while she was drawing; and as, when at home, she never did any thing else, her mother found it necessary to provide herself with listeners among her friends and acquaintance, and fortunately this was by no means difficult, for Mrs. Stapleford took such incessant pains to obtain the very earliest information of every thing that was going on in Rome, from the Vatican to the diligence office, that a great many people, both ladies and gentlemen, liked to begin the day by listening to her, and it was doubtless owing to this luxurious plenitude of morning visiters that Mrs. Stapleford had by degrees grown a little, though not very fastidious; and being so, she felt that the vast mass of information she had to bestow, the invaluable catalogue raisonné of dresses, the unquestionable information she ever possessed of all the most important acts of legislation proceeding from the Propaganda, and the little hints of heavy scandals which she sprinkled as she went, like Cayenne pepper giving flavour and animation to a rich ragoût, altogether rendered her discourse worthy of more distinguished ears than those of Mrs. Roberts. But on this point the steadfast will of her daughter Barbara silenced all opposition. The life of this decidedly clever young lady was chiefly spent in studying the features, expression, and attitudes of all her acquaintance, in sketching admirable caricature portraits of them, and for ever keeping awake the curiosity of the Roman world, by the most capricious showing and hiding that ever lady artist indulged in; which is saying a good deal both for the courage and the reserve of her exhibitions.

All who were at that time included in the motley mass which constituted the Anglo-Roman beau monde, became in succession the subjects of her often cruel, but always clever pencil; but though scarcely a single individual was entirely overlooked, the lady had her favourites, and there were some subjects to which she returned again and again, with ever increasing pleasure, and ever improving fidelity. The manner in which Mrs. Roberts inhaled, and sucked in, as it were, all her mother's long stories had in it a sort of charm for her of which she never seemed to weary, and it was for this reason that she was never greeted with a non receve," unless some still greater favourite, or some very particularly precious group chanced to be in possession of the Stapleford boudoir.

66

Mrs. Roberts was assuredly very far from guessing the cause of this preference, but its value to her was enormous, a fact which may easily be made evident by giving a specimen of the conversation enjoyed by her during the visit of a single morning. The preceding evening, or rather night, had been passed by all the world at a ball given by one of the few Roman princes who still retain their state and revenues unimpaired. had been crowded and magnificent, and kept up to so late an hour as to have been considered as altogether the most delightful fete that had as yet been given that year.

It

"Yes, ma'am, it was quite perfect," said Mrs. Stapleford, in reply to a speech of Mrs. Roberts, expressive of her admiration. "Nobody knows how to do these things like the Orinis. But yet it is a pity too, ma'am, isn't it, to see such abominable goings on as we witnessed last night! Did you ever see any thing like it in your life ?"

Miss Barbara gave one glance at the features of the visiter as this question was asked, and her pencil moved with the quick, sure, eager vivacity of inspiration.

"Dear me !” replied Mrs. Roberts, literally trembling with eagerness, "I was so taken up with my daughters, and being introduced to all the gentlemen that wanted to dance with them, that I really do not believe I saw what you allude to, and I should be greatly obliged if you would have the great kindness to tell me about it. It will be quite charity, you know my dear Mrs. Stapleford, for it is such a great disadvantage for the mother of a family not to know a little what is going on."

"You are quite right there, ma'am," returned Mrs. Stapleford, "I don't know any thing more dangerous than going about everywhere as you do, and taking girls too, without knowing, as you say, what's going on. I am sure I would not refuse the worst enemy I have, if he asked the same thing of me.'

"

"Indeed, Mrs. Stapleford, you are very, very kind," returned Mrs. Roberts, her countenance glowing with affectionate gratitude, "I do assure you that you will be doing me a great deal of real service, for it is quite dangerous not to know who one ought to speak to, and who one ought

not.

"Oh, as to speaking and not speaking, that is rather an old-fashioned notion, ma'am. However that doesn't signify. What I was alluding to was the spick and span new flirtation which the Princess Bornorino is getting up with that poor silly boy, Belvolto."

"With who, ma'am?" said Mrs. Roberts, staring.

"The Duke de Belvolto," returned Mrs. Stapleford, taking a large pinch of snuff.

It was a good while since Mrs. Roberts had felt herself more completely aware of her own rapid elevation than at that moment. It was delightful to hear a person with whom she was so very intimate call a duke a "poor silly boy." But she felt that she owed it to herself, and to her station in society, to take the same tone, and she exclaimed with a sigh, "Poor fellow!"

Poor fellow indeed! I have no patience with him," returned her friend. "There was the poor dear Princess Marianne looking as white as a sheet."

"Was she indeed ?" returned Mrs. Roberts, not choosing to confess her total ignorance as to the person meant; the only Princess Marianne she had ever heard of being the wife of an accomplished gentleman, who appeared greatly devoted to her.

"I don't know where your eyes could have been, ma'am, if you did not see that," returned Mrs. Stapleford. "I saw two ladies offer her their smelling bottles, and her dear kind husband, who really is the best creature in the world, brought her a chair, took her fan out of her hand and fanned her, standing carefully all the time, dear good soul, so as to prevent her seeing Belvolto and the Bornorino. I am sure I don't wonder at the Countess Sophia's doating upon that man as she does, he really deserves it. So full of feeling and delicacy!"

Poor Mrs. Roberts! Never had she felt herself so deplorably behindhand, and had a society for the propagation of useful knowledge been established at Rome, and her opinion asked as to who should be made president, she would have vociferated the name of Mrs. Stapleford with the whole strength of her lungs.

Deeply thankful, however, as she felt for the sort of special providence

which seemed to have thrown her into the society of this highly-informed individual, she was greatly at a loss how best to profit by it. The argument about proving herself unknown, though perhaps not so familiarly known to her as a poetical saw as it may be to some others, was nevertheless impressed upon her mind as cogent, by the unassisted force of her own sagacity, and she by no means liked to place herself in the category of the excluded ignorant, and who know not that which was of salon notoriety to all admitted within the magic circle of "the society of Rome." Ten thousand times rather would she have been suspected of not knowing whether the sun went round the earth, or the earth round the sun, than be supposed more ignorant than other people concerning the intrigues going on around her.

Was she then to remain ignorant in order to avoid appearing so? Oh no! for her dear children's sake she would risk every thing rather than suffer them again to enter a ball-room without understanding better than they did at present, dear creatures, what was the real meaning of the most interesting occurrence they were likely to witness there. But though resolutely determined to learn all she could, let it cost what it might from the humiliating confession of ignorance, she exerted all her skill to avoid exposure as much as possible.

"How much more interesting society must be to you, my dear Mrs. Stapleford," she said, "than to those who have not known the individuals who compose it so long as you have done!"

"Long?" returned Mrs. Stapleford. "Bless you, ma'am, I have not known the most amusing part of them long. Most of the people here come and go like the figures in a magic lantern. But of course one can't live intimately among them at all without finding out what they are about. The Princess Bornorino, for instance, who made herself so abominably conspicuous last night with the Belvolto, has not been here for above two months this year, and it is four years ago since her last visit, and then she almost shut herself up excepting just for the best balls, in order to enjoy the society of Count Romofkin; and she would have seen little enough of him if she had not, poor thing, for Romofkin spent his life in smoking."

"She seems to have managed very well, however, with all these little affairs (Mrs. Roberts had already learned to speak with moderation and discretion on all such subjects) for we meet her everywhere."

"Meet her everywhere? To be sure you do," returned Mrs. Stapleford, staring at her with a look of great astonishment.

"And always in the very best set," added Mrs. Roberts, gaily. "Always in the best set! Good gracious, to be sure you do," rejoined Mrs. Stapleford, "what do you mean, ma'am ?”

"Oh! merely, you know, that all the very best people seem always more intimate with the Princess Bornorino than with almost any one else, and that shows, does it not, that nobody thinks the worse of her for having so many lovers ?"

"Think the worse of her! Oh dear!" and here Mrs. Stapleford laughed a funny little laugh and took a very large pinch of snuff.

Mrs. Roberts was greatly vexed. She saw at once that she did not stand high in the estimation of her companion, as a woman of fashionbut she boldly resolved not to desert herself at this trying moment, and

said with a very respectable degree of ease, "I was only alluding to what you said about her conduct being abominable last night."

"And so it was abominable, ma'am. You don't suppose I mean to defend her for having turned off at a moment's warning the Duke di Torno, whom every one allows to be one of the most admirable people in Rome, in order to turn the head of the Belvolto, who is devoted, as every body knows, to the Princess Marianne Contorina? Besides, the whole thing was done is so abominable a manner, without the slightest consideration for Marianne, or a shadow of proper feeling towards Di Torno. It is quite too bad. I am excessively angry with her, and so I shall tell her, you may depend upon it. She bears every thing from me, but as to your fancying, my poor dear lady, that people are to leave off speaking to her, that's quite a mistake, and won't do at all, I assure you. But it is very likely, I think, that you don't exactly understand how completely the Bornorino is the fashion. You have a great loss, ma'am, in not being acquainted with her."

"I am sure, my dear Mrs. Stapleford, it is not my fault," replied Mrs. Roberts. "There is nothing in the whole world I should like so much as being introduced to her; and my daughters, too, would be delighted to cultivate her acquaintance."

"Well, ma'am," returned the obliging Mrs. Stapleford, "I shall have no objection to introduce, if I should happen to have an opportunity. She is going to give a fancy ball during the carnival, and I dare say would like to have your girls very well."

she

"A thousand and a thousand thanks, my dearest Mrs. Stapleford," returned the happy mother in an ecstacy of gratitude. "You may depend upon it we shall make an opportunity. But here comes a whole party of ladies-I really must make way for them-good bye, good bye don't get up, pray! I dare not say good bye to Miss Barbara, for fear of interrupting her. What a wonderful clever creature she is, Mrs. Stapleford! How I do wish she would let me see her drawing some day!" "I will show you one now if you like it," said Miss Stapleford, turning towards her the paper on which she had been occupied.

per

"Dear me! how like your mamma that is! But who is the other son? A fancy figure, I suppose. What very long ears you have given her, my dear. There is some fun about it, I dare say, but I never saw any body like it, so I can't find it out."

Mrs. Roberts then took her leave, and walked home again to her lodgings, where she impatiently awaited the return of her daughters, neither of them being at home, her whole soul so full of all she had heard, as well as of the promised introduction, that it was exceedingly painful to her to be obliged to sit down and sew in silence.

THE RIVERS AND CITIES OF BABYLONIA.

BY W. FRANCIS AINSWORTH, ESQ.

PART II.

Prison of Nebuchadnezzar-Birs Nimrud, or Borsippa-Persians in Babylonia-Sitace and Opis-Alexander the Great in Babylonia-Seleucia and Ctesiphon-Vologesias-Kingdom of Hira-The Arabs in Babylonia-The Tombs of Ali and of Husain - Rise of Baghdad—Akbara and Sir-man-rah -Canal of Nil-Kasr ibn Hubairah-Canal and City of Kufah-The Pallacopas-Tabular View of the Rivers and Cities of Babylonia-Tower of

Babel.

WITH respect to Babel, the site of which is preserved both by oriental history and tradition, I have only to remark here, that the arguments which I first advanced, as to the great mound called Mujalibah, being adjectively derived from Mujalib, plural of Jalib, "a slave," and not as hitherto read, Mukallib, "the overturned," and being hence expressive of the "home of the captives," a view which was further supported by the tradition attached to the place of the rebellious captives, I have since found to be corroborated by a passage in D'Anville, who obtained from the manuscripts of a bare-footed Carmelite, the Father Emmanuel of St. Albert, visiter of the missions of his order (the begging friars), in the Levant, and who died bishop in partibus; a statement to the effect that the Jews established in Babylonia, still designate the ruins in question as the prison of Nebuchadnezzar," upon which D'Anville remarks, he ought rather to have said "the palace;" but all the names and traditions of the place appear to coincide in the same view of the subject, and from this great edifice it is not improbable that Daniel may have expounded the mysterious warnings of the Most High; and upon the same mound, Shadrach, Mesach, and Abednego may have experienced the signal protection of that Almighty power, whom they feared and obeyed.

We learn from Josephus, that Nabonedus or Labynetus, flying from Cyrus after the conquest of Babylon, shut himself up in the town of Borsippa, where he was afterwards besieged by the Persian monarch. This so called Borsippa was a town of much celebrity in early times. The name appears in the lexicon of the Talmud as Beresith, and in the Sidra Rablia of the Chaldeans, as Bursif; and Berosus calls it Borsiph, from whence Strabo and Stephanus got their Borsippa, and Ptolemy his Barsita. The Amasiyan geographer describes it as being fifteen miles from Babylon, and inhabited by Borsippean, in contradistinction to Orchenian Chaldeans. It also contained a temple to Apollo and Diana, that is to say, the sun and moon.

A number of Chaldean priests and artificers had taken up their abode at this place. It became celebrated for its learning and manufactures, and the produce of the Birsean looms was familiar to antiquity. Alexander the Great had the curiosity to visit this site, from, D'Anville remarks, the desire he always manifested of discoursing with the philosophers of those countries which he visited. Justin, to whom we are indebted for this fact, calls it Byrsia. This name appears gradually to have been corrupted to Birs. The Kamus notices Birs as a town or district