To none could it seem of less than to you, who are accustomed to such streams as the Missouri and the Mississippi. In the eyes of one of your western voyagers, a stream like the Jordan would appear but as a rivulet. But what it wants in volume, is amply made up by its historical associations. This stream was the eastern barrier of the Promised Land; its waters were twice miraculously divided; once, at the touch of the feet of the priests who bore the ark of the divine presence; and again, by a blow from the mantle of Elijah, just before his ascension, without death, to heaven. But it was honored by a still higher consecration, when it received amidst its astonished waves, the person of God's incarnate Son.

You stand as on the top of a tower twelve hundred feet in height, and the panorama is magnificent in all directions. You see to the east of you, first, the lake of Tiberias. You perceive its oval form, and catch the reflection of the light from its blue expanse of waters, as it lies imbedded in rocky hills, like a sapphire in its deep setting. Then you see the gentle stream of Jordan, proceeding from the lake and watering a lovely and extensive valley. Then your eye catches the hills of Bashan and Gilead, and wanders delighted over the rich plains of Galilee. Turning toward the south-east, you get a glimpse of the lake Ashphaltites, or Dead Sea, and near by, the hills of Moab and Ammon. Due south of you are the mountains of Jerusalem; while south-west rises Mount Carmel by the sea. Westward, you perceive hills which rise between you and the Mediterranean, the Cave of Endor, and the city of Nain. In the north-west you behold the ancient city of Cana, where Christ commenced his series of miracles; and then, amidst a little group of hills, you catch a glimpse of the blue waves of the Mediterranean. Now conceive the assemblage of ocean and lake, mountain and plain, city and valley, river and cavern, all brought together in one grand panorama; and then remember that all these objects, so beautiful, so various, so interesting in themselves, derive tenfold interest from the sacred and affecting associations connected with them, and you will believe me, when I say that I cannot remember a moment in my whole life when time fled so fast. As I stood with my Bible in my hand, looking from the inspired page to the visible objects before me, the very scene of events of which I read, and teeming with spots, in every direction, to which the history alluded, hours seemed minutes while I gazed. I was on the mountain several hours, but had not time to satisfy myself by examining the vast, the grand, the imposing spectacle presented to my eye. If it be true, as has been elegant-jections are the fruit of ignorance and a ly said, that time should be measured, not by the hand of the watch, but by the number of sensations which have passed through the heart and of thoughts through the brain, then I must have spent at least a month on the top of Mount Tabor; and long as is the pilgrimage, I would willingly undergo it again to enjoy such another.

The river Jordan can claim no great importance in a geographical point of view.

It

It is peculiar however, in one particular of its physical circumstances; since its origin and termination are both inland. Most rivers are estuaries, by which the surplus waters which fall on the earth and are not absorbed or evaporated, are returned to the sea, thus preserving that perpetual circulation of the waters of the earth which preserves health, irrigates the soil, and subserves the purposes of internal navigation. But Jordan never reaches the ocean. falls into the Dead Sea, from which it never issues again; its waters being either drained off by some subterranean communication with the ocean, or carried off by evaporation. It is one hundred and twenty miles in length, but in no place more than a quarter of a mile wide. In some places it is not a furlong, and is fordable either on horseback or on foot. Its water is fresh and limpid, leaving no sediment in the cup. Sceptics, from the fact that the Jordan is so narrow a stream and fordable in many places, have taken occasion to display their superior wisdom by sneering at the scriptural account of the miraculous dividing of its waters, when the ark passed over at the head of the Hosts of Israel. But, as usual, their ob

want of due examination. The passage of the Israelites took place, not when the Jordan was flowing in its narrow and confined channel, but at the time of its annual overflow, when its waters are sometimes three and four miles wide, and the stream is not fordable at all. The sacred writer, as if anticipating this silly cavil, has thrown in a word by way of parenthesis, which these Solomons have overlooked. "And it came

66

to pass," says Moses, as they that bore man as for his prey. I have had the good the ark were come unto Jordan, and the fortune to see one in these circumstances. feet of the priests that bore the ark were His head was erect; his eyeballs glared; dipped in the brim of the water, (for Jordan" the glory of his nostrils was terrible;" he overfloweth all his banks, all the time of shook his mane; he lashed his sides with harvest,) that the waters which came down his tail, and his pawing shook the ground. from above, stood, and rose up upon an heap It is in such a state that you behold in pervery far from the city Adam, that is beside fection the majesty and fire which well Zaretan; and those that came down toward entitles him to the title of king of beasts. the Sea of the Plain, even the Salt Sea, The lion is then, even more leontic than failed, and were cut off; and the people usual, and becomes, as it were, the poetry passed over right against Jericho." What of his own nature. In the country where happened then, happens still. Jordan, to such sights are often seen, what force must this day, overflows all his banks," every there be in the threat, he shall come up year. The rains on Mount Hermon cause like a lion from the swellings of Jordan!' both the lake of Tiberias,-into and out of which the Jordan flows, entering it at one end and leaving it at the other, and the river itself, to rise, the latter most, as being

narrowest.

The lake of Tiberias, through which the Jordan flows, is a body of fresh water, nine miles by six, of an oval figure, its outline being smooth and free from bays and promontories. On its shores stood the cities This annual overflow of Jordan gives of Bethsaida, Capernaum and Chorazin, occasion for another scriptural figure, the now in ruins. The lake was also called beauty of which is not fully perceived by the "Sea of Gennesereth," from the city a reader in the western world. The proph- of Chineroth, and the lake of Tiberias, from et Jeremiah, in announcing the overthrow a city of the same name, built by Herod, of Babylon, declares that God will raise up and named after his patron Tiberius. All an invader from the North, who shall come the natural circumstances of this lake and its against Babylon with irresistible force, and coast, remain unaltered; but all the social cirshall take it." He shall come up like a lion cumstances and relations are entirely changed. from the swellings of Jordan, against the hab- Here is seen neither ship, boat, or raft, nor itation of the strong." Had the comparison any, the slighest indication of human indusbeen simply to a lion, all would have un- try; and though the fish are as good and as derstood it as denoting great strength; but abundant as ever, the pressure of the Turkwhen it is said, “like a lion from the swell-ish despotism, with the consequent absence ings of Jordan," the image is far more significant and terrible. A lion driven out by the rising of the waters from his secret Under the dominion of Rome, a very covert, is one of the fiercest animals in different scene was witnessed. Then there nature. He comes from his lair with eyes were ships and boats in abundance, continuflashing fire, mane erect, and his whole ally passing from one side to the other in frame ready to burst with rage. The lions the interchanges of an active and flourishing of Asia are not, in their ordinary state, as trade. In one of these the Savior slept fierce as those of Africa. They seldom during a storm, and rising, rebuked the volunteer injury against man. I have seen winds and the sea, and there was a great many in a condition of complete languor, in calm. From a ship lying near the shore, which it would not be very venturesome to he taught the multitudes, who, flocking pass within two hundred yards of them. round to hear his divine instructions, stood They walk slowly, with joints seemingly in crowds upon the beach. From this sea it relaxed, and as it were, loosely held together, was that he drew, at a word, his best loved their head down, and tail upon the ground. But a lion coming up "from the swellings of Jordan," is quite another matter. It is dangerous even to be seen by one of them. He will instantly pursue, and hunt for a

Not Moses, but the author of the Book of Joshua. See Josh. iii, 15-17.-Ed. Observer,

of all security to person or property, has spread universal desolation around.

apostles, Peter, James, and John. Here, as we learn from Josephus, were fought very sanguinary engagements between the triremes of the Romans and Jewish marine force upon the lake, wherein such numbers were slaughtered as to occasion a disease to spread through the vicinity.

The Dead Sea forms another very striking

peculiarity among the natural objects in resembling that of the ocean in a calm, Palestine. It is much larger than the sea when the whole surface is smooth as glass, of Tiberias, being forty miles in length by yet the the body of water heaves and swells fifteen wide. It has never been accurately in a manner very dangerous to ships. This surveyed, but its coast is known to be of a is but a natural consequence of the greater very irregular shape. It is called the lake specific gravity of the sea water. We all Asphaltites, from a bituminous substance know, respecting solids, that they are of denominated asphaltum, which is dislodged different densities; gold, for example, being from the bottom and floats upon its sur- heavier than tin, and tin than wood. It is face. the same with fluids. Salt water is heavier than fresh. The water of your river Potomac, at its mouth on the Chesapeake, will be found to be heavier than the same bulk weighed here; because they have a larger measure of the waters of the ocean. The heaviness of sea water is probably owing to the stores of rock salt beneath its surface, which the water absorbs nearly up to the point of saturation. The waters of the Dead Sea, in like manner, absorb the salt bitumen which are at its bottom, and become yet heavier than those of the ocean. It is also true that no fish have been found in them; but I believe this to be the consequence of the saturation and bitterness of the waters, which renders them unfit to sustain animal life, insomuch that if fish enter the lake from the Jordan, they soon die.

Of the name "Dead Sea," three etymologies are given: first, because its waters are as if dead, being so slow and heavy in their movement as with difficulty to be ruffled by the wind again, because it is the sea of the dead, the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah having been submerged beneath its waters, when they were destroyed by a divine judgment and lastly, because it was supposed that no living thing inhabited it or ever flew over it; so that it might emphatically be called the Sea of Death. These reasons strike us as bordering on the romantic; and, indeed, they may be set down as romance. The peculiarities of this lake may, I believe, all be attributed to natural causes. It is very true, that those who know most, are often the least disposed to doubt what appears at first view very wonderful; for the universe is filled with what is truly wonderful, and the better it is known, the more wonderful it is found to be. The infinitude of space, the vast extent of creation, the more they are thought upon, make the heart quail at the contemplation; while on the other hand, the infinitude of littleness, constantly diminishing till it eludes the sight, is not less amazing; while we are, ourselves, the greatest wonder of all. Yet there are some who deem it a proof of wisdom, to doubt whatever they are unable to comprehend; a principle which would reduce human knowledge and human credence within narrow limits indeed. But in the peculiarities which so strongly distinguish this sheet of water, there seems to be nothing which cannot be sufficiently accounted for by natural causes. It is a fact that its waters are comparatively motionless; wind, unless it be very violent, making little or no impression on its surface. An ordinary breeze, or such an one as would curl the waves of the Sea of Tiberias, and crest them with foam, passes over the Dead Sea as over so much glass; and even a tempest does but slightly ripple its sluggish waters, but rather cets the whole mass in an oscillating motion,

It is not true, however, that birds cannot fly over the Dead Sea without being destroyed by its deadly fumes; for they do pass over it, and ducks, it is said, do swim on its surface. Very few, however, are seen there; and for an obvious reason. Waterfowls frequent waters which abound in fish, on which most of them feed; and instinct would be sufficient to teach them not to frequent those places where none is to be found. On the same principle, the total sterility of the banks of the lake, and of all the adjacent country, occasions a similar absence of animals. Thus the air of mystery which has sometimes been thrown round the phenomena of this solitary sheet. of waters, as if there were a perpetual miracle kept up by the intervention of divine power, is at once dissipated; while, at the same time, the whole condition of the Dead Sea and its neighborhood affords a striking and a solemn confirmation of what we find in holy writ, respecting the destruction of the Cities of the Plain; the unbelief of the skeptic and the credulity of the enthusiast being alike rebuked by a simple statement of the facts as they exist.-New York Ob server.

liberty-their information arising from the freedom of debate which characterised their

ence in ancient or perhaps modern times, and suitable spectators of so momentous a trial.

ESCHINES AND DEMOSTHENES. We now come to that extraordinary con- discussions-the great and interesting subtest between the two greatest orators of jects which for more than a hundred years ancient times: for, in our opinion, Cicero were canvassed before them, and whose reranks below Eschines in the true attributes jection or adoption depended on them-their of eloquence. The world never before wit- general knowledge, grounded on the excelnessed such a singular exhibition, and never lence of their early education, and improved will again. The stakes on both sides were by lectures on every branch of human science mighty, and the game was played with a all rendered them the finest popular audidesperate energy commensurate with the importance of the struggle. The ruin of Demosthenes engrossed the whole mind of Antipater, as it did before the minds of Philip On one side were ranged Eschines and and Alexander. His person was demanded the numerous partisans of Macedon-on the of the Athenians; but, with a heroism wor- other, Demosthenes and the friends of liberty thy of better days, they sent back the gener- and of Greece. The Clypsedra was at last ous reply, "Let us first know his crimes set, and Eschines ascended the rostrum. against Athens." The Macedonian party His oration was certainly one of wonderful was powerful; and as no more plausible power, and must have left an impression not mode presented itself, they forced Eschines, easy to be erased. It embraced a vast range their leader, and the most eloquent of their of subjects, including not only the several party, to conduct a prosecution against Ctes- administrations of Demosthenes, but the iphon for having voted a crown of gold to history of Greece for almost half a century, Demosthenes for his services to the republic and all so skilfully interwoven and connected, during his administration. The attack was that nothing could be well omitted. The nominally against the former, but really cautious subtlety of the pleader is more conagainst the latter; his condemnation or ac- spicuous throughout than the open warmth quittal involved the glory or disgrace of De- of the advocate; and he strives more to fasten mosthenes. This he felt acutely;-a pow-guilt on Demosthenes than to justify his own erful and merciless faction was opposed to public conduct, which he well knew was him, the Macedonian soldiers almost at the suspected. He draws a curtain over this, gate the hand of Antipater on his throateverything was lowering, dark and hopeless, -the hearts of all were depressed, but the spirit of Demosthenes was unbroken-that remained immovable, unshaken. The vulgar de nagogues, ever prompt to treachery when their own interests were secured, were profusely bribed to stir up the enmity of the people-the very judges were partisans; but he trusted to the justice of his cause and his invincible eloquence.

except some very trivial points, which he takes care to dress up in the most favorable manner. He must have been a great lawyer, far superior to Demosthenes, whose inferiority in that respect is very striking. His exposition of the laws was very masterly and judicious, and most satisfactorily established, by a chain of the clearest and most cogent reasoning, that Ctesiphon and Demosthenes were guilty of their infraction. Had the latter no better support than the laws, EsWhat a day must that of the impeachment chines had never gone to Rhodes. The law have been in Athens! How busy-how was his stronghold; there he exults in the bustling! The intellect, the genius, the fulness of triumph. He had all the state wisdom of the continent and islands congre- documents, decrees, and ordonnances at his gated in the sacred city! Prayers were finger's end, of which he made the greatest offered up in the temples of the gods, and at use, and which he discussed with the most noon the multitude ascended the Onyx. statesmanlike sagacity. But his power is What eagerness—what interest-what in- not confined to this alone; his oratory is of tense anxiety-must have pervaded that the finest order-bold, rapid and convincing. assembly! All the civilization of Greece was His mind was first-rate, and so was his elothere, and with it the civilization of the world. quence. Between him and Demosthenes There was no mob-Athens had none in the the difference is not very great. Some even modern acceptation of the word-they were go so far as to place him on the same level, all intelligent citizens. Their passion for to which we cannot assent; but certainly he

His most nervous passages are the vituperative, which few knew how to handle with better effect, and which he dealt out unsparingly. Far better for him to have omitted the display of that unenviable attri-ness; but instead of laying himself down to bute, for never was such a headlong torrent of abuse heaped on the head of man as on the devoted head of Eschines. Two could play at that game, and certainly the odds were in favor of Demosthenes. All the unsavoury coarseness of Billingsgate was musk and sweet marjoram compared to it.