The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-02-09

To the Editor Of the London Times:
Sir-Since last communication lin the Times
of December 2l), | have received two reports
from Lieut.. Warren, r. E., dated at Jerusalem,
the 18th and 2lst of December. He is proceeding
vigorously with bis researches. They divide them
selves under three main heads:
l. The ancient double passage or tunnel running
from the sO-caled " Huldah-gats,n in the south
wall of the Haram, below the mosque of the Aksa,
up to the platform itself Of the Haram. IL has al
ways been an object OF anxiety to know whether
this was q mere tunnel, or whether il had sub
sidiary passages branching from il either west or
east. Mr.. Warren seems to have shown that none
such exist. At the northern end OF the tunnel,
he has discovered on the east vaulted chamber
IL feet square, and on the west some unimpOrtant
aqueducts five feet below the present surface,
aud probably connected with a tank beneath.
These ducts he believes TO be older than the Aksa
mosque. The square chamber, | understand him
20 say is later than the mosque. The sides of the
tunnel at its lower end about Is feet of solid
masonry, very rough on its outer face.
2. IN the TyTOpGOn valley, west OF the south
west corner of the Hsram. Here galleries are
being driven TO discover the depth and position Of
the native rock of the ravine Immediately below
the wall and the position of the pier which sup.
ported the western side of Robinson's arch"
The pier seems 10 have been reached; two courses
of stone were ia stu, and hope shortly to re
ceve details of its construction, and of the rock
Of the gulley between it and the wall. Mr.. War
rem sees ground for believing that this gulley will
be found to sweep round eastward and descend
to the Virgins fount" and thus divide Moriah
from Ophel-a fact never before suspected.
8. The water supply of the ancient city. In
this an advance has been made. Researches at
great depth in the upper part OF the TyrOp9on
seem to point TO the sctual existence Of the brook
which in the days OF monarchy "overfowed
through the midst Of the land, !" and which Heze'
kiah stopped or concealed when the city was be-
sieged by Sennecherib, q Chronicles XXI A.
This stream would appear TO he still forcing its
ancient way along its old channel at the pro-
digious depth Of more than sixty feet beneath the
present surface. A mile west of the city, be-
tween it and the ancient village of Neptoah, Mr..
Warren has explored, at some personal risk. re-
markable cleft which descends into the earth -
depth of more than one hundred and fifty feet,
and which may not imprObably be one Of the
sources of the water supply OF Jerusalem. On
the other hand, in the valley Of the Kedron,
mile ard a half south Of the city, and i've hundred
yard below the " Well Of JOab, ;" well has been
eXcavated, apparently for the first time, which
proves to contain passages, staircases, and other
cODtTyauces, which 1t can hardly be too much TO
assume win be found TO be connected with the
waters Of the city itself. Fragmentary as are all
these discoveries, they indicate amount OF
ancient remains below the surface which cannot
but excite the hopes and stimulate the curiosity OF
all concerned and incite us to strain every nerve
TO lay bare such interesting relics.
AS ! read Ar. WaTreD's accounts seem to feel
tie ancient city within my grasp-to know Tor a
certainty that It's very houses and streets and
Water-courses all the ancient life Of its structures,
its hills aud its Iayines, is lying buried like some
enchanted person beneath that singular aud
solemn tomb. The cliff las the dean Of West
minister said in bis sermon the other day. which
| Josb climbed, the streets which David uOd and
| along with Alfalfa vas hurried, the cataoomb OF
| the kings Of Judah the very Via Do!orosa ltsei'
| OF which not even the shadow OF likeness can
he found in The upper air Of the modern city-all
| these are doubtless there. Wherever Mr.. Warren
| probes, let him but go deep enough, and be
| comes on some solid substance OF curious and
ancient kind. They start into view 10 9
| Truly magical manner, more like the " Arab Al
! NieLts" than any thing else. A "stone suddenly
rolls away " and reveals staircases, passages
subterrauean balls 10 the heart Of the rock, lead
| ing TO who knows what repositories OF treasure
An almost invisible creyce 10 the hill turns 0ut 4
be an enchanted cave one hundred and nifty lee