Within this same period (1852-1854) another exploring expedition was sent out to Mesopotamia by the French government, under the leadership of Fulgence Fresnel, in whose party were the above-mentioned Thomas and the distinguished scholar Jules Oppert.

The objective point this time was Southern Mesopotamia, the mounds of which had hitherto not been touched, many not even identified as covering the remains of ancient cities.

Much valuable work was done by this expedition in its careful study of the site of the ancient Babylon,--in the neighborhood of the modern village Hillah, some forty miles south of Baghdad.

Unfortunately, the antiquities recovered at this place, and elsewhere, were lost through the sinking of the rafts as they carried their precious burden down the Tigris.

In the south again, the English followed close upon the heels of the French.