The American. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1857, 1857-09-02
From the Philadelphia Ledger. !
Tomb Of David.

The mysteries of the Tomb of David are at las
revealed to the Christian world by an ingenious
ruse of Miss Barclay, for some years a resident
Jerusalem. This adventurous lady, after having
visited the harem enclosure at the risk of her life
determined TO explore in the disguise Of Turkish
| lady, the very tomb of the "Prophet David" for
more than six centuries in the jealous custody
Of the Turks.
Tho blind Dervish who kept the entrance TO this
sacred spot was deceived by the familiar use Of
the Arabic Language as well as the assurance Of
her friend, in the person Of a liberalminded and
very beautiful Turkish girl, who initiated her as
pilgrim from Constantinople, come to perform her
devotonsat the shrnes Of their lords and prophets,
David and Solomon. Her devotional feelings were
put TO a strong test on observing this devotee Of
Isalm take the saturated wick from an oil lamp,
and deliberately devour IL as an act of religious de-
votion. After her form Of prayer had ended, she
raised the splendid siken canopy overhanging the
tumulus, containing the body Of David, and there,
in royal state, was the veritable sarcophagus Of
David, having its marble cover adorned with the
most beautiful festoons Of grapes the emblem Of
the Jewish architecture, and other ancient devices
which she carefully transferred to paper yet TO be
presented to the public In the pages Of the City
of the Great King" soon to make its appear.
ance
No traces ofits ancient treasures that have often
been pillaged by the eastern monarchs, remained.
Hyrcanus, the son of Simon the Maccabee is said
to have despoiled IL Of three thousand talents
prior to its exploration by Herod the Great, who,
when he had adpenetrated these mansions Of the dead
found nothing to crafty his cupidity save some
furniture Of gold and other precious treasures which
he carried away. At another time rolling balls Of
fire are said to have burst forth, and by the SUPER
stitous, believed to have consumed to seekers Of
bullion and treasure said to be inhumed here even
at the present day. This interesting and. tabooed
spot as well as the Mosque Of Omar, will soon be
open to Christian inspection without Turkish let
or hindrance, as the writer of this hasty sketch
Furnished by Miss B. is already satisfied frompcr-
sonal experience in ha exploration of the latter,
though not less sacred edi6ce. VAroR.
LETTER FROM THE EDIroR. tie DepH of the
ddgocatc Ofce--Mr. Devil Is there no way in
which we can coax or drive you into putting my man
uscript in type 40 that it viii be passably readable
We ask you almost with tears in our eyes-cer.
tainiy with an anathema on our lips. Now what
on earth does constituary" mean? We wrote
il constituency This was in the last paper And
then in the same article, where we had writer
that certain prerogatives were Ca matter fairl,
belonging to the President" you put Il mattel
of family" &c. You great leather-head, didn't vol
know that the President is bachelor, and has M
matters Of family p Again, what does unprac
liabilities mean, you impracticable devil you--
Why, any one picking up our beloved Advocat,
would think il edited by a school.boy Of ten, or
member Of the Legislature, or somebody else o
that kind. Now do try and do better or you vii
certainly set us down in the internal regions wher,
you belong, with a cudgel