430 Dr. Beke on the Alluvia of Babylonia and Chaldvca. 



currence, to say that it has left no marks of its separate ex- 

 istence is tantamount to saying that it had no existence at all. 



That this is not Mr. Ainsworth's intention is evident ; and 

 yet it is only a corollary inevitably resulting from his argu- 

 ments. Hence I feel persuaded, that upon consideration he 

 will admit that the whole of the alluvial deposits of Babylonia 

 and Chaldaea, being of the same formation^ without the inter- 

 vention of the remains of any cataclysm, and proceeding from 

 causes which are at the present day still in active operation at 

 the mouth of the Euphrates, must necessarily have originated 

 altogether since the Noachian deluge. If this be conceded, 

 then Mr. Ainsworth's own arguments * go to prove that the 

 distance of 70 miles between the commencement of the al- 

 luvia and the site of Babylon, could not have been formed in 

 the period between the Deluge and the erection of the Tower 

 of Babel, and consequently that the site of the former cannot 

 possibly be identified with that of the latter ; and when once 

 this identification is done away with, and the simple historico- 

 geological question is left free from the clog placed on it by 

 the locality traditionally attributed to the Tower of Babel, I 

 have every reason to expect that Mr. Ainsworth will see suffi- 

 cient grounds for altering his opinion with respect to the 

 rate of the advance in former days of the alluvial deposits 

 upon the sea. 



That all the historical evidences are in favour of separating 

 the Babylon of Nebuchadnezzar from theBabel of Genesis, has 

 been, I apprehend, already sufficiently shown by me in the 

 pages of your Journal. 



I should have wished to come here to a conclusion ; but 

 before doing so, I am, however unwillingly, compelled to 

 advert to another subject. 



Before proceeding on his Expedition to the Euphrates, Co- 

 lonel Chesney was so kind as to assure me that the opinions 

 expressed in my Origines Bihlicce with reference to the coun- 

 tries he was going to visit should receive every attention, and 

 from the frequent reference to my writings made by Mr. Ains- 

 worth, I conclude that if that gentleman was not already ac- 

 quainted with my work it was placed in his hands by Colonel 

 Chesney. 



I will not think of complaining that in every instance in 

 which Mr. Ainsworth has found it expedient to refer to me, 

 with a single exception, that with respect to the cause of the 

 Deluge, in p. 107, it has been only to differ from me in opi- 

 nion f. Neither will I attempt the invidious task of seeking 



• p. 105. t See pp.53, 105, 126, 149, 160, 190. 



