The Sun.
London, England, 1866-03-22 00:00:00

STARCH MANI7FACTITRERS
TO H. R. H. THE PRINCESS OF WALES.
GLENFIELD PATENT STARCH,
Used in the Royal Laundry,

AND AWARDED THE PRIZE MEDAL, 1862.
Sold by all Grooers, Chandlers, &c. ke.

The Palestine Exploration Fund.
--4--
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SIR-I have received a fourth report from Captain
Wilson, R.E., in charge of the first expedition of
the association, dated Nazareth, Feb. 20, of which
the following is the substance
"Topography.--Astronomical observations have
been made, fixing the positions of Khan Minya,
Mejdel, Tiberias, Kefr Arjib (north-east end of
Lake), Wady Fik, Alma, Kefr-Bir'im, Meiron,
Ailabun, and Nazareth, and considerable additions
made to the map. Since reaching Banias, a district
has been reconnoitred and plotted to a scale of one
inch to a mile, extending from. Belfort on the north
to Tabor on the south, and from the Jordan on the
east to Sepphoris on the west, giving with great
exactness the mean features of the country, the line
of watershed, course of chief Wadys, &c. The
greatest error found in the existing maps is in the
course of the Wadys running into the plain of Gen-
nesareth, the great bend of Wrdy Selameh, shown
by Van de Velde as forming portion of Wady
Amud, being reallya continuance of Wady Rubadi-
yeh. The party had been disappointed in being
able to take the mules round the Lake, and tho-
roughly explore the eastern side, the Governor of
Tiberias, who appears to be at open war with the
Bedouin, refusing to give an escort, while the mule-
teers wo;Ild not cross the Jordan. Captain Wilson
and Lieutenant Anderson, however, hired a boat at
Tiberias, and landed at the mouth of the Jordan,
made a three days' walking excursion, during which
they were able to examine the country to about half
a mile below Wady Fik, till the weather compelled
them to return to Tiberias. It appears that there
is only one place, about half way between W. Fik
and W. Semakh, which fulfils all the conditions re-
quired by the Biblical narrative of the destruction
of the herd of swine.

" Archaeology.—Some excavations were made at
Irbid, and detailed plans and drawings made of
the building there, which is an old synagogue,
but has suffered a good deal by having been at
one time converted into a Mosque. The ca-
verns Kalat Ibn Maan were explored, and found
to have been at one time used as a
convent. At Tiberias the ruins of the old
town occupy a larger area than had been expected,
and an old aqueduct was traced which supplied the
town with water to its course some miles off in the
hills. At the north end of the Lake, et Tel was
visited ; the ruins there are small, and no trace of
architectural detail could be found amongst them.
On the plain several old sites were visited ; one, near
the northern edge, to which no name 'could be ob-
tained, had a portion of the city wall standing, and a
few basaltic fragments of architraves and cornices, one
With a well-executed scroll of vine leaves and grapes ;
on the shore were found some ruins called Kefr Arjib,
of some extent, but containing nothing remarkable,
at the mouth of W. Semakh arc some ruins called
Khersa, much of the same character as those at Kefr
Arjib ; at Kalat el llusn (Gamala) are numerous
capitals and fragments, but no disti.)et-iyjan of any
building could be made out. The line*of the entire
street can still be plainly traced. From Tiberias they
tuned north again to complete the examination of the
Jurmuk district, and at some ruins called Nebartein
discovered an old synagogue, on the lintel of which
was an inscription in Hebrew, and over it a represen-
tation of the candlestick with seven branches, similar
to the well-known one on Titus's arch at Home. At
Kasyun, the ruins of a small temple were found, and
a mutilated Greek inscription; at Kefr-Bir'im, some
small excavations were made to disclose the plans of
the two synagogues, of both of which detailed plans,
drawings, and photographs have been made. A plan
was also made of the church at Yarun, the style of
architecture of which is very peculiar, and like no-
thing they had seen elsewhere ; the cross has been
used with great freedom as an ornament, and no two
capitals were found alike—on one were some curious
designs, on another each face had a bust in the centre,
&c. Two Greek inscriptions were found at Yarun,
•
both mutilated. At Meiron, plans, &c., were made
of the synagogue, and drawings of some of the tombs
which are peculiar. At Urn cl Amud were found the
ruins of another synagogue, and a broken slab on
which are two lions. Some fine sarcophagi, similar
to those at Kedes, were found at Shalabun (north of
Kefr-Bir'im).
" Photographs.—The following have been added
to our list :—View of the Ghuweir from Khan Min-
Yeh 'view of the aqueduct at Khan Minyeh, two
views of ruins at Irbid, view of Kurn Hattin
(Mount of Beatitudes), view of Wady el Hammam,
view of ruins at Kalet el Husn (Gamala), view of
Tiberias, view of lintel with inscription and candle-
stick, at Nebartein ; four views of ruins at Kefr-
Bir'im, view of ruins at Meiron, view of large sar-
cophagus at Meiron, view of slab with lions at Urn
el Amud.

" Meteorology.—The three aneroids sent from
London on the 10th January, and forwarded by the
ambassador at Constantinople, through the kind
permission of Earl Russell arid Mr. Layard, M.P.,
had reached the party the day they left Tiberias,
and since then a regular series of barometrical and
hygrometrical observations (unavoidably interrupted
by the derangement of the aneroids, and Gay Lussac
barometer originally taken out) had been resumed.

" Great assistance had been afforded by the Rev.
Mr. Zeller, the Anglican clergyman at Nazareth,
well known to travellers for his knowledge, ability,
and kindness, who had drawn up lists of ancient
sites, and intended accompanying them to Beisan,
in the Jordan valley, where his personal acquaint-
ance with the Bedouin will be of the greatest as-
sistance to the party in their explorations. From
Beisan it was intended to go via Zerin to Sebas-
tiyeh and Nablus, though owing to the Adouan and
Sukka Bedouin being at war, and a grand fight
being imminent, it was probable the intended pro-
gramme might be slightly altered. The whole coun-
try round was very much disturbed, the people
being in many places absolutely starving ; the locusts
had cleared off last year's crops,
and we
eat-
ing up the Jordan valley, threatening
to re
the cattle return
to
the mountains when summer sets in ;
dis-
ease was so severe that eno
was every prospect
ugh cattle were not left
to plough the land, and thereof an increase in the distressl.
report no
of the places mentioned in
So far Captain Wilson. t will be observed that
arte
bun Um el Amud--are not to be found on the
five—Kefr Arjib, this hurried
Khersa, Neb •m, •
less than
maps of van de Velde or Schultz.—Your obedient
servant,
GEORGE GROVE, Hon. Secretary.
sydenham, March 20.

HERONS appear to live in great harmony with
each other, and their nests aro frequently very close to-
gether. Pennant mentions having counted more than
eighty nests upon one oak at Cressy-hall, near Spalding in
Lincolnshire, an estate belonging to the Heron family.
Colonel Montague also informs us that he saw an heronry
on a small island in a lake in the north of Scotland, on
which there was only ono shrubby oak-tree, which, not
being sufficient to contain all the nests, many of them were
placed on the ground. Had Dr. Johnson seen this fact, it
would probably have given occasion to another joke on.
the paucity of trees in Scotland.—EDWAßD JESSE, *D Onee
a Week.

As-announced by telegra,
good authority, that a circular
to the imperial agents at the
German Powers with special instructions to com-
municate it to the various Governments. The
Minister considers the present situation of affaira
suitable to call the attention of the Powers to the
attitude taken up by Austria in the Duchies ques
tion from May, 1864, to the present time. A. de-
cisive declaration is said to follow that the Austrian
Government will never consent to the annexation of
the Duchies to Prussia. Adhering to previous
gations, Austria will neither take nor suffer foredble
measures upon her territory, and if necessary will.
even declare war against Prussia, provided the
latter Power openly violates Austrian rights, and
thus challenges opposition.' In this case, however,
the entire responsibility for the breach of the peace
of Europe must rest with the State by which it is.
provoked.

The recent councils of war are said to have sho crn
that an army of 400,000 men can be placed in the
field at a very short notice, independently of afore()
of 100,000 men, which is to remain in Italy. Arms,
clothing, and military equipage of all descriptions,
are reported to be already provided, as well as a
sufficient number of horses. The only deficiency is
in the article of ready money. The financial ques-
tion, indeed, has formed the chief subject of serious,
discussion iu the councils. It is believed to liztAt
been determined that the Bank shall in no case be
interfered with, further than, in the event of war,
payment of the instalments due this year from the,
Government to that institution being for a time sp,a-
pended. A fresh emission of paper—Treasury n'Jtes
or war bonds—would, however, take place to meet
current expenditure.

Part of the garrison of Pesth has already reached
Brunn, and is going on to Prague. Two batteries
of horse artillery and two Uhlan regiments stationed
at Temesvar have received the route for Vienna ;
they will reach here in the course of the week and
at once be sent northwards, from which it is con-.
eluded that the Government does not consider it
necessary to place a corps of observation upon the
Moldavian frontier. Transylvania is being almost
entirely denuded of troops, the greater part of the
cavalry regiments in that province marching on ta
Bohemia.

It is believed to have been decided in council of
Ministers to keep strictly upon the defensive, avoid-
ing all provocations, and leaving the initiative to
Prussia. Vice-Admiral Tegethoff has been sum-
moned here, and was received in special audience
by the Emperor yesterday. The admiral was to
have commanded the Asiatic expedition, but that
enterprise has been postponed until the autumn,
owing to the threatening aspect of affairs. In case
of a collision with Prussia, it is reported that he will
command the Austrian fleet in the Baltic.
Several generals have arrived from Hungary, to
take instructions as to the movement of troops, and
negotiations are in progress with the Credit Institu-
tion for supplies of flour and forage. Should war
prove unavoidable, the convocation of the Reichs-
rath is expected.

BERLIN, March 19.

The Neue Preussische (Kreuz) Zeitung of to-day
publishes the following, believed to be from an offi-
cial source :

"We have to state a serious fact. Austria and Saxony
aro arming; we have hitherto not done so. Where arma-
ments aro entered upon in such critical situations, the full
weight of responsibility falls upon those who begin them.
They force the opposite party to counter-armament. Tho
first step is ominous, and it has been taken. Austria is
calling in her furlough mon, and beginning to concentrate
troops in Bohemia and Galicia. Saxony, independently of
accelerating the recruitment, has secretly ordered the re-
serves to be called under arms, and to join the army with-
out touching Dresden. Iu the case of Saxony this matter
need create no surprise, for Herr von Beust need not be
afraid of expense in the flourishing state of the finances
of that kingdom. She would be able to bear the war
strength of the army for a few months as easily as the
outlay occasioned by the circuitous route taken by the
Saxon contingent upon its retreat from Holstein. But as
regards Austria the case is different. The most pressing
necessity of bearing her financial strength in mind is evi-
, dent. The increase of regimental numbers and the move-
ment of troops cannot b 3 effected without giving ring to
e3cpo ago. Donioastrans for appearance' sake are there-
fore out of the question. The arguments must be under-
taken with the serious intention of waging war. No other
explanation is possible. In such a position it is incumbent
upon our Government to see that Prussia is not taken by
surprise. It must take care that the Austrian armaments
do not gain an advantage in point of time, so that, as in
1850, Austria may not suddenly stand forth fully equipped,
while no idea of such an eventuality is entertained upon
our side. It must be admitted that owing to the arma-
ments, the situation will become more intricate and
serious ; but, we repeat, the weight of responsibility will
attach to that party which has been the first to put forth
military threats."