'Narrative of a journey to the site of Babylon in 1811, now first published: memoir on the ruins; with engravings from the original sketches by the author: remarks on the topography of ancient Babylon, by Major Rennell; in reference to the memoir: second memoir on the ruins; in reference to Major Rennell's remarks: with narrative of a journey to Persepolis: now first printed, with hitherto unpublished cuneiform inscriptions copied at Persepolis: by the late Claudius James Rich, Esq., formerly the Resident of the Hon. East India Company at Bagdad. Edited by his widow.' [‎168] (256/474)

168 SECOND MEMOIR ON THE
bricks has partly been removed, and partly covered
by the falling down of the mass which it supported
and kept together. I speak with the greater confi
dence of the different stages of this pile, from my
own observations having been recently confirmed
and extended by an intelligent traveller*, who is of
opinion that the traces of stages are clearly
discernible. As I believe it is his intention to lay
the account of his travels before the world, I am
urnvilling to forestall any of his observations ; but I
must not omit to notice a remarkable result arising
out of them. The Tower of Belus was a stadium
in height; therefore, if we suppose the eight towers
or stages which composed the Pyramid of Belus to
have been of equal height, according to Major
Rennell's idea, which is preferable to that of the
Count de Caylus (see Mem. vol.
xxxi.), we ought to find traces of four of them in
the fragment which remains, whose elevation is 235
feet; and this is precisely the number which Mr.
Buckingham believes he has discovered. This re
sult is the more worthy attention, as it did not occur
to Mr. B. himself.
The Birs Nemroud is apparently the Tower of
Belus of Benjamin of Tudela, who says it was de
stroyed by fire from heaven—a curious remark, as
it proves he must have observed the vitrified' masses
on the summit. M. Beauchamp speaks of it under
* Mr. Buckingham.