On one occasion, when the indication of buried sculpture seemed conclusive, and yet the search for it fruitless, Lord ELGIN was induced to ask the former owner of the ground if he remembered to have seen any figures there. ‘If you had asked me that before,’ replied the man, ‘I could have saved you all your trouble. I found the figures, and pounded them to make mortar with, because they were of excellent marble. A great part of the Citadel has been built with mortar made in the same way. That marble makes capital lime.’ The conversation was not lost upon Lord ELGIN. And the assertion made in it was amply corroborated by facts which presently came under his own eyes. He became convinced that when fine sculpture was found it would be a duty to remove it, if possible, rather than expose it to certain destruction—a little sooner or a little later—from Turkish barbarity. [Sidenote: THE EXPLORATIONS EXTENDED TO OTHER PARTS OF GREECE.] At intervals the artists, whose head-quarters were at Athens, made exploring trips to other parts of Greece. They visited Delphi, Corinth, Epidaurus, Argos, Mycene, Cape Sigæum, Olympia, Æginæ, Salamis, and Marathon. But it was only by means of renewed efforts at Constantinople, and after a long delay, that the artists and their assistant labourers were enabled to act with freedom and to make thorough explorations. So long as the French remained masters of Egypt Lord ELGIN had to win every little concession piecemeal, and obtained it grudgingly. As soon as it became apparent that the British Expedition would be finally successful, the tone of the Turkish government was entirely altered. They were now eager to satisfy the Ambassador, and to lay him under obligation. [Sidenote: INFLUENCE OF THE BRITISH VICTORIES IN EGYPT.] Firmauns were given, which empowered him, not only to make models, but ‘to take away any pieces of stone from the temples of the idols with old inscriptions or figures thereon,’ at his pleasure. Instructions were sent to Athens which had the effect of making the Acropolis itself a scene of busy and well-rewarded labour. Theretofore a heavy admission fee had been exacted at each visit of the draughtsmen or modellers. Before the close of 1802, more than three hundred labourers were at work under the direction of LUSIERI—with results which are familiar to the world. It is less widely known that, had NAPOLEON’S plans in Egypt been carried to a prosperous issue, the ‘Elgin Marbles’ would, beyond all doubt, have become French marbles. When Lord ELGIN’S operations began, French agents were actually resident in Athens, awaiting the turn of events and prepared to profit by it, in the way of resuming the operations which M. DE CHOISEUL GOUFFIER had long previously begun.[63] [Sidenote: INSTANCES OF TURKISH DEVASTATION.] [Sidenote: 1674.]