff is, in M. BOTTA's drawing, of the same red as the bands. It was then too late to repair this fault, and I must content myself with warning of the error those few persons who will receive the plate falsely coloured.-J. MOHL.

I have again visited my ruins, but was interrupted in my labours by severe illness;* I am therefore unable at present to send you the latest bas-reliefs of the many that have been discovered; nor have I yet measured the progress of the excavations; consequently I cannot augment the last plan

* When M. BOTTA first received tidings that the Minister of the Interior would grant him those supplies necessary to complete his excavations, he instantly repaired to Mosul, notwithstanding the heat. There, on the first day, he made those drawings which I now publish, but the next morning he was seized with a sort of cholera, and, on the following day, was carried on a litter, delirious and almost dying, back to Mosul. He afterwards finished the drawings of the bas-reliefs and the copies of the inscriptions, adding them to his fifth letter.-J. M.

transmitted to you; however, here is the result of my observations.

You remember that wall xx, whereon is represented the assault of a fortress, was found to extend 7m. 15o; it continues for more than 9m. in the same direction, the total length being above 16m; it then turns northward (XXX1) at right angles, forming, with a parallel wall opposite (XXXII), a fifth passage, paved, like the four first, by one single flag-stone bearing an inscription. This passage is larger, and, I think, a little longer than the others. At its egress, towards the north, the wall runs westward, and there the excavation stopped. I have ascertained that the opposite wall of passage XXXII comes from the east (XXXIV).

Wall xiv, of which only 3m. 45° were uncovered, has been followed to a total extent of more than 12m. without reaching the end. I have cut away the mass of earth that fills up the space between it and the parallel wall (xx), in order to see whether another wall was between them, but nothing could be found. It is thus very probable that the entire space was empty and constituted a large chamber longer than wide.

Wall XIV has been followed above 2m. further than before; there it turns towards the north (XXXII) and