American Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1855-1860, 1858-09-09

BuIWer ON the DestructiOn OF JeFusuiems
A few weeks ago Sir E. Bulwer Latton
delivered lecture IL Lincoln, which city
he has for number Of years represented
in Parliament, on the early history of the
Babylonian. Assyrian. Persian, Egyptian.
Greek and Jewish nations. and closed with
the following powerful and dramatic de.
scriplion of the destruction Of Jerusalem by
Titus:
six years after the birth OF our L:rd,
Judea and Samaria became R-man PROV
ince, under subordinate governors. the
most famous of whom was Poutius Pilaie
These governors became SO oppressive that
the Jews broke out into rebellion; and sew.
enty years after Christ, Jerusalem was e
nally b'sieged by Titus, Afterwards Empe
ror of Rome. No tragedy on the stage has
the same scenes Of appalling terror as are
to be found in the history Of this siege
The city itself was rent by factions at the
desdliest war with each other---all the elp-
meets of civil hatred had broke loose--the
streets were slippery with the blood ol
citsens-brother slew brother--the gra
naries were set on fre--famiue wasted
those whom the sword did not slay. In the
midst Of these civil nassacres, the Roman
armies appeared before the walls Of Jeru
+ salem. Then for short time the rva
factions united against The common foe
a they we're again the gallant counlrymen o
v David and Joshua-they sailed forth and
= scattered the eagles Of Rome. But this
!. triumph was brief the feroeity Of the i'll
. tated Jews soon again wasted itself on eacl
! oiher. And Titus marched on-encamp
ed bis armies close by the walls-an,
. from the heights the Roman general gaze,
! with awe on the strength and splendor O
. the city of Jehovah.
i Let US here pause and take. ourselves
? a mournfol glance at Jerusalem, as it thel
:. was. The city was fortified BY .trippl
q wall. save on one side, where it was pro
tected by deep and impossible ravines.--
These walls of the most solid masonry
i we're guarded by strong towers; opposite Il
:, the lofliest OF these towers Titus had en-
camped. From the height Of that towe
the sentinel might have seen stretched be
). low the whole pf that fair territory Of Ju
dea, about TO pass from the countrymen o
). David. Within these walls was the pal
! ace OF the kings--its roof of cedar, it
= doors Of the rafest marbles, its chamber
; filed with The costliest tapestry, and yes
:, sells Of gold and silver Groves and gar
- mss dens gleSming with fountains, adornedw W q
a statutes Of bronze, divided the courts o
J. IL the palace itself. But high above. all on
- preepitous rock. roscthe temple. foriifs,
= and formed by Solomon. The temple wa
:, = as strong without as ci,adel-.withi
- :. more adorned thaLs palace. On en-
7 tering, you behold portcoes Of number
. less columns OF porphyry, marble and al
n asaster; gates adorned with gold and sil
!, yer. among which was the wonderful gat
~ called the Beautiful. Further on, throug
OF vast arch, ives the sacred portal whic
admitted into the interior Of the temple II
0, self--all sheeted over with gold and over
T., hung BY vine tree Of gold. the branche
P, Of which were as large as a man. TIL
so roof of the temple, even on the outside
ed was set over with golden spikes. to prever
o; the birds sitting there and defIing the he
" dome. AT distance. the whole temp
IL lookei;like mount Of snow, fretted wi.
= - golden pinacles. But, alas. the veilof thl
'es temple had been already rent asunder b
'is an. expiable crime. and the Lord of Hos
all did not fight with Israel. But the enem
,e, is laundering at the wall All around Il
city arose immense machines, from whic
Titus poured down mighty fragments
on rock, and showers Of ERE. The W Ills ga,
70, waI--the city was eptsred--the temp
nd itself was stormed Famine in the meal
pn. while had made such havoc, that the b
M sieped we're more like ,spectres than livir
ng men, they devoured tho belts to the
IN swords, the sandals to their feet. Ev,
m nature itself so passedawsy, that's a mot