The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1825-07-04
r,or,t the London Monthly .Hagosine for May
LETTERS FROM THE EAST.
JERUSALEM.

10 redeemed by the magnificent view
many parts of it command of the
mead Sea, and the high mountains
IF Arabia Petrea, forming its east.
srn shore. This view is toward,
the south least. over the valley, be.
,wecn the hills Of Judgement and
those adjoining 0liyet.
The strong and commanding po-
si,ion of Mount Zion could have
heen the only reason for fixing the
canital of Judpa in SD extraordinary
and inconyenient situation. Very
many parts Of the coast and the in
terior afford a far more favorable
ate in point of beauty and fertility,
or for the purposes Of commerce.
The city. ofold, was often subject to
scarcity of water, the fountain OF
Sloan and another on the east side,
Wit, the brook kcdron, being the
chiefsupplies without the walls shut
the latter, probably, possessed little
or no water during the summer
heats. 1t was reckoned as memo
rabe act in one Of the kings, that he
made a pool and a conduit. which
are still called Hezekiah. and are at
the end OF the eastern valley. The
Whole compass of the ancient
city, according to Josephus, was on
" thirty three furlongs. SO that an
extension of half a mile along the
plain Of Jerusalem to the north,
would give it its ancient size. aud in
in great measure, it is probable,
its ancient position. The present
circumference is, no doubt, correctly
stated by Manndrcll, to be two miles
and half. Josephus distinctly states
ethe old wall went southwark, hav-
ivy IT'S bending above the fountain
Saloam,' and this fountain in the
side OF Zion is not far without the
present wall. Again, the historian
says, /" the old wall extended north
ward to a great length. and passed
BY the sepnlchral caycrns Of the
kings" which cayerns or t0mbs of
the kings, are now above a half a
nile without the walls to the north
on the plain of Jeremiah. Bat the
small valleys which divided the in
terror of the old city arc now filled
mp, and many ofthe elevations level
led. The whole surface ci the hill
on which Jerusalem and ita temple
stood, of which Mount Moriah can
not now be distinguished. were, no
doubt, much loltier formerly, or else
the holows beneath have been part
ly filled up. The latter it is very
probable, has been the case. d" The
hills" the historian observes, " arc
surrounded by deep valleys. and by
reason Of the precipiccs belonging TO
them,on both sides, they arc every
where impossible" This descrip-
iim does not apply to the present
appearance of either !; no precipicos,
sither steep CT difficult. existing.
But, although the size of Jcrusa-
lem was not extensive, its very stu
alton on the brink of rugged bills,
encircled by deep and wild valleys,
bounded by eminenccs whose sides
were covered with groves aud gar
dens. added to its numerous towers
and temples, must have given II a
singular and gloomy magniticcnce,
scarcely possessed by any other city
mthe world.
The most pleasing feature in the
scenery around the city, is the val
ley OF Jehoshaphat. Passing out OF
The gate Of st. Stephen, you descend
The hill To the torrent of the kedron /;
abridSe leads over its dry and deep
oed; it must have been a very mar
Tow, tho in winter rapid stream.
oa the left is grotto, handsomely
ilited up, aud called the tomb of the
virgin Mary, tho it is we'll known
s6e nejthor died nor was buried near
jerusalem. Being surprised, how
ever, on the hills by IA long and hea-
~ shower of rain, we were glad to
olke shelter beneath the doorway OF
,a's srotto. A few steps beyond the
thedron, you come to the garden
He'hsenane; but how neglected and
oeeayed It's surrounded by kind
u low hedge, but the soil is bare, no
'effitre grows on it, save six fine
'0aerable olive trees, which have