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LETTERS FROM PROFESSOR CARLYLE 



bisond I intended going over land to Erzeroum ; from whence I should 

 have returned to Constantinople, by the route of Tocat and Angora. 

 The whole journey would not have taken up more than a couple of 

 months (which I fear will not here have been spent very profitably) ; 

 and I conceive there is no other tour of the same extent that could 

 furnish an equal number of objects so well worthy of investigation. 

 I need not say to Your Lordship, that I should nearly have followed 

 the mysterious track of the Argonauts, and passed over the places 

 where the most celebrated scenes in the retreat of the ten thousand* 

 were transacted. Heraclea and Amastris, I understand, contain more 

 interesting remains, and a greater quantity of inscriptions, than are 

 to be found in any city in Asia. Sinope, the Gibraltar of the Euxine, 

 possesses, I am assured, some valuable MSS. in one of its convents. 

 Trebisond most likely does the same, and at any rate is curious as 

 being the capital of an empire, which, though considerable in many 

 respects, and existing for two centuries and an half, is scarce known 

 to us but in romance. Had I gotten to Erzeroum, I should have 

 obtained a glimpse of Armenian manners, and perhaps of their lite- 

 rature, an object with which I have lately been endeavouring in some 

 degree to become acquainted. I do not know that the country be- 

 tween Erzeroum and Constantinople would present any thing very 

 remarkable, except the famous Ancyran* inscription, containing the 

 life of Augustus (which I believe has never been very correctly taken) 

 and the general information that must always result to a mind at all 

 conversant in classical ideas, upon travelling through such countries 

 as Galatia, Bithynia, and Pontus. The track I had projected inves- 

 tigating has never yet been examined by any Englishman. Tourne- 

 fort visited it a century ago, and has given the only description of it 

 that I have seen ; he stopped at a few of the towns upon the coast, 

 and his inquiries were principally directed to researches of a bo- 



* The first copy of the Ancyran inscription was taken by Busbequius. Rostan, a 

 Frenchman, is the last person who appears to have examined it : a more accurate account 

 is still wanting. Acad, des In. 47. p. 89. 



