Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1847-09-23

from this view; but we had TO take the right
hand road, and ride through the narrow streets
Of the village TO the great convent, built over
the spot where Jesus IS believed by the friars
to have been born.
II was too late this evening to see any OF
the sacred localities but il was quite enough
to have the moonlight streaming in during the
whole night through the window of my lofty
convent chamber, and TO think that on this
hill took place the greatest event in the history
Of the world and that in the fields near, the
gentle Ruth went about her cleaning, little
dreaming, in those days OF her poverty, that,
from her meeting with Boaz among the reap
ers of his harvests, would arise such events
to the human race; that the shepherd grand
child. whose divine songs were TO sooihe her
old age, should be the mighty king he was, and
the father ola yetmightier. who should build the
great Temple ofthe Lord and that more dis
tant descendant should make these gIories ap.
pear as childish toys in the presence Of His
greater sovereignty over the universal human
soul. A wise man Of late century has no.
bly, said that Prosperity is the promise Of the
Old Testament. and Adversely that of the
New" On this hill was born the prosperity
OF the Old Dispensation and on this hin was
born the Man of Sorrow who knew the secret
of true peace. and taught il in the saving that
it profits not a man to gain the whole world
if he lose his own soul.
In the morning we vert into the church of
the convent cared little for the upper part,
with its chapels for Greek. Latin. and Armen.
ian worship; and not much more Cor the cav
erns underground. where The friars believe
that Joseph and Mary remained while there
was no room for them in the inn. If the town
was too foil to receive them while the people
were collected for the census, it is hardly
probable that they would repair TO an under
ground cave: but in this cave mass was 60
ing on this morning. and striking was the
effect, after coming from the sunshine. of the
crowded cavern. with IFS yellow lights and
their smoke, and the echoes Of the chanting.
We returned when the service was over, and
saw the star in the marble floor which marks,
as the friars believe, the precise spot where
Jesus was born, and the marble slab which is
laid in the place of the manger.-When
saw, throughout the country. how the Arabs
now use the caves of the hills 10 bed their
goats and cattle, this belief Of the friars ap-
peared less absurd than it would with us
but still, it is so improbable that the precise
spot of these transactions (whose importance
was not known till afierward) should have
been marked and remembered that felt little
interested in them in comparison with the
landscape outside, about whose leading fea-
lures there could be no mistake.
From the bottom ofthe garden We overlook
ed the great valley which expanded 10 the
northeast; and one Enclosure there - green
spot now occupied by olive trees--was point
ed out to us as the field were the shepherds
were abiding on the night when Christ was
d. - L., hab. ind
range OF hills, stretching off TO the north and
among these, we knew, lay the Dead Sea, and
the Jordan. where it pours its waters into that
lifeless and melancholy lake. As we left the
convent and village, and descended the rocky
road, with terraced vineyards and olive groves
on either hand, we knew that Joseph and Ma
nv must have come BY this way from Jerusa-
lem when summoned 10 the census: and this
was more TO us than all the sights the iriars
had shown us in their zeal and kindness. We
looked in at the Tomb Of Rachel, and at the
Convent Of Elias; but our eyes and thoughts
were bent toward Jerusalem. | remember,
however. that here first saw the waters Of
the Dead Sea, lying blue in little gap be-
tween the hills.
As soon as had mounted my ass before the
Convent of Elias, saw from our ridge some
buildings on the rising ground which now
showed itself before us. was not immediate
ly certain what they were but the news soon
spread among us. That rising ground was
Zion, and those buildings belonged TO Jerusa-
lem, though they stood outside the walls. I'm
medlately after, the walled city itself came
into view, lying along the hills. Most of the
party were disappointed. was not-partly
because knew that we were approaching il
from The least favorable side. and partly be
canse my expectation had much moderated
the size and grandeur of the city. What we
now saw was line of white walls on hill
side, with some square buildings and small
white domes rising within.
l walked the rest Of the way. On our right
were hills, the summit of one of which was
Aceldema. bought by the priests with the
money which the wretched Judas returned TO
them, when he found too late what he had
done in his attempt TO force his Lord 10 assert
His claim to temporal sovereignty. On our
left was the plain Of Rephaim. When we ar
rived a, the brow of the high ground we were
on, we were taken by surprise bv the grande-
ur of the scene. Zion now appeared worthy
Of her name, and Of her place in the hymns OF
David, and in history. We were now over
looking the Valley Of Gihon, more commonly
known by the name Of Hinnom. From its
depth, and its precipitous rocks on our side. !
should call il ravine. This deep dell con-
tains the Lower Pool, now dry and the aque-
duct from Solomon's Pool is seen crossing it
oblquely. Its opposite side is Zion rising We
~ steepy, stiR terraced for tiliage in some
parts and crowned by the city wall. To the
right. sweeping away from the favine OF Gil
hon, is the deep and grand Valley of Jehosh-
aphat, clustered with rocks, relieved by trees.
and leading the eye round to the slope Of Oil
vet, which. however, is bes; seen from the
other side Of the city. The black dome OF the
Tomb OF David was the next object; and after
that the most conspicuous roof in the city
the great dome ofthe Mosque ofOmar, which
occupies the si,e of Soiomon's Temple.
BY this time. there was silence among us.
walked behind our cavalcade, as il slowly as
cended the beautiful rocky way-glad of the
silence pesmitted by eacn 10 all; for il was not
possible al the moment--nor will il ever be
possible--to speak of the impressions Of tina,
hour. We entered by the JafIa gate; and ev-
cry echo OF our horses feet in narrow. stony
picturesque streets. told upon our hearts as we
said TO ourselves that we were taking up our
rest in Jerusalem.
TEANsCENDENTAL LANcU AGE.
The Middlesex Freemen, in an article upon