of the heavenly host, appeared to the shepherds of Judea, [Luke, 2d chap. 13th verse,] with the glad tidings of our Saviour's nativity, and they finally halted in an olive plantation, at the bottom of the valley, below the convent and the town. They found it necessary to station a guard upon the outside of the olive ground, which was fenced with a low wall, in order to keep off those whom curiosity attracted towards them, and who expressed their astonishment at their fear of them; having withdrawn, they said, from the town, expressly to avoid the contagion, and, therefore, they considered themselves to be equally secure from receiving or communicating infection. There was a well situated upon the out-ide of this little rampart, near to the spot; and as it was necessary to send to this place for water to dress the food they were preparing to take, they fixed upon a single individual for this purpose, upon whose discretion they could rely.

At three o'clock, P. M. they again mounted their horses and camels, and proceeded on their route, no sensation of fatigue or heat being able to counterbalance the eagerness which animated them on the approach to Jerusalem. They passed some insignificant ruins of villages; but even had they been of more importance, they would have excited little notice at the time, so earnestly was every mind bent towards the

main object of interest. At length upon ascending a hill towards the south, "Behold the sacred city," exclaimed a Greek, who had preceded the rest of the party; and, suddenly, the sight, burst upon them all the effect produced was that of a total silence throughout the whole company, many of them, by an immediate impulse, taking off their hats.

Instead of a ruined town, they beheld, as it were a flourishing and stately metropolis, presenting an assemblage of domes, towers, palaces, churches, and monasteries, all of which, glittering in the sun's rays, shone with inconceivable splendour. The country sur rounding Jerusalem consists of numerous hills, which rise in gentle elevations around it.These heights commanding a view of the Dead Sea, and the lofty mountains which border it on the east, and to the north looking upon the fertile pastures of the plains of Jericho, watered by the river Jordan.

As they drew near the city, two Turkish officers, mounted on beautiful horses, sumptuously caparisoned, came to inform them that the Governor having got intelligence of the approach of English travellers had sent them this escort into the city; the attendants were ordered to fall back into the rear, and all were requested to ride in the form of a procession up to the Governor's house. As they approached the gates of the city, the concourse of people became very

great, the walls and road side being covered, with spectators, an immense multitude at the same time accompanied them on foot, some of whom welcoming the procession, with loud acclamations cried out, "Good English, good English," "Long live England."

Captain

Blisset was surprised to find so much curiosity excited by his arrival, but this, the Turkish officers told him, was by no means unusual, partly because the arrival of Englishmen was not a very frequent occurrence at Jerusalem, and partly from the idle habits of the people, and the uniform tenor of their lives, which naturally dispose them to run after new sights, or to listen to new intelligence.

About six o'clock in the evening, our travellers reached the southern gate of the city, and having entered, were conducted to the house of the Governor, who received them in very great state, offering them his protection, and exhibiting, the usual pomp of Turkish hospitality in a number of slaves richly dressed, who brought conserved fruits and coffee, and, likewise, pipes for all the party to smoke, at the same time sprinkling the apartment with rose and orange flower water. Captain Blisset having then intimated to him that he was desirous of obtaining accommodation for him. self and attendants, the Governor sent a person to conduct them to the convent of Saint Salvador, a large building in appearance like

a fortress, the gates of which were thrown open to receive the whole cavalcade. Here, being admitted into a court, together with all the horses and camels, the gates were again closed and a party of the friars of the convent hospitably welcomed them in, and conducted them up a stone stair-case to a large apartment, where they were refreshed with coffee and tea. After this, they were conducted to another chamber provided for their sleeping, and in the morning again partook of tea and coffee served in the same manner.

It may well be supposed with what anxiety Captain Blisset hastened to take his first walk through the city of Jerusalem, nor was William less anxious, "and here I am," thought he, "in the very spot which witnessed the awful event that purchased the redemption of man, this is the city in which the Lord visited his people, and in which he laid down his life for us!"

The streets of Jerusalem are narrow, like those of all other eastern countries, the house's lofty, and as there are no windows in the lower story, and those above are latticed, the passage appears to lie between blank walls.

The ravages of time and of war have swept away every trace of all those magnificent build, ings which once formed the pride and boast of this city. The most splendid edifice that it now contains is that which has been built on the spot where stood the celebrated temple ; of

that ancient building no vestage can be found, and our Saviour's prophecy has of a truth been fulfilled, that "not one stone shall be left upon another." That which now fills its place is a Turkish temple of worship, called a mosque, built by that people, after they had made a conquest of Jerusalem, and annexed it to their dominions, in the year 637. In the pomp displayed throughout every part of the building, its numerous arcades, its capacious dome, with all the stately decoration of the place, and its extensive court, paved with the choicest marbles, it excels; no building in Jerusalem being able to compare with it, either in beauty or ju wealth. Captain Blisset in vain requested per mission to visit the interior, the Turks never admitting infidels (for they consider christians as such) into places of worship.

But the edifice which has always been an object of interest and respect to christian pilgrims, is that called the church of the holy sepulchre. It is a very handsome building, 300 feet long, and nearly 200 broad, and is said to have been erected over the very spot which was the scene of all the great events of the crucifixion, burial, and resurrection of the Messiah. The present inhabitants of Jerusalem, have the idea that this temple has been actually built on Mount Calvary, the summit of which hill they suppose to have been levelled for that purpose; however mistaken this opinion may