Ancient Architecture.

informed them of his intention to have built a magnificent repository for the ark of God , and fiad made great preparations for it , having laid up immense quantities of rich materials ; as also plans and models for the different parts of the building

¦ with , many necessary regulations for its future establishment ; but found it was the Divine will that this magnificent structure should not be erected by him , but by his son Solomon . He requested them to assist in so noble an undertaking ,

and they were not backward in fulfilling his reqaesfc . In a very short time there were collected large stores of gold , silver , copper , brass , precious stones , marble , porphyry , and other rich building ' and embellishing materials from all parts of the

kingdom . King David , although he did not live to see the famous temple of Jerusalem , which was to be the admiration of surrounding nations , had the pleasure of seeing before his death a large portion of the materials collected with which the

temple was to be built and adorned . He died shortly after , in the seventieth year of his age , and Solomon his son reie-ned in his stead .

Hiram , King of Tyre and neighbouring potentate ¦ was upon the most . friendly terms with King David , and on the ascension of King Solomon to the throne of his father , he sent ambassadors to Jerusalem , congratulating him upon his succession

to the throne , and the royalty continued in the family , and assuring him of a continuance of that friendship which had so long been cherished between him and his late lamented father . Solomon received the embassy graciously , and on their

I'stiim . sent the following letter to Hiram , King of Tyre , which shows that he embraced the very first opportunity of commencing the great . work that was left to his care : —

"King Solomon to King Hiram greeting . < c Be it known , 0 King , that my father David iiad it a long time in his mind to erect a temple to tke Lord ; but being perpetually in war , and under a . necessity of clearing his hands of his enemies ,

and making them all his tributaries , before he eoald . attend to this great and holy work , he hath left it to me in time of peace , both to begin and fmish it , according to the directions as well as the isrediciions of Almighty God . Blessed be His

¦ wssak : name for the present tranquility of my domlj 3 l < 2 > n . s ! And , by His gracious assistance , I shall turn dedicate the best improvements of this liberty aad leisure to his honour and worship . Whereas . I . make , i ^ my vaguest , that you will let gome

of your people go along with some servants of mine to mount Lebanon , to assist them in cutting down materials towards this building ; for the Sidonians understand it much better than we do . As for the workmen ' s reward or wages , whatever you think reasonable shall be punctually paid them . "

King Hiram appeared to be very highly pleased with this letter , and replied in very complimentary terms as follows : — " King Hiram to King Solomon . " Nothing could have been more welcome to mQ

than to understand that the government of your blessed father is devolved , by God ' s providence into the hands of so excellent , so wise , and so virtuous a successor ; His holy name be praised for it ! That which you write for shall be done

with all care and good-will , for I will give orders to cut down and export such quantities of thefairest cedars and cypress trees as you shall have occasion for : my people shall bring them to the sea-side for you , and from thence ship them away

to what port you please , where they may lie ready for your own men to transport them to Jerusalem . It would be a great obligation , for all this , to allow us such a provision of corn in exchange as maystand with your convenience , for that is the commodity we islanders want most . "

Solomon was greatly delighted with this answer of the Tyrian king , and a friendship of the most tender and enduring nature sprang up between them , which only terminated with their existence . For this generous offer made by Hiram ,. King

Solomon ordered him an annual present of 20 , 000 measures of wheat , and 20 , 000 measures of fine oil for his household , besides the same quantity of wheat , barley , wine , and oil , which ha engaged to give to Hiram's Masons , who were to be engaged

in the intended work of building the temple ^ Hiram , king of Tyre , engaged to send cedars , firs * and other wood upon floats or rafts to Joppa , there to be delivered to whom Solomon might direct ,, in order to be carried to Jerusalem . He also sent

him a man of his own name , a Tyrian by birth , whose mother was a Jewess , and his father a , man . of Tyre , who was a second Bezaleel , and honoured by his king with the title of father , This inspired workman was without doubt , the most curious ,

cunning , and skilled artist that existed in these parts at that particular time ; and his talents were not confined to architecture , but extended to all kinds of curious , woxk ., whether hi gold , silver ..