The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1868-01-03
S'eIrttrd Mlistrllauy.
PALESTINE EXPLORATION.
What has been nAccOmpiishcd-The Eek
traOrdinary Discovery in jerusalem.


A correspondent of the London Times
of November 90 says:
have rend with the deepest interest,
and at the same time with very great pain,
the letter of MIR. Grove and accompanying
documents, which appeared III the Times
OF the l4th inst.
The Palestine Exploration Fund is un-
questionably the most important agency
ever employed for the Investigation of the
Holy Land. Its object is the accurate and
systematic examination of the archaeology
topography, geology, physical geography,
and natural history of the country, with a
commends itself, therefore, to scientifc
men, to students of Gods word, and to the
whole Christian public. Her Majesty's
government, recognizing the great impor.
tance of the undertaking placed at the dis
posal Of the society a competent staff OF
Royal Engineers. The names of Captain
Wilson aud Eeutenants, Anderson and
Warren, the leaders of the expeditions, are
a sufficient guarantee for the accuracy and
thoroughness of the survey and explora.
tions.
The two expeditions have been eminently
successful. Indeed, the results have been
anticipated, considering the limited re.
sources, and they furnish just such infor.
nation as was most needed. During the
first expedition no fewer than forty nine
places were fixed astrouomically, including
the leading cities and sites from Baalbek
on the north to Hebron Oh the south An
accurate basis was thus laid down for the
construction of map Of the Holy Land.
In addition, many important points of topo.
graphy were cleared up, and a large num-
Der of the sites of old Bi BILE cities explored.
The labors of the second expedition have
been even more important. Mr.. Warren
has surveyed the whole plain of Philistia,
the mountain region and valley of the Jor-
dan from Jebe Usdum to Jezreez, and q
section of Moab and Gilead extending from
Heshbon to Jerash. These facts demon.
strate the paramount Importance o., a fully
equipped scientific expedition and ven.
ture to hope that their announcement here
will give new impetus, at the present
moment, to the Palestine Exploration Fund.
But. perhaps, the wonderful discoveries
of Mr.. Ferren in and around Jerusalem
will create even n deeper feeling OF inter-
est in the minds of the general public
These have already been sketched in the
reports published from time to time in
your columns. Their importance TO the
Biblican Archaeological can scarcely be
over estimated. He cannot but feel that
the great vexed questions of the topography
of the Holy City and its sacred monuments
are on the eve of solution.
In common with many others have been
watching with the most intense eagerness
every fresh stage in the excavations, as it
corrOborated some fact in history or illus.
trated sumo statement in the Bible. The
courses of the three ancient.city walls, 80
minutely described by Josephus, are now
being gradually traced. The exact sites
of the most hallowed spots on ea:ih---the
Holy Sepulchre and the Jewish Temple
are in fair way OF being determined.
The colossal foundations Of the Temple
wall, in which are stones of ten cubits
aud stones of eight cubits," laid by Solo
MON or his successors on the throne, are
now being laid bare at the enormous der sh
of so feet and more beneath the present
surface. The bridge that once spanned the
ravine between the palace on Zion and the
Temple of Moriah is now proved to have
been upwards of l50 feet high. II this be
as it seems, the ascent" to the house of
the Lord which Solomon showed TO the
Queen of Sheba we cannot wonder that sn
seeing il " there was no more spirit in her.
The "pinnacls of the Temple" on which
the iempter placed the Savior, has just
been uncovered to its base, and is found
still to have an elevation of l36 feet, The
statement of Josephus is, therefore, no
" II any one looked from
the battlements into the valley he woul1
be giddy, while his sight could not reach
to such an immense depth" Sections of
the ancient wall of ophei have been ex-
humed, showing that, as Josephus says,
to the southeast angle Of the Temple
Aqueducts, cisteFnS, aud rock-hewn chan,
aels and passages, have also been discov-
cred within aud around the Haram, throw
ing new light on the buildings, the arrang
ments, and the services Of the Temple.
The great work of complete explora
ton Of ancient Jerusalem is thus fairly and
auspiciously commenced. The opportune
visit Of the Sultan and Grand vizier TO tins
country, and the representations made to
the latter by the Archbishop of York. FOL
lowed up, as they have been, by tle en-
ergy. the wisdom and the tact Of Lieuten-
ant Warren and his admirable staff, have