Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1842-09-07
A Remarkable CITY.

he city OF NICE, so interesting 10 lne
christian, for the celebrated councils once
cid there, and to the artist for the beau
tiful fragments yet remaining Of ancient
splendor, now share with many OF its
compeers the dust Of oblivion. At the
mandate Of the Emperor Constantine, A.
D., 326, there assembled within lis walls
greater number Of christian minst crs
than the world had ever seen before to-
gether. From the splendid cities Of Asia
from the caves Of remote Europe, and
the burning sands Of Africa, three hun
dred and eighteen bishops and large
number Of priests and deacons and laIty
men assembled in council, upon the well
fare Of the christian church, and establish
ed the celebrated declaration Of faith heace
called the Nicene creed. 1t is said, the
appearance of this city, after you have as
cended the hills which emboSom it, is of
the most striking and romantic character.
An extensive and beautiful plain greets
the eye-mapped by streams Of water and
scenery Of the most pleasing aspect.
La its centre, the waters of the famous
Lake Ascanius repose- lrnged with the
enlivening green of the forest trees, so
uxurianty beautiful in this tropical eli
mate. AT the extremity Of this lake is sit
uated the large and beautiful city of Nice.
It's walls are six miles IN circumference,
and are Of an imposing height--lrom
twenty five to thirty feet, and Ia feet thick
at the base; and bid fair to continue for
centuries. They are mantled as usual
;,b hn
walk upon the summit beautiful. The en-
trance is by three gates, the one inside The
other, and richly ornamcnted with figures
and basso-reIievos. The second or centre
gate is Of magnificent size and Workman
ship, with frieze, cornices, and all the or
naments which mark the pure age of ar
chilecturc, and is in IA perfect state O! pres
ervation. There is an inscription on the
friZe over the gate, intimating It's erection
by the emperor Hadrian. The whole ex-
terror is imposing, and would plainly tell
the most Indifferent observer that he was
n the neghborhood Of one Of the largest
cities. The traveller would wordcr on
his approach to this spot, at the clrcum-
stance OF meeting none Of the inhabitants
Of this great city without its gates. But
this wonder would be changed to amaze
ment when on entering its walls, he finds
neither street, nor house, nor lnhabitant,
nor even the remains Of either of lhem.-
The whole inclosure is one vast solitude!
OF all the splendid palaces, marble foun-
tains paved courts, magnificent amphithe-
atrcs, temples, baths, and innumerablo
dyellinrs which once filled this GREAT nd
populous city, not q vestige remains.
The only trace Of any buildings having
existed within this large space, are the
walls of the Greek chapel yet remaining,
covered with tracery in Mosaic and Greek
inscriptions and figures, worked like en-
broidery in small square stones. Their
is also spot on which some fragments of
a large building yet remain, which is said
to have been the palace Of Constantine. =
From the fragments which yet strew the
spot little doubt can be entertained Of these
beng the remains Of this celebrated pa
lace. Here met the holy men Of Chris
tendom-thc iIlustrious disciples Of the
sainted dead; and though their declaration
Of falh-their creed, yet their
bones whten every lanI--thcir very names
are lost, and the magnificent and timc-de~
flying palace in which they assembled has
now crumbcd to its native dust. Nay,
even the vast and poPuIous city in which
they met has been struck away with a be-
som Of destruction from the face of the
earth. The moral is a striking one. and
language Of mine would do it injustice.