The New York herald., 1870-05-02
THE TENDENCIES OF GOVERNMENT.
MRS. wS0DHULL,s TnIRD LETTER.
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MRS. WG1DHULL'S TnIND LETTER.
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD:-
Nearly all historians who have written since 10.
sephus have endeavored to reconcile sacred and
profane history This task Rollin attempts regard
Ing the origin Of the Assyran empire. Diodorus
says that "Nnus the most ancient Assyrian king,
performed great actions. Being naturally Of war
like disposition, and ambitious OF glory which re-
suits from valor, he armed consid erabe number
Of young men that were brave and vigorous, like
HIMSELF and trained them to all manner OF hard
ships" This Minus Rollln endeavors to make it ap-
pear was the Nimrod Of the Scriptures, ana the
Beus who was afterward worshipped as god.
Casthcnes, philosopher, who was one of the retl-
nue. of Alexander the Great, says the Babyonians
reckoned their origin back some 116 years after the
Deuge which would be about $3.50 years before
Christ The conflict OF authority upon the origin OF
this empire renders 1t competent FOR our purpose to
assume this date, and that Nmroa was the first his.
toric king Of Assyria
Assyria Is supposed to have derived Its name
from Asshur the son OF Shem, who, the Scrip.
ture says, settled this country. Nlmrod pos
sessed himself of the province, introduced
his own subjects into It, built cities ana
made himself generally beloved. It Is said he built
Nineveh more grand and magnificent than all the
accession to the throne conceived the design Of ex
tending his conqucsts and began to prepare troops
and officers capable OF carrying 1t out. In seventeen
years he conquered all the country between Egypt
India and Bactrlana, which last country he did not
think himself strong enough to attack with success
While preparing for further and greater conquests he
also determined TO immortaze his name by making
of Nineveh city at once commensurate with his
power and wealth. His design, says Diodorus, was
to make it the largest and nObest city In the world,
and to put it beyond the power OF others who might
come after him to ever build another snch.n Nor,
as R0ln adds, was he deceived in this; "f0r never
did any city come up to the greatness and magnt-
cence of this." 1t was 1SN miles long ana 11x
miles broad, and was surrounded by wall 100 feet
high. Having completed Nineveh he pursued his
intended campaign against the Bactrans, into
whose country he marched army OF 100 900 foot
100000 horse and 10000 chariots armed with
scythes. With this vast array he quickly 0verran
the whole country and finally laid siege to its
capital. This city was strongly fortified and
stoutly defended, 80 much so that Minus began
to despair OF reducing It, when the wife
Of one Of his officers advised him how to attack
its ctidels 80 as to capture them, and by this the
city. This woman was the afterward celebrated
Semirams. Minus made use of her advice, and the
city fel into his hands with but little loss to him.
able capacity to aid him in his ambitious designs at
once conceived for Semramis the most violent pas.
sion. Her husband, upon learning this, killed him,
her, he not long after died--some assert by her
connivance-and left the kingdom to her.
il was Semrams who undertook the building OF
the mighty Babylon, in which work she employed
two million men. DR.. Pi1daauX tells us the walls
around S Babylon were ere three hundred ana ity feet
six hundred and seventysix squares two and quar-
ter @ mile, In circumference: HIS description Of the
canals, palaces neutrality-suspicious. and temple OF Belus
presents picture Of grandeur and mag
also says even in his time there were many
monuments Of grandeur still standing bearing the
name OF semlrams. THIS beautiful and extraor-
troll over oil she came in contact with. Her simple
presence was sufficient to quel any tumult or mutt
nous proceeding. Not satisfied with the immense
possessions left her by Minus she conquered Ethio
pia apd the larger part Of Africa. Not yet content,
against which She set out with 5000 foot 100000
horse and multitude of camels, with which she
thought to make head against the Indian elephants.
After she had successfully crossed the river Indus
the Indian King fell upon her army with his elc.
plants with such fury that 1t was utterly routed.
the conquest Of India. Having reigned forty-two
years she resigned the throne to Ninyas, her son. son
whom she discovered was plotting against her lile,
befEle he would: She retired srom the sight forever
ofmen hoping speedily to have divine honors granted
her name, which was also prophesied ior her py the
OF these vast armies, which predicate still more
vast population, ROllin remarkS-"1 must own fin
somewhat puzzled with difficulty which may be
raised against the extraordinary things related OF
Minus and Semiramis as they do not seem to agree
with the times near the deluge; mean such vast
armies; such numerous cavalry; SO many chariots
armed with scythes; such immense treasures OF sil.
YER and gold, and the magnifcence 0 The buildings.
The temple Of Belus alone contained more than
twenty millions pounds sterling boarded treasure"
Rollins argues that the Greek historians, rom whom
he compiled must have fallen into some grave
errors, since that sach things should have occurred
30 soon after the delugc presupp0se5 what must
have been beyond the range Of possibility.
The Assyran empire having attained the zenith OF
power and magnincence under Semiramis began to
sink into agradual decay, the kings themselves se
ting the example OF indoence and dissipation. This
process OF decay continued until the ro of Sarda
napaus. about zoo years d. G. He surpassed all his
predecessors in efiieminacy, cowardce and licen-
tious luxury and abandoned himself completely 10
pleasure, wine and women; even dressing and pant
ing HIS cheeks the women dld. IL seems sti ange
that people 80 used TO glory and conquest should
not have sooner reyolted against such debalchery
and dissOluteness. This was LETT for Arbace5 TO
do; he obtained entrance to the Kings palace,
and with his own eyes witnessed the truth OF
the reports about the King Arbaces at once began
| to ince rebellion; by his reports he gained over
The governors o several provinces, VINO raised an
| army and marched against the King, whom they
| succeeded In shutting up in the city OF Nineveh.
| The King considered Nineyeh mpregnaole, but the
river TIgris suddenly rose to great height anu
broke down some pottons or the walls OF the city,
which admitted the troops of the rcbellious COVER
| nols Sardanapnlns then proceeded to burn him.
SELF, his women and treasure which latter; accord
J ins to AtheIeus, amounted to - thousand myfaas