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lance fo conftructed, that both the brachia with their scales fhall equiponderate, but that the length of the one arm fhall be to that of the other as 10 to 9. In this cafe, a weight of 9 lb. put into the longeft arm, will counterpoife one of 10 lb. put into the fhorter one; but the cheat is immediately difcovered by fhifting the weight from one fcale to the other: in which cafe, the balance will no longer remain in equilibrio.

(5.) BALANCE, HYDROSTATIC, an inftrument contrived to determine accurately the specific gravity of both folid and fluid bodies. It is constructed in various forms. We fhall defcribe that which appears to be the most accurate.-V C G, Fig. 4. is the ftand or pillar of this hydroftatic balance, which is to be fixed in a table. From the top A, hangs, by two filk ftrings, the horizontal bar B B, from which it is fufpended by a ring i, the fine beam of a balance b; which is prevented from defcending too low on either fide by the gently fpringing piece t x y z, fixed on the fupport M. The harness is annulated at o, to fhow diftinctly the perpendicular pofition of the examen, by the fmall pointed index fixed above it. The strings by which the balance is fufpended, paffing over two pullies, one on each fide the piece at A, go down to the bottom on the other fide, and are hung over the hook at v; which hook, by means of a fcrew P, is moveable about one inch and a quarter backward and forward, and therefore the balance may be raised or depressed fo much. But if a greater elevation or depreffion be required, the fliding piece S, which carries the fcrew P, is readily moved to any part of the fquare brafs rod V K, and fixed by means of a fcrew. The motion of the balance being thus adjusted, the reft of the apparatus is as follows. HH is a small board, fixed upon the piece D, under the scales d and e, and is moveable up and down in a low flit in the pillar above C, and faftened at any part by a screw behind. From the point in the middle of the bottom of each fcale hangs, by a fine hook, a brafs wire a d and a c. Thefe pafs through two holes m m in the table. To the wire a d is fufpended a curious cylindric wire, rs, perforated at each end for that purpofe: this wire r s is covered with paper, graduated by equal divifions, and is above five inches long. In the corner of the board at E, is fixed a brafs tube, on which a round wire his fo adapt ed as to move neither too tight nor too free, by its flat head I. Upon the lower part of this moves another tube Q, which has fufficient, friction to make it remain in any polition required: to this is fixed an index T, moving horizontally when the wire is turned about, and therefore may be eafily fet to the graduated wire rs. To the lower end of the wirers hangs a weight L; and to that a wire pn, with a small brafs ball g about one fourth of an inch in diameter. On the other fide, to the wire a c, hangs a large fs bubble R, by a horfe-hair. Let us firft fuppofe the weight L taken away, and the wire pn fuipended from S: and, on the other fide, let the bubble R be taken away, and the weight F fufpended at e, in its room. This weight F we fuppofe to be fufficient to keep the feveral parts hangin. to the other feale in equilibrium; at the fame time that

the middle point of the wire pn is at the furface of the water in the vessel N. The wire pn is to be of fuch a fize, that the length of one inch shall weigh four grains. Now it is evident, fince brass is 8 times heavier than water, that for every inch the wire finks in the water it will become half a grain lighter, and half a grain heavier for every inch it rifes out of the water: confequently, by finking two inches below the middle point, or rifing two inches above it, the wire will become one grain lighter or heavier. Therefore, if, when the middle point is at the furface of the water in equilibrium, the index T be fet to the middle point a of the graduated wire r s, and the distance on each fide a r and as contains 100 equal parts; then, if in weighing bodies the weight is required to the rooth part of a grain, it may be easily had by proceeding in the following manner-Let the body to be weighed be placed in the fcale d. Put the weight X in the fcale e; and let this be fo determined, that one grain more fhall be too much, and one grain lefs too little. Then the balance being moved gently up or down, by the fcrew P, till the equilibrium be nicely fhown at a; if the index T be at the middle point a of the wire rs, it fhows that the weight put into the scale e are just equal to the weight of the body. By this method we find the abfolute weight of the body: the relative weight is found by weighing it hydroftatically in water, as follows-Inftead of putting the body into the scale e, as before, let it hang with the weight F, at the hook e, by a horfe hair, as at R, fuppofing the veffel

of water were away. The equilibrium being then made, the index T ftanding between a and r, at the 36 divifion, thows the weight of the body put in to be 1095,36 grains. As it thus hangs, let it be immerfed in the water of the reffel O, and it will become much lighter: the scale e will defcend till the beam of the balance reft on the fupport z. Then fuppofe 100 grains put into the fcale d reftore the equilibrium precifely, fo that the index T ftand at the 36 divifion above a; it is evident that the weight of an equal bulk of water would, in this case, be exactly 100 grains. In a fimilar manner this balance may be applied to find the specific gravity of liquids, as is eafy to conceive from what has been faid.

(6.) BALANCE, MODERN, or COMMON, DOW generally used, confifts of a lever or beam fufpended exactly in the middle, having scales or bafons hung to each extremity. The lever is called the jugum or beam; and the two moietics thereof on each fide the axis, the brachia or arms. The line on which the beam turns, or which divides its brachia, is called the axis; and when confidered with regard to the length of the brachia, is efteemed a point only, and called the centre of the ba lance: the handle whereby it is held, or by which the whole apparatus is fuípended, is called trutina; and the flender part perpendicular to the beam, whereby either the equilibrium or preponderacy of bodies is indicated, is called the tongue of the balance. Thus in fig. 5. a b is the beam, divided into two equal brachia or arms by the white spot in the centre, which is the axis or centre of the balance, and c is the tongue. The tritina, on which the axis is fufpended, is not re

prefented

prefented in this figure, in order to render the other parts more confpicuous.

(7.) BALANCE, MODERN AND ROMAN ILLUSTRATED. It follows, from what has been obferved, 2 & 6, that in the Roman balance, (N° 2.) the weight used for a counterpoife is the fame, but the point of application varies; in the common balance the counterpoife is various, and the point of application the fame. The principle on which each is founded, may be very easily understood from the following obfervations, and the general properties of the lever. See LEVER. The beam AB, plate XXXV. fig. 2. is a lever of the first kind; but inftead of refting on a fulcrum, is fufpended by fomething faftened to its center of motion: confequently the mechanism of the balance depends on the fame theorems as the lever. Hence as the quantity of matter in known weight is to its diftance from the center of motion, fo is the diftance of the unknown weight to its quantity of matter. Hence the nature and ufe of the fteelyard is eafily known. Let AB, fig. 2, reprefent an inftrument of this kind; a, the trutina or han dle on which the beam turns; k, a ring on which the balance may be fufpended on a nail or hook; f, the hook on which the body to be weighed is bung; e, a collar or guard by which the hook f is fastened to the beam; g, a moveable collar; b, a fwivel; i, the counterpoife. If the body to be weighed is fastened to the hook f, and the whole fufpended by the ring k, the divifion on which the counterpoife is placed to maintain an equilibrium in the balance, will fhow the weight of the body required; provided the weight of the counterpoile i be known, and the large divifions 1, 2, 3, &c. be equal to the distance between the center of the balance and the fcrew which faftens the guard to the shorter arm of the balance. It will alfo be neceffary that the steel-yard itfelf, with its whole apparatus, exclufive of the counterpoife, be in equilibrio, when fufpended on the ring k. If the body to be weighed be heavier than the divifions on the longer arm will indicate, the balance is turned the lower fide upwards, and fufpended on the other ring b; by which means the divifions become shorter, because the distance between the trutina d, and the fcrew on which the guard c moves is lefs: the divifions in the figure on this fide extending to 17, whereas they extend only to 6 on the other. The fame precaution, with regard to the center of gravity when the balance is fufpended, is alfo neceffary when this fide of the balance is ufed. In the common scales the two brachia or arms of the balance, ef, e g, fig. 6, are equal to each other, and therefore weights placed in the scales d, d, will be in equilibrio when the balance is fufpended on its center e; as in the figure, when the ring at the extremity of the trut na is hung on the tapering rod a b, fixed in the foot or bafis c.

(8.) BALANCE, in ichthyology, or the BALANCE FISH. See SQUALUS.

(9.) BALANCE, in fee language. See BALANCING. (10.) BALANCE, in the woollen manufacture, a machine invented by Mr Ludlem. The thread is made into fkains of the fame length; and the fineness of it is denominated from the number of kains which go to a pound; the coarfest being VOL. III. PART I.

about twelve to the pound, and the finest near fixty. This machine is defigned for weighing fkains, in order to determine their respective fine nefs. It refembles the beam of a common pair of fcales; at one end of it is fixed a weight, called the counterpoife, and at the other end a hook; in forting, the fkain to be examined is put upon the hook, and finks down more or lefs, according to its weight, till the counterpoife, by rifing, balances it: and then the index or cock of the beam, points out on a gradual arch the number of skains of that fort which goes to the pound.

(11) BALANCE OF A CLOCK, or WATCH, is that part which regulates the beats. See CLOCK

MAKING.

(12.) BALANCE OF POWER, in the political fyftem, originates from, and is maintained by the alliances of different nations, as their circumftances and intereft may require The prefervation of the balance of power implies the maintaining of fuch a degree of equality among the powers of Europe, in general, as may prevent any enormous accumulation of power, or any attempt at univerfal monarchy, on the part of any one of them. To preferve this balance, much blood has been fhed, and money spent, fince the revolution of 1668; but the revolution of France, and the overturnings and changes which have fucceeded on the continent, hitherto iffuing in the aggrandizement of the French power, have effectually deftroyed all the principles upon which any calculation of that balance were made.

(13.) BALANCE OF TRADE. That which is commonly meant by the balance of trade, is the equal importing of foreign commodities with the exporting of the native. And it is reckoned that nation has the advantage of the balance of trade, which exports more of the native commodities, and imports lefs of the foreign. The reafon of this is, that, if the native commodities be of a greater value than are imported, the balance of that account must be made up in bullion or money; and the nation grows fo much richer, as the balance of that account amounts to.

(1.) * *To BALANCE. v. a. [balancer, Fr. 1. To weigh in a balance, either real or figurative; to compare by the balance.-If men would but balance the good and the evil of things, they would not venture foul and body for dirty intereft. L'EArange. 2. To regulate the weight in a balance; to keep in a state of just proportion.

Heav'n that hath plac'd this island to give law, To balance Europe, and her states to awe.

Waller. 3. To counterpoife; to weigh equal to; to be equivalent; to counteract. The attraction of the glafs is balanced, and rendered ineffectual by the contrary attraction of the liquor. Neauton. 4. To regulate an account, by ftating it on both fides. -Judging is balancing an account, and determining on which fide the odds lic. Locke. 5. To pay that which is wanting to make two parts of an account equal.-Though I am very well fatisfied, that it is not in my power to balance accounts with my Maker, I am refolved, however, to turn all my attention that way. Addison.

(2.) To BALANCE. V. n. To hefitate; tofluctuate between equal motives, as a balance plays C C

when

when charged with equal weights.-Were the fatisfaction of luft, and the joys of heaven, offered to any one's prefent poffeffion, he would not balance, or err in the determination of his choice. Locke.

(1.) * BALANCER. n. f. [from balance.] The perfon that weighs any thing.

(2.) BALANCERS, in the natural history of infects, are two ftyles or fmall oblong bodics, ending in protuberances, and to poize the body placed under the wings of the two-winged flies, and, in fome measure, to fupply the office of the two other wings, which thofe of the four winged clafs are poffeffed of.

BALANCIER, a machine used in the striking of coins, medals, counters, and the like. See COINAGE.

BALANCING, among feamen, the contracting a fail into a narrower compafs, in a ftorm, by retrenching or folding up a part of it at one corner: this method is ufed in contradiftinction to reefing, which is common to all the principal fails; whereas balancing is peculiar to few, fuch as the mizen of a ship, and the main-fail of thofe veffels wherein it is extended by a boom. See BOOм and REEF. -The balance of the mizen is thus performed: the mizen yard is lowered a little, then a fmall portion of fail is rolled up at the peek or upper corner, and faftened to the yard about one-fifth inward from the outer end or yard-arm toward the maft. See MIZEN.-A boom main-fail is balanced, after all its reefs are taken in, by rolling up a fimilar portion of the hindmoft or aftmoft lower corner called the due, and fastening it ftrongly to the boom, having previoufly wrapped a piece of old canvas round the part (which is done in both cafes) to prevent the fail from being fretted by the cord which faftens it.

BALANECUSAIG, a village on the S. coaft of Kintyre, in Argyllshire. Lon. 5. 37. W. Lat. 55. 24. N.

BALANITES, in natural hiftory, a name given by the ancients to a stone, feeming to have been of the femipellucid gems. They defcribe two species of it; the one yellow, and the other green, but each having veins of a flame colour. Their defcriptions are too short for us to afcertain what stone, among those known at this time, they meant. Some fuppofe it to have been the lapis Judaicus, on account of its acorn-like figure and fize.

(1.) BALANUS, Bakavos, in anatomy, is ufed for the glans penis, and fometimes for the clitoris. (2.) BLANUS, in medicine, a fuppofitory. (3) BALANUS, in zoology, the trivial name of a fpecies of lepas. See LEPAS.

(4.) BALANUS MYREPSICA, in the materia me dica, the oily acorn. The whole nut is of a purging quality; and the dry pretting or powder, after the oil is taken out, is of a cleanfing and drying nature.

BALARUC, a fmall town of France, in the cidevant province of Languedoc, near the great road from Montpelier, in the department of Herault, and Touloufe, in that of Upper Garonne. It is famous for its baths.

BALASORE, a fea port of Afia, on the NW. of the bay of Bengal, 4 miles from the fea by land,

but 20 by the windings of its river, which produces plenty of fish. The inhabitants make Ituffs of filk, cotton, and a particular species of grafs. It lies in a fertile country; 180 miles SW. of Hougheley. Lon. 87. 1. E. Lat. 21. 20. N.

(1.) BALASS, a small town of Fife, in the parish of Cupar.

(2.) *BALASS Ruby. n.f. [balas, Fr. supposed to be an Indian term.] A kind of ruby.-Balafs ruby is of a crimson colour, with a caft of purple, and feems beft to answer the defcription of the ancients. Woodward on Fofils.

BALATITI, in natural history, a name given by the people of the Philippine islands to a fpecies of birds, by the flight of which they divine the event of things.

BALAUSTIA, or

from Bewus, in phar(1.) BALAUSTINES, macy, the flowers of the wild pomegranate, which are very rough to the tongue and palate, and very aftringent; and on that account are frequently used in diarrhoeas, hernias, &c.

(2.) BALAUSTINES, in botany. See PUNICA. BALAYAN, a province of Manilla, belonging to the Spaniards.—It lies next to the city of Manilla, and extends along the coalt on the E. fide of the island, a little beyond the bay of Batangas. There were formerly gold mines in it, but they have been long fince abandoned. It is inhabited by about 2500 tributary Indians, and abounds in cotton, rice, and palm trees. The province is well cultivated; and the Spaniards, in general, have country houses in it.

BALBASTRO, an episcopal town of Spain, in Arragon, feated on the river Vero, 42 miles NE. of Saragoffa. Lon. o. 27. E. Lat. 44. 8. N.

(1.) BALBEC, or BAALBECK, a city of Afia in Syria, anciently called HELIOPOLIS, and by the Arabians the avonder of Syria. It is fituated at the foot of Anti-Lebanon, on the ground where the mountain terminates in the plain, 37 miles N. of Damafcus. Lon. 37. 22. E. Lat. 34. 22. N. In travelling to it from the S. it is feen only at the diftance of a league and a half, behind a hedge of walnut trees, over the verdant tops of which appears a white edging of domes and minarets. The city has a ruined wall flanked with fquare towers, which afcends the declivity to the right, and traces the precincts of the ancient city. This wal, which is only 10 or 12 feet high, permits a view of thofe void fpaces and heaps of ruins which are the invariable appendage of every Turkifh city; but what principally attracts attention is a large edifice on the left, which, by its lofty walls and rich columns, manifeftly appears to be one of thofe temples which antiquity has left for our admiration. These ruins, which are fome of the most beautiful and best preserved of any in Alia, merit a particular defeription. See § 2.

(2.) BALBEC, ANCIENT RUINS OF. To give a just idea of them, we muft fuppofe ourfelves de fcending from the interior of the town. After having croffed the rubbish and huts with which it is filled, we arrive at a vacant place which ap. pears to have been a fquare; there, in front, to wards the W. we perceive a grand ruin, which confifts of two pavilions ornamented with pilafters joined at their bottom angle by a wall 160 feet in

length

length. This front commands the open country from a terrace, on the edge of which we diftinguifh with difficulty the bafes of 12 columns, which formerly extended from one pavilion to the other and formed a portico. The principal gate is obftructed by heaps of ftones; but, that obftacle furmounted, we enter an empty space, which is an hexagonal court of 180 feet diameter. This court is ftrewed with broken columns, mutilated capitals, and the remains of pilafters, entablatures, and cornices; around it is a row of ruined edifices, which difplay all the ornaments of the richest architecture. At the end of this court, oppofite the W. is an outlet, which formerly was a gate, through which we perceive a ftill more extenfive range of ruins, whofe magnificence ftrongly excites curiofity. To have a full profpect of thefe, we must ascend a flope, up which were the steps to this gate; and we then arrive at the entrance of a fquare court, much more fpacious than the former, being 350 feet wide and 336 in length. The eye is first attracted by the end of this court, where fix enormous and majestic columns render the fcene aftonishingly grand and picturefque. Another object not lefs interesting is a fecond range of columns to the left, which appear to have been part of the periftyle of a temple; but before we pafs thither, we cannot refufe particular attention to the edifices which inclofe this court on each fide. They form a fort of gallery which contains various chambers, 7 of which may be reckoned in each of the principal wings, viz. two in a femicircle and 5 in an oblong fquare. The bottom of these apartments still retains pediments of niches and tabernacles, the fupporters of which are deftroyed. On the fide of the court they are open, and prefent only 4 and 6 columns totally deftroyed. The beauty of the pilafters, and the richness of the frize of the entablature are admirable. The fingular effect, which refults from the mixture of the garlands, the large foliage of the capitals, and the fculpture of wild plants with which they are every where ornamented, is peculiarly pleafing. In traverfing the length of the court, we find in the middle a little fquare efplanade, where was a pavilion, of which nothing remains but the foundation. On arriving at the foot of the fix columns, we perceive all the boldness of their elevation and the richness of their workmanship. Their fhafts are 21 feet 8 inches in circumference and 58 high; fo that the total height, including the entablature, is from 71 to 72 feet. The fight of this fuperb ruin, thus folitary and unaccompanied, at firft ftrikes us with aftonishment; but, on a more attentive examination, we difcover a series of foundations which mark an oblong square of 268 feet in length and 146 wide, and which, it seems probabie, was the periftyle of a grand temple, the primary purpose of this whole ftructure. It prefeated to the great court, on the E. a front of ten columns, with 19 on each fide, which with the other fix make in all 54. The ground on which it stood was an oblong fquare, on a level with this court, but narrower, fo that there was only a terrace of 27 feet wide round the colonade; the efplanade this produces fronts the open Country toward the W. by a floping wall of a

bout 30 feet. This defcent, near the city, becomes lefs fteep, fo that the foundation of the pa vilion is on a level with the termination of the hill; whence it is evident that the whole ground of the courts has been artificially raised. Such was the former ftate of this edifice; but the fouthern fide of the grand temple was afterwards blocked up to build a smaller one, the peristyle and walls of which are ftill remaining. This temple, fituated fomewhat lower than the other, prefents a fide of 13 columns by 8 in front (in all 34,) which are likewife of the Corinthian order; their fhafts are 15 feet 8 inches in circumference, and 44 in height. The building they furround is an oblong fquare, the front of which, turned towards the E. is out of the line of the left wing of the great court. To reach it we muft cross trunks of columns, heaps of ftone, and a ruinous wall by which it is now hid. After furmounting thefe obftacles we arrive at the gate, where we may furvey the inclosure which was once the habitation of a god; but instead of the folemn scene of a proftrate people, and facrifices offered by a multitude of priests, the fky, which is open from the falling in of the roof, only lets in light to fhow a chaos of ruins covered with duft and weeds. The walls, formerly enriched with all the ornaments of the Corinthian order, now prefent nothing but pediments of niches and tabernacles, of which almoft all the fupporters are fallen to the ground. Between thefe niches is a range of fluted pilafters, whofe capitals fupport a broken entablature; but what remains of it dif plays a rich frize of foliage refting on the heads of fatyrs, horfes, bulls, &c. Over this entablature was the ancient roof, which was 57 feet wide and 110 in length. The walls which fupported it are 31 feet high, and without a window. It is impoffible to form any idea of the ornaments of this roof, except from the fragments lying on the ground; but it could not have been richer than the gallery of the periftyle: the principal remaining parts contain tables in the form of lozenges, on which are reprefented Jupiter feated on his eagle; Leda carefied by the swan; Diana with her bow and crefcent; and feveral bufts which feem to be figures of emperors and empreffes. It would lead us too far to enter more minutely into the defcription of this aftonifhing edifice. The lovers of the arts will find it defcribed, with the greatest truth and accuracy, in a work publifhed at London in 1757, under the title of Ruins of Balbec. This work, compiled by Mr Robert Wood, the world owes to the attention and liberality of Mr Dawkins, who in 1751 vifited Balbec and Palmyra. But feveral changes, have taken place fince their journey: for example, they found 9 large columns fstanding, and in 1784 Mr Volney found but 6. They reckoned 29 at the leffer temple, but there now remain only 20; the others have been overthrown by the earthquake of 1759. It has likewife fo fhaken the walls of the leffer temple, that the ftone of the foffit, or crofs ftone at the top of the gate, has flid between the two adjoining ones, and defcended 8 inches; by which means the body of the bird, fculptured on that ftone, is fufpended detached from its wings, and two garlands, which hung

Cc2

from

from its beak and terminated in two genii. Na. ture alone has not effected this devaftation; the Turks have had their thare in the deftruction of the columns. Their motive is to procure the iron cramps, which ferve to join the feveral blocks of which each column is compofed. Thefe cramps anfwer fo well the end intended, that several of the columns are not even disjointed by their fall; one, among others, as Mr Wood obferves, has penetrated a stone of the temple wall without giving way; nothing can surpass the workmanship of thefe columns; they are joined without any cement, yet there is not room for the blade of a knife between their interftices. After fo many ages, they in general fill retain their original whitenefs. But what is ftill more aftonishing, is the enormous ftones which compofe the floping wall. To the W. the 2d layer is formed of ftones which are from 27 to 35 feet long, by about 9 in height. Over this layer, at the NW. angle, there are 3 ftones, which alone occupy a fpace of 175 feet; viz. the first 58 feet 7 inches; the fecond 58 feet 11, and the third exactly 8 feet; and each of these are 12 feet thick. Thefe ftones are of a white granite, with large fhining flakes like gyptum; there is a quarry of this kind of ftone under the whole city, and in the adjacent mountain, which is open in feveral places, and among others on the right as we approach the city. There is ftil lying there a ftone, hewn on three fides, which is 69 fect two inches long, 12 feet 10 inches broad, and 13 feet 3 in thickness.

Mahometans, as well as the Jews and the Chrif tians, attribute every great work to Solomon: not that the memory of him ftill remains by tra dition in thofe countries, but from certain paf fages in the Old Teftament; which, with the gofpel, is the fource of almost all their traditions, as thefe are the only historical books read or known; but as their expounders are very ignorant, their applications of what they are told, are generally very remote from truth: By an error of this kind, they pretend Balbec is the house of the foreft of Lebanon built by Solomon; nor do they approach nearer probability when they attribute to that king the wall of Tyre and the buildings of Palmyra. II. That the belief in hidden treasures has been confirmed by difcoveries which have been really made from time to time. It is not many years fince a fmall coffer was found at Hebron full of gold and filver medals, with an ancient Arabic book on medicine. In the country of the Druzens an individual difcovered likewife, fome time fince, a jar with gold coin in the form of a crefcent; but as the chiefs and governors claim a right to these difcoveries, and ruin those who have made them, under pretext of obliging them to make restora tion, thofe who find any thing endeavour carefully to conceal it; they fecretly melt the antique coins, nay, frequently bury them again in the fame place where they found them, from the fame fears which caufed their firft concealment, and which prove that the fame tyranny formerly exifled in these countries. When we confider the extra(3.) BALBEC, GENERAL REMARKS UPON. On ordinary magnificence of the temple of Balbec, reading the above description, (§ 2.) a reflection we cannot but be aftonifhed at the Greek and Ro naturally arifes, by what means could the ancients man authors. Mr Wood, who has carefully examove thefe enormous mailes? This is doubtlefs mined all the ancient writers, has found no men. a problem in mechanics curious to refolve. The tion of it except in a fragment of John of Antioch, inhabitants of Balbec have a very commodious who attributes the conftruction of this edifice to manner of explaining it, by fuppofing thefe edi- Antoninus Pius. The infcriptions which remain fices to have been conftructed by Djenoun, or ge- corroborate this opinion, which perfectly accounts nii, who obeyed the orders of King Solomon; for the conftant use of the Corinthian order, fince alding, that the motive of fuch immenfe works that order was not in general used before the 3d was to conceal in fubterraneous caverns vaft trea- age of Rome; but we ought by no means to alfures, which ill remain there. To difcover thefe, ledge as an additional proof the bird fculptured many have defcended into the vaults which range over the gate; for if his crooked beak, large claws, under the whole edifice; but the inutility of their and the caduceus he bears, give him the appearrefearches, added to the oppreffions and extor- ance of an eagle, the tuft of feathers on his head, tions of the governors, who have made their fup- like that of certain pigeons, proves that he is not pofed difcoveries a pretext, have at length d the Roman eagle; befides that the fame bird is heartened them; but they imagine the Europeans found in the temple of Palmyra; and is therefore would be more fuccefsful, nor would it be poli- evidently an Oriental eagle, confecrated to the ble to perfuade them that we are poffeffed of the fun, who was the divinity adored in both the magic art of destroying talifmans. It is in vain to temples. His worship exifted at Balbec, in the oppofe reafon to ignorance and prejudice; and moft remote antiquity. His ftatue, which re it would be no lefs ridiculous to attempt to prove fembled that of Ofiris, had been tranfported there to the... that Solomon never was acquainted with from the Heliopolis of Egypt, and the ceremonie: the Corinthian order, which was only in ufe un- with which he was worthipped there have beer der the Roman emperors. But their traditions defcribed by Macrobius, in his curious work in may fugget 3 important obfervations. I. That titled Saturnalia. Mr Wood fuppofes with rea ail tradition relative to high antiquity is as falfe, fon, that the name of Balbec, which in Syriac fig or at least uncertain, among the Orientals as the nifies City of Baal, or of the fun, originated i Europeans. With them, as with us, facts, when this worthip. The Greeks, by naming it Helispo not preferved in writing, are altered, mutilated, lis, have in this inftance only given a literal tran or forgotten. To expect information from them lation of the oriental word; a practice to which with refpect to events in the time of David or they have not always adhered. Alexander, would be as abfurd as to make inquirics of the Flemish peasants concerning Clovis cr Charlemagne. II. That throughout Syria, the

OF.

(4.) BALBEC, HISTORY AND PRESENT STATI We are ignorant of the ftate of this city i remote antiquity; but it is to be prefumed, tha

it

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