1847] Journal of a Steam Trip to the north of Baghdad. 333 



so graphically described by my friend Dr. Ross, and I feel the disap- 

 pointment the more, as I have already been six years in this country 

 without ever having had such an opportunity, my duties not permitting 

 me to absent myself from the vessel for a length of time, such as 

 would be required to perform the journey by land from Baghdad. 



The failure of this attempt is not to be attributed to any severe 

 obstacles met with in the navigation of the Upper Tigris, for to a 

 vessel possessing the power of those now running on the Thames of an 

 average speed of 10 knots per hour, such difficulties as the Nitocris 

 experienced would be deemed of minor importance. The Nitocris 

 indeed under the most favorable circumstances in still water, cannot 

 exceed the speed of 8 knots per hour, having a wheel of 12 feet dia- 

 meter only, and a short stroke of 30 inches, more cannot be expected of 

 her. By some miscalculation of the designer of the vessel this diameter 

 of 12 feet is further reduced to 11 feet 4 inches, from being obliged to 

 reef the paddle floats ; as when carried out to the full extent of the 

 circumference of the wheels, experience has proved, that she is much less 

 effective than in her present state. The engines are in fact either 

 placed too low in the vessel, or when launched the hull must have drawn 

 more water than was calculated upon. 



It is true that the Euphrates, built under the superintendence of 

 Col. Chesney ; ascended to a much higher point when commanded by 



and I am informed has realized in his discoveries all that an ardent antiquarian can wish 

 for; indeed Nimrud is represented as inexhaustible. It is probable that Mr. Layard's 

 first cargo of " reliques" have ere this, reached Baghdad, thus far on its way to England, 

 and it is hoped, if the Government do not undertake the further excavation of this inter- 

 esting mound, that some public body will lend its endeavours to facilitate Mr. Layard in 

 the objects he has in view, and thus secure to England a rich mine of antique specimens, 

 unique of their kind, which will afford matter for enquiry and further research into the 

 large field now opened to us in Mesopotamia, and without doubt tend to elucidate and 

 finally brighten the few glimpses afforded us, into the hitherto dark pages of ancient 

 history. 



The untiring and ardent mind of Major Rawlinson, I think, first suggested the idea 

 of excavating on this site, and the antiquarian community of Europe are not only indebt- 

 ed to him, but to Sir Stratford Canning, H. B. M. Ambassador at Constantinople, who in 

 addition to opening the mound, undertook, with a munificence rarely met with, to advance 

 from his private purse the necessary funds for commencing the operations on an extensive 

 scale. His unceasing exertions too, with the ministers of Constantinople to secure by 

 Firman, the right of exploration on Turkish soil, without which Mr. Layard's exertions 

 would have proved fruitless, must claim for His Excellency the gratitude of the British 

 public. It only remains now for the Government to continue what has thus been so 

 liberally begun. 



2 Y 



