Miscellanea Curiosa, Vol. 3 · Royal Society
_SIR_,
I here send you some Fragments of Papers put into my Hands by a very good Friend, relating to antique and obscure Inscriptions, which were retrieved after the Death of Mr. _Flower_, Agent in _Persia_ for our _East-India_ Company, who, while he was a Merchant at _Aleppo_, had taken up a Resolution to procure some Draught or Representation of the admired Ruins at _Chilmenar_, pursuant to the third Enquiry for _Persia_, mention'd in the _Philosophical Transactions_, pag. 420. _viz._ _Whether there being already good Descriptions in Words of the Excellent Pictures and _Basse Relieves_ that are about _Persepolis_ at _Chilmenar_, yet none very particular, some may not be found sufficiently Skilled in those parts, that might be engaged to make a Draught of the Place, and the Stories there Pictur'd and Carved_. This Desire of the Royal Society, as I believe, it hinted at a Summary Delineation, which might be perform'd by a Man qualifi'd in a few Days, taking his own opportunity for the avoiding much Expence, (which you know they are never able to bear:) So I cannot but think Mr. _Flower_ conceived it to be a Business much easier to perform than he found it upon the Place, where he Spent a great deal of Time and Mony, and dying Suddainly after, left his Draughts and Papers dispersed in several Hands, one part whereof you have here, the rest its hoped may in some Time be recovered, if Sir _John Chardin_'s exact and accurate Publication of the entire Work do not put a period to all further Curiosity, which I heartily wish.
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