The Sun.
London, England, 1865-04-27 00:00:00

\-vutt.

LONDON, THURSDAY, APRIL 27, 1865.

Last week we gladly and eagerly transferred to
our columns from those of our leading contem-
porary the remarkable programme of a very noble
and beautiful enterprise. To-day we seize the ear-
liest opportunity we have found for referring to it.
And we do so with peculiar satisfaction, in this Age—
as we may, surely, with only too much reason, term
daring and, to our thinking at least, detes
table Iconoclasm. An age in which, so to speak,
not Simply the effigies or presentments of great
truths, hitherto held in believing reverence, but
those very truths themselves are being so very con-
stantly
--11-a a
Pertinaciously assailed with a view to
their abasement, to their mutilation, even, it would
seem, if
Possible, to their total and absolute detruc-
tion. It is something, surely, in these days of M.
ItENAN and other kindred writers, to note precisely
such an enterprise as• that to which we are here
desirous of directing attention. A scientific en-
terprise, undertaken M no invidious spirit, with
no insidious arriere pense'e, but with a view to the
furthering syStematically of researches, hitherto
adventured upon quite casually and intermit-
tentally, by private individuals_mere chance
travellers—now in one part, now in another, of
the Holy Land ! The marvel is that a Society,
precisely of the character thus projected should
never before have been thought of—a Society, that
is to say, organised expressly and avowedly with a
view to the Exploration of Palestine, with a view
to the more accurate illustration and we might
almost say elucidation of Holy Writ, archwologi-
callY: topographically, geologically,
botanically,
zoologically, meteorologically, and otherwise. An
association, we would here add—so far 16 we can

understand the gist or drift or inner purport of its
prospectus—formed purely, solely, and wholely in
the interests, as we might almost say, of visible,
tangible, palpable truth. An association, otherwise
to express it, constructed to the end that it should
become the means of seeking after, and of collecting
together, and, in the end, of arranging symmetrically
facts drawn forth to the light of day by means of
one or other of the physical sciences, in illustration,
more and more clearly, of the Sacred Records, at
once of Judaism and of Christianity. It is an
enterprize altogether, so far as we can in any way
comprehend it, that the enlightened members of
any sect or of any party might be rejoiced to pro-
mote, with a view to its more rapid and energetic
development. Insomuch, in truth, does it appear
to us exactly in this light, that—supposing it to
have been projected but; a little while earlier—we
could perfectly well have imagined the possibility of
finding upon the list of the Committee now led off
by his Grace the Archbishop of YORK, the name of
his Eminence the late Cardinal WISEMAN, the author,
among other kindred works, of the learned and
daring treatise upon the " Connection between
Science and Revealed Religion." So far as the
objects of the society are concerned, they might,
for that matter, with perfect consistency on his own
part, receive the sympathy and co-operation of Dr.
ADLER himself, the Chief Rabbi in London. For, in
point of fact, what is it that this Society is in search
of, this Society now setting on foot what we trust
may soon come to be known far and wide, not
merely by its title as the Palestine Exploration
Fund, but yet more familiarly and yet more widely
known by its many successful achievments ? What,
we ask, is it—avowedly—in search of ? Facts !
Truths ! Data ! Measurements drawn from scien-
tific surveys I Particulars to be dug up out of the
very soil of Palestine At Jerusalem alone, what
a world of information is there not
reasonably to be hoped for, when the " sixty feet of
rubbish" upon which the holy city stands comes
to be probed and penetrated—that debris of centu-
ries, of nations, of generations ! Rubbish, from
beneath which may be yet dragged forth to view, to.
the light of day, to scrutiny by the eye of man—
believer and unbeliever alike—who will not hope it,
if only in the sacred interests of abstract truth ?
facts, fragments, actual data, nay even substantial
portions of the Tombs of the Kings on Mount Zion !
The actual extent of the area of the Temple ! The
veritable sites of the Tower of Antonia! of the
Palace of Herod ! of the Pool of Bethesda ! Other
lands are ransacked by cultivators of the Natural
Sciences with a view to the advancement, let us say,
here of Botany, there of Zoology ! Why—
as the promoters of this new Association for the
more systematic exploring of Palestine, suggest in-
terrogatively—why, indeed, may we not look at
last for the application of similar energy, of equal
ability, to the investigation in the same way, for
example, of the zoology and botany of the Holy
Land ? The cedars of Lebanon and the " lilies of
the field," lilies so lovely in themselves, but lovelier
yet by far because of their biblical association, as
having been spoken of by Holy Lips—the Lions of
that land of DANIEL and of SAMPSON, of the Pro-
phet they left unharmed and of the Warrior to
whom the dead jaws of one of them yielded
up the honeycomb—the foxes and the ravens of
the Holy Land—why should we not look now at
last, in reason, for some more accurate description
of these very creatures, birds, quadrupeds, flowers,
trees, than such as have been put on record alone
by chance 'travellers or by pre-occupied pilgrims ?
The Society we are here referring to includes already
upon its Committee, besides the Archbishop already
mentioned (his Grace of YORK), three conspicuous
members of the Episcopal Bench—the Bishops,
that is, of ELY, OXFORD, and LONDON. Together
with whom are associated men of as varied eminence,
in their several ways, as Professor '0 WEN and the

Dean of WESTMINSTER, as Sir RODERICK ATURC

SON and Sir HENRY RAWLINSON, as Dr. WILLIAI

SMITH and Mr. ANTONIO PANIZZI, as the Member

for Bath and the Member for Chichester, to say

nothing of such representatives of the peerage as

the Earl of SIIAFTSBURY, the Duke of ARGYLL, and
the Duke of DEVONSHIRE. Again, as Hon. Secretary
to this Committee—for once, " the right man in the

right place" has been happily selected and formally

nominated—the Secretary to the Committee of this

Palestine Exploration Fund, to this Society for the

exploring of the Holy Land for Biblical Illustrations
being no one less qualified for the task than Mr,

GEORGE GROVE, a gentleman not only long since

well known to the general public in his official posi-
tion as Secretary to the Crystal Palace Company.

... ...
but more recently equally well known to scholars

and thoroughly appreciated by them, as one of
the most conspicuous and laborious among Dr.
WILLIAM SMITH'S collaborateurs. The Society thus

martialled under these chiefs of science, art, and
literature propose to direct their intended labours

of Exploration in Palestine, not in a piecemeal or
fragmentary manner, but comprehensively and sys-
tematically. They purpose to illustrate, for example,

le botany of the Holy Land, in continuation of the

Labours of HOOKER—its geology, in continuation o:

the researches of LARTET—its ornithology, in con

tinuation of those of TRISTRA3I—its topography,

in advance of the investigations of RomNsoN—its
archaeology, in advance of those of D E SAULCY.

When this bold design shall have been yet
further matured, we shall rejoice upon being
enabled then to notify the fact of its nearer

approach to the period of its actual realisation,

Already, it is gratifying to know, that the scheme

is even now being energetically organized, and tha

it :appears to have a really fair prospect of winning

its way to an auspicious inauguration.

Every now and then, in the midst of the ordinary
routine of business and pleasure, while statesmen
are involved in political speculations, and combina-
tions depending entirely on the action of a few
prominent players on the world's stage, while the
interests of the moment are all engrossing, and the
anticipations of the future are most confident,
comes a sudden and startling reminder of our mor-
tality. The central figure drops from the scene,
the curtain falls just at the crisis, and while the
question is, what policy will be followed, what
party predominate in the council, there comes a
terrible and unexpected solution of the problem.
The uncertainty of human affairs has, perhaps, never
been more strongly shown than by the recent events
in America which have k, completely defeated con-
jecture and disappointed expectation. It is difficult
in such a turmoil, when the vehement and vindic-
tive passions of men are so thoroughly aroused, so
completely let loose, to foresee what fresh turn of
events will alter the whole complexion of affairs ;
but so startling and tragic an incident as the assas-
sination of President LINCOLN had not certainly
been calculated upon by any political prophet.
Rulers who fill so prominent a position, upon whose
will the whole policy of a country turns, are espe-
cially liable to the dagger or the bullet, and
there have always been fanatics who be-
lieve they are fulfilling a patriotic duty, as
well as empty brained seekers for noto-
riety, who hope to win a lasting reputation by
the commission of a crime. But whatever be the
motive, the wise and good of all times have been
unanimous in condemning the act. No provoca-
tion can justify so cowardly and treacherous a deed.
No love of country can be accepted in extenuation
of go flagrant a dereliction of the aural law. 1.10