The Wilmingtonian., 1824-05-13

sumS to Jerusalem loT tho sopPo'.
these deyotees. A vessel leaves Constan-
t;nonle every year carrying from hun,
Jred and fifty to two hundred pilgrims OF
both sexes. The rich pilgrims pay the
massage of the poorer ones. Assembled 10
the valley of Jehoss phat. they weep bitter.
1ly over the graves Of their ancestors an"
pray ferventy for forgiveness OF their own
sins and those of the nation both living
and dead.
An American Republican in looking 0,
YER the form Of government above s'a.e"
will object that the people are very I'M
perfectly represented in the nationa' as
sembly. This is true but 1T IS observed,
| that in this national assembly, constituted
as already mentioned. those who lay thr
taxes pay them nearly all themselves;
singuarty worth notice, anu "h'ch oes-
pair Of seeing initiated. =.
There are several reflections which
present themselves, arising ont OF this sub
Iicct, which, however extraordinary theyI
may appear at first sight will. nevertheless
on examination be found as true as extra.
ordinary. 1t is we'll known that the sacred
books of the Hebrews are the foundation
on which are built the Jewish, Christian
and Mahommeden religions, G.e.) are the
source of all the religions on the 6 Iobe that
have any claims to nationality; while the
fate and fortunes Of that nation in con-
nexion with the predictions in their scrip
lures fnre-telling them. constitute. exactly,
the strongest proofs that we have of the
existance Of a Divine Providence as to the
affairs ofthis planet. These, however, are
facts that have long been known. But
there is something else almost equally
wonderful, which has not been so familiar
to our thoughts, and it is this. This peo-
Pile have given TO the world the astonish-
ing spectacle of the preservation Of the
sacred fire Of liberty, openly when they
could, and secretly when enslavcd for
more than three thousand years, in spite
of kings, conquerors, and nations who
have subjected them so often during that
long period, and crushed them under a
weight of oppression and approbiun suifi-
cient to drive mad alike the wise and the
foolish. No nation, it is certain. have ever
made such repeated and obstinate struggles
for freedom as the II abrews. Not to mem
tinn their victorious instructions against
their oppressors under the guidence of
Othniel, Barak, Ehud. Gideon, Samuel,
Saul, and David, with hardly any other
arms than the implements Of husbandry.
: The most powerful empires of antiquity,
the Egyptian, the Assyr'an. the Babylon
ian, Antiochs, and the Romans have six
times endeavoured to achieve their exter-
mination.-And where are they all !! The
nation whose destruction they had sworn
by their gods to effect. has buried them
all. and danc'I upon their graves!
, When the A.atic and the Greek, the
5 Moor, the Spaniard, the Gaul, and the
;, Briton Frustrated themselves in humbl,
: submission under the "iron legs" of the
n Roman Colossus, this "east OF the ma
), tions" dehed him to his teeth.
!, The History of Josephns gives US th'
l. most terrible narrative Of "the frenziet
struggles of Infatuated man." bereavet
. of his Independence on record. After th
d determination of eleven hundred thousant
i. people at the destruction of Jerusalem b,
$ the sword, which was waved in trump
W over world, one would have thought tina
e after that city which as the Persian satrap
1t said "was rebelious city. and hurt,
,e unto Kings" had been pioushed up as
r. field, that they would never have move
,c scdition within the same again." Nevel
T. thcless the ashes of jerusalem were hardl
a. cold before the bush that burneth in tn
~ fire without being consumed, again lnilam
Ut ed the East. and in the reign Of Adra
to shook it to its foundations.
v Since that period the Christians and tn
K Mussulmen have exhausted their fury an
ly their caresses alike in vain to cause ther
H. to abandon the principles handed dow
v, from their Fathers. The storm of pei ST
s. cution, " the flame of war and the strrng t
Sc Of battle have been poured upon ther
to without effect. ftrulls off from them as
they were endowed with some mvsteriou
ia property like that frail but irregular sui
~ stance that originated in their ancien
n country, which not on reveals to US til
rt secrets of the Heavens but can repel tn
"a lightning that rives the ground.
,d | do not know how other men may v,e'
to these facts, but for my own part tim
in them rs we'll deserving of the reflection
the Philosopher as the medtations Of IT,
n religious.
So With the hope that ere long the wis
Sc and unprejudced will do justice 10 a M
+;ou Tho Gr- t, l. ~ ~ .,,i,., . e So.