Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1816-11-12

We have been favored with the peru
al oftwo letters from Young oiilcer IN
the Mediterranean, a native OF hlcn-
.nond, to his particular friend, which
so inquisitiye spirit, and such
admirable sentiments, and contains, such
good views of the places be has visited !.
that we do ourselves the pleasure OF
making the following extracts for the a.
of the public:
Gibraltar Bay, July 10, 1916.
NV last letter was dated from Aiglers,
from thence, we sailed to Tunis and Fri
poll: in both Of which places, We found
the British squadron under Admiral
Lord Exneuth, basily fabricating trea
ty for their Sicilian and Sardinias Ma
jesties--by no means cossonant with thr
deseryedly high character of the fsr fish
arms.-I was on shore for an hour at
Tripoli: / was better pleased with il
than AIgiers or runis in as much as the
streets are wider and cleaner, and adj
hitting of much finer draught Of pure
air.
We stood from Tripolioverto Malta
but, being unable to obtain pfatique IN
consequence oil our communication with
the Barbary shore. we sailed Ter syra.
cuse, where we anchored Tor the second
time. on the Sd Of May. Though we
continued in quarantine during our STAY
here, and of course were unable to visit
many remarkable antiquities Of the place
it was still gratifying to behold The thea
tire OF so fnanygreat events promlnent ~
history, and to trace them with as much
exsctness as my feeble resources wouid
permit.
The view which presentes itself from
the harbor 0! Syracuse has more OF gran.
deur and sublimity than any to De pos'
sibly conceived-Tbe venerable heaps
o soary ruin, overlooked by the snowy
crest Of old Etna rejecting the rlslng
sun, form collection of sublime and
leyely objects, transcendently wonderful,
and calculated to inspire the dullest,
most vapid mind, with sentiments OF awe
and reverence. When i beheld tins
scene, could scarce contain an exc Ia
nation of rapture and delight Surely
a nious and exalted mind weuId have
en;yed the most enyiable and hoaiy
pleaure in the contemplation of such ob-
iects. Added to all this, the scene i
eraced with tints Of softer. lovlier ma
ture. A rich and almost immeasurab'e
mellow presents itself, adorned with the
Finest cultivation. and infersected by
stream on whose banks The finest cattle in
the world are ever grazing. Indeed, il
is fairy spot but time. ambition and
oppression have soi'ed it with their deep
esttinge and all those beauties are lavish
ed en- race of corrupted and degraded
wretches,
We sailed from Syracuse to MessIna,
of that place and the view as you lpr'-
coed up the Fare, have spoken IN q
previous letter: so we will commence
with Malta, of which you have so often
read. celebrated as the long and well de-
Tended strong hold of the knights. Il is
now in the hands of the different mas.
ters. who care as much for them, As
YOU or | for Don Guixette or his squire
The fairy Islaud of Calypso now Gozol
is only FIVE niles from Malta. though b.,
no means corresponding with its former
character Of flowery banks, eternal
spring. &c. &c,
La Ealette, the capital Of the Island
and residence of the Governor, is second
in strength only to Gibara'tar. | was
but few hours ashore, and had only an
opportunity of visiting or two curies-
tiles. The church of st. Johns is celc
brated as having been one OF the richest
in Europe. 1t was built by the Knights
of Malta, aad has tw Give separate cha
pels, yieing with each other with spien-
doar and n,agniacence, ana allotted t.
the different nations 10 which soRe o.!
their distinguished Order belonged All
is ornaments. such as statues, grating.
candle sticks, &c. were formerly Of solid
silver, but it was saaly riaed by the French,
who carried off according to the story of
the Maltese, a trigate balanced with its.
spells. A gate and railing of silver still
remain around one Of the affairs, which
with alany other ernaments,were painted
black to deceive the plunderers, and
thus preserved. However, every thins
falls short Of the tapestry work, OF which
the execution rs so exquisite, that it re, ,
quires the incest observation to Dustin
guish it from the most delicate touches of
the pencil. 1t is all ON crimson velvet,
representing the birth & most remarkable
scenes in the history of our Saviour down
to his crucifixion. The floors are all of
the most curious and beautiful Mosaic
of the tombs of the Knights
l. a