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BY HENRY D. MOORE.

FAREWELL! Old Year!

Thou hast to us full many a pleasure brought,
And many a sorrow ne'er to be forgot;

Thou hast awaked within us hope and fear,
And called up many a smile and many a tear.
Upon the frosts of winter thou dost lay
Thy weary head to breathe thy life away.
No longer will thy cares with grief possess us,
No longer will thy smiles with gladness bless us;
Restored to us thou ne'er canst be again,—
All thought is fruitless and all grief is vain,
Farewell! Old Year!

Farewell! Old Year!

We will remember thee when thou art gone,
And call up fancies that with thee have flown;
Our thoughts shall oft hold converse with thy shade;
We'll live, in dreams, the life that's with thee laid.
While many an hour we thus do spend with thee,—
Bright spirit from the dark eternity,—

Glad Hope shall bless us with the happiest cheer,
And happiness shall crown the opening year.
And as its days and weeks and months shall flow,
May we the wiser and the better grow;

That when our days, like thine, shall pass away,
We may with pleasures dwell in ceaseless day.—
Farewell! Old Year!

Artaxerxes,

THE PERSIAN MONARCH.

BY HENRY D. MOORE.

AHASUERUS, as he is named in the sacred chronicles, or, as he is called in profane history, Artaxerxes, with the surname, added by the Greeks, of Longimanus, was the third son of Xerxes, the famous and princely King of Persia; and succeeded his father in the throne, in the year of the world three thousand five hundred and forty; or before Christ, four hundred and sixty-four years.

In ascending the throne of Persia, Artaxerxes met with bold and vigorous competition, and violent and bloody opposition. He was not entitled to the succession, but reached it as the instrument of an infamous conspiracy. His father, Xerxes, had been secretly put to death by his chief favourite, Artabanus, in the hope of succeeding him in the possession of the kingdom. To cover his guilt, he charged the murder on Darius, the eldest son of Xerxes, stating that he was prompted to the deed by his insatiate ambition to possess himself of his father's crown; and also, informing Arta

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xerxes at the same time, that Darius, in order to secure to himself the object of his ambition, had resolved also on his death, cautioning him to be on his guard against him, and instigating him to the murder of his brother, which, with the assistance of the vile conspirator and his guards, he accomplished.

The succession devolved upon Hystaspes, the second son of Xerxes; but he being absent exercising authority in one of the provinces of the empire, Artaxerxes ascended the throne, aided by Artabanus, the father's assassin, and successful conspirer against the life of the brother. It was not the intention of Artabanus, however, that Artaxerxes should remain in the peaceful possession of the throne longer than would be necessary to cover his own guilt from the light; engaging in the meantime in the formation of a faction, which he hoped would be sufficiently powerful to displace Artaxerxes, and secure to himself the crown and kingdom.

Artaxerxes, therefore, no sooner found himself in the throne, in which he imagined he dwelt securely, than he was assailed by the two factions,-that of Artabanus, and that of his brother Hystaspes, who was supported by the powerful province of Bactriana, over which he was governor,—-laying claim to the throne, in behalf of their respective competitors. Artaxerxes having been previously informed of the deep plot as laid by Artabanus against him, secured his death, and by this means, to a very great extent, disconcerted the plans of his adherents, and enervated the arm of the faction.

The death of Artabanus did not, however, entirely

divert his adherents from their cherished design on the throne of Persia. They prepared themselves for a violent and determined opposition to Artaxerxes, being excited to hostilities, in order to revenge the death of their leader. Artaxerxes, aware of their designs, was prepared to meet them; a fierce battle ensued, which issued in the overthrow of the faction, and the death of the conspirators.

Encouraged by his success in this quarter, and fearing the opposition of his brother Hystaspes, which, while unquelled, would be a source of constant disquietude and insecurity to him, Artaxerxes sent a powerful army against his brother. The province of Bactriana, having declared in favour of Hystaspes, met the forces of the king, with nearly equal power, and engaged with them. Two battles were fought. Success, in the first engagement, seemed to crown the arms of Hystaspes In the second engagement, Artaxerxes, having greatly reinforced his arms, and being in favour with, and supported by the whole empire, routed his brother and his faction, and forever quelled the spirit of ambitious competition and of fell conspiracy.

Artaxerxes was now fairly and securely seated in the princely throne of Persia. He reigned for a period of forty-eight years, and his reign seems to have been one of comparative peace and prosperity. He is mentioned as entertaining the greatest veneration for the God of Israel, and high regard for the Jewish people who were scattered throughout the empire. He advanced some of the people of the Jews to honourable, confidential and responsible offices in his court and kingdom. It was in accordance