position: I counted them, and found their number to be about a hundred. The frequent expression of the Prophet-in the midst of the seas-or, as the Original has it, in the heart of the seas (Ezekiel xxvii. 4, 26, 32. & xxviii. 2.)-led me to suspect that buildings might once have existed even on these rocks; but, on going further out, and examining the first of these ledges of rocks, we were quite satisfied that no traces of antiquities are to be seen here. It was not possible, on account of the breakers, to go out to sea and explore the scattered columns, which we had before seen, over the city-wall, at the western side. We consequently returned; and the boatman, now understanding that we were in search of columns, pointed out, at the bottom of the first-mentioned small cove, a great number of very large size. It is said that the natives of the country have, in modern times, collected these columns and sunk them—not at Tyre only, but in other parts of Syria; with the desire of destroying the harbours, and thus impeding the approach of maritime nations to the mountainous and independent country of Lebanon*.

From the guide above mentioned, who seemed to know well the state of his native city, we received the following census of the population: one thousand Metawâlies, principally soldiers-one hundred Turks-one hundred Maronites-of the Orthodox Greeks, only four or five: there were more formerly; but, during the present troubles, they have removed. The principal body of Christians, he

*See Note at page 125.

says, are Greek Catholics, but he did not assign their number. His account would lead me to suppose the population to be fourteen or fifteen hundred souls. From the estimate which we made of the number of houses, namely two hundred, each of which, though meanly built, may be computed to hold five persons at least, there should result a population of full one thousand souls. I should rather give seven to each house; both for the reasons specified in estimating the population of Beirout, and because, as there are next to no villages near to Tyre, this city is the more likely to be densely peopled. The real number may therefore be, fourteen hundred.

RUINS OF ANCIENT TYRE.

At twelve o'clock, we took our departure from this interesting spot, and followed our route southward. But, before we finally leave this topic, it may be expedient to refer, somewhat at large, to the prophecies of Ezekiel and Isaiah, and to point out that this is not the Old City, whose antiquity was of ancient days (Is. xxiii. 7); and the total destruction of which is foretold by Ezekiel. We were yet to pass over the site of that proud ancient Tyre, situated, as Strabo relates, about eight miles southward of the then insular, but now peninsular, Tyre. Not distinguishing between the ancient and present Tyre, and supposing the modern city to be a rebuilding of the old, the mind might be scandalized by the apparent want of completion of some part of Ezekiel's prophecy; particularly the followingI will make thee a terror, and thou shalt be no more: though thou be sought for, yet shalt thou never be

found again: (Ch. xxvi. 21.) How exactly this has been accomplished to the very letter will, however, appear to every one passing southward, as we did this evening, from Modern Tyre toward Acre.

Somewhere upon this ground, and further on than Ras el Ain, must have been the site of the first Tyre; but not a single vestige of an ancient city appears. We had read, in our social devotions, with the most lively interest, the Twenty-third Chapter of Isaiah, and the Twenty-sixth, Twenty-seventh, and Twenty-eighth Chapters of Ezekiel; tracing— so far as we knew the different countries therein mentioned and the produce of each-the sources of Tyrian wealth and glory; especially the Twentyseventh Chapter. What a minute, and varied, and splendid record of earthly prosperity, concentrated in this vast emporium! But, on this deserted shore, not one sight, not one sound remains, to bear witness to her former joyousness and pride! I have seen the ruins of Athens, and the innumerable memorials of Egyptian glory in Thebes. There, enough survives to lead the mind to expand with wonder, or to sadden with regret: but, of Ancient Tyre, there just remains that utter NOTHING, which seems best suited to prepare the Christian for imbibing the spirit of the prophetic language-The word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Son of man, say unto the prince of Tyrus, Thus saith the Lord God: Because thine heart is lifted up, and thou hast said, I am a god, I sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas; yet thou art a man, and not God, though thou set thine heart as the heart of God. Behold, thou art wiser than Daniel: there is no secret that they can hide from thee with thy wisdom and with

thine understanding, thou hast gotten thee riches, and hast gotten gold and silver into thy treasures : by thy great wisdom and by thy traffic, hast thou increased thy riches, and thine heart is lifted up because of thy riches: therefore thus saith the Lord God; Because thou hast set thine heart as the heart of God, behold, therefore I will bring strangers upon thee, the terrible of the nations; and they shall draw their swords against the beauty of thy wisdom, and they shall defile thy brightness: they shall bring thee down to the pit, and thou shalt die the death of them that are slain in the midst of the seas. Wilt thou yet say before him that slayeth thee, I am God? but and no God, in the hand of him Thou shalt die the deaths of

thou shalt be a man,

that slayeth thee.

More

the uncircumcised, by the hand of strangers: for I have spoken it, saith the Lord God. over, the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord God: Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty! Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God: every precious stone was thy covering; the sardius, topaz, and the diamond; the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper; the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee, in the day that thou wast created. Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God: thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire: thou wast perfect in thy ways, from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee: by the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of

thee with violence, and thou hast sinned.

Therefore I will cast thee, as profane, out of the mountain of God; and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. Thine heart was lifted up, because of thy beauty: thou hast corrupted thy wisdom, by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground: I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee. Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries, by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffic: therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee; and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth, in the sight of all them that behold thee. All they that know thee among the people shall be astonished at thee: thou shalt be a terror, and never shalt thou be any more: (Ezek. xxviii. 1—19.)

ANCIENT AND MODERN TYRE.

The inquisitive reader may see fully discussed, in Reland's Palestine, pp. 1049-1054, the different facts and arguments relative to Ancient and Modern Tyre. The result of the impression left on my mind, after having seen the spot, is this-that Ancient Tyre, which was situated about eight miles to the south of the present Peninsular Tyre, having been utterly destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar B. C. 573, the prophecy of Ezekiel, chap. xxvi. 21, may be considered to have had its literal and complete accomplishment. That there might even then be some city in existence upon the peninsular spot now bearing the name of Tyre, at that time insular, may be inferred, not solely, perhaps not principally, from the various historical notices and illustrations given