After being encamped for ten days at the foot of the Babylonian Mound of the Kasr, employed in a careful examination of the great mass of the ruins and the surrounding topography, I took advantage of the first break in the weather to pay a flying visit to the Birs-Nimrud, where excavations had been carried on for above two months, under my directions and on account of the British Museum, by an intelligent youngman, M. Joseph Tonietti by name, with a view of ascertaining the general features of thebuilding, and thus finally disposing of the many difficult questions connected with this remarkable ruin. Crossing the river at the village of Anana, a ride of three hours and a quarter brought our small party, which consisted of Dr. Hyslop, the Rev. Mr. Leacroft, and myself, to the spot in question. We found our tents already pitched at the camp, or village, which our labourers had formed a short distance to the north of the mound, but without alighting we proceeded on at once to inspect the excavations. That day was consumed in making a careful inspection of the various works in progress, and in endeavouring to realize and restore a general plan of the original building from a comparison of the various sections of exterior wall, and interior strata of brickwork, which had been laid bare by the vertical and horizontal trenches now seaming the mound.