blue. The floor is paved in mosaic, and a carpet is laid over it to preserve it from injury. In the vestibule of the church, are two huge masses of stone. Devout pilgrims are told, that one of them is from Mount Sinai, and that it is a part of the rock against which Moses broke the tables of the law! The other is a stone from that part of the river Jordan where our Saviour stood, when he received the sacred right of baptism from the hands of St. John. The revenues of this convent are said to be very considerable; some of its members are constantly travelling to collect alms. Many of the rich merchants of Smyrna and Constantinople, who are prevented by their affairs from performing this pilgrimage, compound by magnificent donations. In paying our respects to the patriarch and his bishops, we met with a very cordial reception. The former had resided in Smyrna some time, and, in the course of conversation, we discovered that we had many acquaintances in common, living in that city. The Armenian nation was early converted to Christianity. In the fourth century of our era, when the errors of Eutychius (which had been

universally adopted by them) became the subject of a council held at Chalcedon, the Armenians, who at that moment were engaged in war with the Persians, their neighbours, neglected to send their deputies to the meeting, in common with the other Christian states of those days. Nevertheless the clergy present were unanimous in condemning the doctrines, for the examining of which they had assembled. The Armenians alone, because they had not assisted at the deliberation, refused to give their adhesion to the terms of the condemnation, and a schism arose which has unfortunately been perpetuated to this day, though a prospect of conciliation was held out, at no distant period, but without success. Those members of this sect that are living in the Turkish dominions are all under the jurisdiction of the Patriarch of Constantinople, while those who are established in Russia, Persia, and other parts of Asia, acknowledge the supremacy of the Patriarch of Etchmiadzin. The latter is spiritual head of his church, and as such is assisted by a council of archbishops and bishops. His residence is usually at a convent of this name, which is likewise called of the Three Churches, and situated in Western Armenia,

near Mount Ararat. He is named by his predecessor or by the clergy residing at Etchmiadzin. The appointment of archbishops and bishops to the different dioceses of his jurisdiction, remains with himself alone. As with the Greeks, the regular or superior ranks of the clergy, are chosen from the monastic orders, whilst the secular or priests are taken from among the peasantry, and are allowed to marry. The revenues of the former are derived from free will offerings of pious persons, and fees received at confirmation, baptism, and marriages. The latter are only supported by the blessings given to each hearth, a ceremony which takes place twice a-year.

Not far from the Armenian Convent, is a small chapel belonging to this sect, marking the site of the house of Annas, or Ananus, the high priest of Jerusalem.

Quitting the town by the Zion gate, we came out upon that portion of the hill of this name, which at present lies without the walls. The first object that struck our attention here, was a mosque of rather mean appearance, standing in the middle of the Mount. It is said to cover the tomb of the

Monarch (King David), whose city stood here, and whose memory is equally venerated by Turks and Christians. The latter are not permitted to enter its precincts. Part of the building was anciently the Church of the Conaculum, erected over the spot, where Christ eat the Last Supper with his disciples, and where he instituted the Sacrament which commemorates his death. According to the early fathers, the place hallowed by the great event, was transformed into the first Christian temple the world ever saw. Here James the Less was consecrated the first bishop of Jerusalem, and here he presided in the first council of the church. Finally, it was from this spot, that the Apostles, in compliance with the injunction to go and teach all nations, departed, "without purse and without scrip, to seat their religion upon all the thrones of the earth."

A small Armenian chapel stands between the mosque and the gate of the city, and marking, it is said, the site of the house of Caiaphas. It is only remarkable for containing a relic shown to pilgrims, viz. the stone which closed the holy sepulchre! It is

a block of the same compact lime stone as the town is built on. In the court yard are the tombs of several Armenian prelates.

A few paces to the west of the chapel is the Christian burying ground. It is not enclosed, and the tombs are of the simplest kind, being merely stone slabs raised a few inches above the ground, and without any ornament. Several of the inscriptions are in the languages of Europe, some few, in English. We felt ourselves instinctively conducted to where the earth had been recently turned. Here lay our poor friend Bradford. The preceding day we had found amongst his papers, the beginning of a letter addressed to his mother in America, preparing her for the news of his death. Alas! either sickness or feeling overpowered him, it remains without his signature.-Though he died in a distant land, without a friend by his side, and though he lies interred almost by the highway, it may be some consolation to his afflicted family to know, that a modest tomb has been erected to his memory. This has been done by his surviving companions.* See Appendix. No. 16.