and he makes it the Capital of sixteen Cities in _Syria Palmyrena_, whereof _Alalis_, _Danaba_ and _Evaria_ were afterwards _Bishops Sees_. _Pliny_ places it CCIII Miles from the nearest Coast of _Syria_, and CCCXXXVII from _Seleucia ad Tygrim_ near _Bagdat_, (which Numbers are erroneously Printed 252 and 537 in most Editions, contrary to the Authority of the MSS.) _Josephus_ places it one Days Journey from _Euphrates_, and six from _Babylon_; which must be understood of Horse-man's Journeys of about sixty Miles _per diem_, it being more than so much from this City to _Euphrates_. _Ptolemy_ also mentions a River running by _Palmyra_, which did not appear to our Travellers, unless that Gut or Channel wherein they were overflowed by the Rain-Waters, were the Bed thereof; which may, possibly, run with a constant Stream in the Winter or times of much Rain: But this (as the Rivers of _Aleppo_ and _Damascus_ at this Day) is made by _Ptolomy_ to have no _exit_; but to go off in _Vapour_, and to be imbibed by the thirsty Earth of these Desarts. The _Æra_ or Accompt of Years observed by the _Palmyreni_ in these Inscriptions, is evidently that of _Seleucus_, call'd afterwards _Dhilcarnian_ or _Bicornis_ by the _Arabians_, and by them kept in use till above 900 Years of Christ (as appears by the Observations of _Albatani_, published in _Numb._ 204 of the _Philosoph. Transact._) and not that of the Death of _Alexander_. This may be demonstrated from the Inscription (_Pag. 101._) wherein _Alexander Severus_ is stiled ΘΕΟΣ; that is, after the Death and Consecration of that Emperor, or after the Year of our Lord 234; and from the Name of _Julius_, who, when this Inscription was put up, was _Præfectus Prætorio_, (and could be no other than _Julius Philippus Arabs_ who might be esteemed by the _Palmyreni_ as their Country-man,) it follows, that it was in the last Year of _Gordian_ _Anno Christi_ 242 or 243: And that Emperor being soon after Murder'd by the Treachery of this _Philip_, who succeeded him: And his Treason coming afterwards to light, 'tis not strange that his Name was purposely effaced in this Inscription. The Date thereof, _Anno_ 554, shews the beginning of this Accompt 311 or 312 Years before Christ, co-incident with the _Æra_ of _Seleucus_, which was likewise observed by several other Cities in the East. I shall not undertake the part of a Critick on these Inscriptions, but chuse rather to leave them to the more professedly skilful in that part of Learning, and shall only make some few Remarks on them, such as occurred whilst they pass'd through my Hands.