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Beirut to Constantinople, having chosen this route, one of seven days, instead of a shorter one of four days, in order to see the very interesting coast of Asia Minor, and I am enjoying it greatly. Our second stop, day before yesterday, was at Alexandrette, a small but very ancient port --- the one of famous caravan-repute --- so, I went ashore to look about. Being the only white passenger on board, I started out alone, but of course, once on shore, I was detailed a Turkish soldier --- you can't go ten feet on land without a guard --- and together we did the town. Passing the best looking house in the place, and noticing over the main doorway an American Consulate sign, I entered, having nothing else to do, and met our consul, a Mr. Jackson, from Paulding, Ohio, who has a brother, a printer, in Detroit. He is a nice fellow, keen and interesting, and as he learned I had been at Aleppo, where his office is soon to be moved, he asked me many questions about the place, which he has never visited. Our little call ended and as I was leaving his office, he suddenly remembered that he had a message one day old, addressed to me. 

It had been handed into his office without an envelope and is worded in English "Stones seized at Haiffa", and bears the sellers signature. I told the full story to Mr. Jackson and he says that I must see Minister Leishmann at Constantinople who, if he will, can recover the sculptures by appealing direct to the Sultan. 

But this I shall not ask. It might in some way, some time, reflect a shadow upon my collection or the Smithsonian Institution. The Orientals might some time jump at the chance and make a great noise. I do not consider myself guilty of displaying any great amount of immortality, but as I have, in a way, lead some one else, a native, to disobey a foolish law, which is constantly transgressed, I cannot exactly classify myself with the Angels in white. I shall tell Mr. Leishmann the story in full, but shall not allow him to ask for recovery of the sculptures --- even though they are a superb lot --- think of 29 separate pieces, some having two figures each --- each one with early Greek inscriptions etc., etc., fully illustrating the cost important epoch of Greco-Roman art in the Hauran, including at least some unique pieces, as well as some pieces which I believe are counterfeit. A tremendous find, which I enjoyed dreaming were to be mine! Still, I'll forget this loss if they don't take away my Rakka pots soon to begin their perilous journey to London.

What was intended to be a brief note has spun itself into a long letter, but I must add that aside from my ankle,