Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-02-12
Discovery Of the Tower of Babel.

Discovery Of the Tower of Babel
The following interesting particulars of
the Supposed discovery of the ruins OF The
Tower OF Babel, is taken from the Boston
Trar eller The. editor, in Introducing the
letter, says that the official position of its
correspondent, which gives him unusual op-
porrunities ard means of information, is
u!l guaranty of the correctness and reliabil-
ity of all his statements. The whole affair
is certainly very curious:-HOme Journal.
BEIRUT, December s, 1856.
alt is nearly two years since, that in
formed your readers of the grand snd in
structive discoveries in ancient NineHeif,
made by Mr.. Place, the French Consul in
Nosul. Following up the researches of Mr..
Botta and Mr.. Layard, he brought to ligi
monuments of that long-entombed city,
which equally amazed and delighted the
world. A man of genius and enthusiasm,
he was encouraged by his successes to ex-
tenC his researches, which he now closes
Will al WHlCI, OplulUitS
shall be verified, will add impershable lus-,
ter TO his name. The Tower of Babel was
supposed to exist only as Biblical Souvenir
"a thing of memory, and not of substance.
And, indeed, to many who contemplated it
only in its audacity and folly, ii seemed
myth OIL. a fancy only of Oriental inagina-
tiveness or superstition. Besides, no local.
ty was assigned to the structure, except the
great plain OF Shinar. and no debris or ru-
ins remained as the proof fits vertble re-
aiity.
How surprising, then, its discovery--if
discovery it shall prove-that Titanic struc-
ture, Yhose base was laid in the earth yet
soaked with the water Of the flood, and
whose summit was designed to pierce the
very heavens! And why not discovered l.
Ninevah has yielded up its secrets, after a
burial of long centuries. Baby lon, once the
glory Of the Cnaldean's exceIlency, has o.
pened her gates again, if not to her Persian
besiegers, at least to the living genera ion,
Of races, and in her cylinder-books offers
her history to the worlds inspection. What
remained for discovery in the wreck and ru-
in of the Ole world, but Babel, tnat mighty
tower, which was designed to pierce the
skies and defy second deluge. If it seems
100 much for belief; what should be thought
incredible, when Nineveh and Babylon are
brought back to the land oe the living BY a
sort of resurrection, and their monuments
Of ar; are travelling through the nations to
amaze and delight mankind!
Besides, there is providence to be trac-
ced in these discoveries. They serve not
only to arouse, but to instruct; they not on
ly crafty the curiosity, but establish, be-
yond ali doubt and controversy. the veraci-
ty and Inspiration oi the Sacred Records.
The light OF pure Christianity begins to
beam upan the early seats OF the human
race; i. is meet that it should be met by the
light % the rrmutest .ntiquity.
Tn substance OF the information which
laS just been circulated re a;ing to the dis
covery OF the roWer of Babel, will give in
few words, expecting sooa to receive ful-
Ter de- lais; at the same time remarking that
the French Cons ul-G General of Beirut, i4r.
Lesseps, has received various curious arti-
cles which were found in the tower, which
hope soon to see aud describe. | think nv
hand, if not my heart, will iaifIy tremble, if
once 1t takes hold of the shovels, the trow.
els, and the hods used by tbose old masons
and builders.
"The village of Arbela, so famous in his
tory for the decisive battle fought near it
by Darius and Alexander, is only few
days journey from Mosul, to which Mr..
Place, wearied with the monotonous Won
ders of Nineveh, set off with his accustom
ed enthusiasm in search of new discoveries.
in region celebrated in classical history.
Un his way an accident occurred, which
proves to what degree the statements of his.
tory respecting the locality, are the SIM
pie truth. The escort ofPace dismounted
when they reached the field ofArbela, fol-
lowing the example of the Consul, " shed 10
study the battlefield, and this he was Obliged
to do standing, as Turkish etiquette per-
mits no one to remain seated IN his saddle
Soon, however, he mounted again, in order
to scour the plain, and the escort did the
same, except single Turk of enormous
proportions, who followed on foot, puffina
and bathed in sweat. Mr.. Place, plying
him for his sad plight, asked him if he did
this because he preferred walking to riding