Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1853-03-17
LETTERS FROM EUROPE.
NUMBER VIII.

following morning passed near StroWuoll' "he
Of thel Folian Islands, remarkable for It's tower
ing conical form and for being one OF the most
active of volcanoes In a few hours after, ]
passed the Straits of Mcssina, which separate
Sicily from Italy, the ancient Scylla and Cha
ribdis. SO formidable TO navigators on account
of its narrow channel and rapid current The
CITY of Messina six miles south of the strait, is
place Of considerable Importance; has good
harbor. which is well fortified. The following
night | passed Htna, and had q view Of the
mouIten lava as il coursed It's way down the
northern side of the mountain, looking like n
rivulet Of fire. This volcano has for some
months been in a constant state Of eruption. but
the occurrence is so frequent that little notice is
taken of it: but to me, It was a singular sight
to see a mountain with its summit white with
snow, and at the same time sending forth clouds
of smoke and streams Of burning lava, which
course their way for miles down its side Close
at the foot Of the mountain, on the southeastern
side, stands Catana, city Of thirty thousand
inhabitants, surrounded by one Of the best silk
growing districts in the Mediterranean. Still
further south stands Syracuse. once the largest
and most hourishing city in Sicily, but now Of
little consequence. Our steamer, after stopping
at each Of these places for several hours, finally
reached Malta on the Goth. The Island Of Malia,
which is but sixteen miles long, aud in It's wild
est part eight broad, seems but barren ledge
of rocks. There Ec no forest or shade trees OF
any kind, and only here and there a few fruit
trees. The soil is extremely light, and where
ever it is found it is cultivated with great care,
and much EXPENSE has been incurred in i'm
porting soil from Sicily to form gardens in many
places on the island. The harbor at the eastern
extremity of the island is large, and surrounded
by high grounds, having a very narrow entrance,
aud is the most strongly fortified post IN the
Mediterranean. Valeta, the capital of the Is
land, is nearly surrounded by water and is most
strongly fortified on every side. The houses
are nearly all built Of very soft yeowish sund
stone, and with their projecting balconies and
green blinds have a very neat appearance The
streets are very good, but many of them are too
steep to be used for carriages, aud are only pas
sed by succession of steps. The Island had
been for several centuries governed by the
Knights of Malta, until the year, l79s, when it
was surrendered by the Grand Master of the
order, to Napoleon, without resistance. Soon
after the surrender Napoleon proceeded to Egypt
leaving a strong force to garrison the place.
The inhabitants, becoming dissatisfied reyolted
shut the troops up in valetta and surrendered
tka ,el.nI 4 Il /
serge of two years compelled the garrison by
starvation 10 surrender, and the island has ever
since belonssdto Great Britain Six thousand
troops are garispned there, and -provisions for \
several wears are kept constantly in store, large
cellars having been excavated in the rock and
arched over, leaving but small aperture at the
top, and that is covered by a stone and cement
ed down when the cellar is full BY that means
provisions are kept for a long time without inju-
ry. This port is a central point for nearly all
steamers in the Mediterranean. Instead of maxi
ing pilgrimage 10 Plymouth Rock on the 22d,
went to st. Pau's Bay, small indenture on
the northern side of the Island where st. Paul
aud his fellow prisoners were shipwrecked while
on their way to Rome. Three miles from the
bay is Civita-Vecchi, formerly the capital of
the island, where Cathedral has been erected
on the site occupied by the house of Publus.
the chief man of the island" The Catholics
take great pains to select those spots for build
ing their Cathedrals, which seem to have pc
cuar sacredness by their associations with
some remarkable event. The native female
when in the street is invariably dressed in black
silk wrapper, and wears over her head black
silk mantle instead Of bonnet, giving her much
the appearance Of Sister of Charity.
After pleasant passage of four DAYS on
board of the French steamer Osiris arrived on
the 3lst, at the ancient city Of Alexandra, in
Egypt That city, prior TO the commencement
ofthe Christian Era, was one of The most splen-
did in the world. When Alexander, after con-
querlng Egypt, resolved to build a city which
should add new laurel To his victories. Al
exandria, with her temples and towers, her col
onaded streets and puncely palaces, became the
wonder of the world. But her ancient splendor
has all departed, and at the commencement Of
the present century, her half million of inhab-
f'bN' H"H e"iHHitN No"h ~ lew louauuus Out
under the patronizing influence of the late Ma
houIed All, she was gradually rising into impor-
lance. The harbor is large and good, aud being
the only one in Egypt, the Pacha has large
naval force collected there, consisting of fifteen
or twenty ships Of the line, besides numerous
others Of smaller grade, amongst which noiic-
cd fine new war steamer just arrived from
England. There is but little to detain the stran.
ger here The Palace is very fine building.
handsomely guided Within aud having an air of
comfort about ii, and is the only public build
ing Of note. The site Of the ancient city pre-
sents only heaps Of rubbish, rising like hills a.
bove the surface Of the surrounding country.
with but two monuments standing of all its
grandeur. CleGpatra's Needle il an 6belisk Is
feet in height and seven square at the base,
composed of a single block Of sieniie granite
and covered with deep sunk hierogyphlcs It's
base is now below the surface of the surround
ing grounds, and its fellow monument lie bur-
cd beneath the sands at a small distance from it.
Pompey's Pillar, the other of the ancient monu.
Inenss stands solitary and alone, amidst the ru-
ms, about a hundred rods without the walls OF