JET. 82.] W. E. GLADSTONE. 379 



Persian Gulf). Of the Danube he knew nothing; but he be- 

 lieved in certain inhabited tracts, which he enumerates, to the 

 northward of the Thracian mountains. 



This purely literary fact has led me often, and from perhaps 

 twenty or thirty years back, to inquire from geological friends, 

 who have assured rne, as you do, that Central Europe was at a 

 very late geologic period under water. 



It was not for me to consider how this tradition stood related 

 to the mountains (of no very great elevation, I think) which 

 sever Central Europe from the Adriatic. 



I do not attempt to enter here upon the proof of my Homeric 

 fact, which I think conclusive. But I may mention is it relevant 

 or not ? that the Duke of Argyll told me he saw exposed in the 

 fish-markets of Venice sea-fauna (if the phrase may be used) 

 not appearing in the Mediterranean generally, but familiar to 

 him in Argyllshire on the coast of the Atlantic. 



Your submergence helps me, because it is south as well as 

 north of the mountains which I named. 



Your supposition of the escape of a part of the local popula- 

 tion leaves room for the transmission of a geological or Quater- 

 nary phenomenon down to (what we call) prehistoric times. 



There is a kind of sister tradition, that of the Atlantis ; but 

 here it is the ghost of a tradition, for I know of no period in 

 which the Atlantis was the subject of a living popular belief. 



I apologise for this intrusion, which you will see is intended 

 in a sympathetic sense. I remain, my dear sir, with much re- 

 spect, faithfully yours, W. E. GLADSTONE. 



From the Same. HAWARDEN CASTLE, CHESTER. 



MY DEAE SIR, One word by way of supplement. What you 

 say of your submergence in no way I think conflicts with the 

 idea that it may have had to do with Homer's European sea. 

 That idea may be compounded of the traditions of several sub- 

 mergences, which (traditions) had coalesced into one, just as 

 I think it almost certain that the Homeric notion of a great cir- 

 cumfluent river Okeanos was made up from partial notices of 

 Eastern (as well as Western) water at the Straits of Yenikale, in 

 the Caspian, and in the Persian Gulf and Red Sea. These 



