THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA. 245 



quest, migration, sovereignty, and revolution of which the 

 Bosphorus and Dardanelles have been the scene at all 

 periods ; often defining their course and progress, often 

 suddenly arresting it. Europe and Asia, with promontories 

 and palaces reflected from the same great stream, may be 

 said to divide its history between them. For the last four 

 centuries Asia and Asiatics have had dominion here, and in 

 name and outward recognition this may continue yet longer. 

 But virtually a change has begun, the progress of which 

 cannot now be arrested ; and which in its ultimate effect will 

 inevitably restore to Europe its sovereignty in these straits 

 and seas, so important in their position to the commerce and 

 civilisation of the world. In this respect (as in many others 

 not yet fully surmised) the recent Crimean war will bear 

 fruits to be gathered by succeeding generations. 



The depth of the Mediterranean is another of its great 

 physical characteristics. We have spoken of the deep sound- 

 ings close to the bar in the Straits of Gibraltar, and of those 

 which occur on each side of the submarine ridge extending 

 from Sicily to the African coast. These soundings, indeed, 

 have only partially been made in the Mediterranean by the 

 improved methods lately adopted in the Atlantic, and con- 

 ducted so systematically in some parts of that ocean. But 

 they suffice to indicate depths equal to the average height of 

 the mountains girding round this great basin ; and, if one 

 particular experiment may be credited, reaching even to 

 1 5,000 feet ; a depth closely approaching the elevation of 

 the highest Alps. This sounding was made about ninety miles 

 east of Malta. Between Cyprus and Egypt 6,000 feet of line 

 have been let down without reaching the bottom. Other 

 deep soundings have been made in other places with similar 

 results. We have not yet obtained any official account of 

 those recently effected by the ' Tartarus ' in the lines of sea 

 between Egypt and the Archipelago ; but it is stated on 



