[Footnote 18: A cycle of 120 years, the end of which an
intercalary month of 30 days supplied the use of our
Bissextile, and restored the integrity of the solar year. In
a great revolution of 1440 years this intercalation was
successively removed from the first to the twelfth month;
but Hyde and Freret are involved in a profound controversy,
whether the twelve, or only eight of these changes were
accomplished before the aera of Yezdegerd, which is
unanimously fixed to the 16th of June, A.D. 632. How
laboriously does the curious spirit of Europe explore the
darkest and most distant antiquities! (Hyde de Religione
Persarum, c. 14 - 18, p. 181 - 211. Freret in the Mem. de
l'Academie des Inscriptions, tom. xvi. p. 233 - 267.)]