Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1837-07-13

~" eeHea the muhnous and discon
'en'eo spirits of his days, and where
wnen Saul was in pursuit OF him. he cur
OH the skirts of his garment and suffered
MN 10 go away unharmed.
IN an hour more we came in sight Of
bethlehem seated on au elevation. n con.
.uSea ana irregular pile of white build.
inSs. he star of the east no longe,
movers over it to mark the spot where
the Saviour was born and the MOSQUE
and the minaret proclaim the birth Mae.
OF Christ under the dominion of peopI.
VINO reJect and despise him. Heaps OF
rum and houses blackened with smoke
show that the hand of war has been here.
Iorahim Pacha, on his sortie from Jeru.
salem and on his way to Hebron, had
fingered on his path Of destruction long
enough to lay in ruins half the little CITY
oil Bethlehem. 1t is singular fact, and
exhibits liberality elsewhere unknown
IN the history of Turks or of :he Mus.
seiman religion, that the height Of his
Indignation fell upon the Arabs. He
spared the Christians for a reason that
never before operated with a Turk
because they had not offended.-He did
another liberal thing moreover; seeing
that Christians and MusselmaAs could
not live together in unity, he drove out
from Bethlehem the Arabs whom the
sword had spared, and left the place con-
seerated by the birth Of Christ in the ex-
elusive possession oil his followers.--True.
he stained this act of cemency or policy
oy arbitrarily taking away thirty Chris
,iah boys, whom he sent 10 work at the
factories in Cairo and the simple heart
ed parents, hearing that had come from
that city, asked me il had seen their
children.
1t is happy thing for the traveller
IN the Holy land, that in almost all the
principal places there is Christian con-
vent, whose doors are always open 10
him; and enc of the largest and finest of
these is in Bethlehem. Riding through
the whole extent OF the little town; gree
Ted by Christians, who, however, with
their white turbans and fierce mustaches,
aud boards, had in my eyes most un.
christian appearance, and stopping for q
moment on the high plain in front, over.
looking the valley, and the sides of the
hill all cultivated in terraces, we dis
mounted at the door OF the convent.
The walls of the convent contain all
that IS most interesting in Bethlehem :;
but outside the walls also are places con-
seerated IN Bible history, and which the
pilgrim to Bethlehem in spite Of doubts
and confusion will look upon with ex.
ceeding interest. Standing on the high
table 81 ground ia trout of the convent
one oil the monks pointed cut the toun.
tain where. when David was thirsting
ms young men procured him water; and
In the rear of the convent is beautiful
valley, having in the midst Of it a ruined
village, marking the place where the
shepherds were watching their flocks at
night when the angel came down and
announced &c them the birth Of the Saw
iour. The scene was as pastoral as it
mad been $500 years before the sun was
going down the shepherds were gath
erIng their Hocks together, and one could
! almost Imagine that, with the approach
OF evening, they were preparing to re-
ceIye another visiter from the Most High.
In the distance beyond the valley, is a
long range OF mountains enclosing the
Dead Sea, and among them was the vii.
derness OF Engeddi; and the monk poin.
ted out small opening as leading to the
shores OF the sea, at the precise spot
where Lots wife was turned into pillar
of salt.
1t was the hour assigned for the use
OF the ArmeDidns. and the monks were
all there chanting the praises Of the
Redeemer. The chamber Of the grotto
is thirty seven feet long and eleven wide,
with marble floor and walls, the latter
adorned with tapestry and paintings.
Directly IN front of the door by which
we entered, at the other end of the gsot-
to, IS semi-circular recess, lined g.
! tioored with small blocks Of marble and
in the centre silver star, with the in
scriPtion. "Hic natus est Jesus Chris
tus de Virga," (here Christ was born OF
the VIrgln.) The star in the east, which
went before the wise men, says the ira.
dltlon. rested over this spot; and four
teen lamps, the gifts of Christian princes
burning night and day, constantly illu.
mine the birth place Of salvation to ru.
lned werld. On the right descending
two steps is chamber paved and lined
with marble, having at one end block
polished and followed out and this i,
the manager in which our Saviour wa.
diver the alter is a picture repre-.
sentiDg stable with horses and cattle
and behind a little iron wicker work
are i've lamps constantly burning. Di.
rectiy opposite is the altar Of the magi
where the three kings sat when they
came 20 offer presents TO the son of God
over !. IS picture representing them IN
the act OF making their offerings; and