decessor Selim; and on the other was the vale that leads to Bethlehem, now rugged and now undulated, with all its light and shade softened by the approaching twilight, while the dark and singularly even and unpeaked line of the mountains of Moab beyond the Dead Sea walled in the prospect. The wildly-accoutred and unearthly-looking Bedouin irregulars, who had been playing the djereed, and gamboling round the procession at the full speed of their desert horses, contented themselves with firing off their muskets, being now hemmed in by the motley throng of citizens and fellaheen-Mussulmans in their furred pelisses and well-folded turbans, down even to the slovenly old Polish Jew. After acknowledging the presentation of arms at the Bethlehem-gate, the party moved on towards the house of Mr. Nicolayson; and just as the new comers turned their heads to admire the Titan-like masonry of the tower of Hippicus, which dates from the days of Herod the Tetrarch, the guns thundered forth the salute for the eve of the Courban Bairam. Thus, by an odd chance, the Protestant bishop made his public entry into one of the four holy cities of Islam (the others are Mecca, Medina, and Damascus) on the occasion of one of the greatest festivals of the Mahommedan religion. Colonel Rose descended at the Spanish convent of Terra Santa. Dr. Alexander took up his quarters temporarily with Mr. Nicolayson; his own residence, which is upon the Pool of Hezekiah, being as yet unfurnished. On the 22nd, Colonel Rose, Dr. Alexander, and a large party, inspected the intended site of the new church. It will be built upon the most elevated part of the city; the body of the church will be Gothic, and the towers in the style of Mosque minarets, which accords admirably both with the church itself and with the other public edifices of the city, for Gothic and Saracenic are the twin daughters of the Byzantine style. The bishop's residence will be Elizabethan. The stone necessary for the edifices will be procured from the Mount of Olives. In the afternoon of the same day, Colonel Rose presented Dr. Alexander to Tahir Pasha, who, as I have understood, received him with great politeness. Of course, it would be an illusion to suppose that this reception proceeded from any sympathy with the objects of the mission on the part of the Turkish authorities. On the 23rd, the bishop preached his introductory sermon, choosing for his text Isaiah lxv. 15:"Whereas thou (alluding to Jerusalem and the Jews) hast been forsaken and hated, so that no man went through thee, I will make thee an eternal excellency, a joy of many generations." The tendency of the Right Rev. prelate's discourse was to show that, although Jerusalem had endured, and might still endure much suffering in the fulfilment of inspired prophecy, nevertheless brighter days were at hand. The mission is sure of the firm support of the British Government and the British Ambassador at the Porte. As regards Syria, the Consul-General has lent all the force of his official authority, personal influence, and popularity, to set the undertaking afloat, while the mild and benevolent character of the bishop, and the sound practical sense and valuable local experience of his coadjutor, Mr. Nicolayson, are sure guarantees that caution, charity, and conciliation will preside at all their efforts. ISAIAH LX. 15.* Holy Zion, once forsaken, I will make thy converts blest. Joy of many generations I, the LORD, will Zion make; The Redeemer, Loves thee for His mercy's sake. Thou shalt call thy walls, "salvation," And, with holy exultation, Shall thy saints thy honours raise. Shine o'er thee with cloudless rays. Never shall thy days be ended, Never shall thy line go down; Blest, O Zion, Thou-in holy, high renown. * The text from which the Bishop preached at Gibraltar on his way. LETTERS TO A FRIEND. MY DEAR FRiend, XIX. You find some of my letters too long, they weary your young people, who require a diversity of subjects to amuse and instruct them. I wish to interest them in the past history of our poor despised Ireland, and therefore I must avoid every thing which has the contrary tendency. This letter shall be brief, or at least shorter than my last, but I must close the life and reign of Brian Boirumbe. This best of Ireland's Monarchs, greatly enlarged and embellished his favorite residence, Kimcora. Here he kept his court, and with munificent hospita lity, entertained his guests. Men of learning and piety, whether natives or foreigners, were graciously received by him, and met with the most flattering encouragement. He was naturally a lover of peace; for twelve years he enjoyed its happy fruits, and then, when most needed, on the threshold of eternity, he was compelled to resign them. In his own house, among his guests, the torch of dissension was kindled. His brother-in-law, Malmordha, had in the year 999, usurped the crown of Leinster. He had entered into a league with the Danes, and by means of their forces, he took posses sion of that province. Malarhic king of Meath,* resisted the attack with the whole of his army, first by retaliation; he set fire to several places in Leinster. The opposing forces met, and fought at Benadar, i. e. the mountain of birds, now called the Hill of Howth. Malmordha was victorious. Malarhic was totally defeated with the loss of 200 of his choicest troops: among whom fell his own son Flann, and many of the Meath chieftains. Well had it been for the tranquillity of King Brian, if he had not connected himself with the turbulent Malmordha, nor admitted him to the convivial board. His quarrel with the eldest son of Brian is tediously detailed, and being uninteresting I pass it over and confine myself to the unhappy result. Malmordha Vowing vengeance, arose from supper, and early the next morning he was on his way to Leinster, where he convoked a general assembly of his nobles and chieftains; these he harangued with such plausible reasons for renouncing their allegiance to Brian and joining in confederacy with the Danes to dethrone the Monarch, that they yielded to his wishes. Notices were given accordingly, and a great army of combined forces, from Scotland, the Orkneys and Hebrides, the Isle of Man, and the Isles of Shetland; from Scandinavia, Denmark and Norway were allured by the prospect of the conquest of Ireland, and to be put in possession of the "abundant wealth" it still contained. Never had Brian before to encounter such an army, and though now arrived to the advanced age of eighty-eight, he undauntedly prepared for the field in concert with his brave sons. His forces * On his resignation of the Monarchy to Brian, Malarhic still retained the Province of Meath. |