Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1857-02-05
Selett 1eaoi11g,
Correspondence of the Boston Traveller.
THE TOWER OF BABEL.

BEIRoT, December 8, 1S56-It is nearly
two years since that informed your readers
of the grand and instructive discoveries in
ancient Nineveh, made by Mr. Place, the
French Consul in Mosul. Following up the
researches of Botta and Mr.. Layard, he
brought to light monuments of that long en-
tombed city, which equally amazed and de-
lighted the world. A man of genius and en-
thusiasm, he was encouraged by his success
with an achievement which, if his opinions
shall be verified, will add imperishable lus-
tire to his name. The Tower of Babel was
supposed to exist only as Biblical souvenir
thing of memory and not of substance
And, indeed, to many who contemplated it
only . its audacity and folly, itseemed myth
or fancy only of Orinetal imaginativeness
or superstition. Besides, no locality was as
signed to the struct, re, except the great
plain of Shinar, and no debris or ruins re-
manned as the proof of its veritable reality.
How surprising, then, its discovery, if dis
covery it shall prove-that Titantic structure,
whose base was laid in the earth, yet soaked
with the waters of the food, and whose sum-
nit was designated to pierce the very heaV-
ems And why not discovered? Nineveh
has yielded up its secrets after burial of
long centuries. Babylon, once the glory of
the Chaldean's excellency, has opened her
gates again-if not to her Persian besiegers,
at least to the living generation of all races
and in her cylinder. books offers her his
tory to the worlds inspection. What re-:
mained for discovery in the wreck and ruin
of the Old World but Babel, that mighty
tower, which was designated to pierce the
skies, and deiy second deluge? If it
seems too much for belief, what should be
thought incredible when Nneveh and Baby
lon are brought back to the land of the liy-
ing by sort of resurrection, and their monu-
ments of art are travelling through the ma
tions to amaze and delight mankind? .
Besides, there is providence to be traced
in these discoveries. They serve not only to
arouse, but to instruct; they not only crafty
the curiosity, but establish beyond all doubt
and controversy the veracity and inspiration
of the Sacred Records. The light of pure
Christianity begins to beam upon the early
seats of the human race; it is meet that it
should be met by the light of the remotest
antiquity. 49,. .
The substance of the information which
has just been circulated relating to the dis
covery of tho Tower of Babel, will give in
a few words, expecting soon to receive fuller
details, at the same time remarking that the
French Consul General of Beirot, Mr.. Les
seps, has received various curious articles
which were found in the tower, which hope
soon to see and describe L think my hand,
if not my heart, will fairly tremble if once it
takes hold of the shoyels, the trowels, and
the hods used by those old masons and build
ers. o.. '-,
The village of Arbela, so famous in his
tory for the decisive battle fought near by
Darius and Alexander, is only a few days
journey from Mosul, to which Mr.. Place,
wearied with the, monotonous wonders Of
Nineveh, set off with his accustomed enthu-
siasm in search of new discoveries, in a re-
gion celebrated il. classical history. On his
way an incident occurred, which proves to
what degree the statements of history re-
specting the locality are the simple truth
The escort of Mr.. Place dismounted when
they reached the field of Arbela, following