The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-04-22

situated IN the Alhambra grounds, so that
! recommend it, and the. more, cordially
because Of the great consideration shown
me By the landlady in spanking her baby
for refusing to kiss me. o..,,..
The glory Of Grenada is, Of course, the
world-renowned Alhambra, and to it we
repaired ct the earliest opportunity, and
in company with our two Scotch fellow
travellers. The elder of these was most
amiable and excellent old gentleman, and
an archnologist, natural philosopher, singer
Of comic songs, and theological controver-
siaiist,-in every one Of which departments
he excelled, and in all Of which he was an
enthusiast. he bore about with him q ba-
rometer, thermometer, compass, an al
manac, and . host of similar appliances,
and guide books and maps, and authorities
without, number. .2 On the present occasion
he took along various volumes pertinent to
the subject, all of which he insisted upon
studying and consulting at every step, to
the unmitigated disgust of our guide, who
found his statements controverted and cor
rected continually. The old gentleman had
q capital eye for the picturesque, and his
great aim was to get what he called a
"pong-de-view," from which, when he got
one, he would inspect the scene with
rapture 30 heightened that it almost crazed
our guide with the fdgets. .sr.y /
To those who would read Of the Alham-
bra in it's romantic aspect, I must com,
mend the glowing pages Of Irving. A news
paper letter does not afford room and verge
enough for the quantity of poetry betting
80 grand theme, and which / would be
sbundantly willing TO smear over it if l had
the opportunity; and so | must e'en be con-
tent with very brief, and prosy descrip-
ton. The Alhambra is situated on 8 lofty
hill, O great part of which is thickly
planted with elm trees. Time, and Charles
", and the French, and whitewash, have
dealt upon it's pride till it is well-nigh de-
stroyed. The usual. entrance is by the
Gate Of Judgments massive square tower,
which is entered through an immense
Moorish arch, on the keystone of which is
eculptured an outstretched hand. Over an
inner arch there is key sculptured, and it
is confidently asserted land I believe it)
that when the hand shall grasp the key the
whole concern will 60 to pot. Here in on
cient days the justices of the peace for this
magisterisl district were wont to hold theu
court. Ascending the stairway Of this
tower We come upon wide, open space,
and full before US is sn uncompleted palace
commenced by Charles V. ;-taaa
Despite the fact that certain recent events
in my own country have made me some
what dubious of republican principles, !
was very nearly reconverted to my original
faith when I saw that this monarch had de-
stroyed on enormous portion Of the beauti-
ful palace of the Moors TO make way for
his abortion-a pile begun with most AFRO
CANT promise and ending ignominiously in
the middle of its career-a ruin unable to
command the yeneration which ruin
should receive. On entering door near
this shell of palace, we we're ushered into
the Court Of the Myrtles, or, as it is some
times termed, the Alberca, from on enor-
nous oblong pool, which is its most promi-
nent feature. This pool is full of goldfish,
and its sides are bordered with myrtles. In
it the old Moorish royal family we're accus-
toned to wash their tawny hides. The
court is adorned with elegant windows and
arches, and with marble pillars sustaining
galleries and at one end rises the tower Of
Comares.
We next entered the Court Of the Lions.
This is perhaps the most noted portion OF
the Alhambra. Here we, indeed, see what
the Moors were capable of, accomplishing,
and could scarcely repress thrill of re-
gret that l had not with me the Hon. Lewis
Lindsay, my friend, if the honorable gen
tleman will allow me to call him go, in con-
sideration that | have in former days
danced to the music of his fddle-that in
domitable champion Of the unity of the
African race-so that he might obtain ms
eriale, or enforcing his eloquent panegy-
RIGS on the greatness of his people. This
court derives its name from the twelve lions
which sustain large AID handsome ala
baster fountain in the centre OF it. These
lions arc scraggy. looking specimens Of the
plastic art, and we are bidden to regard
them charitably as simply heraldic efhgies.
] have no. space to describe this court as it
deserves. 1t is surprisingly elegant in
conception and in execution. 1t has within
it no less than 124 marble pillars Of light
and tasteful workmanship, and the arches
conrectiug them are of most delicate pat
tern, worked in fi!igree. Moaaic devices
are seen everywhere, and the walls are
blazoned with Arabic inscriptions elabo-
rately and neatly done in beautiful stucco-
work. AS has been observed by o writer,
what this place was in the day Of its glory
we may eurmise by reading the " Arabian
Nights" though even then its reality must
have beggared their fanciful creations.
On one side of the Court of the Lions is
the Hall of the Abencerrages, noticeable
for its fine stalactite roof, but especially for
being the reputed scene of the butchery Of
the gallant chieftains from whom it takes
it's name. The marble floor and the foun-
tain exhibit some broad, dingy splotches
which are said to be marks Of the blood OF
the murdered men; but they are due, no
doubt, to 8 no more ghastly cause than the
oxidation Of iron contained in the marble.
Opposite to this hall is that of the Two
Sisters-so named from two large slabs of
marble in its pavement. This hall is ex-
quisitely beautiful, and is especially famous
for its magnificent roef, in whose construc-
ton there enter upwards Of five thousand
pieces. 1t was one of the private apart
ments of the ladies of the hsrem.
l find that, restricted as l am, it would
not be possible to do more than give mere
catalogue of the other noted portions of this
once sumptuous pile. l must, however,
mention specially the Hall of Ambassa-
dors--a large and splendidly-adorned
apartment, embracing ali the lower por-
ton Of the Tower of Comares. Its walls
are colored with inscriptions, devices, and
escutcheons, and its roof is marvel of
elaborate workmanship. 1t roverlooks the
river Darro; and from one of its windows
Bosbdil, the last of the kings of Grenada,
is reported to have been let down in
basket when o child by his mother in order