108 Ruins of the Tower of Babel Discovered. [Marct, 



Place, tte French Consul, in Mosul. Following up the researches 

 of Mr. BoTTA and Mr. Layard, he brought to light 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 extend his researches, which he now closes with an 

 achievement, which, if his opinions shall be verified, will add imper- 

 ishable luster 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 contemplate it only in its 

 audacity and folly, it seems a myth or a fancy only of oriental im- 

 aginativeness or superstition. Besides, no locality was assigned to 

 the structure, except the great plain of Shinar, and no dehi'is or ruins 

 remained as the proof of its veritable reality. 



How surprising, then, its 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? Nineveh has 

 yielded up its secrets after a 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 genera- 

 tion of all races, and in her cylinder-books ofiers her history to the 

 world's inspection. What remains for discovery in the wreck and 

 ruin of the old world, but Babel, that mighty tower which was de- 

 signed to pierce the skies, and defy a second deluge ! If it seems too 

 much for belief, what should be thought incredible, when Nineveh 

 and Babylon are brought back to the land of the living by a sort 

 of resurrection, and their monuments of art are traveling through 

 the nations to amaze and delight mankind? 



Besides, there is a providence to be traced in these discoveries. 

 They serve not only to amaze but to instruct ; they not only grati- 

 fy 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 \he early seats of the human race; 

 it is meet that it should be met by the remotest antiquity. 



The substance of the information which has just been circulated 

 relating to the discovery of the Tower of Babel, I will give, in a 

 few words, expecting soon to receive fuller details, at the same time 

 remarking that the French Consul General, of Betirut, Mr. Lesseps, 

 has received various curious articles which were found in the tower, 

 which I hope soon to see and describe. I think my hand, if not 



