| 734 of workmanship, the elegance of the cutting of some of the hardest stone, the ingenuity and solidity of the gigantic work, all in stone; the elegant articles of gold and silver, and the curiously wrought stones found in the mounds, all satisfy him that that territory was occupied by an enlightened nation, which declined in the same manner as others more modern, as Babylon, Balbec, and the cities of Syria; and this, he says, is evidently the work of people from the old world, as the Indians have no instruments of iron to work with."
DISINTERMENT OF NINEVEH.
Our exchanges contain notices of letters received in Paris, from Constantinople, dated July. The letters contain interesting information relative to M. Botta's recent discoveries at Khorsahad [Khorsohad], near Nineveh; Eugene Flandin, an artist, has been sent out by the French government for the purpose of making drawings of the excavations which are actively going on. Botta has discovered two doors uniformly adorned with bas relief; on one side is represented a colossal bull, with a human head, and on the other a human figure with an eagle's head and wings. These doors are fifteen feet in height, and they open into a hall 120 feet long. The only wall which is yet cleared from rubbish, that on the South side, is covered with a series of bas reliefs, representing battles, explained by inscriptions. The hill on which this building stands is surrounded by a stone wall, with bastions. Botta is actively exploring these ruins; he has fifty laborers at work, and it is hoped that in the space of ten months he will lay open the whole. He has ascertained that there is, on the direct road from Nineveh to Khorsohad, a chain of hills covered with brick and marble bearing inscriptions. He infers that these hills were formerly the bases of palaces, and that Khorsohad was a fortress situated at one end of the city. The quadrangular space, which is surrounded by the wall, and which contains the hill of Jonah, has hitherto been supposed to include the whole extent of the city of Nineveh. But M. Botta considers it more probable that this space was only the great court of the place, whilst the city extended as far as the hill of Khorsohad, a distance of five caravan stages. This conjecture accords with the possibility of the prophet Jonah having wandered for three days about the city, which would be incomprehensible if the limited space of the quadrangle on the Tigris be supposed to have been the whole extent of the city.-Bulletin.
Nauvoo, Nov. 23, 1844,
Resolved, by the High Council that Amos B. Tomlinson, Ebenezer Robinson and wife, be cut off from the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, for apostacy [apostasy]; and notice of the same published in the Times and Seasons.
C. C. PENDLETON, Clerk.
Nauvoo, Nov. 3, 1844.
The hand of christian fellowship was this day withdrawn from Dr. Josiah Ells, until he shall reform in principles of faith; and notice thereof to be given in the Times and Seasons. Done by action of the High Council.
C. C. PENDLETON, Clerk.
APOSTROPHE TO GOLD.
God of the craven heart! Idol of millions, how splendid are thy temples, how zealous are thy worshippers! They gather around thy smile in the morning, they leave not thy devotions at midnight! Thou smilest upon them and they grow mad in the midst of their palaces. They make themselves monarchs in fancy and conquerors in dreams. Who can withstand thee? Thou leadest the feet of beauty, thou directest the arm of the brave! Thy pathway is the pathway of triumphs, thy presence the solace of power! Thou silenced the voice of eloquence when the Macedonian held thee up glittering before the eye of the orator; and the mistress of the world rose before thee in the balance! Disposer of empires! thou spreadest over the world. Thy spell nerved the assassin, and urged on the betrayer. Thy yellow visage incited the spoiler when he sought thee on the crimson field, and made himself red in the carnage. In all ages thou hast triumphed. Whether in the thirty pieces rewarding a Judas, or the sparkling crown on the brow of a tyrant; always alike invincible. The man of business bows obsequiously to thee. The man of fashion falls before thee, and the miser clutches thy garment as though it were the curtains of heaven! Thou hast a retinue of coaches, and an army of slaves! Thou hast a goal of a splendid misery, where the guilt makes her alliance with death! The virgin at the sanctuary fears not thy footsteps, and the shorn priest flies not the power of thy magic.-Ossian.
A miser who heaps treasure which he never means to spend, is as idly employed as one who lays his purse before a looking glass, and sits all day contemplating the useless duplicate of his wealth.
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