Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1842-07-27

above this point was from the summit OF per-
pendicular cliff 500 feet above its waters. 1t
has the appearance of long estuary with many
shoals and islands; but this optical illusion,
which has deceived many travellers, is occa-
stoned by so many spots Of calm smooth wa
ter, around which the rest of the sea is cover
ed with a ripple The rock by which they
descended 10 the waters edge is described as
compact reddish or rose-colored limestone,
smooth as glass, but with an irregular surface.
DIR. Robinson estimates the Dead Sea as be-
tween 3S and 40 geographical miles long by 9
| in breadth (Josephus had given 10 it u in
length and s in breadth.) From Ain Jedi DR..
Robinson coasted the western shores Of the
Dead Sea, by proceeding along the heights TO
the mouth of The Jordan; and describes very
mnutely the double and triple ranges Of banks
which enclose The waters of this celebrated
stream. On a subsequent journey he explores
the southern shore of that sea, a large portion
Of the Ell Ghor, The Wadis Ell Jeib and Arabah
the former of which he describes as deep tor
rent valley worn by wafer along the wide plain
OF the latter; and he fixes on grounds only short
of positive certainty the important site of Ka-
Gesh Barnea al Ain Ell Weibeh, over against
Edom and Mount Hor.
this region, land they comprehended Wad Mu-
sa, or Petra, on the western fanks of Edom,
from which spot he was unfortunately prevent
ed by the violence of the native Arabs from
penetrating farther south, the result of his OBJ
servaions is most satisfactory: in proving the
non existence of supposed continuous valley
descending from The Dead TO the Red Sea; and
that the former sea is The centre Of long basin
called Ell Ghor, reaching in It's fullest sense
from lis commencement al the sources Of the
Jordan in Mount Hermon, 10 lis termination at
a ridge Of elevated land somewhere south of
the Southern Wadi Ghurundel, about three
quarters or lourih-f(ths of the way from The
Dead to the Red Sea, and which acls as a wa
tershed between the Two seas.
Il is also clear, from the authorities quoted
by DR.. Robinson. that in ancient times no allu-
sion is made 10 this supposed Valley Of Arabah
in regular slope from one sea TO the other;
and that The term which frequently occurs in
the Scriptures is applied 10 the plains and des-
erls in the regions more or less adjoining TO
the Asphal,ile Lake
North of Jerusalem, DR.. Robinson visited and
described with the same care Shiloh and Mount
GeriZlm, with The valley and environs Of Ma
plous or Neapolis, the Sychar of the Samari-
Ians. the city, valley, and fountains of Iezreel,
the plain Of Esdraelon, Nazareth, Mount Tabor,
Tiberias and lis lake, Bethsaida, the ancient
JuIias, on :he eastern slopes of the upper valley
of The Jordan, SaGed, Tyre, Sidon, and Beruth
Indebted as we are for the number Of places
which Dr. Robinson by his zeal and industry
has identified with ancient sites, we owe him
almost an equal measure-sf thanks for those
which he has stripped Of designations errone.
ously attributed TO them: the detection Of an er-
ror is as useful as the establishment OF truth
and in this respec, his remarks on Ramleh and
Eleuiheropolis, for fitness Of detail and preci-
sion Of argument, are models Of Typographical
criticism.
One of the greatest proofs of the value Of DR.
Robinson researches must not be overlooked. IL
visiting Berlin on his way home, the information
he had collected attracted the attention. and en-
gagged the assistance of a learned individual, whose
name can never be mentioned here without re-
spect. DR.. Carl Ritter, of whose advice and un.
wearied kindness DIR. Robinson speaks in the high
est terms; and he adds that the many months 0
cherished intercourse 10 which Ritters friendship
admitted him will ever remain amongst the bright
est recollections of his life In all great under
takings much of the success, even of the msst sue
cessiul, depends on the cooperation of others
and the measure OF mans success and merit may
often be appreciated by the readiness with which
such cooperation has been rendered, and by tht
llberality with which it is acknowledged Witt
this feeling, Dr. Robinson will thank us for ad
ding to the names Of his friends Smith and Ritter
that also of EIr. II. Kiepert, of Berlin, young
! scholar he says; of great talents and promise
, who, under his inspection, constructed the very
beautiful and detailed maps which accompany hi
work, and who has attached also iE the appendi,
to the third volume very learned memoir, treat
ing Of the clements on which is based each of Tx
: maps, viz: of Mount Zion, Arabia Petr@a, Jerusa
lem and It's environs, Palestine south and mort o
t Jerusalem, the enyrons of the Lake of Iiberias
those of Beiruth and Mount Lebanon respectively
\ This memoir is model for all similar works.
Mr. Everett ought, perhaps, to apologize 70
so long OBTAINING you on this subject, but we ar
too happy to see you amongst us not to be temPte'
TO dwell on the occasion which has brought YOU
! and have only farther TO request, that you vii
. be kind enough to convey to your learned coun
tryman our best wishes for his health and prosper
f ity, and that he may live to fulfil the great objec
i, which he says he has still in view, namely tn
adaptation Of all the materials collected by him
self and by the Rev. Eli Smith into one sysiemati
work on the physical and historical geography G