GREAT DISCOVERIES IN JERUSALEM.

Southland Times, Issue 947, 8 May 1868, Page 2

GREAT DISCOVERIES IN JERUSALEM.

The London " Times" publishes an interesing letter in regard to the discoveries in progress at Jerusalem, from which we select the following : — The colossal foundations of the temple walls, which are "stones often cubits and stones of eight cubits," laid by Solomon or his successors to the throne, are now being laid bare &t the enormous depth' of 90 feet and more beneath the present surface. The bridge that once spanned the ravine between the palace on Zion and the temple on Moriah is now proved to have been upwards of one hundred and fifty feet high. If this be, as it seems, the ascent to the house of the Lord which Solomon showed to the Queen of Sheba, we cannot wonder that on seeing it, there was no more spirit in her. The pinnacle of the temple, on which the tempter placed the Saviour, has just been uncovered to the base, and is found still to have an elevation of 136 feet. The statement of Josephus is, therefore, no exaggeration. "If any one looked from the battlements into the valley, he would'be giddy, while his sight could not reach such an immense depth." Sections of the 'ancient wall of Ophel have been exhausted, showing that, as Josephus says, it was joined to the southeast angle of the Temple. Aqueducts, cisterns, rock ■hewnehannels, and passages, have also been discovered within and around the harem, throwing new light on the buildings, the arrangements, and services of the temple. The great work of complete exploration of ancient Jerusalem is thus fairly and auspiciously commenced. The opportune visit of the Sultan and Grand "Vizier to this country, and the representations made to the latter by the, Archbishop of York, followed uj) as they have been by the energy, the wisdom, and tact of Lieutenant Warren and his admirable staff, have smoothed down Moslem prejudice, removed local opposition, and thus brought about opportunities for excavation and exploration such as never occurred before; and besides, large numbers of Arab laborers have been trained tp the work and are eager to be employed ; and the exact points for successful exploration are well known.