part of the area level with the rest, are probably of the time of Herod, as I do not suppose arches were in use in the time of Solomon, however far back the mere invention of the arch may go. Dr. Robinson states his belief that they are of the time of Solomon, from the angles of the piers being bevelled. What proof of antiquity is to be seen in this I am at a loss to conjecture. The springing-stones of the arch, at the southwest angle, and the Golden Gate, and that under El Aksa are probably of the same period. The space of ground between the Via Dolorosa and the area being five hundred and fifty feet long, by one hundred at its western, and one hundred and sixty at its eastern extremity, appears amply large enough for the fortress of Antonia. And seeing that Josephus so often exaggerates, that his unsupported testimony as to dimensions is not of great value in the case in point, I think his assertion that the area was square, is contradicted by the actual state of the locality.

Such is a brief sketch of the most important objects within the enclosure of the "Haram;" a spot now impossible to enter, and which my peculiar good fortune enabled me to explore. I present it, in the hope that it may add to the interest of your work,

And remain, dear Sir, yours truly,

F. CATHERWOOD.

With the tenor of this valuable communication we fully coincide, though it must be confessed, that there are difficulties connected with the subject, which will perhaps never be solved. We have had at least the satisfaction of presenting the reader, in this chapter, with careful drawings and descriptions of the antiquities that have led to so much discussion. Upon an examination of these, let him form his own opinion.

INTERIOR OF THE CITY.

CHRISTIAN ANTIQUITIES.

FROM a survey of the Jewish antiquities, we pass to those of the time of Christianity. Of these, the only monument in Jerusalem of any importance, is the church of the Holy Sepulchre. It is very near the Latin Convent, in the upper part of the city, originally Acra. Its area embraces a space of about three hundred feet in length, by a very irregular breadth, at such different levels that the "Chapel of the Cross" is fifty feet below the rock of Calvary.* As regards the identity of the site we have already said (vide p. 99,) that on topographical grounds we can see no decisive reason against it. The argument in its favour, from tradition, is certainly very strong. That the followers of Jesus should have known and venerated the scenes of his death and burial, and should have pointed them out to the next generation, is too obviously accordant with our nature to be disputed. The destruction of the city by Titus might, in some measure, have disguised the spot, but not so much as to have prevented its re

* Olin.

cognition by the Christians, who soon after returned to the ruined city. It is said, that when Constantine established the religion of the cross, and desired to build a church over the consecrated spot, he found the belief existing that certain pagan monuments, then standing, had been erected by Adrian, for the express purpose of desecrating the holy site. It is worthy of distinction that this could hardly have been an invention of the time of Constantine, like so many others, if the monuments were standing; for if the founder of the church had assumed them as having been built by Adrian for this purpose, in contradiction to the common belief of the inhabitants, he would have brought contempt, and not reverence, on the religious establishment he sought to plant there. If such a tradition then really existed, how did it spring up? Could the Christians have forgotten the site, or could Adrian have mistaken it when so well known? These considerations appear to us of some weight, and without pretending to decide the question, we may venture to say, at least, that the topographical reasons against the site seem to us weaker, and the traditionary argument stronger than many have admitted.

The church itself is the most venerable in the Christian world, whether we regard its high antiquity, its traditionary claims, or the feelings with which, for centuries, it has been regarded throughout Christendom. The original structure was very splendid.