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THE

AMUSING CHRONICLE, a TWeekly Repository for

MISCELLANEOUS LITERATURE.

No. XV.]

DECEMBER 26, 1816.

[VOL. I.

Price only Four Pence.

"THE BRIDAL OF PLORA."

WE have never seen any spectacle on the English stage of a description so tastefully ornamented and so poetically beautiful as this ballet. The scenery and decorations display all the glowing truth of the Parisian school, presenting us with proofs of a travelled mind in the Manager, not less elegant than those we previously possessed of his classic study. The pas de trois, by Oscar Byrne, Miss Smith, and Miss Gladhill, as Zephyr, Flora, and Cupid was enchantingly graceful; and the groupes of lovely cupids floating in æther was altogether magical. We do not remember any scene so powerfully illusive, except when little Oscar Byrne, as the rosy God of Love, stole every female heart at the Italian opera.

· EXTRACT FROM THE TRAVELS OF ALI BEY.

(Continued from page 114.)

ALI BEY, after traversing several courts, and performing certain ceremonies, was conducted to the Sepulchre of David.This monument is a species of bier, covered with fine silk stuffs of different colours, richly embroidered. Having finished his prayers, he descended a rapid slope and arrived at the only spring which is in the place, called by the Christians, "The Fountain of Nehemiah." The Mussulmen believe that the water of this spring, by a miracle of Divine Power, is made to come from the Well of Zemzem, at Mecca ;-he next traversed El Wad or the torrent of Cedren, from whence crossing several hills to the eastward, he visited the chapels and sepulchres of several Saints and Prophets. From the top of one of these hills he discovered the Lake Asphalites, or the Dead Sea.

Maqpuerion, Printer, Russell Court, Covent GARDEN.

Being arrived at the summit of the mountain Djebel Tor, called by the Christians, the Mount of Olives, in which it is asserted there are 72,000 Prophets buried, he found there a Christian Church, in which is a slab of marble, with the print of the foot of Christ upon it.-It is said to have been imprinted at the time he ascended into heaven, after his resurrection.

From this mountain situated east of Jerusalem, there is a bird's eye view of the city, so distinct that the houses may be counted.

Descending the mountain, and being arrived at the bottom of the torrent of Cedron, he passed by the side of the tomb of Mary, and after having climbed a hill he entered the City by the gate called the Gate of Mercy.

The next day he arrived at Beit el Ham, or Bethlehem, where he was met by a band of Christian Shepherds, who were going to Jerusalem to lay a complaint against the Mussulmen Shepherds of Hhahil or Hebron, who had carried off part of their cattle. They had with them two camels, which they had taken from the Musselmen as reprisals.-The principal Shepherd related the affair, to one of the most respectable Scheriffs of Jerusalem, in such energetic terms, that his imagination pic tured to itself the quarrels of Abraham's Shepherds with those of Lot, the war of the Five Kings, &c.

After describing other particulars, he proceeds-"The Sepulchre of Abraham and his family, are in a temple that was formerly a Greek Church.-The vestibule contains two rooms, the one on the right contains the Sepulchre of Abraham, and the other on the left, that of Sarah.-In the body of the Church, which is gothic, between two large pillars, on the right is seen a small house in which is the Sepulchre of Issaac, and in a similar one upon the left is that of his wife.-On the other side the court is another vestibule, with the Sepulchres of Jacob and his wife.

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At the extremity of the portico is a door which leads through a long gallery to the Sepulchre of Joseph, who died in Egypt, and whose ashes were brought hither.

All these Sepulchres are covered with rich carpets of green silk, magnificiently embroidered with gold.-Those of their wives are red, embroidered with gold.-The Sultans of Constantinople furnish these carpets as they are wanted.

After describing other curiosities he reached the grotto, which is the sacred birth-place of Jesus Christ.-The Monk, his conductor, assured him it was the spot where Christ was born. He perceived on the left a small marble basin, which, itis said, is the Manger in which the Virgin Mary deposited her Son.There is an altar in the front of this manger, with a fine picture

representing the adoration of the Magian Kings, who came, it is said, to this very place to offer their homage to the new born. The manger and the birth place are enriched with superb orna ments, and a great number of cyrstal and silver lamps.

Ali Bey also describes "The Tomb. of Christ". Indeed the whole work is so interesting, that we regret our limits do not! allow us to make further extracts. Perhaps we may, at some future period, resume the subject.

FANNY-A MOST AFFECTING TALE. S (Concluded from page 213.)

But every Sunday they visited the place, and not long after found the willows sprouting out, which in time became evercreeping mourners drooping round her grave.

Lodamar often came by night to see that her remains werer undisturbed, and, by contemplating near them, thought to detach himself from the world, the rigours of which lay painful on his injured mind; he was desirous of despising those vanities he sighed after, as due to his birth, and by Fanny's grave, he found: the task easy. There he could hear the distant din of the port, when the visiting coaches began to roll to each enemy's door, and he pitied the vain life. But on his return, no sooner did he' enter the gates than he wished for some luxury, and sighed for his birthright. But he knew his medicine, and as night came on he withdrew to Fanny's grave, there to trace his twenty years of sorrow back.

In his last hour the scene was unusually soleinn, so deep his contemplations, and so strong the presages of his approaching dis solution, that, turning to the rock on which he leaned, he be queathed Fanny's memory to a more lasting guardian, and by the bright light of the moon, carved her epitaph on it.

Forty feet from this stony base

Towards the river, where the rich herbs grow,
May the stranger see a single grave,

Untimely reach'd from yonder poud'rous height.

By beauty, youth, and innocence;

Beside that small rais'd 'flow'ry spot,

The soul of Fanny Vernon fled.

'Twas there her true heart broke,

"Tis there her body's laid!

Peep not from the upper brink,

Ye merciless wolves, with dire intent,

On Fanny's grave! let your frightful howls

Be echoed far away! nor interrupt.

The nightly murmer of the river passing by,
While the soothed shade solitary reigns,
And the lonely willows on her grave,
Silent, bend to the slow passing gale.

Some years after, when the war with America ceased, and Fanny's grave nearly overgrown, the re-embarkation of Vernon's regiment happened at the port where first they landed... They entered the town with the usual military pomp. Vernon could not but recollect Fanny, and her memory was solemnized with her favourite march.

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Many enquiries were made at Vernon's lodgings after her, by families she had visited there. But his servant was careful not to let his master know of them, as he had, at unguarded times, heard him break into such testimonies and admiration of her worth, as left no doubt but he would be much moved at the affecting tidings of her friends' remembrance.

"Which way shall we walk?" said Vernon, as he leaned over the bridge with the other officers. "It seems most inviting" said young Hamilton, "along the rocks; for there are shady caverns." They pursued that course, sometimes climbing the rocks, gathering the dwarf stones, and searching for the rock-bird's eggs; and thought to return at the angle of the cliff." But then a new scene opened, and the willows were in view. Hamilton found them attractive, and, leaving the river, crossed into the midst of the curve it formed, and reached the mute mourners of Fanny's silent home. The others followed, care

less, and plucking to pieces their gathered flowers as they walked. They stood round the grave, contemplating the beauty of the willows, and lifting their drooping branches, which rested on the small raised top.

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"Weeping willows, from a recollection, always make me melancholy," said Vernon, "and I think this looks like a grave.' It was then obvious to them all; and the heat of the sun was les powerful while they stood over it, than the chill which it gave. Vernon threw down on it the remainder of his flowers, and turning silently towards the port, was followed by the rest alternately gay, sorrowful, and romantic; but often at a stand, looking back at the willows.

The first fair wind, Vernon and his division sailed for England. Hamilton was some weeks later; and often rambled to the rocks; when the sun was excessive, he rested under the willows, where he read or wrote, as fancy prompted, on his old school-fellow's sister's grave. At length, he found the inscription on the rock, and the tears of sorrow were never more plenteously shed.

As soon as Hamilton arrived in England, and joined Vernon, he watched an opportunity to relate to him the catastrophe of Fanny; but he was already plunged deep into the currents of gaming, libertinism, and drinking, which bore him from her idea, which nevertheless presented itself pale on the shore, every time

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