The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1825-07-04

I i
beautifully situated /; you look up am
GOWN the romantic valley close be
iInd rises the mountain before vol
are The walls nj the devoted CITY,
while lingering here, at evening
and solitary. for il is not often a foot.
step passes by. that night of sorrow
ana dismay rushes on the imagina
ton, when the Redeemer WAS be.
trayed, and forsaken by all, even b,
the loved disciple.--Hence the patl
winds up the Mount of Olives: il
is a beautiful bill tho words OF
the Psalmist, tho mountains n
round Jerusalcm,o must not be
literally applied, as none are with.
IN view, save those of Arabia
is ycrdant, and covered in some
parts with olive trees. From tn,
summit You enjoy an admirable view
Of the city il is beneath, and very
near and looks, with its valleys a.
round it, exactly like a panorama
Its noble temple of Omar, and
large area planted with palms /; its
narrow streets, ruinous places, and
towers, are all laid out before you,
as yon have seen Naples and Corfu
In LeiCester-square. On the sum-
init are the remains of a church,
built by the Empress Helena and
in small editice, containing one
large and lofty apartment. is shown
the print of the last footstep Of Christ,
when he took his leave of earth.
The Fathers should have placed il
nearer to Bethany, i'll order to &C
cord with the account given us in
Scripture; but it answers the pnr-
pose of drawing crowds OF pilgrims
to the spot. Descending 0livet to
the narrow valley of Jehoshaphat.
you soon come to the pillar of Absa-
ION it has very antique appear
ance, and is pleasing object III the
valley it is Ola yellow stone, adorn-
ell with half columns, formed into
three stages, aud terminates in Gu
pola.
The tomb of Zacharias, adjoining,
is square, with four or five pillars,
and is cut out of the rock. Near
these il Il sort of erotto, hewn out of
an elevated part Of the rock, with
four pillars in front, which is said TO
have been tho apostles prison at the
time they were confined by the rulers.
Tho small and wretchcd village of
Siloa is built on the rugged sides of
the bill above /; and just here the
valleys Of Himnon and Jehoshaphat
meet, at the south east corner Of
Mount Zion they are both sprink
led with olive trees. Over the ra-
vine of Hinnom, and directly oppo-
site the city, is the Mount Of Judg-
ment, or Of Evil Counsel; because
there, they say the rulers took coun-
sci against Christ, and the palace of
Caiaphas stood. It is a broad and
barren hill, without any Of the pic
turesque beauty of Oliyet, though
l0iticr. On its side is pointed out
the AceIdama, or field where Judas
hung himself ; a small! and rude ed
ifCc stands on it, Il il is used as bu-
rying place. But the most interest
ing portion Of this hill, is where its
rock descend preclpitously into the
valley of Hinnom, aud are mingled
with many struggling olive tree.
All these rocks are hcwn into sepnl-
ChreS of various forms and sizes !;
40 doubt they were the tombs Of the
ancient Jews. and are i'll general cut
with considerable care aud skill.
They are often the resting place OF
the benighted passenger. Some OF
them open into inner apartments,
and are provided with small win
dows or apertures cut in the rock.
There is none Of the darkness or
sadness Of the tomb but in many,
SO elevated and picturesque IS the
that traveller may pass
hours here with a book in his hand,
while valley and hill are beneath
and around him. Before the door
of one large sepulclre stood tree
on the brink of the rock F: the sun
was going down on olivet on the
right, and the resting place of the
dead commanded a sweetcr scene
than any Of the abodes of the living.
Many OF the tombs have flights OF
steps leading up to them it was in
one ofthese that celebrated travel
Ter would fix the site of the holy Sc
puichre it is certainly more pic
turesnue, but why more Just, is hard