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nothing to do with it , and to assure him that I did not touch the Jewish tombs . The Sheikh of Silwan also sent him ivord that he might be sure it was not my ivork , as if we had been there it would have been closed up again and nobody

would be any the wiser . I am going to see the Rabbi in a few days , and show him the plans and sections of the Haram Wall , & c . I have offered to employ the Jews in excavating , but it is out of their line altogether .

Extract from letter January 11 th , 1868 : — "WORKS IN PEOGBESS . <{ Makharna , under Wilson's Arch . —Gallery driven to south along Haram Wall for 30 feet . No sign of any opening in wall corresponding to

Barclay ' s Gateway . —Shaft under arch on west side ; a curious recess has been found in the pier similar to those at Robinson's Arch , except that it extends through these courses : a sketch of this will be sent when the shaft is completed . " Pier of Robinson ' s Arch . —This has now been

bared to north for 2 o feet and the corner to ivest has been turned . The builders of this pier , in a truly economical spirit , characteristically Jewish , have built it with recesses so as to save a very large portion of the stone , which would otherwise

have had to be used . As far as I can judge of the pier at present , it is 45 feet long and 12 feet through ; it is built with a hollow space inside of about 5 feet ividth , and the Avhole pier seems to be made up of smaller ones averaging 6 feet in

length , the bays or openings being similar in dimensions . These little piers are the height of two courses ( 3 feet 9 inches and 3 feet 6 inches ) 7 feet 3 inches ; and lying across them and the bays are lintels , the largest being 12 feet 6

inches in length , 3 feet 9 inches in height , and weighing over ten tons . " I wish to know whether in the other parts of the Avorld or Syria , similar economical designs have been found in building where arches are not

used . No doubt this method of building may be considered , as far as it goes , as characteristic of ono particular epoch , probably before the arch was in general use ; and yet it differs entirely from the massive styles of Egypt and Assyria . East

of the pier , on a level with the rock surface , is a pavement which we have examined for about 18 feet ; and on it , lying huddled together just as they fell , are the actual voussoirs of the great viaduct called Robinson ' s Arch ; they lie in lines north

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and south , and between them one can squeeze with difficulty for some 10 or 15 feet each way . They are in our way going east , and though they are of meleheh , they are so hard that the men cannot break them , and I have had to blast them . It will take us at least a month more thoroughly to examine this pier , and all that pertains to it .

At the Kedron , the rock is beginning to rise rapidly , and I shall close the gallery up in a few days . We are now 145 feet from entrance . "At the Aqueduct below Bir Eyub we are getting on slowly .

Erom letter of January 22 nd , 1868 : — " We have made a great discovery this week—¦ viz ., a system of vaults , tanks , and aqueducts , in connection with , and to the west of Wilson ' s Arch : they are apparently of similar age and

construction , and are likely to throw considerable light on Jerusalem topography ; in fact , it appears to me that this system of vaults is the key to underground Jerusalem , and , if we are not interfered with . We may reasonably hope very soon to have a good knowledge of the great embankment which runs across the Tyropcen Valley .

" Makhama . —Wilson s Arch . —Shaft on east of pier continued to a depth of 41 feet ; pier below , a depth of 21 feet 6 inches , is composed of rough hewn stones . Hole broken through pier to west for 10 feet in search of another arch . Two holes were made in the chamber A in search of

continuation of Wilson ' s Arch to west ; and on Saturday , 18 th inst ., the hole to the north ivas found to open on to a space covered by a trimmer arch , running east and west , resting on the arches in continuation of Wilson ' s Arch . These arches are in two

sets , side by side , and make up together the length of Wilson's Arch . The span of the northern set is only 12 to 13 feet , that of the southern from 22 to 23 feet ; underneath these arches are other at a lower level , which may have have been used

as tanks , and in them are some curious troughs or aqueducts . To the ivest of the upper vaults are passages which the plan must explain ; they run in several directions , and are blocked up loosely at the ends . Erom one of the passages

was a hole downwards , and on being lowered into it ( chamber B ) I was astonished to see a white marble pedestal . I was in great hopes there might be an inscription on it , but it is quite plain , and may at one time have formed part of a column in support of the roof . In one angle is part of