15 MAY 1886, Page 22

of ancient Rhodes,—and our knowledge has been materially increased of

late. " Some three hundred and fifty inscriptions have been found in the island since Hamilton found the first in 1837." Many statuettes, coins, gems, &c., have also been discovered of late years. No English writer seems to have treated the subject since Professor Newton published his " Travels and Discoveries in the Levant," now more than twenty years ago. The ancient history of the island is fall of interest. It formed part of the Dorian Pentapolis, an alliance dating from very early times, fell under the power of Persia in the time of Darius, but regained its liberty in 480 B.C. Its relations with Athens, with Sparta, with Thebes, during its brief hegemony, with Artemisia, with Philip and Alexander of Macedon, and the post-Alexandrian Kingdoms, and finally with Rome, are full of interest. Its flourishing time extended from early in the third century B.C. down to the Civil War which was ended at Philippi. It was Cassius from whom it received its disabling blow. It became a Roman province about 70 A.D. Perhaps its greatest distinction was that, 191 B.C., the Rhodian Admiral defeated Hannibal, who was then in command of the fleet of Antiochns. The internal history is not less interesting. Not the least curious point in it is the voluntary abdication of their power by the three Rhodian cities of Lindas, Ialysns, and Camians in favour of the new town of Rhodes, which they conjointly founded. About religion, art, architecture, &c., there is much to be said, and Mr. Torr has taken much pains to say it completely. All that one wants in the book is to have these archaeo- logical details connected with the present by an account of the island as it now is. Unhappily, Rhodes is very inaccessible. One can go to New York and return, in little more than the time which is required for a single voyage to the island.