Altadas of Eusebius. Hence somebody has added in the dynasty of Africanus, as quoted in the canon of the above writer, 5 Σε ως [Αλταδας Ευσεβίῳ ;] that is, "the Altadas of Eusebius is the Seth of Afri canus." 58 Whoever would unravel the mysteries, with which the writings of the Grecians are obscured, must 'sometimes make use of their errors for a clue; and from their mistakes find out their meaning. If we take things in the gross, as they occur, we shall find ourselves greatly mistaken. The histories of antient date scem to have undergone the same fatality, as the cities, of which they treat. We see in both surprising memorials of antient achievements; but attended with vast chasms and interruptions, which it is very difficult to supply. The materials too have in many parts been mixed; and evidently bear marks of interpolation and change. They put one in mind of the walls of Athens, which were built out of the ruins of the city, when it had been sacked by the Persians: wherein were to be seen architraves, pillars, entablatures, fragments of every species of architecture, thrown together without order, or design; and lying in every direction, just as chance had allotted. The like confusion is to be 58 Eusebii Histor. Evvaywyn. pag. 356. observed amid the splendid ruins of antient history. It is the duty therefore of a good architect to reduce, if possible, the scattered fragments to order; to raise the inverted column, to adapt the capital to the shaft, and to place all on a proper basis. This, I confess, is beyond my abilities to compass; though, I hope, that I have contributed some small matter towards it; and may possibly make farther ad vances. THE END. Alexandrine Fleet, how privileged at Rome Alorus, Nimrod Al Orus, chief deity of the shepherd kings vi. 115 Apollo, whence his attributes were borrowed Apples of the Hesperides, meaning Ararat, the mountain of descent |