_ of the Assyrian Monarchy. 323 
more minute examination than can be be- 
stowed upon them here, and for which there- 
fore I refer to the notes, 
Perbaps some may be inclined to think the 
historical reality of the existence of Ninus, 
Semiramis, &c. proved by the tombs and mo- 
numents belonging to them. With respect 
to the first it may be observed, that nothing 
was easier than to attach the name of Ninus 
or Sardanapallus to a mound of earth and 
call it histomb; that as mounds in different 
places had this honour attributed to them, 
some of them must and therefore all of them 
may have been falsely fixed upon; that the 
Egyptians gave the name of the tomb of Osiris 
to mounds, though it is certain that Osiris was 
no historical personage. Asto the public works 
attributed to Semiramis, nothing can be more 
uncertain than the traditions which fix the 
authors of monuments of such high antiquity. 
If we were as credulous respecting the re- 
mains of our own country as respecting those 
which are mentioned in ancient history, the 
obscurity whieh hangs over the origin of 
Stonehenge might easily be dissipated. As 
criticism has grown more enlightened, popu- 
lar traditions on this subject haye been dis- 
carded, and we are content to acknowledge 
owrselyes ignorant by what hands it was 
