REMARKS ON THE ORIGIN 
OF THE 
BABYLONIAN, OR ARROW-HEADED 
CHARACTER, 
AND ITS 
RELATION TO OUR MODERN ALPHABET. 
By Mr. JAMES NASMYTH. 
Read 4th of February, 1840. 
Tue halo of deep and mysterious interest 
which envelopes the mouldering remains of the 
once mighty Babylon, causes us to look upon the 
merest fragment of its ruins with a feeling of 
veneration which is beyond the power of language 
to express. ‘To so remote a period in the history 
of man does it relate, that the position which it 
holds in history may justly be considered as the 
very last discernable link in the chain of exis- 
tences ; beyond which, all is involved in impene- 
trable darkness. 
This feeling has led to the removal to our 
museums, as objects of deep interest, such humble 
reliques as bricks, and fragments of pottery, 
