Richmond palladium., 1850-05-01
OND, WAYNE COUNTY, INDIANA MAY / 1880

carefully removed the earth from one cal.
dron, which was partially filed with il.
and discovered an immense variety OF
ivory ornaments. an iron axe-head. and
Innumerable other articles. which for the
present lmustforbear TO mention, having
promised secrcsy. Layard removed as
many as he could, and covered the rest
with earth. 1t is by far the most impor-
tant discovery that has Vet been made.
lie has placed them under nv charge
and given me the direction Of the work.
men, as he is obliged to 90 to Mossul to
make preparations for the removal Of the
two finest colossal lions that have vet
been discovered, which will. trust be on
their way TO England in a month or two.
After that we shall cross the Zab with our
tents, encamp there. and pass our time
alternately in hunting and digging in the
mound.
''fou can have no idea of the difficult
ties Layard has TO contend with, or the
energy. talent. perseverance. and shrewd-
ness with which he surmounts them, or
the exquisite tact and good humor with
which he manages the different people he
has TO deal with. In the first place he
has nothing but conjecture to guide him
IN his researches; il is literally oropinp in
the dark. and all sorts Of buried treasures
may lie within his reach. while, from the
very small amount OF funds placed at his
disposal. he IS unable to make any thino
like proper search. and contents himself
with sinking trenches almost al a hazard
as it were
''Jan. 6.-Yestcrdav we removed more
than thirty metal vases, bowls. and sau
GERS, most beautifully embossed and en-
graved. some shields and swords. of
which the handles remain alone. the iron
blades being decomposed. and a small
marble vase. The cups and bowls and
other ornaments are Of some unknown al
10y Of metals, but they are all so encrust
ed with decomposod and chrystalizad
copper. and 50 fragile. that they cannot
be handled without great danger. and
Mr.. Lavard is sending them home in the
state IN which he found them, without at
tempting to remove the rust.
II spent eight hours yesterday scratch
ing them on, of the clay with my hands. !
as the operation was too delicate to allow
even knife TO be used My wife was
employed the whole night in packing
them We may now congratulate the /
british nation in being possessed Of an |
entirely unique collection. the value of
which is incstimable. The ornaments |
and sculptures on the :ascs denote a |
very advanced stage Of civilization. Not
the least curious Of the discoveries are
several hundred mother-o'- pearl studs. in
form exactly resembling our shirt buttons.
The London Times. of a later date
than the number which contained the
above letter. saws:
'Nery late and highly satisfactory ac-
counts have within these few davs been |
received from Mr.. Lavard, in Assyria |
giving intelligence of new and important
discoveries in the Nimroud mound. lie
has made fresh and extensive excavations
IN parts OF the emlnence not vet explored
and the result has been the fndino Of
nothing less than the throne upon which
me monarch. relgning about three thou
sand years ago. sat in his splendid pal,
ace. II IS composed of metal and ivory.
the metal being richly wrought. and the
ivory beautifully carved. 1t does not an
pear IN what part of the edfice this dis.
,overy has been made. but it seems the
hrone was separated from the state apart
nents by means Of large curtain. the
'ings by which it was drawn and nm.
irawn having been preserved. At the
late of these advices (the beginning Of
asst month) Mr.. Layard was pursuing his
eSearches with renewed ardor in conse.
Iuence o. the astonishing success that has
hitherto attended his excrtions. No hu.
nan remains have come to light and ev.
rythlng indicates the destruction of the
'alace by fire. 1t is said that the throne
'as been partially fused by heat
The Printer
The printer is rhe most curious beino
wing. He may have bank and auo,ns'