Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-06-24

healthy plants which spring in the gardens and
the hol.houses of the North, must have but a
faint idea Of their real beauty. Even in Italy
they are much superior to ours remember
to have seen one in the courtyard Of the AGA
de mia del Belle Arri, at Floreuce, whose stem
was a, least ninr inches in diameter.
4" But in Greece and II The L.vant they are
really magnificent. In the Morea, have ira.
Vt He'd for hours through an uncul'ivae d track,
while the groves Of myrtle formed an almost
continuous arbour over our heads, covered
here and there with us delicate white RGwers,
! and exhaling al every moion the most delicate
perfume, while its dark polished leaves COM
bined GOODNESS with beauty"
The following account of Asia Minor, has all
the air Of truth:
s"Thrre are few spots Of earth visited by the
traveller calculated TO excite emotions more
melancholy Than hose experienced by such as
have passed over even The most frequenled por-
lions Of Asia Min1r. Except in the immediate
vicinity Of its cries, he encounters few traces
Of life or civilization; all beyond is barren and
improbable; his path lies ACROSS plains tenant
ed by the stork and the jackal, or over hills
whence the eye wanders along valleys bloom
ing in all the luxuriance Of Mt elected nature, or
III dhb oSI'h'y. iooSp1
out lands once adorned with the brightest ef-
forts of genius and of arl, and rife with the bus
lie and activity Of a crowded population, his
foots,ep will lgh' upon nothing save the speak
| ing monuments Of decay, and hi, eye meet
living forms excepl ihuse Of his companions, or
BY chance dim pro.pec, Of the weary cara
| van, that cree2s like ceniipede across be
| plain, or winds amidst the mazes of distant
hills.
"There are few scattered hamle's, and no
struggling abodes OF mankind; danger and sp.
pre- hsnsion have forced the remnant OF Its in
hahitants to herd together in towns for mutual
security, and 10 leave the deserted country 10
the bandit and the b"ast Of prey The wan
dering passenger pursues his lisiless route SUI
rounded by privat:ons and diffic ulies by fatigue
and apprehensiop,-fe beaten tracks to guide
his curse and few hospitable mansions to shell
ter his WEAKNESS. BY nigh, he rests beside
his camel in the karavan>scrai; anc by day he
hurrits along with no comforts save those
which he carries with him, and no companions
bu, his thoughts. But these sufficient, and
thev spring up with every breath, and at every
turning: his very loneliness is subimi,y; his
only prospect, beauty; he reclines upon earth,
whose every cIod is srpul' hfe Of greatness,
and lie is canopied by sky
$50 cloudess pure and beautiful,
That God alone is to be seen In Heaven"
The Sirocco, as here described, is about as
agreeable as our south wes,-wind:
"Our spirits, 100, were nothing hghiened by
the oppressive breath Of hot Siroe so, which
commenced blowing during the night"
alt seldom, however, blows with force; il is
rather an exhaiation han wind. ], scarcely
moves the leaves around the tr. W Her, but j,
sinks heavily aud dampIy in his breast.
stranger is at frs, unaware Of the Cause of the
mental misery he endu'es; his temper sours as
his spirits sink; every person, and every cir
cumstance annoys him i, affects even his
dreams, and sleep itself is not efage from
quetulous peevishness; every motion Is an ir-
rilaling exer'ion, and he trudges along in dis,
content and unhappiness, signing and thinking
Of home, ana attempting 10 philosopher on the
arran, folly that could induce him to leave Eng
land for an hour, to come such dismal, mi
serahle, uninteres,ing banishmen; as the LIE.
want
We shall hereafter give some extracts Of
greater length from this interesting volume.
GA Bachelor" who has been so fortunate as