the purpose of embankments.1

At the summit of the

mountain is fixed the scene of our Saviour's last appearance on earth, and his ascension into heaven. The impression said to have been made by his foot is engraved on the surface of the rock, so as to preserve a record of the Messiah's attitude when he bade adieu

to this lower world. It appears from thence, that Christ's left hand was towards Jerusalem, which lays. west of the mountain, and that his face was consequently directed to the north. The view from this elevation is grand and extensive, comprehending the valley watered by the Jordan, and the entrance of that river into the Dead Sea, which appears like a vast plateau of burnished silver.

The place where our Saviour dictated the uni

1 Bell. Jud. lib. v. cap. xii.

2 It is difficult to read with the gravity, which the subject should inspire, the minute statements and their accompanying reflections, in some of the early voyages, descriptive of this miraculous occurrence. Yet unless to such as are inclined to deny the fact of the ascension altogether, there is surely no great outrage to probability in supposing that those who witnessed it, anxious to perpetuate a memorial of the

event, may have marked the surface with some rude representation of the impression of a foot, though time has rendered the resemblance indistinct.

versal prayer to his disciples, is supposed to have been a garden about one hundred yards to the northwest in an opposite quarter, and farther removed from the apex of the hill, is the cave where the apostles assembled to compose the creed which bears. their name. It is a long subterranean recess, supported by twelve arches, but no otherwise an object of curiosity, than as having been the retreat of those illustrious martyrs.1

The Vicomte de Châteaubriand has accompanied his description of this cavern with the following reflections: "Tandis que le monde entier adoroit à la face du soleil mille divinités honteuses, douze pêcheurs, cachés dans les entrailles de la terre, dressoient la profession de foi du genre humain, et reconnoissoient l'unité du Dieu créateur de ces astres à la lumière desquels on n'osoit encore proclamer son existence. Si

1 A critic in one of the popular Reviews, censures this allusion to the apostolic origin of the "articles of our belief”yet the writer has merely echoed the traditionary narrative of his guide (see page 76.)—He was on every account unwilling to obtrude his own sentiments. Those who take an interest in such discussions, may find the subject examined in a work of great research and ingenuity, published early in the last century, and entitled, "The History of the Apostles' Creed, with critical observations on its several clauses."

quelque Romain de la cour d'Auguste, passant auprès de ce souterrain, eût aperçu les douze Juifs qui composoient cette œuvre sublime, quel mépris il eût témoigné pour cette troupe superstitieuse! Avec quel dédain il eût parlé de ces premiers fidèles! Et pourtant is alloient renverser les temples de ce Romain, détruire la religion de ses pères, changer les lois, la politique, la morale, la raison, et jusqu'aux pensées des hommes."

The brow of the mount of Olives presents a complete panoramic view of the city, which being built on an inclined plane, appears to the spectator from this point, with the intersection of the different streets, almost as distinctly as a ground plan. It is from this quarter also that a Christian is enabled, with the least hazard of interruption, to examine those buildings which have replaced Solomon's temple. According to the present compass of the walls, the situation of that celebrated structure seems not to have been peculiarly well chosen. The enclosure begins at the south-eastern angle of the city, extending northward about five hundred paces, and one hundred and sixty in a western direction: the space is partly occupied by two Turkish mosques,

one of which resembles a large ill-shapen barn, coloured with a red wash; the other is of an octagonal figure, and adorned with many of those decorations which are peculiar to oriental architecture. This last is the celebrated pile erected by Omar in the seventh century. It seems less massive and spacious than the mosque of St. Sophia, though far exceeding it in lightness and elegance; but I think it infinitely surpassed, both in extent and beauty, by the mosque constructed by Achmet II. in the Atmeidan at Constantinople.

If we can make interest to obtain a nearer

survey, I will endeavour to be more circumstantial in my description of this singular edifice; at present I can scarcely offer even an imperfect outline.

LETTER VIII.

To SIR G. E▬▬T; BART.

Jerusalem.

DEAR E,

WE rode yesterday to Bethlehem, which is not more than six miles distant from hence. Soon after we quitted the city gate, our drogoman pointed to an eminence on the south, where the Jews assembled to take council respecting the seizure of Jesus Christ: from this circumstance it is termed, in the language of the Catholics, "il monte di mal consiglio." The route to Bethlehem is over an open, wild, and rugged desert, relieved by scarcely any object, except a few straggling olives, which are almost the only trees in the district. To the right is the valley of Rephaim, celebrated for the victories of David over the Philistines. (2 Sam. xxiii. 13.) The passage in the sacred writings, which relates this achievement of the