The author had resided for fifteen months, in 1855–56, within a few miles of the Plain of Troy, and had made excursions over it at all seasons.

His paper commenced with a description of the western extremity of the Asiatic coast of the Hellespont, between Abydos and Koum Kaleh, including the River Rhodius and the sites of Dardanus, Ophrynium, Pteleos, Rhætium, and Novum Ilium, all of which he considered positively identified. A minute topographical account followed: first, of the valley of the Dumbrek (Simois); next, of the valley of the Mendere (Scamander); next, of the valley of the Kimair (Thymbrius of Strabo); and lastly, of the hilly country between these streams, and of the relics of antiquity which it included.