CHAPTER III.
SYRIA.
1823-1828.
The civil and social condition of Jerusalem and Palestine was such, on the arrival of Messrs.

Bird and Goodell in 1823, that their brethren advised them to make Beirut the centre of their operations.
The advice was followed; and this was the commencement of what took the name of the Syria Mission.
The ancient name of Beirut was Berytus.

The city is pleasantly situated on the western side of a large bay, and has a fertile soil, with a supply of good water, sufficient in ordinary seasons, from springs flowing out of the adjacent hills.

Its population and wealth have greatly increased of late.

The anchorage for ships is at the eastern extremity of the bay, two miles from the city.