Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-11-13
From the National Intelligence.

on board the United States frigate Constitution
dated Smyrna, 9th August, 1927.
'We left Vourla the 18th u!l.; and, thanks 10
a favourabls breeze, arrived and anchored IN
the Straits Of Salamis the evening Of The l4th
II was here we lay about month previous,
erea, changes had taken place in that interval
The Turk and Greek forces, in full view, were
then encamped within few miles Of the Acrop-
oils, which was still struggling, and il was ho-
bed would have been able 10 have held o0t
Nothing now remains but the deserted trench
es OF The two armies, he Turks having re-
moved from the high ground they had occupl-
ed to the aat country more contiguous to a
,hens, and the Greeks deserted their station at
Post Leon, which has been occupied, to coun.
,enapce the beseiged, and impede the operation
Of the beseigers. The fate Of Athens is OF
course known in the United States; and the ar
ticles af capitula,on, negotiated, ii is said, by
the French Admiral, were honorable TO the de-
tenders and faithfully observed by the Turks.
"'rwo parties were formed to visit the cele-
brated remains of the city of Minerva The first
took pIace the day after our arrival; and the
other, to which belonged the day following.
We set out on ourexcursion at an early hour,
and landed at Port Leon, the ancient PHI aus,
the principal of the three ports Of that "city OF
wooden walls" and The seat Of her power and
wealth. The ruins scattered around its bor-
ders give only to the extent of ground they &C.
oupy, an idea Of the numerous appurtenances,
the storehouses, arsenaIs, and defences, which
belonged to this celebrated naval station. Mo
dern engines of war have, in rivaIship Of Fa.
Their Time, given specimen OF their more ra
pid, though not less certain powers of dcstruc-
ton. The ruins Of an old monastery, battered
4 &c
memorial of her exploit
This por, might have answered we'll enough
for the small craft OF the Rncients, but would
| not &C commodate more than two or three of our
friga,es Although small, ii however appears
to be secure harbor. We walked from the
Pireus TO Athens, distance Of about four or
five miles. The first object to attract our at
tention, which we met with in that famous city,
was the hill OF hrcopagus, rocky and uneven
eminence. There are no remains OF The edi-
fee in which that celebrated Cour, held its sit
ting, at whose tribunal the god Of war stood on
his defence. The rostrum where DemosthcneS
spoke, and tho open space occupied by his au-
ditors, next offered itself to our observation
Meeting with refusal 10 enter the Acropolis,
from the rudeness of the Turks, who gave US
| 10 understand that we must wait the arrival Of
| our Captain, whom we expeo rcd: in The mean
thine, our time was employed in viewing the
Temple Of Pheseus, which is in a more perfect
state than any of the other antique build
ings. 1t is an oblong building, surrounded by
portco Of fluted pillars Of the Coric order;
the freize is ornamented with basso relieve re-
presenting some Of the exploits Of Pheseus.-
There are two doors, one in each front Of the
building, which are the only opcnings-there
being no windows.
"On our return to the gate Of the Acropolis,
the Turks were more civil, and allowed us to
enter. At the summit stands the Temple of
Minerva, considered the most perfect model of
architecture in the world. It is of great ex-
tent, and the pillars Doric, said to be for,y-two
feet high. and ofproportionate circumference.
MOST of the basso relieve is in very per-
feet state Of preservation. Besides the Par
thenon, within the Acropolis, is the Temple
Of Neptune Erectheus, and Minerva Polia,
built. it is said, on the spot where Neptune
and Minerva contested for the honor Of NAM
ing the city. This building is of the Ionic
order, and colossal female figures support the
capitals, instead Of the usual pillars After see
ing all 'ha, was to be seen in the AcroDolis s.
suffering some Inconvenience from the Turk
ish soldiers, who did not appear to be the most
polite people in the word) we took our leave
and proceeded to the Temple of Jupiter Olym-
pus. This building, or rather its remaining
pillars, are comparatively modern: it was fl
nished by the Emperor Adrian The pillars
are said TO be sixty-two feet in height, are tlu,.
ed, OF the~Corin,hian order, and are in three
rows. They have a magni6cen, appearance
Opposite the Temple of Jupiter Olympus is "a
beautiful marble gate. with the following in.
scription, in Greek:-"This is the gate Of the
city Of Adrian, aud not Of Pheseus.''
Late in the evening we went 10 our boats,
and returned 10 the ship much grati6ed will,
our "trip; but q little disappointed in not heing
allowed to carry away a few specimens of the
marble-the Turks, whether from love Of an.
liquities, or some other cause, being very par
tlcular in preventing US from taking away any.
The exterior wall, which Is mostly modern, is
the part of the Ac'opolis which has su., ain ed
nearly all the damage from the Turks. Cannon
balls and shells are scattered in all directions.
The Temple Of Minerva, and the other anti.
qnities, received little or no injury during the
siege"