Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1858-09-30
Misttllantons.
BULWER on THE DESTRUCTION OF
JERUSALEM,

few weeks ago Sir Z. Bulwcr Lytton de
lEered lecture in Lincoln, which city he has
for several years represented in Parliament, on
the early history of Eastern nations. lie gave
an outline Of the history OF the Babylonian,
ASsyrian, Persian, Egyptian Greek and jew
sh nations, and closed with the following pow
eruI and dramatic description OF the destruc-
ton Of Jerusalem by Titus:
Six years after the birth of our Lord, Ju-
dea and Samaria became a Roman province,
under subordinate governors the most famous
OF whom was POntiuS Plate. These govern,
OrS became so oppressive that the Jews broke
out into rebellion and seventy years after
Christ, Jerusalem was finally beseiged by II
tns afterwards Emperor of Rome No tra-
gely Oh the stage has the same scenes OF ap
paIing terror as are to be found in the history
Of this seige. The city itself was rent by fac
tons at the deadlieSt war with each other
all the elements Of civil hatred had broke loose
the streets were slippery with the blood of
cltlzens-brOther slew brother-the granaries
were set on fre-famiue wasted those whom
the sword did not Slay In the midst of these
civil massacres the Roman armies appeared
before the walls of Jerusalem. Tnen for d
short time the rival factions united against the
common foe; they were again the gallant coun-
trymen of David and Joshua-they sailed
forth and scattered the eagles of Rome. But
this triumph was brief; the ferocty of the i'll
lated Jews soon again wasted itself on each
other. And Titus marched on-encamped his
armies close by the walls-and from the heights
tle Roman general gazed with awe on the
strength aud splendor of the city OF Jehovah
Let US here pause-and take, ourselves, a
mournful glance at Jerusalem as it then was
Inc city was fortified by triple wall save on
one side, where it was protected 10y deep and
mpaSsable ravines These walls, OF the most
solid masonry, were guarded by strong towers:
opposite TO the loftlest of these towers Titus
mad encamped. From the height of that tower
tae sentinel might have seen stretched below
Tue whole of that fair territory of Judea, about
!" pass from the countrymen of David. With
III these walls was the palace of kings-its
tooi OF cedar, its doors OF the rareSt marbles,
'% chambers filled with the coStllest tapestries,
aad vessels of gold and silver. Groves and
gardens cleaning with fountains, adorned with
statues Of bronze, divided the courts of the
palace itself. But high above all, upOn pre-
eP'ous rock, rose the temple, fortified and
uuorned by Solomon. This temple was as
0Lohg without as a citadel-within more
puUthed than palace. On entering, you bt
"ou portlcoS of numberlesS columns of por-
pnyrY, marble and aabaSter; gates adorned
WIN gold and silver, among which was the
wonderful gate called the Beautiful. Further
w. through vast arch, was the sacred portal
%n'eh admitted into the interior of the temple
ISSeH-all Sheeted over with gold, and over,
lung by vine tree Of gold, the branches of
,h au'ch were as large as a man. The roof of
:', %e temple, even on the outside, was set over
~, nun golden spikes. to prevent the birds set
S Aug there aud defiling the holy dome. Ata
osrS'ance, ~ the whole temple looked like mount
81 snow, fretted with golden pinnacles. But
=" s,a?. the veil of that temple had been rent by
~ ~, 'nexplaole crime, and the Lord OF Hosts
,b I,u not fight with Israel. But the enemy is
a.suuuerlng a,g at the wall. All around the city
''SV immense machines, from which Titus