The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-08-12
THE DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM
BY SIR E. BULwER LYTTON.

A few weeks ago, Sir E. Bulwer Lynton de
hvered a lecture in Lincoln, which city he bas
for number of years represented in Paria
ment, on the early history of Eastern nations
He gave an ontline of the history of the Baby.
loniaD, Assyrisn, Persian, Egyptian, Greek,
and Jewish, nations. and closed with the fol.
lowing powerful and dramatic description of
the destruction Of Jerusalem by Titus:
Six years after the birth of our Lord, Judea
and Ssmaria became Roman province under
| subordinate governors, the most famous Of
whom was Pontius PLATE. These governors
became 30 oppressive, that the Jews broke out
into rebellion and seventy years after Christ,
Jerusalem was finally besieged by Titus, after.
wards Emperor 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 of the dead.
lest war with each other-all the elements of
civil hatred had broke loose--the streets were
slippery with the blood of citizens-brother slew
brother-the granaries were set on fre-famine
wasted those whom the sword did not slay.
In the midst of these civil massacres, the Ro-
man armies appeared before the walls of Jeru-
salem. Then for short time the rival fac
tons united against the common foe they
we're again the gallant countrymen of David
and Joshua they sailed forth and scattered
the eagles Of Rome. But this triumph was
brief; the ferocity of the ill.fated Jews soon
again wasted iiself On each other. And Titus
marched on-encamped bis armies close by the
wals-and from the height the Roman gener-
al gazed with awe on the strength and spiendor
of the city of Jehovah.
"Let us here pause-snd take, ourselves, q
mournful glance at Jerusalem, as it then was.
The city was fortified by triple wall, save on
ONE side, where it was protected by deep and
impossible rsvines. These walls, of the most
solid masonry, were guarded by strong towers |;
opposite to the Hottest Of these towers Titus had
encsmped. From the height of that tower the
sentinel might have seen stretched below the
whole of that fair territory of Judea, about to
pass from the countrymen of David. Within
these walls was the palace of the kings-its
roof OF cedar, its door of the rarest marbles. its
chambers filled with the costliest tapestries. and
vessels of gold and silver. Groves and gar.
dens cleaning with fountains, adorned With
status of bronze, divided the courts of the
palace itself. But high above all, upon a pre.
cpitous rock, rose the temple, fortified and
adorned by solomon. This temple was as
strong without as a citadel; within, more
adorned than palace. On entering, you be-
held portcos of numberless columns of Dor
pnyry, marble, and alabaster; gates adorned
with gold and silver, among which was the
wonderful gate called the Beautiful.
Further on, through q vast arch, was the
sacred portal which admitted into the interior
OF the temple itself, all sheeted over with gold,
and overhung by q vine tree Of gold, the
branches of which were az large az q man.
The roof Of the temple, even on the outside. |
was set over with golden spikes, to prevent the |
birds settling there, and defiling the holy dome.
At distance, the whole temple looked like |
mount of snow, fretted with golden pinnaeles. |
But alas the veil Of that temple had been al