ASS 
Thefe rates are ten percent, lower titan the true values, 
according to the decrements of life in London, reckoning 
interefl at three per cent; but, at the feme time, it is to 
be obferved, that, for all ages under 50, they are nearly 
one-third higher than all tire true values, according to Dr. 
Halley’s tables of the decrements of life at Breflaw, and 
Dr. Price’s tables of the decrements of life at Northampton 
and Norwich. But as the fociety has lately found that the 
decrements of life among its members have hitherto been 
lower than even thofe given in thefe laft: tables, it may 
reafonably be expedted, that they will in time reduce 
their rates of affurance to their true values, as determined 
bv thefe tables. 
' As to the Weftminfter Society, and the Phoenix Affur- 
ance-oflice, both of which have been lately eftabliffied, 
from the number and relpeftability of the members, the 
equitable terms upon which they deal, and the known abi¬ 
lity and accuracy of the mathematicians and calculators 
employed in conducting them, there is every reafon to ex¬ 
pect an honourable and equitable treatment of the public, 
and a permanent continuance of their advantages. 
To ASSU'RE. v. a. [ ajfurer , Fr. from aJJ'ecurare, low 
Latin. 3 To give confidence by a firm promile.—So when 
he had ajfurcd them with many words that he would re- 
ftore them without hurt, according to the agreement, they 
let him go for the laving of their brethren. 2 Mac. Xii.— 
To fecure to another; to make firm.—So irreliltible an 
authority cannot be reflected on, without the moll awful 
reverence, even by thole whole piety ajfures its favour to 
them. Rogers. —To make confident; to exempt from doubt 
or fear; to confer fecurity.—-And hereby we know, that 
we are of the truth, and lha.ll ajfure our hearts before him. 
1 John, iii. 19.—To make fecure : with of. 
But what on earth can long abide in fiate ? 
Or who can him ajfure of happy day ? Spenfer. 
To affiance ; to betroth.—This diviner laid claim to me, 
called me Dromio, fwore I was ajured to her. Shahefpeare. 
ASSL'RED, part.adj. [from ajfure.] Certain; indu¬ 
bitable; not doubted.—It is an ajured experience, that 
flint laid about the bottom of a tree makes it profper. Bacon. 
—Certain; not doubting. Immodelt; vicioufly confident. 
ASSU'REDLY, adv. Certainly ; indubitably.—God is 
abfolutely good, and lo, ajuridly , the caufe of all that is 
good ; but of any thing that is evil, he is no caufe at 
ail. Raleigh. 
ASSUREDNESS,y. The Hate of being allured ; cer¬ 
tainty. 
ASSURER, f. He that gives affurance. He that gives 
fecurity to make good any lofs. 
AS'SUS, or As'sos, anciently a town of Troas (though 
by others fuppofed to be of Mylia), and the lame with 
Apollonia ; but different from the Apollonia on the river 
Rhyndacus. Ptolemy places it on the fea-coaft, but Strabo 
more inland ; if he does not mean the head of an inland 
bay, as appears from Diodorus Siculus. It was the coun¬ 
try of Cleanthes the ftoic philofopher, who fucceeded 
Zeno. St. Luke, and others of St. Paul’s companions, in 
his voyage^ (Ails xx. 13,14.) went by fea from Troas to 
Affos: but St. Paul went by land thither, and, meeting 
them at Affos, they all went together to Mytelene. It is 
ffiil called Affos. 
AS'SY, a town of France, in the department of the 
Oife, and chief place of a can-ton, in the diftridt of Crefpy, 
weight miles fouth of Crefpy. 
ASSYRIA, an ancient kingdom of Alia, concerning 
the extent, commencement, and duration, of which, hifto- 
rians differ greatly in their accounts. Several ancient 
writers, in particular Ctefias and Diodorus Siculus, have 
affirmed, that the Aflyrian monarchy, under Ninus and 
Semiratnis, comprehended the greater part of the known 
world. Had this been the cafe, it is not likely that Ho¬ 
mer and Herodotus would have omitted a fadt fo remark¬ 
able. The facred records intimate, that none of the an¬ 
cient Hates or kingdoms were of confiderabk extent} for 
ASS 295- 
neitherChederlaomerr norany of the neighbouring princes, 
were tributary or fnbjeift to Affyria ; and we find nothing 
of the greatnefs or power of this kingdom in the hiffory of 
the Judges and fucceeding kings of Ifrael, though the lat¬ 
ter kingdom was opprelfed and enflaved by many different 
powers in that period. It is highly probable, therefore, 
that Affyria was originally of fmall extent. According to 
Ptolemy, it was bounded on the north by Armenia Major, 
on the weft by the Tigris, on the fouth by Suliana, and 
on the eaft by Media. 
It is probable, that the origin and revolutions of the 
Aflyrian monarchy were as follows. The founder of it was 
Aftnir, the fecond fon of Shem, who went out of Shinar, 
either by the appointment of Nimrod, or to elude the fury 
of a tyrant; conducted a large body of adventurers into 
Affyria, and laid the foundation of Nineveh (Gen. x. 11.) 
Thefe events happened not long after Nimrod had efta- 
blifhed the Chaldsean monarchy, and fixed his relidence at 
Babylon. The Perfian hiftorians luppofe that the kings- 
of Perlia, of the firft dynafty, were the fame with the kings 
of Affyria, of whom Zohah, or Nimrod, was the founder 
of Babel. Herbelot Orient. Bib. v. Bagdad. It does not,, 
however, appear that Nimrod reigned in Affyria. The - 
kingdoms of Babylon and Affyria were originally diftindt 
and feparate; and in this ftate they remained until Ninus- 
conquered Babylon, and made it tributary to the Affyrian-- 
empire. Ninus the fuccefl’or of Aflier (Gen. x. n. Diod, 
Sic. lib. 1.) feized on Chaldaea, after the death of Nimrod,, 
and united the kingdoms of Affyria and Babylon. This- 
great prince is faid to have fubdued Afia, Perlia, Media,. 
Egypt, &c. If he did fo, the effects of his conquefts were- 
of no duration ; for, in the days of Abraham, we do not 
find that any of the neighbouring nations were fubject to- 
Affyria. He was fucceeded by Semiramis, a princefs of 
an heroic mind, bold, enterprifing, and fortunate; but of 
whom many fabulous things have been recorded. It ap¬ 
pears, however, that there were two princeffes of the fame 
name, who flouriflied at very different periods. One of' 
them was the contort of Ninus; the other lived five gene¬ 
rations before Nitocris queen of Nebuchadnezzar. (Eufeb.. 
Chron. p. 38. Herod, lib. 1. c. 184.J This- fact, has not 
been attended to by many writers. 
Whether there was an uninterrupted feries of kings from-' 
Ninus to Sardanapalus, or not, is (till a queftion. Some 
fufpicion has arifen, that the lift which Ctefias has given- 
of the Aflyrian kings is not genuine; for many names in 
it are of Perfian, Egyptian, and Grecian, extraction. No¬ 
thing memorable has been recorded concerning the fuc- 
ceftbvs of Ninus and Semiramis. Of that effeminate race, 
of princes it is barely faid, that they afeended the throne,, 
lived in indolence, and died in their palace at Nineveh-- 
Diodorus relates, that, in the reign of Teutames, the Af— 
fyrians, folicited by Priam their vaffal, fent to the Trojans- 
a fupply of 20,000 foot and 200 chariots, under the com¬ 
mand of Memnon, fon of Tithonua-prefident of Perfia: 
but the truth of this relation is rendered doubtful by the' 
accounts of other writers, Sardanapalus- was the laft of 
the ancient Aflyrian kings. Contemning his indolent and 
voluptuous courfe of life, Arbaccs, governor of Media,, 
withdrew his allegiance, and rofe up in rebellion agairflL 
him. He was encouraged in this revolt by the advice and : 
affiftance of Belefis, a Chaldtean prieft, who engaged the 
Babylonians to follow the example of the Medes. Thefe 
powerful provinces, aided by the Perfians and other allies, 
who defpifed the effeminacy or dreaded the tyranny of 
their Aflyrian lords, attacked the empire on all lides. Their- 
moft vigorous efforts w ere, in the beginning, unfuccefsful.- 
Firm and determined, however, they at length prevailed, 
defeated the Aflyrian army, befieged Sardanapalus in his 
capital, which they demolifhed, and became matters of the- 
empire, B. C. 821. 
After the death of Sardanapalus, the Aflyrian empire-- 
was divided into three kingdoms, viz. the Median, Affy- 
rian, and Babylonian. Arbaces retained the fupreme pov.% 
sr and authority, and fixed Jus relidence at Ecbatana in 
Media# 
