Such, Sir, is my account of the bas-reliefs that have up to this day been brought to light. The construction is everywhere the same; the partitions are formed of immense slabs of gypsum, behind which is merely earth. These slabs, by my plan, are represented as much too substantial, for in reality they are not more than a décimètre in thickness. I am now inclined to suspect that the interior parts of the brickwork were originally empty, and that they, as well as their intermediate spaces, have been filled up by time. The roof, if there was one, must have rested upon the slabs, and these were bound together by copper plugs and cramps, of which considerable fragments remain. In fact, the earth within the brickwork differs in no respect from that encumbering the passages. I must yet remark that, as well as copper plugs, numerous pieces of thick stucco are found in the earth, of a beautiful azure blue colour, similar to that which adorns the bas-reliefs. Besides, as there is also a great quantity of charcoal to be seen, I suppose the wooden roof was destroyed by fire, and thus the gypsum partitions became calcined and converted into plaster. This may, I believe, sufficiently explain the injured state of the sculptures, a decay from which, I fear, nothing can possibly be rescued. All breaks away in morsels,

and, without the props, at present supporting the partitions, the whole would instantly fall to atoms. Nevertheless, I still hope I shall be able to preserve the large female figure and the three flag-stones with inscriptions, belonging to the passage. With regard to small objects, all that has been found is a piece of unbaked clay, bearing a very distinct impression of a mythological seal. It represents the type, so frequently observed, of a personage grasping a lion rampant by the head, and running a sword through his body. I am ignorant what this fragment can have been. To all appearance, it is a ball of clay carelessly rolled in the hand, and flattened by the impression.*

At last, Sir, I have paid a visit to the second altar, of which I had heard reports; like the first, it is situated at a short distance from the village.

* I afterwards received from M. de Cadalvène, Director of the French Posts at Constantinople (whom I beg, on this occasion, to accept my thanks for the extreme kindness shown by him in facilitating M. BOTTA's communications with Paris), information that M. BOTTA had sent me this specimen in white clay, but that the Tartares de la Porte had brought it to him reduced to powder. M. BOTTA has since found other and similar balls of white clay, three of which he has forwarded to me; I intend depositing them in the Cabinet of Antiques in the Bibliothèque Royale, if I receive them in good condition.-J. M.

It exactly resembles the other, but is very much decayed; it likewise bears a cuneiform inscription round the platform; but, as a few characters alone remain, it has afforded me no help towards completing the former one.

Such, Sir, is my description of all that has yet been disinterred. I must confess I comprehend nothing as to the design or general plan of this monument. To clear every doubt, I would willingly extend my researches, but, unfortunately, we approach the houses so nearly, that without demolishing some of them, it will be impossible to advance further. I am desirous to purchase them, but the prejudices of the inhabitants throw obstacles in my way which I shall perhaps be unable to overcome. I do not intend leaving Khorsabad on that account, for the hill upon which the village is built, evidently abounds in similar constructions. In order to ascertain this fact, I have caused several strokes to be dealt with the pick-axe, at a considerable distance from my excavations, and as far as the opposite extremity of the mound; there, the workmen at once discovered a wall bearing figures like the others; with this difference, that instead of resting on a platform of bricks, it is erected upon one composed of thick slabs of plaster. If I cannot

persuade the inhabitants to sell me some of their houses, I shall explore this fresh mine, which, extending beyond the village, will allow a wider range to my labours; perhaps also I may succeed in ascertaining from whence come those sculptured fragments of siliceous stone, so frequently found scattered. The people know, but will not tell me; by degrees, I hope they will become accustomed to my researches, and be more communicative.

I forgot to mention that the mound of Khorsabad appears to have been formerly surrounded by a thick enclosure of large calcareous stones, roughly hewn. This wall is seen above the ground in several places. E. BOTTA.

I have received a fragment of the Khorsabad sculptures from M. BOTTA; viz, the child's head represented in Plate VI. I have had it lithographed, and the reader will find it, Plate XXI, in the dimensions of the original. As for the stone itself, I have presented it to the Cabinet of Antiques in the Bibliothèque Royale. My readers will, doubtless, be struck with the beauty of this specimen, and will feel gratified to learn that M. Villemain, Minister

of Public Instruction, and M. le Comte Duchâtel, Minister of the Interior, have, by the advice of the Academy of Inscriptions and Belles-lettres, granted to M. BOTTA fresh funds for continuing his excavations, and have sent out to him a skilful artist, M. Flaudin, who, during his journey through Persia, gave proofs of the fidelity with which he has power to reproduce sculptured monuments. We are thus assured that, even those bas-reliefs which cannot be preserved, will be accurately copied, and everything admitting of removal will be sent to France, and there form an Assyrian museum, unique throughout the world. The literati of Europe will return thanks to the two Ministers who have willingly afforded, for scientific advancement, the means of reaping such an abundant harvest, by a discovery destined to throw so great a light upon one of the most obscure and interesting portions of ancient history. I may, perhaps, be allowed, in concluding this note, to express, in M. Borтa's name, his obligations to the Vice-President of the Academy of Inscriptions, M. Guiguiaut, for the zeal with which he has rendered himself the organ of the interest shown by that learned society, from their commencement, in the Khorsabad excavations. J. MOHL.