THE SPY & COLUMBIA? .
SATURDAY MORNING, SEPT. 11, 1847
AGENCIES
V. B. PALMER, North West corner of Thltd and
Chestnut streets, Philadelphia,
Tribune Buildings, (opposite City Hall,) N. York.
South East corner of Baltimore and Calvert streets,
Baltimore, and
No. 12 State street, Boston.
JACOB M. WovrnAr.esea, Lancaster city.
Wmusu A. PIERCE, Travelling Agent.
Tits THADDECS Stesitss.—Friend Sim:ason has
just committed to the •. mercy of the winds and the
waves," an elegant Section Boat—which, with true
Pennsylvania pride, he has christened after our dis
tinguished fellow citizen, Thaddeus Stevens, Esq.
This boat is none of the ephemeral affairs which
section boats have of late got to be, hut a staunch
and beautiful specimen of boat building as ever
bra - ved "the dangers of the raging canal." In
commemoration of the prominent part played by
the gentleman to whom it owes Its patronymic,
upon the common school question, the Thadikus
Stevens is dsesa-sted with a landscape sketch, by
Hunt, representing a pleasantly situated country
school house, with a troop of incipient citizens play.
log about it—apparently oblivious of the birch and
the foolscap, which doubtless reign within. A
metry group aro they, and much, very much do they
owe to the exertions of Mr. Stevens, for the privh
loges they are now enjoying. Wonder if they ever
think of it.
While speaking of this specimen of Columbia
tfianufncture, we would request those who may
produce any article worthy of note, and in which
the public may feel an interest, to inform ns of the
fact—it being one of the few pleasures of the edi
tor's task, to say favorable things of his neighbors,
end to 'notice any thing excellent near home.
CAUGItr nwrieiti.—A coon was caught in Bethel's
Woods, near this place, last Sonday. Ile was
quietly snoozing on the branch of a tree, and awoke
just in time to find himself a " gone coon." To
politicians this might be considered an ominous
occurrence; but to us It augurs nothing more
than that the coon was caught napping.
==
TIM New Date Ass DELTA.—This is among the
most valuable of our exchange papers, and, coming
as it does from the nearest point of direct commu
nication with the scat of war, derives therefrom an
extra interest. The editorials and correspondence,
although strongly spiced with wit and humor, have
a higher value in their careful and unwavering ad
herence to facts. The Delta is a contemporaneous
history of the war with Mexico, and its readers are
posted up to the latest moment in all that pertains
to that affair.
As an exponent of southern views, and a
record of the news of the world, it recommends it
aelf to the patronage of a northern public; and we
recommend it to all who would possess a faithful
At anstript of the times.
'The weekly Delta is published at 33 per year.
PETrn Al. DESTIONG.—We last week gave a letter
from this gentleman setting forth his powers ofeal
culation. These powers, to whatever extent they
may be possessed by himself, it can be scarcely
possible to communicate to others merely for a fee
of ten dollars. A mind adapted to work of this
kind, together with practice, arc requisite. Thus
a southern nigger, but little above an idiot in other
respects, performs astonishing teats in calculation,
without knowing the use of figures as the repre
sentatives of numbers; and Colburn did the ammo
when a child, working from the left, the method
adopted by Mr. Dcshong.
We have recently seen a French treatise which
professes to teach, in nine lessons, a colculer anssi
vile Toe 10 pensee, (as quick as thought.) One of
the questions will suffice as an example A
piece of satin of 40 yards costs 260 francs: how
much a yard must it 'sell for to make tun per
cent?"
Mr. D. hras taught his system for a number of
years, yet we do not hear of other rapid calculators
from among his pupils. They pay their ten dollars
—"see the elephant," and arc satisfied; being too
honorable to start an opposition. A Philadelphia
paper stated some time ago that Mr. 1). was followed
and abused in the street by some one, and another
states that he called at their office and stated his
willingness to demonstrate his ability to teach by
giving the editor a lesson when convenient. The
editor however wished to be taught " now," when
some excuse was made, and the calculator has been
patiently waited for ever since
2=!!
Mr. Buchanan has written a letter to the de
mocracy of Old Berke," in reply to a recent in
vitation to attend a democratic " Harvest Home,"
in that county, in which he takes ground against
the Wilmot Proviso, and in favor of the extension
of the Missouri Compromise.
=I
LEAD ORE IN LA:WAR - REM COUSTV.-A cnrrcs
pondant of the American Press, says Lancaster
County, Pa., has long since been noted for its proli.
fic soil and production of its enormous yearly crops
of grain, and now promises fair to rank also
among the first of the mining districts of the State-
Besides Iron ore, and of which new beds are daily
being discovered, Roofing Slate, Chrome, Marble.
Magnesia, some Capper, and lately, also an enor
mous bed of Lead Ors has been discovered on the
farm lately purchased by Mr. Henry H. Shenk,
situate five miles northwest from the city of Lan
caster, oft the Harrisburg turnpike road.
Mr. Shenk, (naturally disposed to investigate
Cause and effect,) was led to the discovery of this
ore firom the fact that grain, grass or other vegeta
bles growing in that part of the field where the ore
Is found, ripened prematurely, or rather turned
yellow, and sometimes died altogether, long before
the rest began to ripen, and while examining the
roots of the wheat, he dug out several small masses
of the ore, whose weight and shining fracture
when broken attracted his attention. He then ex
amined the ground at various places, and found
that there was an almost entire mass of it, from ten
to tw.F . rdy inches under ground, and no donbt was
the cause of the destruction of the grain."
EARLY Runso.—. Hallo, Jim, get up; the sun
has been shining these two hours."
“Well, if I had to travel as far as he has today,
I'd bare been up three hours ago."
The following corrcepontlence, we believe, has
not yet appeared in print. We publish it for the
bent It of dentists in particular and the people in
general
Dear General:—l, a self appointed committee
of the Dentists , s do not flatter yourself that I am
going to tell you of which branch) of the Union, in
view of the importance of the question of amalgam
or foil, as a material for tilling teeth, and of your
prominent position as a candidate for the highest
°nice in the world, have felt it my duty to obtain
your opinion, upon which you are willing to stake
your chances of success, on the relative and positive
advantages and disadvantages of the two systems.
Expecting a reply, I am, with due respect,
Your friend or foe, as you may decide,
MOLAR BICUSPID, D. D.
To 2. TivLon, &c., &c., Walnut Springs, Mexico.
GENERAL TAYLOR'S REPLY
Camp near Mama Springs, Merico
Dear Sir :--I. thank you for your letter, and
listen to answer your interrogatories—fully im
pressed with their importance, and recognizing the
right of the citizen to question the candidate fur
office, on any ti..a .11 subjects. having had some
experience in the treatment of teeth, I have found a
judicious medium, alternating between the two
plans, to ho the thing. My troops require pork,
beans and bread,—an excellent foil to hunger,—and
when sick, as is sometimes the We ia the best
regulated armies, an amalgam of calomel and jalap.
Our enemies thrive well.upon the metallic regimen
we have administered. I shall not, however, con
sent to risk nay chances of success" upon this or
any other of my opinions, but throw myself upon
the whole people, whose teeth it will be my earnest
endeavor to keep busy, which I consider an excel
lent prev.intive of decay.
Z. TAYLOR,
Maj. Gcn. Corn. Army Occ.
To Mor.mt Mcvsrtn, D. D., U. S.
=
Mr. CLAy.--The Episcopal Recorder, in giving
an interesting account of the late Episcopal visita
tions of the Rt. Rev. Bishop Smith of Kentucky,
says :—The rile of confirmation was administered
by Ili.hop Smith on Sunday, July 18th, in the
Chapel of Morrison College, Lexington, to seven
persons. Among the candidates on the last occa
sion was the lion. Henry Clay, of whose baptism
an interesting account has recently been published.
Herman Melville, the author of " Typce," was
married on the 4th alt., to Miss Shaw, daughter of
the Chief Justice, of Boston.
Alas: poor Fayaway—the gentle, dark-eyed
maid of Typce. Little does she suspect the infi•
unity of her once attentive Tornmn.
TUE Noccu 13nANen C3NAL.—The Bradford Re
porter says:
There is now an assurance that this work will
be again resumed and completed. Gentlemen from
the Wyoming Valley have, during the lust week,
been among our citizens, procuring subscription to
a bonus at WA MO, to be paid the Company, pro
vided the work is resumed and completed within
the time allowed by taw. We are gratified in be
ing able to state, that about one-half the required
snm was forthwith raised in this county, and more
could have been procured, hod it been necessary,
our citizens having great confidence in the value
and utility of this Extension, when connected with
the improvements of New York. Lucerne and
\Wyoming have already subscribed the balance.
These gentlemen have the strongest assurances
that the Company would immediately put the Ca
nal under contract, and we trust that the hopes of
the people of this section will not again be disap•
pointed.
To PRETEST TOE RUNNING OF C.ANDLES—If you
wish to prevent the running or guttering away in
an hour or two of an ordinary candle, place as
much common salt, finely powdered, as will reach
from the tallow to the bottom of the black part of
wick, when, if the same be lit, it will burn very
slowly all night, yielding a sufficient light for a
bed chamber; the salt will gradually sink as the
tallow is consumed, the melted tallow being drawn
through the salt and consumed in the wick.
IZ=l
The Washington Whig mentions a report that
Mr. Crampton, the British Minister pro. tem., has
submitted, by order of his government, to Mr. Bu.
.chanan an intimation that, in the event of an absorp
tion of the existing territory by the United States,
Great Britain will look to the United States for the
re-imburseinent of the debt due by the present
Mexican government to the subjects of the United
Kingdom. And also, that the inti mat ion goes even
further—that, if the war with Mexico shall end in
any serious dismemberment of Mexican territory,
this government will be called upon by Great Brit.
sinto make good the English Mexican debt in pro
portion to the value of the territory dismembered.
I=E=ZZZI
SINGLIAR Norton.—Gen. Taylor's eldest daugh
ter, the wile of col. Jefferson 'Davis, has the queer
est given name for a female we ever heard of, it
being Thomas Jefferson Taylor.
The oddity of this name is thus explained by a
friend of Geh. Taylor: The old General in hie
younger days, took a notion as young men often
do, that lie would get married, which he did; and
being a great admirer of Thomas Jefferson, he
declared his intention of naming his first child for
him. In the course of human events, he became
the father of a beautiful daughter, True to his
purpose, as lie 'never surrrnders,The had her baptized
Thomas Jefferson Taylor.
==
A Touciuna Starr.—Standing a moment with a
friend on Main street on Thursday evening we saw
a spectacle which deeply stirred our sympathies.
A man some forty years old, reeling with liquor
and bearing the marks of habitual drunkenness,
came staggering up the sidewalk. To his hand
his little son—a boy some 8 years old—clung - sill a
tight grip of both his own. As the father, once or
twice stumbled and nearly fell, the little fellow
braced his feet, and exerted all his strength to save
him; his eyes all the time streaming with tears,
and heavy sobs breaking from his young breast.
What a sad change of duties and responsibilities !
The father, impotent, not from the visitations of
Providence, but from his own vices, led and protect.
ed by his tender offspring, whom he himself should
protect and lead! Oh; damnable vice! th a t s t r ip s
manhood of its strength and dignity, and drenches
the cheek of youth with tears of premature sorrow.
Cincinnati Atlas.
THE WELSH SUPPER.
The supper given in hcnor of our fellow towns
man, Thomas Welsh, Esq., was served up at Barr's
Hotel, last evening, (Friday, Sept. 10,) In a sump
tuous and magnificent style, to which about eighty
persons sat down.
After the cloth was removed, the company was
organized by the appointment of the following
officers of the evening: Col. Daniel Herr, Presi
dent; Capt. James Ilaughy, Major Samuel Brooks,
Capt. Thomas White, Col. P. S. Gossler, .7. F.
Houston, Esq., and J. W. Cottrell, Esq., Vice
Presidents; S. D. Young, Nelson Sutton, and C.
Westbrook, Secretaries.
The following letter was received and read:
PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 10th, 1847.
Gentlemen:—Your invitation to be present at
the Supper to be given by the citizens of Columbia
to Mr. Thomas Welsh who "volunteered to defend
the honor of his country" and was wounded at the
glorious battle of "Buena Vista" was duly receiv
ed, and I had promised myself much pleasure in
participating with you on that occasion.
Such manifestations of public approbation, as the
contomplated by the citizens of Colombia, are
Jae to those Who peril their lives in the service of
their country. The cause is that of our common
country, and in honoring those who have stood
" between their loved homes and wars desolation"
we but exhibit the feelings which should animate
the bosom of every true American.
I regret that an unexpected business call will
prevent my being with you in person, but I will be
with you in sentiment and feeling, and trust that
the occasion may be a joyous one.
Yours, very respectfully,
WM. ENGLISH.
To Messrs. JAMES J. Gil:Ex, Wm. NLvrtucer, and
others.
REGULAR. TOASTS
General George Washington.—The Father of
his Country. Ills name shall live in the memories
of a grateful people, to the last syllable of recorded
time. To his example, in peace and in war, we
may safely turn " eyes right and dress."
The Sages and Ileroes ot the Revolution:—Great
in council and mighty in war. Their wisdom and
valor achieved a Nation's Independence; a Nation
delights to honor them.
Dr. Benjamin Franklin.—The Philosopher and
Statesman.. As successful in controlling the Light.
ning at Heaven, as defeating the will of tyrants.
General La Fayette.—The companion and con
fidant of Washington. Endeared to the Freemen
of this Republic, by his valor and love of liberty,
his name will be revered by the latest generations.
The surviving heroes of the Revolution.—Relies
of an epoch rendered immortal by the splendor of
their achivements; the blessings of millions rest
upon them.
The 4111 of July„ 1776,—The principles it gave
birth to, must be appreciated as long as Americans
can appreciate the blessings of freedom, and the
cost of obtaining it.
The President of the United States.
The Governor of Pennsylvania.
Our guest, Thomas IVelsir,Esq.—A brave and
faithfitt soldier, war-worn and wounded he has re
turned from the battle-field of Buena Vista. His
fellow citizens, his companions ao.d neighbors, by
expressing their gratitude for his military services,
shew their just appreciation of his merits as a
citizen.
[Mr. Welsh responded to this toast, in a brief but
appropriate manner, which was followed by three
hearty cheers by the company.]
The rtctory of Buena Vista.—Unparalleled in
the history of nations; twenty thousand of the
vetran troops of Mexico put to night by live thou
sand American Volunteers.
The Army and Navy of the United States.—
Their prowess, a shield for a nation's rights. May
nothing prevent a repetition of their victories but
a never ending peace.
The United States.—An Asylum lbr the oppres
sed of all nations.
The Constitution of the United States.—May it
stand unaltered whilst the Republic endures.
The 10th of September 1814.—A day ever me.
morable in the history of our country, when the
gallant Perry humbled British pride and insolence
on Lakc Eric.
Pennsylvania Vol unteers.—The foremost to meet
and chastise a Foreign Foe. With such troops, a
General may well and proudly say he never sur
renders."
Our Country.—Tho best evidence of man's capa
bility for self-government; and "right or wrong,"
the enemies of civil Liberty, always find it "right
side up."
Our victories in 31exico.—Daring, glorious and
unexampled, achieved by a few over many. They
arc proof that American Soldiers are invincible.
The Ladics.—Heaven bless them!!! Their
smiles, the soldiers best reward. "None but the
brave deserve the Fair."
Our host and Hostess, Mr. and Mrs. Barr.—The
splendid entertainment of the evening does them
honor, and plainly ',thews there arc no crossbars
between them. May they never want mosquito
bars, bars of music or bars of gold, and always be
de-barr.ed from all bars that may bar up their road
to happiness and prosperity.
The company was then ably addressed by Messrs .
Frazer and Ford of Lancaster city, J. F. Houston
Esq. of Columbia and Capt. Stucad of the Regular
Army.
VOLUNTEER TOASTS
James Haughy.—Columbia had her Cochran at
Palo Alto and at Rcaaca de la Palma, and her
Welsh at Buena Vista. The former gave his life
in his country's cause; the latter offered his ser.
vices and received a certificate of acceptance.
By Dank] Herr.—General Taylor and his army,
the heroes of Palo Alta, Resaca de la Palma, Mon
terey and Buena Vista.
By P. S. Gossier.—Major Cary H. Fry, of 2nd
Regiment of Kentucky Volunteers.—A good friend
of our guest, Mr. Welsh, a gentleman, and a brave
and generous ufficer.
By Samuel F. Lockard.—Thomu Welsh, our
guest and citizen.—Although not epauletted, has
distinguished himself, and proves that worth makes
the man, and the want of it the fellown Exemplary
in courage and patriotism. May others seek to
emulate him by act acting well their part. There
all the honor lies.
By D. F. Griffith.—The memory of our fellow
citizen, Lieut. R. E. Cochran.
By Hugh Boyle.—Our fellow townsman, T.
Welsh.—Our republican institutions are in a
healthful state, while our citizens appreciate merit
in private as well as public life.
By D. F. Griffith.—The Ladies.—Always ready
to fly to "arms" when their lovers call.
James J. Given.—Gen. Wool—The rigid discip.
linarian, the great tactician, the watchful sentinel,
the brave General. When in command, the Army
Is always safe.
D. 1•. Griffith.—Why was Gen. Taylor at the
battle of Buena Vista like the owner of a splendid
Vineyard. Because be could Bragg on his Grape.
On motion of H. Boyle, Esq., the thanks of the
company were tendered to the speakers of the
craning.
In the course of the evening a heautiftil wreath
of flowers was presented to Mr. Welsh by J. F.
Houston Esq., in behalf of the ladies of Columbia.
The above is but a brief sketch of the festivities
of the evening. Time and limits will not prirmit
us to give a more extensive report. The main
features however are here embodied.
IMPORTANT FROM MEXICO.
Defeat of Santa Anna—The City of
Mexico at the mercy of our Army.
We arc indebted to the Ledger for the following
important ZIOWE.
From the Picayune ofthe3il Net.
The news by this arrival is the most important
that we have received in many months from Mexico.
Our army has not only advanced to the city of
Mexico, but it has had two engagements with the
enemy close under the walls of the city, and defeat.
cd them. The Mexicans have been brought to sup
plicate a suspension of arms, and Gen. Scott has
granted it. The Mexkan Congress has been con-
voked to take into consideration Mr. Trist's propo-
MEM
The news was received in Vera Cruz on the eve_
Mug of the 2Gth ult. by an express courier from Ori_
zaba,, who brought down the following letter to Mr•
Dimond, the collector at Vera Cruz, to whose mgr..
tesy we are indebted for the use of the letter which
we proceed to give z
Omzsas, August 251.14 1847.
My Dear Friend :—The Mexican mail, which
has jest come in, brings the following intelligence,
which I copy from the Dierio Official del Goblerno.
Being of so great importance, I send you this ex
press courier, which will be with you,to morrow
about IQ. o'clock.
On the .90th two brigades commanded by Gen.
Valencia and Santa Anna went out to attack the
Americans near San Angel. Va'encia's division
has been completely defeated, and Santa Anna, after
the first rencontrc, fe:l back also in disorder to the
city.
They immediately after this asked for a suspen.
sion of hostilities, and offered to hear the proposi
tions of peace from Mr. Trist.
The next day the Minister of Foreign Relations
invited the Congress, through the newspapers, to
meet for that purpose.
These are the great facts which no doubt will
bring after them peace. Yours, truly,
F. M.Dtmosn, Lsq.
I=l
A DISCOVERY. -Our readers may remember that
some time ago, the Mayor received from the Mu.
Michael Stanton, Lord Mayor of Dublin, a letter of
thanks from the Corporation of that city, for the
gift of $5OOO made by this city, to the suffering
poor of Ireland, which letter was published in the
city papers. Yesterday morning a respectable
lady, a tenant of the Mayor's called upon him to
see the letter and compare the signature with that
of one she had received some two years since from
her brother in Dublin. Each was a fac simile of
the other, and the lady had the satisfaction of
knowing that her brother, from whom she had
heard but once in iwenty.eight years, had risen to
the high and honorable station of Lord Mayor of
Dublin.—N. Y. Courier.
Pr-sty Tscutsc.—An editor somewhere this side
of sun-down, walks into a lady in this wise because
she has a greater taste for writing poetry than
washing dishes.
"Au interesting female correspondent sends us a
very uninteresting piece of poetry, and timidly lisps
a request for its publication. The moon is called
bright—the stars are flattered with the original ep
pollution of "meek-eyed"—the trees come in for
a full share of eulogy, and the Falling Spring
is pronounced silver plated, or something to that
effect. Besides this, the poem is equally instruc
tive on other important subjects. If Mary will
send us an affidavit that she has washed the dishes,
mended, the hose, and swept the house for a week
after she was "blasted with poetic fire," we will
give in, and startle the literary world from its leth
argy. For the present, we say darn your stockings
and darn your poetry too."
Letters received by the Caledonian from reliable
sources, announce that on the 28th day of July last
the King of Denmark issues: a decree declaring
that all persona who should thereafter be born in
his dominions should be sons mc, and that aft
persons in servitude in his dominions on the 28th
of July last, and remaining so on the 28th of July
1859, shall then be absolutely free, without compen
sation to the owners.
In the negotiation with the colonists which pre.
ceded the issuing of this decree, he offered them
the alternative of three years with a compen
sation of 860 per head for each slave, or twelve
years without any compensation, and they chose
the latter.
Denmark has three small islands in the West
Indies, viz: St. Croix, St. Thomas, and St. John's,
St. Croix contains about 80,000 slaves. St. Thomas
and St. John perhaps 5000 more.—N. I': Jour.
Com.
"If you children quarrel so about that doll, I'll
break it up ; there's no peace where you are !"
'• Oh, do, mamma,' screamed the young hopefuls,
" then we shall all haven littlepieee."
From the London People's Journal
THE HOLY LAND.
BY HARRIET MARTINEAU
Entrance
It was on Sunday, March Mb, that titte to enter
the Holy Land. I had been too much engrossed
by the objects which interested us at every step in
Egypt and Arabia to think much of this before
hand; but when I came forth from our tent In the
dawn of that morning, there was enough of novel
ty in the scene around me to make me feel that we
were about to enter upon a new country, and a new
set of interests; and I became eager to know at
what hour we were to pass the boundary which
separated the desert from the Holy Land—the
home of the old Faith from that of the new. We
had followed the track of Moses from the spot
where his mother placed him in his bulrush cradle
to that on which he died; for to the east we should
this morning see the mountains overhanging the
Dead Sea; and among them the summit of Nebo,
whence he looked abroad over the Land of Promise;
and now we were to enter upon the country of
Jesus—certain to walk in his very footsteps, and
see what he saw—perhaps this very day. I never
remember feeling such an interest in every wild
flower, in the outlines of all the hills, and the track
of all the water courses.
We had left the stony desert behind UP, end were
encamped in a nook of the hills where the ground
was green, and weeds grew thick. There was
grass under my bed in the tent ; and when I came
out this morning, the dew was heavy on the daisies
and buttercups and flowering mallows which grew
abundantly on the turf. After breakfast, while the
camels were loading, I walked in the early sun
shine on a strip of sand overlooking the valley,
ttnpressing en my memory every feature of the land
scape,. and impatient of the rising ground to the
north, which prevented my seeing where we were
going. It was about ten o'clock when we passed
the boundary. It was impossible to tell the exact
moment t but within a mile or two we felt that we
were indeed is the native land of Christ, and pro
bably on his very track. He might have been
there. His relutionslived at Hebron; and during
the first thirty years of his life he had probably
visited them, after meeting them at. the feasts of
Jerusalem. lie might have walked over these
hills which swelled higher and higher as we ad.
vanced, and rested beside some of the wells which
yawned beside our track. At any rate, the trees
and flowers which we saw must have been familiar
to his eyes; the thorny acacia which began here
to rise and spread from the stunted shrub of the
desert to the dimensions of a tree; the scarlet
anemone—with us a precious garden flower—
which here strew the ground for acres round; the
cyclamen, which pushed forth its tuffs of white
and lilac blossoms front under many a stone and
bush; and the poppy, mallow, hemlock, and wild
oats, which grew as thickly as in any English
hedge. I did not know before that these. weeds
were as common. here as with us; and' never be.
fore did the sight of them give me so much plea.
sure. It would have been pleasant any where to
meet these familiar weeds so far from home; but
the delight of to-day was to think that He and his
disciples were as Much accustomed to them as our.
solve% and that a walk in the early spring was, in
the pure country, much the same thing to them as
to us-
But we soon came upon the traces which showed
that the expanse of pure country here was small in
those dam compared with what it is now. The
towns must have been more thickly set here than
in any country I ever was in. Patches and
masses of ruins showed themselves on every hand,
sn near each other as to indicate that the land must
have been peopled to a degree now nowhere known.
The first ploughing we had seen for many weeks
was a striking sight to ns ; a mere scratching of
the soil at the foot of the hills: but close by lay
a heap of building stones, the remains ofa town or
village. Presently we saw a rode plough, with a
single camel at work; and et hand was a long
foundation wall, laid in a far distant century. On
a height further on, were the remains of a large
ancient building with two broken pillars standing,
marking the site of the Amer of scripture.—
Then, though there were water courses about every
hill, wells began to abound ; substamint, deep.
wells, balk with a tint with holes in it, to receive '
the covering stone; such wells as tell of a settle- ,
ment beside them. We stopped early this day—
partly because it was Sunday, and partly because
our Arab guards wholuiew nothing of our Sunday,
found a convenient place among the hills, some
what sheltered from the cold wind; and here, a
very few miles Irons the boundary, the gentlemen
of the party discovered that we had set down in ,
the midst of what was once a large town, though I
the place appeared a mere stony tract, like many
that we had passed.
In the morning early, I went out to see for my
self, and was astonished at the extent of the ruins
which I should not have observed while merely
tiding by. I could trace the lines of foundation
walls for half a mile; and building atones, over.
grown with grass, lay in hillocks for a considera.
hie distance round. The many caverns in the
limestone rocks, now used as beds for the goats ,
were found to be the vaults of large buildings now
gone to ruin. In a few minutes, we traced three
temples, or other such buildings, by their over_
thrown pillars. Our eyes being now opened, we
this day saw more and more remains, tin we were
convinced that all the way from the boundary to
Hebron, the land was thick-set with towns, and
swarming with inhabitants in the days of its glory
—the days when the Teacher went up and down in
it, meditating the changes which must make it
what I have seen it now. Its hills and streams, its
skies and flowers, arc to-day what they were be.
fore his eyes ; but where he saw towns on every
height, and villages in every nook, there is new
hardly left one stone upon another. A group of
black Bedouin tents on a hillside, a camel or two
browsing here, and flock of goats there, are all that
relieve the utter solitude where there was then an
innumerable throng of men.
As we advanced, on the Monday, the soil became
richer, and field was joined to field, so that we be
gan to look for the landmarks which are here
used instead of fencer, to bound field property. We
entered upon the thickets and shrubberies, where
white roses, the cyclamen, convolv us, and fragrant
harbs abounded. Soon after a new scene opened
upon ns. On bur left hand lay a wide, deep basin
among the hills, full of vineyards and olive
grounds, where the stones from the soil were built
up into fences, and in almost ever plot rose a garden
house. This was a sure sign that We were dear
town; and as we rounded the hill on our right; wd
came insight of
. the twd eminences on *Well ife
brdn Is bat. There atddd the tdwri where John
the tabiist was born; and here were the seines
which he mast many a time have talked of with
his cousin, in their boyish meetings at Jerusalem
for the feasts. Hebron, too is only twenty miles
from Bethlehem; only twenty-six from Jerusalem ;
• and in the those days, when a large amont of year
ly travelling was a solemn religious duty incum
bent upon every family, it is scarcely possible but
that relatives must have often visted each other,
and that Jesus and his parents must have come to
Hebron.
The cave of Machpelah is there; and the burial
place of Abraham and his family was a sacred
locality, and an object of pilgrimage to Jews of all
ages. As we inquired for it, and walked round the
inclosurc, which the Mahomedans now permit no
Christian to enter, I could not but think who
might have been before us in the same quest.
PARS U.
BETIILEHESI-ZION-JERUSALEM
As I sat on a tomb in the Turkish cemetery the
next morning (March 30th) watching the prepara
tions for our departure, I almost dreaded the interest
which would every day now bring, after the calm
and quiet weeks we had spent in the desert. Our
encampment looked much the SURE as it had done
every morning for a month past; the Arab servants
busy in taking down and packing the tents, and a
noisy quarrel going on in the midst—(this morning
about a pistol having been stolen from one of the
tents:)—and the differences were only that there
were spectators standing by, and that our camels
I had given place to horses and asses. But, instead
of tl•e rocks and sands of the desert, Hebron was
before my eyes, and the hills where Abraham
spread his flocks, and the spot where he and his
family lay buried. And before night, I should ace
the place where David was born and lived his shep
herd life, and. where Jesus was born. We had
only twentymilcs to twaveL this day to Bethlehem ;
but it was quite enough, for we were eager about
every old tree and well, and hill-top. The shrubs
grew finer, and the wild flowers more abundant,
the whole way; though• the hills of Judah were
wild and stony in parts„ and-no longer fit. for pastur
ing such flocks as cowered them whew Abraham
lived among them, or when the Hebrews drove in
their cattle !kern. the desert,,or when David in his
boyhood amused himself with slinging smooth
stones from the brook while his father's sheep were
feeding on the slopes. We sat down to rest and
eat under the shade of a rock and a spreading tree
and for the hundredth time since we left Egypt it
occurred to me how little we in. England• can enter
into the meaning of David when, in his divine
songs, he speaks of the shade of rocks, and of the
beauty of " a tree planted by rivers of water" and
all such cool images. When one has been, slowly
pacing on, hour after hour, over glaring sands or
heated rocks, under a sun which makes every bit
of leather or metal, and even one's outer clothing,.
feel scorching hot,and oppressing one's very breath
ing, the sight of a patch of dark shade is welcome
beyond belief; and when one has dismounted and
felt the coolness of the rocky wall and the ground
beneath it, and gathered the fresh weeds which
cluster in its crevices, phrase after phrase of the
Psalms and Prophecies comes over one's mind, with
a life and liveliness as sweet as the blosoms in one's
Our first sight of Bethlehem was beautiful. We
came upon it suddenly, just when the yellow sunset
light was richest - . Bethlehem was on the rising
ground on our right, massive looking (as all the
villages of Palestine are) and shadowy, as the last
sun•rays passed over it to gild the western hills,
and another village which there lay high up, ern
bosomed in fig and olive orchards. The valley be
tween, nut of which we were rising, lay in shadow.
Before us, perched on a lofty ridge which rose be
tween us and Jerusalem, was the convent of St.
Elias, which we were to pass to.morrow. I was
sorry to turn away from this view: but we had to
take to the right hand road, and ride through the
narrow streets of the village to the great convent
built over the spot where Jesus was believed by the
friars to have been born.
It was too late this evening to see any of the sa
cred localities : but it was quite enough to have the
moonlight streaming in during the whole night in
the window of my lofty convent chamber, and to
think that on this hill took place the greatest event
in the history of the world; and that in the fields
near, the gentle Ruth went about her gleaning, lit
tle dreaming in those days of her poverty, that from
her meeting with Boaz among the reapers of his
harvests, would arise such events to the human
race; that the shepherd grandchild, whose divine
songs were to soothe her old age, should be the
mighty king he was, and father of a yet mightier,
who should build the great temple of the Lord ;
and that a more distant descendant should make
these glories appear as childish toys in the presence
of his greater sovereignty over the universal human
soul. A wise man of a late century has nobly said
that "Prosperity is the promise of the Old Testa
ment, and Adversity that of the New." On this
hill was born the prosperity of the old dispensation ;
and on this WI was born the Man of Sorrows who
knew the secret of true peace, and taught it irr
the saying that it profits not a man to gain the
whole world and lose his own soul.
In the morning we went into the church of the
convent. I cared little for the upper part, with Its
chapels for Greek, Latin and Armenian worship:.
and not much more for the caverns underground,
where the friars believe that Joseph and Mary re.
mained while there was no room for them in the
inn. If the town was too full to receive them while
the people were collected fur the census, it is hardly
probable that they would repair to an underground.
cave; but in this cave, mass was going on this
morning; and striking was the effect, after coming
down from the sunshine, of the crowded cavern,
with its yellow lights and their smoke, and the
echoes of the chaunting. We returned when the
service was over, and saw the star in the marble
floor which marks the precise spot where Jesua