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was shipwrecked. At the entrance of the Ægean Sea was the fertile island of Crete, at which the apostle touched on his journey to Rome.

In the Mediterranean Sea, between Cilicia and Syria, is the island of Cyprus. The apostles Paul and Barnabas landed in this island, and preached in the cities of Salamis and Pamphos.

To the north-east of Asia-Minor was the province of Armenia, in which was situated Mount Ararat, where Noah's ark rested after the deluge. The two great rivers, the Euphrates and Tigris, have their sources in this province. To the south of Armenia, between the rivers Euphrates and Tigris, lay the province of Mesopotamia, in which were the cities of Haran and Ur. In this province the garden of Eden is supposed to have been situated. To the south of Mesapotamia was the country of Chaldea, or Babylonia, which extended as far south as the Persian gulf.

The capital of Chaldea was the famous city of Babylon, which was built so magnificently that it was considered one of the seven wonders of the world. To the east of Mesopotamia was the country of Assyria, the capital of

which was Ninevah, situated on the Tigris. The magnificence of this city nearly equalled that of Babylon. To the west of Assyria, lay the country of Media, of which the chief city was Ecbatana. To the south of Media was situated the country of Elam or Persia, the capital city of which was Shushan.

To the west of Media was the country of Parthia, which was but of little note till the time of Arsaces, who laid the foundation of that powerful empire which comprehended Media, Assyria, Babylonia, and Persia.

July 31, 1824.

FIRST PRIZE ESSAY

ON THE

NATURE AND DESIGN

OF

CHRIST'S MISSION,

BY

MASTER JOSEPH SORTAIN,

Aged 15.

August 26th, 1824.

This is to certify that the accompanying Essay

is the unassisted production of Master JOSEPH SORTain, 21, Berkley Place, Clifton, Bristol, whose age is under that specified, he being only fifteen last July.

WILLIAM LUCY,

Pastor of the Church at Lady
Huntingdon's Chapel, Bristol,

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