Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-07-31

One Of them is Spain. Spain has.
for long time been feeble. do
debilitated and abject nation; poor finn,
possessed of large dom;nions, comm;
sing some of the finest portions Of ths
globe, and an almost exclusive title IA
those sources of wealth and grandeur
the precious metals. Nothing in mn,
dern history strikes the mind with
more force, than comparison of tbe-
present condition of that kingdom. with
the high state Of prosperity and maen.
finencr it enjoyed under the govern
meut of the Nlussulmans. That extra
ordinary race of men entered Spain at
the beginning of the sth century, and
maintained dominion there nearly ciebt
hundred years. Many of the CaIisM
were distinguished not only as war
riors, but for their love of Science and
the arts, far the mildness as we'll as the
magnifcence of their disposition. AZ.
t r all the waste and desoIation Of the
ages which have passed since their ey.
pulsion from the kingdom, many mo.
numents Of their taste and splendour
remain to this day; monuments which
impress the mind of the bcholder with
delis ht as veil as establishment.
In looking over " Powers History
of ;hc Empire of the Mussulmans in
SPAN" work published in 1915, we
find variety of accounts and descrip<
tons of Moorish magnifcence which
convey TO the mind Of the reader strik.
ing though imperfect ideas of the real.
ty. The Caliph Abderame I'LL. ascend.
ed the throne in the year 9l2. AL
tough he was engaged in almost per.
petuaI wars. he still found time and
means to display his taste for splcndOr
IN an extraordinary degree. Some.
time after his accession, the Greek En-.
peror, Constantine TX. having appre.
tensions from the Calipl of Baglad,
sent ambassadors to Cordeva. to nego.
ciate an alliance with Abderame. The
idea of such an embassy from such a
province, was aattering to the Moorish
sovereign, and he resolved to exhibit to
them degree of pomp equal to the
grandest displays Of Eastern magnif.
cence. Z" He sent" says the historian,
" as far as Jaen to receive the smtas-
sailors; numerous corps of cavalry,
magniticentiy dressed, attended then
Oh the road TO Cordova; a body of in
fantry, the most brilliant ever seen
flied the avenues Of the palace. The
court yards were covered with the most
beautiful carpets from Persia and f.
gypt, and the walls were hung with
cloth Of gold. The Caliph, OF a bril-.
liant throne, surrounded by his family
by his Wi, s,and a crowd of courtiers,
received them in gallery, where all
his riches we're displayed. The Had.
Jjeb, an officer, who, with the Moors,
holds an office corresponding with the
ancient mayor of the palace in France,
introduced the ambassadors, who daz-
zled with this splendid reception, pros.
tratcd themselves before Abderame and
presented the letters Of Constantine,
written on blue parchment, in letters Of
gold of the Greek alphabet, and enclOs.
ed in gold box. The Csliph signed
the treaty, loaded the ENJOYS of his En-
peror with presents, and ordered them
to be accompanied by numerous suite
to the very walls Of CoDstaptinoPle."
After describing the charms OF the
town of Zebra, situated at short dis.
lance from Cordova. built for the Ga.
liph's mistress of that name, The hlstO'
rian Says
GAN these beauties were outdone by
the palace Of the fayorite. Ahderawe'
allied to the Greek Emperors, demand.
ed of them the most experienced of their
architects; and the sovereign of Con-
stantinoplr, at that tine the abode OF mo
fine arts, exerted himself Gil the occa,
sion, and sent with them one hundred
and forty columns of granite, the mo''
beautiful he could collect. lndept0'
IDENTIFY of these magnificent columns
We can count more than twelve hun
dred others of Spanish and italian mar
BILE. The walls Of the saloon. when
was called the Caliphat. were covFrfu
with ornaments of gold. and nun'erou'
figures of animals, Of the same mflab
pDured ont water into bas,D OF aid.
baster, over which was suspended 'ha'
famous pearl, which the Emperor Leon