wild energy, which the spectators mistook for the effect of inspiration. This person, who is one of those characters which the Turks esteem sacred, and who are termed Santons, roams through the streets of Jerusalem in the condition above described, without exciting from either sex any expression of disgust or astonishment: on the contrary, he is frequently regarded with peculiar marks of attention, as partaking in an extraordinary degree the attributes of sanctity! Such is at present the intensity of darkness in a city, whence formerly issued those rays of light and glory, which have illumined a benighted world.

From the citadel we proceeded to the Jewish synagogue: nothing can more forcibly represent the extreme humiliation of these wretched people, whose fortunes seem darkened over with one thick and oppressive cloud of unbroken misery. The "gorgeous palace and the solemn temple" are substituted by a decayed hovel and gloomy court; the approach to these is formed by a narrow descent of eight or ten steps, at the bottom of which, in a small area partly covered by the projection of a tattered shed, we found the descendants of the patriarchs in the exercise of their religious duties. The service was rehearsed in

Spanish, and heard with the most respectful attention. The congregation consisted almost entirely of persons very advanced in life, and there was an air of mournful anxiety thrown over the melancholy group, which rendered their appearance in the highest degree impressive and affecting. They seemed like a venerable band of patriots keeping guard over the embers of their faith and national glory, as Hagar is recorded to have watched the waning life of her infant "amid the fountainless desert."

In the afternoon we took a second survey of the sacred places, included in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

The stone on which the body of Christ was laid to be anointed, is immediately in front of the entrance : eight lamps are suspended over it, and at each extremity there are three large wax tapers, several feet in height. The distance from the sepulchre to the place where the cross was erected, does not exceed forty of my paces: the person who accompanied me, made the distance forty-three yards; his measurement is probably the most accurate. From the tomb to the place of Christ's appearance to the Magdalen, the distance is sixteen yards and a half.

The exterior of the sepulchre is covered with white satin, variegated with broad leaves embroidered in red silk, and striped with gold: the vestibule is lined with crimson silk, worked with flowers and surmounted by a dome, beneath which three rows of silver lamps are kept constantly burning. A tripod supports the stone on which the angel is believed to have reclined; its surface is only one span and a half long, and one broad. The sepulchre is lined with marble, and covered with light blue silk, powdered with white flowers. Just over the part where the body was deposited is a small painting, apparently well executed: it is the production of a Spanish artist, and represents our Saviour's emersion from the grave. The entrance to this hallowed grot is by a low door six spans and a half in height, and three in width.

DEAR E

LETTER XIII.

To SIR G. E—T, BART.

Jerusalem.

The difficulties and hazards inseparable from an excursion to the Holy Land, have almost exclusively confined its visitors to the different sects of religious pilgrims. From these it would be useless to expect any information derived from enquiry or personal research; they naturally approach the sacred places with an imagination overawed and controlled, and acquiesce in the legendary narratives, with the humble confidence which suppresses curiosity.

The sepulchre which was recognized, during several ages, as the undoubted receptacle of the corse of the Messiah, has lately had the propriety of its claims to that distinction questioned, by a writer of great acuteness and erudition. As I am not in

possession of the work in which this subject is formally discussed, I may hope to escape the charge of arrogance, if I appear to hesitate in subscribing to the sentiments of the author. It has been inferred from the gospel narrative that the crucifixion must have taken place in some public cemetery; such being the legitimate interpretation both of the word GOLGOTHA and the equivalent term CALVARY. The favourite disciple of Christ, whose authority is that of an eyewitness, has expressly stated that his master “went "forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is "called in the Hebrew Golgotha." (John xix. 17.) And he adds, towards the close of the same chapter, "in the place where he was crucified there was a

garden, and in that garden a new sepulchre, wherein "was never yet man laid." "THERE laid they Jesus “ therefore, because of the Jews' preparation day; "for the SEPULCHRE was NIGH AT HAND." (John xix. 41, 42.)

The relative situations of the grotto said to have been the tomb of our Saviour, and the alleged scene of his crucifixion, are not, I think, so circumstanced as to militate with this account; but there are sufficient reasons for arguing against the probability that