Of the S x u d y of Histosy.

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knows, in a very fummary and confused manner-and vve learn so litrle of other nations by theseaccounts, that if we did not borrow fome lightfrom the traditions of other nations, we Ihouldí'carce underífand them. One particular observa-tion . and but one, I wìll make, to iliow whatKnowledge in the hiífory of mankind, and in theeoinputation of time, may.be expected from thesebooks. The Aíïyrians were their neighbours,powerful neighbours, with whom they had muchand long to do. Of this empire, therefore, if ofany thing, we might hope to hnd fome satisfaotory account. What do we hnd ? The fcripturetakes no notice of any Aífyrian kingdom, till juifbefore the lime when profane history makesthat empire to end. Then we hear of Phux, ofTeglath Phaìasser, who was perhaps the faméperfon, and of Salmanasser, who took Samaria in the twelfth of the sera of NabonaSSER , that is,twelve years aster the Aífyrian empire was namore. Senacherib fucceeds to him, and Asser-haddon to Senacherib. What {hall we fay tothis apparent contrariety ? If the silence of thebible creates a strong présomption againít the sir st,rnay not the silence of profane anthority creatafome against the second Aífyrian Monarchs P Thepains that are taken to persuade, that theie ìsroom enough between Sardanapalus and Cyrusfor the second, will not resolve the difficulty.Something much more plausible may be laid, buteven this will be hypothetical, and iiable ío gréâtcontradiction. So that upon the whole maííery

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