Baltimore commercial journal, and Lyford's price-current. [volume] (Baltimore, Md) 1840-1849, 1848-09-30
From The Richmond Republican
IN DEAD SEA EXPEDITION.

Mlury Il
brief but lucid and which will increase the anxiety
of the public TO see the report OF Lieut. Lynch, who
has made successful survey, ana VINO, we are g'au
TO learn is expected TO return soon 10 thiS country
We learn from Lieut. Maury's article that TINS
cxpcdtion was planned by Lieut.. Lynch, and autho-
rzed by Secretary Mason, both Nlrg,nlans. IN the
Spring of ls47 Lieut.. Lynch first addressed the Sc
cretary on the subject recommending circunnaFl-
cation and exploration of the Dead Sea, and ITS en-
lire coast; stating that the expense would be trlng'
as our ships frequently touched at Acre IN SYRIA
forty miles from Lake 1loeTlas, or sea OF Galee'
from which the river Jordan runs and deoouches INTO
the first named sea- that the frame OF a boat with
crew and provisions could be transported on calnes
from Acre 10 Tberias and there put together again
Only one traveller, Mr.. Costigan, had ever clrcum-
navieated the Dead Sea, and he died al the termn-
aion of his voyage, without leaving any journal OF
notes behind. II is contend also that independent
Of the eager curiosity Of all Christendom IN regard
10 this mysterious lake, this expedition was OF value
10 the interests of navigation
The Secretary of the Navy received favorably the
proposition of Lieut. Lynch, and an opportunity soon
occurred, by which il could be conveniently carried
into effect 1t was necessary TO send store-shlp 10
the Mediterranean Squadron and rs alter her arrival
she would have no employment Tor months the SC
retary determined send Lieut. Lynch and his party
in her so that after meeting the wants OF the Squad
rom she could proceed up the LeNaht anu lana Lieut.
Lynch and his companions ,
This was done. The storc-shlp, the "Snpply,
was supplied with two metallic boats, one Of copper;
the ether of iron-thc former named ~ amy MASON
and the latter Fanny skinner"
On their arrival at their destination their troubles
began and in their march TO Lake llorrlas thSF
boats had 10 be transported over the most iorhaaoi
mountain gorgcs aud heights, and TO De lowered
down precIpices with ropes. But these difficulties
were surmountcd with true sailor skill, and pcrse'
vcrance, and on the Sth Of April the two anni's'
each with the American ensign flying were ali'at
upon the beautiful blue waters OF the sea oil halli''
"Embcmatic of its Master, II alone OF all things
around them, remained the same. Just as the Apps
ties saw il when our Saviour SAID TO 1t, Peace DC
still this little band of rovcrs now behold H."
The navigation of the Jordan was found to be most
difficult and dangerous from its frequent and fearful
rapids Lieut.. Lynch solves the secret OF the de-
preston between Lake TiberaS ami the Dead sea
By the tortuous course OF the Jordan, which, III
distance of sixty miles, winds through course OF
two hundred miles Within this distance Lieutenant
Lynch and his party plunged down no less than
twenty threatening rapids btsd many others
of less descent. The difference OF l-Sel between
the two is over thousand feet
The water OF the Jordan was sweet TO within a
few hundred yards Of its mouth. Tn waters oil the
devoid Of smell, but bitter, salt and nausc,
Gus. Upon entering 1t, the boats were encountered
by a gale, and sit seemed it the bows, so dense
tcus The tcater, cncountcring ia slcdgc ham
mers of the Titans, instead OF ths opposing waves
OF angry sea-"
The party proceeded daily within their explora-
tons making Typographical * .tchas a. they went,
until they reached thu Southern extremity OF the
sea. where the most wonderful sight that they had
vet seen aitcd them.
ain passing the mountain Of Uzdom, (SOdom) we
Unexpectedly and much 10 our astonl,hment," says
Iieut. lynch "saw large. rounded. turret-shaped
coInmn facing tow ards $ E.. which proved to Dc OF
solid rock salt, capped with Carbonate OF lime; one
mass of crystalization. Mr. Dale took sketch OF
il, and DR.. Anderson and Landed with much dilil-
Guilty and procured specimens from It.
The party crcumnaviga gated the LAKE, returned TO
their place of departure, and brought back their
boats IN as complete order III lived them at
New York. They all in fin htalth. This is
specimen of the skill, system ."l discipline OF the
service The time is com NJ. Wh.u ii will give
proofs of that fact palpablc t. III mos, dull under
standing
Thanks To the good maua,.in mi nf Ii,ut. Ivnch
the whole cost Of this scientific exploration Of the
Dead Sea was but seven hundred dollars.
From the letters OF LIEUT.. Lynch, quoted by Lieut.
Maury, we transcribc the following INT resting facts
elicited Inv the exDloration;
The bottom of the Northern half # this is al
most an entire plain Its IN rdtAu ilars at a short
distance from the shor, scare. vagg III depth. The
deepest soundngs thus Tar = iathJms, (l2S feet
Near the shore the bottom is g.n rally ncrusta-
tion of salt but the ate on i, SIT mud with
many rectangular cry sals-m7stIy cuors-of pure
salt At one time Stcwa.sr's Lad brought up no.
thing but crystals
"fhe Southern half Of the j. shallow as the
Northern one is deep, and for about one fourth OF its
entire length the depth does moi exceed three faith
oms us feet) Its Southern has presented no
CRYSTALS but the shores arc lnrd vita incrusatons
of salt and when we landed at Uziain in the space
of an hour our foot prints were oa.d with crystal
izaton
"The opposite shores of tn peninsula and the
west coast present evident marks 5f disruption.
"There are unauestroaabv birds and insects upon
the shores, and ducks are sometimes upon the sea-
for we have seen thcm-but cannot detect any living
tbing within if: although the salt streams flowing
into II contain salt fish feel sure that the results
of this survey will fully sustain the scriptura account
of the cities Of the PLAN
He thus speaks Of the Jordan ''The Jordan al
thouoh randi and impetuous is graceful in its wind
jngs' and fringed with uxurancc, while It's waters
are sweet clear, cool and refreshing"
10 determine inc htigh' Vi Iii,'"S VI. ~ A. !?
and 10 run Lever tneNct wa III ~ NJ