THE JEWISH ADVOCATE.

JANUARY, 1846.

JERUSALEM.

WE commence our first number for the present year with a view of Jerusalem, taken from a spot not often selected by the artist, in sketching this most interesting city. We shall extract from the work from which our print has been (by permission) copied,* all the description which may be needful to inform our young friends respecting the prominent objects presented. Other views will be accompanied with corresponding explanations, and therefore it is not necessary to extend to any great length, the remarks on the one now given. The walk about Jerusalem which brings us to the present view of the city, is up the valley of Jehoshaphat, on the brink of the brook Kidron. The more distant of the two buildings seen in the valley is called the Tomb of Absalom. "Descending to the Tomb of Absalom" we stand amidst remarkable monu. ments of ancient times, and "around these are clustered the flat slabs of the Jewish burialground, overhanging the deep ravine of the Kidron. As we ascend, the valley changes its gloomy character for one more cheerful; the tombs give place to a thin sprinkling of corn

Bartlett's Walks about the City of Jerusalem.

and olives, and we soon reach the hallowed shades of Gethsemane, beneath whose ancient trees, always a resting-place in our walks about the city, a solemn feeling steals over the mind in the unbroken silence of the spot, which lies like the asylum of grief in the darkest hollow of the valley. The man despised and rejected-the man of grief, here might have hidden among the trees under the triple shade of the city, the mountain and the night, he might hear from thence the secret steps of his mother and his disciples, who approached to seek her son and their master;' and the confused exclamations of his enemies, issuing forth from the city, with Judas at their head, to drag him, for the last time, from the groves whose quietude had so often soothed his wounded spirit.

Beyond this spot few we believe, pursue the course of the valley of Jehoshaphat any farther. But though tradition has not visited this, its upper and more retired portion, it is to us equally interesting. The valley is full of

olive-trees, and the hill sides are broken into caverns. As we proceed, it becomes more open and cheerful, forming a small round cultivated plain, and having on the right gardens and vine. yards in very good order. It is quiet and sheltered, and abounds in more pastoral beauty than any other part of the valley. As we proceeded, the sounds of rural merriment burst upon our ear-the scene around was full of animation-the area of the small plain full of corn, the reapers, men and women, in their bright dresses gaily pursuing their work. Had the. traveller approached the Holy City in this direc tion, across the hills from Anata and Beth-el he would have wondered at such descriptions as re

present her, like a confused mass of cemeteries in the midst of a desert.' She presents from hence a far different aspect, as may be seen by the annexed view, taken from the hill above this point to the right of the camel road to Beth-el. We may call this the most pleasing view of the city that can be obtained from any direction. The broad shallow part of the valley of Jehoshaphat we have just traversed is below us, sweeping round from the right, not far from its origin in the table land on the north of the city. It declines into the deep shady hollow of Gethsemane, above which is seen the Mount of Olives, rising in steep profile, overlooking the temple area, which is on the right. Still lower down in the glen we may trace the tomb of Absalom, and the gray crags above the Jewish burial-ground."

The large building in the enclosed space next to the valley, is the Mosque of Omar. It occupies the site where once stood the temple of the Lord of Hosts-the God of Israel. The feet of the Gentile still tread down Jerusalem, and the followers of the impostor Mahomet, oppress her inhabitants; and this proof of their supremacy and monument of their power defiles the Holy place where once was the tabernacle of the Most High.

"The most conspicuous portion of this view is the north-west wall, enclosing Bezetha and Acra this is seen stretching from the angle above the valley, across the irregular plain on the north and west sides of the city, which extends from this spot to the brink of the valley of Hinnom at the Jaffa Gate. The Damascus Gate is conspicuous in the depression in the centre of the plain.

"The third, or outer wall of the ancient city took, it is supposed, a wider sweep, resting perhaps on the rocky ledges which are seen in the view.

"This elevated plain, being obviously the weakest side of the city, has always been selected by invading armies, as the position of their camp, and the point of attack, from the time of Nebuchadnezzar to that of Saladin. The army of the Crusaders ranged all round this side of the present wall, and in every instance the city has been forced from this direction, and the citadel of Zion, as the strongest place, the last to surrender. It is seen in the distance of our view, rising above the other parts of the city, and running down on the left towards the site of the temple. A little below it are the domes of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre."

We have given these extracts from the interesting volume of Mr. Bartlett, as the best description of our print; but our heart is sad about Jerusalem, and we cannot add what we would fain have done; for the mournful intelligence which has reached us, depresses our spirit and calls off our thoughts, even from this sacred city, to the event which has cast a deep gloom over many hearts there, removed from the Church her chief pastor, and blighting man's anticipations and hopes, made us feel that clouds and darkness are round about Him, and teaches us to reply in answer to the rising inquiry of our hearts, "Why is this?" "Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in thy sight."