This would not have been unnatural, or unreasonable, had Hiram been of the same practical Religion as that of Israel,--but he was essentially an Heathen King, and erected in his own metropolis the most gorgeous temples and golden statues to Jupiter, Apollo, and the minor gods, and their splendour may be estimated by what he erected for his friend at Jerusalem. The language of SOLOMON must have offended any mind less liberal than that of Hiram's, for in his message to the Tyrian he says: "And the house which I build is great, for great is _our_ (my) GOD, _above all gods_." [_i. e._ pluralities.] This is a direct allusion to the worship of Hiram, who believed that Jupiter and Apollo were the Gods of "all Gods,"--but, so far from resenting the unintentional rebuke by SOLOMON, he actually bestows a blessing upon the worship of his ally, though opposed to his own, for in his letter he writes: "BLESSED BE THE LORD GOD OF ISRAEL," and that his actions should be in keeping with his words, he forthwith entered into a Treaty to build the first Temple to the ever-living and the only GOD at Jerusalem. Had not Hiram been king of Tyrus, he was worthy to have been monarch of Israel; for the mind that could have acted as his own did, upon so august and solemn an occasion, was already prepared to reject plurality, and believe in The One GOD. What a contrast does Hiram's character present to all the Roman monarchs, from Tiberius to Maxentius, when in a similar position from the introduction of Christianity! From the foregone description of the Tyrian arts and artists (and for details the Books of Kings and Chronicles will testify) it will not be questioned whether from personal knowledge and skill, they could have built the Cities and Temples lately discovered in the Western Hemisphere; but more especially is the question now inadmissible, from the fact, that the styles of the architecture of the Temples at Jerusalem and Palenque, we have shewn to be analagous if not identical. Scripture does not warrant any Historian in writing that the Israelites had a Knowledge of Navigation. It has, however, been often stated that they had, because Solomon "made a Navy:"--but, the sense is, that he _gathered_ a navy,--and this is proved from the fact that Hiram furnished that identical "navy" for the King of Israel. Navigation was the only point in Tyrian policy, in which they resolved to have no rivals,--and to prevent it, they supplied expeditions for other countries,--Galleys, Pilots, and Mariners;--they formed Treaties for this purpose with nations with whom they were on terms of amity. Hiram followed the National policy at this time with Solomon,--and the Tyrians did the same subsequently with the Egyptian. Writers in attributing to the Israelites a knowledge of Navigation, quote from the first Book of Kings [ix. 26].