Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1828-07-15


what i, had been SO often described by its bards
aud people, mountain OF snow studded with
jewels"
The grandeur Of The worship was worthy OF
this glory Of architecture Four. and-twenty
thousand Levites ministered by turns,--a thou
sand al time. Four thousand more performed
the lower Offices. Four thousand singers and
Ministries; with the harp, the trumpet, ana AL
the richest instruments Of land, whose native
genius was music, and whose climate and lands
scaoe led men instinctively 10 delight IN the
charm of sound. chaunied the inspired songs
of our warrior king, and filled up the paus'
oil PRAYER with harmonies that transported the
spiri, yond the cares and passions oil tiou'
blrd world.
was Standing before the altar of burnt offer
ing, with the Levile at my side holding the
lamb; the cup was in my hand, and was about
10 pour the wine on the victim, when was
startled by the sound Of buried feet. In an
other moment the veil of the porch was aorupt'
ly thrown back, and figure rushed IN; II was
the high priest, but no, in the robes Oh ceremo'
ny which it was customary Tor him 10 wear III
the seasons of the greater festivals lie was
covered with the common yesture ofthe priest
hood, and was evidently anxious 70 use J; Tor
total conCealmen,. His face was buried IN the
fold of his cloak, and he walked with olind
precipitation towards the sub'erranean passage
which led from the sanctuary 10 his clolsier.
But he had scarcely reached II, when new
feeling stopped him; and he turned towards The
altar, where l was standing in mute surprise
The cloak fell from his visAge; II was pale
as death: the habi,ual sternnrss Of feature which
rendered him terror TO the people, bad col
lApseG into feebleness. while he gazed on the
fire, j, accidentally blaze4 up, and thought |
saw he glistening of a tear on cheek that had
never exhibited human emotion before. But
no time was left for question, even il reverence
lad not restrained me. lie suddenly grasped
The head of the lamb, as Was customary tor
those who offered up an cxpiation for their own
sin; his lip, ashy white, quivered with broken
prayer; then sna,ching the knife from the Lee
vite, he plunged il into he animals throat, and
with his hards covered win blood, and with
groan that echoed despair, again rushed dis.
lractedly away!
The victim still burned upon the altar and
was Offering up the incense, when the increas>
ing sounds abroad told me- that the deserted
courts were filling once more But the sounds
grew with an extraordinary rapidly, they were
soon all but tumul,uous. The sanctuary IN
which | STOOD was almost wholly lighted by
The lamps that burned round the walls, and the
flful blaze OF the altar, whose fires were never
suffered 10 be extinguished. Rst when, at
length unable TO suppress my alarm at me
growing uproar, | wen, 10 the porch, lett
com paraive day behind me; gloom slcklier
than that of tempest, and thicker than that OF
smoke, ove"spread the sky. The sun, which
had seen like fiery buckler hanging over the
city, was utterly gone. While looked, the
darkness deepened. and the blackness OF night,
of night without a star, fell far and wide upon
the horizon.
Without impeachment error, made my
way over and ancng the crowds that strtwed
the court of the G.ntiies l heard many pray
er and many groan; but | had now no more
10 do with man; and forced my way steadily TO
the great portal rhus far, If had been s'riCk-
en- with utter blindness, | could not have been
less guided by the eye. But, passing INTO
the streets Of the lower city, scattered torch,
from time 10 time, struggling through the dark
ness, like the lamp in srpulchre, gave me
glmpses of The scrne.
The broad avenues were encountered with
the living in the semblanoe 1T the dead. AL
was pros,ration, or those attitudes int, which
men are dhrown by terror beyond the strength
or spirit of man to resist. The cloud that,
frnm my melancholy bed above the valley Of
Hnnom, had seen rolling up the hills; was
his multitude. A spectacle whose name shall
never pass my lips, had drawn them all by a
cruel, frantic. curiosity out Of Jerusalem, ant
left It the solitude tina, had surprised me. Pre-"
ternaturaI eclipse and horror fell on them, and
heir thousands madly rushed back to perish, if
perish they must. within the walls Of the City
of Holiness. Sill The multitude came pouring
in their distant ,rampling had the sound of q
cataract and their outcres of pain, and rage, &
terror, were like what have since heard; bu,
more feeby, sent up from the field of battle.
struggled on, avoiding The living torren, by
the ear, and slowly Trading my way wherever
heard the voices least numerous; but my :ask
was one of extreme toll; and but for those, more
than all the treasures Of The earth to ne, who re
lives depended on my efforts, l should have
willingly lain down, & suffered the multitude 10
trample me into the grave. How long thus
struggled know not. But yell Of peculiar
and universal terror that 5urs, round nae, made
me turn my reluctant eyes towards Jerusalem.
The cause Of this new alarm was seen al once.