spectacle before them, than which a more touching one could scarcely be imagined.

The portion of wall, which no doubt is a fragment of the ancient inclosure of Jerusalem, near the southeastern corner of the outer court of the Temple, consists of some immense stones, forming a solid piece of masonry, and perforated in various parts with little chinks and crevices. These the Jews believe to form the gate through which all prayer must pass on its way to heaven, from whatever quarter of the world ascending a notion founded, no doubt, on the expression so frequently repeated in Solomon's sublime prayer of dedication: "When they shall pray towards this place," and on the custom of Israel so to do, from all distances, in the earliest times of their dispersion. Of course, no privilege is considered so great as to lay the lips against one of these crevices, and to whisper the supplication through it, which will yet be heard; even the prayer for pardon and deliverance. There were several, both of males and females, present, some speaking through these openings, others seated at the foot of the wall, weeping aad wailing, and reciting prayers and psalms: among these sat a most venerable man, of superior aspect, habited in a long flowing gown of dark brown serge, with a girdle, to which descended a thick beard of glittering whiteness, while locks of the same silvery appearance shaded his face, contrasting with eyebrows of the deepest black. A small, close black cap covered the crown of his head, and his bony hands were clasped upon it, as if in some strong effort to repress the workings of his brain. His head was bowed, and tears slowly fell trickling over the snowy beard, to be gently wiped away by the hand of a most lovely maiden, who

bent over him, whispering from time to time something that evidently bore a reference to the Temple ; for her eyes continually wandered from her aged companion to the direction in which it stood; and with an upward cast, as though contemplating some lofty object. Her look was the very personification of. uncomplaining sorrow, and so absorbing as to render her unconscious of all around: it completely engrossed her. After a while, the old man rose, and then it became evident that he was totally blind. He lifted his venerable face to the light, spread forth his hands, and with slow, solemn movement, guided by the maiden, whose downcast eyes watched his every step, he approached the wall, where a crevice had just been left by its last proprietor. To this the maiden was leading him, and as they passed rather near, the two young English officers took off their caps. It was a spontaneous movement of respect, and to Alick, whom as yet they had not perceived, how grateful! The old man reached the place; his child laid his trembling hands against the wall, and as he bent to the narrow opening, deep sobs burst from his bosom, while she, one hand spread over her forehead and eyes, which were raised to heaven, poured forth what seemed an agony of silent supplication, shaking her head, and stretching out the other hand, clenched with the fervency of her mental appeal. The younger sailor appeared quite unnerved; aud turning from them, encountered a look from Alick that he seemed able to appreciate. The aged Hebrew continued to sob, and to ejaculate broken sentences, until Alick, who had just recovered from Gordon his precious Hebrew Bible, stepped forwards, and commenced, in a low, solemn, but most distinct voice, reading in that sacred.

language what the Gunner immediately pointed out to the officers in his own little Bible, for Alick had shown him what he was about to repeat. "If they sin against thee, (for there is no man which sinneth not) and thou be angry with them and deliver them over before their enemies, and they carry them away captives, into a land far off or near; yet if they bethink themselves in the land whither they are carried captive, and turn and pray unto Thee in the land of their captivity, saying, We have sinned, we have done amiss, and have dealt wickedly if they return to thee with all their heart, 'and with all their soul, in the land of their captivity, whither they have carried them captives, and pray toward their land, which thou gavest unto their fathers, and toward the city which thou hast chosen, and toward the house which I have built for thy name; then hear thou from the heavens, even from thy dwelling-place, their prayer and their supplication, and maintain their cause, and forgive thy people which have sinned against thee." At that word a universal response burst from all the Hebrews present: they stretched forth their hands, and in one voice cried, “Forgive thy people which have sinned against thee!" Alick resumed: and his tone became loud, and his manner most energetic as he proceeded, "Now, my God, let, I beseech thee, thine eyes be open, and thine ears be attent unto the prayer that is made in this place. Now, therefore, Arise, O Lord God, into thy resting-place, thou and the Ark of thy strength; let thy priests, O Lord God, be clothed with salvation, and let thy saints rejoice in goodness. O Lord God, turn not away the face of thine anointed; remember the mercies of David thy servant!'"* And

2 Chron. vi.

the Jews repeated, "Turn not away the face of thine anointed: remember the mercies of David thy servant!"

The two Englishmen stood uncovered, their hands joined over the Gunner's well-worn little Bible, reading with wonder, awe, and delight, words that they probably had never before noticed, and looking on the scene before them as something miraculous. Alick, meanwhile, stepped up to the blind old Israelite, and respectfully kissing one of the hands that still rested against the wall, emphatically said, 'Messiah BenDavid is the hope of Israel: pray that our God will reveal him unto you.' 'Bless thee, my son!' exclaimed the old man; and Alick, whose heart welcomed the blessing, exclaimed to all around, as he left the place, 'Oh! pray, pray for the revelation of Him, who shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob.' "We do we will,' was the reply: and blessings still followed his retreating steps.

'I declare,' said one of the officers, we have done a better deed in rescuing you, Cohen, than we were aware of. Gordon, we owe you much for putting us up to this.'

'Will you love my dear people, and serve them as you have opportunity?' asked Alick.

Ay, that we will!' they replied: and the younger added, 'I have done great injustice to your people-I fancied Jew only another word for something very disreputable; but, as long as I live I shall remember the look of that kingly old man, and his beautiful daughter, and blush for my prejudices."

'Something more than that, I hope, Sir,' said the Gunner. You will remember having stood on the very spot where God's temple was reared, and having

seen how, in the midst of poverty, sorrow, exile, every sort of oppression, His ancient people come to plead with Him the promises which they know He will fulfil.'

'True. I thought you very bold, Cohen, to speak as you did about the revealing of Him who, of course, is Jesus Christ.'

'And I thought myself very cowardly to say no more,' answered he: 'but I trust to speak out to every one of them ere I depart.'

'Hey day!' cried the young man, what have we here, to run us all down? Have a care, my lad, or you'll demolish me:' and he stepped aside, to make way for Charley, who, shouting and capering like a mad creature, rushed into Alick's arms, exclaiming, 'My precious Mr. Alick! my darlint of a Jew! is it your own self-sure now, is it?'

My own, own Charley! and so you're alive, and not only alive, but strong enough to struggle. Oh, Mrs. Ryan, what joy it is to see you-my dear Sir ! here's my first friend, Gordon, the man who led me the first step towards the blessing that now I possess -the blessing of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, my only Saviour!'

Charley's cry of joy was quite startling; and the tearful smiles of his parents, the commotion of delight, in which Alick did not forget to introduce his other English preservers, were quite an unusual scene in the streets of captive Zion. They were not far from Captain Ryan's abode, into which the whole party entered; and there Alick related his strange adventures, which were listened to with great and varied emotion: but when it was stated that Da Costa remained imprisoned, under circumstances so dis