has the face of an antelope; the Ewer is a water-pot, borne on the shoulder of a man, who empties it; the Fishes are two, with their heads turned to each others tails: and all these are supposed to be in such places as suit their several natures."

The only difference between this and the Grecian Zodiac, is in two of the constellations; the Damsel and Youth, instead of the twins, Castor and Pollux; and the Sea Monster, instead of Capricorn; and these probably were the original constellations, which the Greeks metamorphosed, according to their usage, not knowing the meaning of these astronomical symbols.

The whole Zodiac might perhaps have been originally framed by Noah's posterity, to record the great leading events in the history of mankind, from the Creation to the Deluge. It is truly remarkable, that four of the constellations, the Fishes, Ram, Bull, and Human Pair, exactly express the progress of animal creation, in the first chapter of Genesis, ascending from the lowest species, fish, to the last and noblest, Adam and Eve; while the two last, the Sea Monster and Ewer, bear an obvious analogy to the Deluge, in the seventh chapter. The six remaining signs may possibly apply to the intermediate events which brought on the Deluge; but these, being beyond my skill to decypher, I leave to professed Antiquaries.

II. ELEMENTS

OF

HISTORICAL CHRONOLOGY.

TEMPUS EDAX RERUM, TUQUE INVIDIOSA VETUSTAS,

OMNIA DESTRUITIS!

OVID.

O TIME, consumer of things, and envious ANTIQUITY,

Ye all destroy!

II. ELEMENTS

OF

HISTORICAL CHRONOLOGY.

SECTION I.

PRESENT STATE OF HISTORICAL CHRONOLOGY.

ART. I. REVIEW OF EPOCHS, ERAS, AND PERIODS.

HISTORY in general may not improperly be compared to a rich and copious repository, in which are stored, for the example and benefit of posterity, all the various "knowledge of things" and events, of customs and manners, virtues and vices, arts and sciences, which have contributed to the rise and fall of states, to the happiness and misery of mankind, individually and collectively *. But all these precious materials, unless they be arranged in order, and digested according to the times, are no better than a rude and confused mass. Without Chronology, History would lose its most valuable characters of truth and consistency, and scarcely rise above the level of romance: for, as it is well observed by an ancient chronologer, Tatian :— Παρ' οἷς ασυναρτητος εστιν ἡ των χρονων αναγραφη, Παρα τουτοις ουδε τα της ιστοριας αληθεύειν δυναται.

"With those to whom the computation of the times is unconnected, not even the facts of history can be verified."

But Chronology itself ought to be correct and accurate:

* Hoc illud est præcipuè in cognitione rerum salubre ac frugiferum: omnis te exempli documenta, in illustri posita monumento, intueri; inde, tibi tuæque reipublicæ quod imitere capias; inde, fœdum inceptu, fœdum exitu, quod vites. Livius in præfat.