The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1855-10-25
Gibralter,

Commerce, writing from on board the U
nited States frigate Congress, gives brie
but interesting sketch of this wonderful
town and fortress:
The approach to Gibralter through
these Straits is of the most imposing char
acter The Straits themselves are in The
narrowest portion twelve miles wide, anc
extend from Cape Spartcl to Gibralter
about tbirty-six miles. A strong current
never ceases to flow from the Atlantic in
to the Mediterranean, and through the
Black Sea and the rivers of Africa and
Asia and Europe pour their constant
! tributaries into this same great basin
yet the depth of its waters remains the
same from age to age. The most reason
able explanation of this phenomenon
which l have seen is, that an undef car
rent discharges the waters into the Allan
tic as fast as they are raised. In proof
Of this it is stated that some years since
a vessel which was sunk in the Straits
was afterwards found some twelve miles
to the westward, whittier it could have
drifted only by the force of the under cur
rent. The upper current is perfectly
magnificent, rolling on like the rapids of
Niagara in fearful billows. and bringing
you near the bold shores of Apes Hill
and Ceuta and Gibralter. The last two
named are the ancient "Pillars of Hercu-
les" and it is perhaps the associations
connected with them and every point in
the vicinity of the Straits that inpart
such sublime and overpowering emotions
as our good ship ploughs her way be-
tween them. Here, three thousand years
ago, came the vessels of the merchant
princes of Tyre on their way to Britain
and the extreme West for tin and amber.
Here we begin to think of Hannibal and
Carthage, and the Scipios and Rome
Here the Moor and the Christian waged
their deadly war for many hundred years,
and here finally was the battle of Trafal-
gar, where the immortal Nelson offered
up his life amid the shouts Of victory ov-
or the combined fleets of France and
Spain. How sublime too is the primitive
conception, here felt for the first time in
its perfection as look upon the Ceuta
and Gibraltcr, that here Hercules ended
his useful labors BY cleaving the rock a
sunder and rolling the waters of the Med
iterranean through the new channel into
the Atlantic These pillars stand here
as an emulating monument of his power
benefcence. It was just in the ancients
thus to enthrone personal deity on every
distinct exhibition of power, wisdom and
goodness. 1t was infinitely above the dis
gusting Pantbeism of the German theo-
logians of the present day, and their self
complaisant limitations of Parker notorie-
ty in Boston and vicinity. But how much
grander and more beautiful is the reveal
ed idea of one glorious Father hanging
the world upon nothing, girding the
mountains with his strength, and gather
ing the water into seas, when he set up
bars and doors and said, Hitherto shalt
thou come and no further. and here shall
thy proud waves be stayed!"
1t has been said that the Rock Of Glib
ralter looks like lion reposiDg in majes-
ty before the gate of the Mediterranean,
and l assure you it does not require much
effort of the Imagination to see the resem-
blance. His head lies resting on his out
streacbed paws, while his giant proper
ton repose in conscious strength before
you, fit symbol of that mighty power
which has been so long, and is my judg-
ment SO benefcently, exhibited in behalf
OF the great interests of humanity and
religion. This rock is 400 feet in height,
three miles in length, and seven miles in
circum ference. 1t is connected by low
isthuus of sand with Spain, and it is in
fact the termination ofthe Sierra Nevada,
the great southern range of mountains
which run parallel with the Southern
coast The western front of the rock is a
gradual slope, interspersed with preci-
pices, while the eastern side, washed by
the Mediterranean, is perpendicular wall,
and totally inaccessible. The town lies
GU this western slope, its narrow streets
extending along the water more than a
mile and stretching up the bill to a con-
siderable distance. AS seen from the deck
of our frigatc, the stone dwellings rising
rapidly one above another; the Moor
ish Castle, built more than thousand
years ago, and now crowning with its ven
cradle walls the northwestern summit of
the town; the Alameda, with its rich TO-
liage of palms and fig trees and aloes,
sprinkled here and there with snug Eng
lish cottages embowered in vines, gom
Of rural beauty in the'midst of barren
rocks; the solid wall sweeping entirely a.
round the town and guarding with it
countless batteries every point Of access,
and the galleries" tunneled out of the
solid stone and extending, in range above
range, entirely around the entire north
western summit of the rock, bristling in
every cmbrasure with the engines ofdeatb;
and finally the signal-tower, overlooking
ali. where floats the British banner in
defiance of the world, make up picture
of unique and picturesque beauty which
once seen can never be forgotten.
Under the impression of such vision
you may well magiDe the eagerness with
which we hurried on shore, and the pleas
ure which was in reserve for US after
months confinement on board our ship