Elizabeth-Town gazette. [volume] (Elizabeth-Town, N.J.) 1818-1821, 1818-12-01
From a London Paper.

| RECENT ACCOUNT OF JERUSALEM.
We have been good deal entertained
with a book of Travels through Egypt,
Nubia, and the Holy Land, by Captain
LIGHT, Of the Artillery. This pubiica-
ton is one among many interesting proofs
of the ambition Of modern travellers; and
the book is rendered more than usually in
teresting, by some exceedingly clever
sketches Of scenery, which are beautifully
engraved. We extract from his work,
the following account OF the present state
of Jerusalem -
Jerusalem, known to the natives of
ISyria only by the name of Ell Holds, a
contraction from the Medinat-eI- Kadess,
i. e. the Sacred City, stands on the west
side of valley, Of which the east is the
Mount OF Olives. 1t contains within its
walls several of the hills OF which the
ancient city was supposed to have stood
these are only perceptible by the ascent
and descent of the streets.
The town, viewed from the Mount of
Olives, appears lying on the inclined
i plane of the side Of the valley on which
| it stands, having all ifs principal buildings
exposed to sight in an oblong enclosure
Iby walls. The streets are narrow and
without pavement; the houses are seen to
most advantage from the hills about the
town, whence the cupolas give even an
air of grandeur to them. The details Of
streets aud gates related by NJ Chateau.
BRAND, preclude the necessity Of mention
I ing them here. Those asked for, from
the account mentioned in this book, were
always pointed out to me. The only ba.
Ear through which passed was Of mean
appearance there seemed little commerce
except in relics and rosaries.
The population is said to be 10000,
of which the largest proportion are Mus
sulmen the greatest OF one sect are Jews.
the rest are composed OF Christians of
the East, belonging either TO the Arme-
MAN, Greek, Latin or Coptish sects. or
these, the Armenians are richest; are
said to intrigue most with the Turks; and,
from their money, gradually get possess
ion of the holy places, originally in the
hands of the Latin monks. They at one
time protested obedience to the Pope, and
were therefore allowed to have chapel 10
the Holy Sepulchre afterwards, when
they were wealthy enough to set up for
themselves, they abjured their allegiance
TO The Pope, and became more violent
against the Latins than the Greeks. About
four or five years before my arrival, the
church of the Holy Sepulchre was burnt
down: an accident, charged by some to
the Armenians, who knew that none of
the other sects had money enough to re-
build it; whilst they, having command Of
money, might make what terms they
pleased, and obtain what portion Of the
holy places they chose; and thus, from
the visits of pilgrims, have good interest
for their capital. The Latins and Greeks
were violent in their antipathy to the Ar
menians; in this they were united, but in
all other respects took equal advantage of
their interest with the Turks, to repress
each others Influence. The church Of
the Armenians is said to stand on the place
where ST. James was beheaded. When
visited it, the monks were at prayers !;
their black cowls. and robes, and long
silvery boards, had most melancholy
aspect. On the opposite side stood the
Nuns of their sect 4; they differed 10 dress
from the Monks, by wearing white cowls.
The convent of Greeks appeared not so
large an establishment as that of the Ar
menians or Latins. The reverence with
which the Guardian was treated, was more
abiect than | had imagined; my Greek
servant on entering the room in which he
sat, Frustrated himself on the ground at
the door, crawled on his hands and knees