New Monthly Magazine Volume 122 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1861 edition. Excerpt: ... NEW MONTHLY MAGAZINE. CILICIA.* In December, 1851, M. Victor Langlois, a distinguished archaeologist, had the honour to present a work on numismatics to the emperor. The emperor, glancing at the book, said: " You have travelled in Asia, then?" " No, monseigneur; but I should be happy to have it in my power to visit the East, and if your imperial highness would condescend " Eight days after, M. Victor Langlois, who terminates the conversation thus abruptly, received a commission from the Minister of Public Instruction to explore Cilicia. We do not know why this most beautiful and interesting of all the provinces of Lesser Asia was selected, but it may be connected with the fact conveyed to us elsewhere, that " the East is in the present day the subject of serious preoccupations and of patient researches. Every year our soldiers go to raise the standard of France in distant countries, in order to convey the benefits of our civilisation amidst semi-barbarous populations." La Sentinelle took M. Victor Langlois to Greece, the JSurotas conveyed him to Constantinople, the Tancred to Smyrna, and the Mentor to Mursina, the port of Tarsus--a very roundabout way of reaching the city of Saint Paul. The impressions on first landing were not propitious. " That celebrated port of Tarsus, where lay in olden times the ships of Tyre, the fleets of Alexander and of Pompey, and where Cleopatra dared Anthony in her galleys--this port was sadly fallen off. Quantum mutatus ab illoV But as the scene began to unfold itself, the vast level plains, with the snow-clad Taurus behind like a fringe of lace, the ruinous castles of olden times dotting the tops of the less elevated hills in advance, his enthusiasm began to warm, till he could sympathise with that which...