Kenosha tribune & telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1856-1859, 1857-01-29
The Ruins of the Tower Of Babel.
BEIRUT, Monday. Dec. s. 1851


II Editor Of the Boston Tracelier: 1t is
nearly two years since that informed
your readers of the grand and instructl
i've discoveries of ancient Ninevah,
mad by Mr.. Place, the French Consul
in Mosul. Following up the ancient re-
searches of Mr.. Botta and Mr.. Layard,
he brcught.to Ii ght.mo iuments..of a long
entombed city, which equally amazed
and delighted the world. A man of ge-
MUS and enthusiasm, he was encouraged
by his successes to extend his research
es, which he now closes with an achieve
ment, which when his opinions shall be
verified, will add imperishable ltstre
to his name. The Tower of Babel was
supposed to exist only as a Biblical
souvenir-a thing of memory and not of
substance. And, indeed, to many who
contemplated it only in its audacity and
folly, it seemed myth or fancy only
of Oriental imaginativess or superstition.
Besides, no locality was assigned to
the structure, except the great plain of
Shinar, and no debris or ruins remained
as proof of It's veritable reality.
How surprising, then, It's discovery
if discovery it shall prove-that Titanic
structure, whose base was laid in the
earth yet soaked with the waters of the
flood, and whose summit was designed
to pierce the very heavens. And why
not discovered? Ninevah has Welded
up its secrets, after burial of long CEN
turies.-Babylon, once the glory of the
Chaldean's excellency, has opened her
gates again, if not to her Persian be-
slegers, at least to the living generation
OF all races, and her cylender-books of
terSher history to the world sinspection.
! What remained for discovery in the
wreck and ruin of the old world, but Ba-
bel, that mighty tower which was design
ed to pierce the skies and defy second
deluge. 1t seems too much for belief,
what should be thought incredible, when
Ninevah and Babylon are brought back
to the land of the living by sort OF re-
surrection, and their monuments of art
are travelling through the nations to
amaze and delight mankind.
Besides, there is a providence to be
traced in these discoveries. They serve
not only to arouse but to instruct; they
not only crafty the curiosity, but es-
tablish beyond all doubt and controversy
the veracity and inspiration of the Sa-
cred Records. The light fpure Chris
tianity begins to beam upon the early
acts of the human race; it is meet that it
should be met by the light of the remot
est antiquity.
The substance of the information
which has just been circulated relating
to the discovery OF the Tower of Babel,
| will give in a few words, expecting
soon to receive fuller details, at the same
time remarking that til French Consul
General Of Beirut, Mr.. Lisseps, has re-
celved various curious articles which
were found in the tower, which | hope
soon to see and describe. / think my
hand, ifnot my heart, will fairly tremble,
if once it takes hold of the shovels, the
trowels, and the hods used by those old
masonsFand builders.
The village of Arabia, so famous in
history for the decisive battle fought
near it by Darius aud Alexander, is only
a few days journey from Mosul, to which
Mr.. Place, wearied with the monotonous
wonder of Ninevah, set off with his ac-
customed enthusiasm in search of new
discoveries, in region celebrated in
classical history. On his way an Incl
dent occurred which proves to what a
degree the statements ofhistory respect
ling the locality are the simple truth.
The escort Of Mr.. Place dismounted
when they reached the field of Arbela,
following the example of the Consul,
who wished to stetdy the battle field, and
this hcswas obliged to do Stondi7ag, as
Turkish etiquette permits no one to re-
main seated in his saddle. Soon, how
ever, he mounted again, in orderto scour
the plain, and the escort did the same,
except Il single Turk of enormous pro-
portions, who followed on foot, putting
and bathed in sweat. Mr.. Place, pity
ing him for his sad plight asked him i'll
he did this because he preferred walk
ing to riding.
''By no MEANS" said the Turk; but ]
am unable to remont my horse, because
| need the help of stone in order to
regain my stirrup, and who can find a
single stone i'll ali the plain Of Gingar-
nolla.
Now it is well known that Darius EN-
lployed 100000 men for many DAYS in
ileyclling this plain andin breaking what
! ever would interpOse an obstacle to his
cavalry and chariots Of war.-In the
centre of the old battlefield of Arbella
rises q hill ofcolossal Dimensions, whose
object the party vainly conjectured,
/ thinking it might be a tomb, or triumph
ant monument, or morelikely both. Tn
fortunately theyhad not time to cxamineit
nor the appliances necessary for explor-
| ing H.
Passing on, Mr.. Place and his party
at length discovered what they believed
to be nothing less than the veritable re-
mains Of the Timer Of BobeLthc wond :
| OF wonders, and the grandcst spectacle
/ which the eyes OF men can contemplate
| il this age Of the world. This proud
tower, which was built in defiance OF
Heaven, and aimed to pierce the very
skies, has lost in the course of ages its
Icloudreaching elevation. Six Gifts eight
stories have fallen and crumbled into
dust; but two which remain are so high
that they may be seen for fifty or si4ty
miles drOHnd The base of the tower
is quadrangular, and each side about six
hundred feet long. The tower is made
Of bricks Of the purest clay, and of
white color, which is little shaded with
yellow tint. Under theclear sun, and as
/ n whole, this ancient monument of hui
man skill and daring, presents a fine
blending of colors which sets the paint
er's pallet at defiance. Before being
baked, the bricks had been coyered with
characters, traced with the accuracy Of
/ tho hand nf' q Writ N cr-rn n cfar Noor thc