battalion one captain was killed, our own captain wounded in the head, and three or four lieutenants The Commanding General saw that this position would not answer. About a quarter of a mile before us, was a large forest, where the trees stood close together, and were thick and stout. There the French troops were in many thousands. In order to be safe, it was necessary for us to take possession of the forest, and to send our destructive fires into the enemies file and rank. This was to be effected by a movement called, in the German language, "Tirailliren.” The idea is that in the length of every division four men are placed before the front, to cover or protect that division, (by division, is here understood half a company,) and so along the whole line for every battalion. These Tirailleurs were destined to open their fires upon the enemy and to advance, whilst the main body was to follow. At the same time a great advantage was obtained by this motion, for the enemy changed his firing in rifle and musket discharges, and quit the cannon fire. We advanced very fair towards the forest, and saw the top of many a stately oak and stout beach, falling to the ground. Coming close up to the woods we were however driven back, by a heavy cannonade of rifles and muskets, and as the woods were bending towards the north east, more inward, and were less thick, we again advanced, very little, in that direction, and it seemed as if the enemies were not so thick, in that quarter. We were dressed in white linen pantaloons, and our position was in a large field, where hogbeans growed spontaneously. But the whole field became covered with wounded and dead, in a short time. We sustained a tremendous loss in officers and men. I think that not less than one-fourth of General von Alten's forces were used up, between the hours of four and nine. And many a young man whom I knew and loved, did not see the evening of that day. I happened to be the whole afternoon amongst the Tirailluers, and in the evening was left alone amongst those that were in front of the company, whilst the company itself had lost two officers, two sergents, three corporals, and thirty men. In advancing towards the woods with the rest of the Tirailluers. I once saw one of Kielmansegge's rifleman lying dead on the battle field, and his watch chain enticed mine eyes. I drew out a splendid silver watch, at that time perhaps worth forty dollars. I gazed at it, and all at once the idea struck me, perhaps I will be one of the next who will be stretched to the ground, and what good can the watch do me. I have enough with my own watch, (which I yet possess to the present moment, and which has faithfully pointed the time to me, for so many years, when a spiritual warrior of Jesus Christ,) and so I put the watch back in the dead man's pocket. To think, to resolve, and to act, were closely united together, for duty called me onward.

The sun was now setting, and it was near 8 o'clock. In the morning he had shone friendly and "benignly on many, thousands, who did not behold his calm and serene departure in the West, but with the shadow of the evening rested under the shadow of death.

The French fire began now to diminish by degrees, but still was kept up till nine o'clock in the evening. We stood now close to the forest, and the French had so far withdrawn, that we made the entrance to the woods. A small but dry creek was before us. The parching heat of the sun and the continual firing had made us dry, and we longed after s

cool and refreshing drink of water. It was more in value to us, than golden and silver eagles.

We came to rest after a long day's labor, from hostilities. But we could not rest before we got some water. This was not obtained until half-past 10 o'clock, and then it was roily and by no means fresh. However it had to satisfy us, until we were watered, next day, from the vault of heaven.

After the necessary guards were sent out, we went partly asleep, of course on the bare ground, with our uniform. Our catridges were diminished by about 45, and about 15 were left. The rifles and muskets were placed in regular order, and behind them we rested, partly with our armament about us. I say it was a rest in part or in some degree, for we could not sleep firmly. The French watch fires were before our eyes, and the call: Oui vive? or Wer da? and Who is there? disturbed us continually. Besides this the French army killed hogs, during the whole night. They got their rations daily, whilst we had neither bread nor meat anymore. Young men and women, when you consider such a rest on a battle-field, thank God your heavenly Father, that you have soft beds to rest upon.

A RELIGIOUS CURIOSITY.

IN Joseph's Dream of the eleven stars making obeisance to him, it is said there is an allusion to the signs of the Zodiac-the eleven brethren answering to the eleven signs and Joseph to the twelfth. [These signs were known in Chaldea, and afterwards in Egypt.] They are, as everybody knows, called by the names of animals, except one. The curiosity consists in the resemblance between the blessings of Jacob and his prophecies respecting his sons, as found in Genesis 49th chapter, and the animals after whose names the constellations are called. The following table will illustrate the meaning. Any one who will keep in mind the picture of the human figure usually found in our almanacs and the constellations around them, will understand the whole matter: 1. Reuben, "unstable as water :" Aquarius, A waterman. 2. Simeon and Levi, "are brethren;" Gemini, or twins.

3. Judah, "a lion's whelp;" Leo, or lion.

4. Zebulon, "at the haven of the sea :" Cancer, or crab from the sea. 5. Ephraim, "a strong ass or beast of burden :" Taurus, an ox.

6. Dan, "an adder :" Scorpio, or scorpion.

7. Dan, "biteth the horse's heels :" Claws of a serpent changed into balances.

8. Gad, "a troop :" Pisces, a fish-Gad, reverse of a dag.

9. Asher, "his head shall be fat:" Virgo, a woman with a stalk of wheat in her hand.

10. Napthali, a hind-let-loose :" Aries, a ram.

11. Joseph, "his bow abode in strength:" Sagittarius, an archer. 12. Benjamin, "raven as a wolf:" Capricornus, formerly, reptile with a wolf's head.

FIVE DAYS IN THE HOLY LAND.

A young friend of ours, and a member of the congregation we serve, J. DAVID MILLER, had the good fortune of enjoying lately a visit to the Holy Land. Being in the United States service, on the steamer Wabash, on an eighteen months cruise to visit Jappa to attend to some grievances which American citizens had experienced in that place, by bringing the offenders to punishment; during the time the ship lay at anchor there, an opportunity of visiting Jerusalem was afforded to such on board as had a disposition to embrace it. Our young friend joined the party that went; and having lately returned to his native place, he has kindly furnished us with his notes of the trip for the Guardian. We present to our readers part of them in this number, and leave the rest to follow next month. The visit was a treat which Mr. Miller greatly appreciates; and we have no doubt his brief but interesting notes will be quite acceptable to our readers.

[ED. GUARDIAN November 5th, 1858. The party for Jerusalem left the ship on Friday the 5th of Nov. 1858, at 2 o'clock P. M., and procured horses at Jappa, and at 3 P. M. we left and passed through the gates of the city, en route for the Holy City. The first place we stopped at was the City of Kemleh, about 12 miles from our starting place; here we partook of something substantial for the "inner man," in the shape of chicken, mutton, coffee, &c., after which we proceeded again on our way. We passed the brook from which David took the stone with which he slew Goliath. For about twenty miles the road was good, (the Plain of Sharon) being a nice level piece of ground, but uncultivated. The other part of the way was over the mountains, and those the most rocky and rough we have ever seen. There was but a single track, wide enough for but one horse to pass along; the party in consequence was strung out to a great length. The stillness of the night, (as that was the time we pursued our journey,) the roughness of the way, the thoughts of the Holy Land, the recollections of the legendary curse of the Virgin Mary, and the fulfilment thereof, made us feel sad and mournful.

Saturday, Nov. 6, 1858.-At 8 o'clock A. M. the long looked and hoped for City of Jerusalem was seen at a distance, and at 9 o'clock we entered its gates and proceeded to the Mediterranean Hotel in Patriarch street, kept by Christian Hauser, a German by birth, it being the only hotel of any consequence in the city. At 10 A. M. a nice fine breakfast was served out to us, to which we done ample justice. The party having determined to visit the City of Bethlehem, the birth place of Our Saviour, at an early hour, we accordingly started for that place at 12 o'clock of the same day. We arrived at Bethlehem in one hour and twenty minutes, and at once entered the church, built on the site of the Stable where Jesus was born. One of the Padra's of the Latin church accompanied us through the building and explained everything of interest to the traveler. We were shown what we were told was the Manger, the first cradle or bed in which the infant was laid, the place where the wise men of the East visited him, the tombs of Saint Mary, Saint Joseph,

and the Sepulchre, where are buried the remains of the children which were slain under the decree of Herod the King, in order that the new born Saviour should not live but be certain to be killed. We were also shown the Tombs of distinguished Prophets, the names of which have escaped our memory. Upon our expressing our intention to leave, we were invited into the parlor to partake of a cup of coffee, to which was added a glass of pure aniseed wine. Indeed, we were well treated and highly gratified with our visit. We again returned to Jerusalem and after supper we retired to rest, "to enjoy Nature's sweet restorer-balmy sleep."

Sunday, Nov. 7, 1858.-Directly after arising, the party paid a visit to the church, built over "Mount Calvary," and the "Holy Sepulchre." One of the Fathers had the kindness to show us through the vast building. The first place we visited was the Holy Sepulchre where had been entombed the body of Jesus Christ. Here we procured lighted wax candles, to light us through the ravinous places through which we had to pass. We were next shown the stone on which the body of the crucified Saviour was washed and enrobed and embalmed for the burial. We visited the Mount, the place of crucifixion. Here we saw and examined the square hole cut in the Rock, in which the Cross is said to have stood; the rent in the Rock spoken of in the 27th Chapter and 51st verse of St. Mathew's Gospel. We saw what is said to be the Crown of Thorns-the place where our Saviour was crowned, the place where they took off his clothing and clothed him in a different robe, ('Tis here the Priests and Curates exchange their dress,) the place where he was scourged, and many other places spoken of in the Holy Scriptures. On returning to the Hotel we found breakfast awaiting us, of which we heartily partook, and at 11 o'clock we left Jerusalem for the River Jordan. We passed the Tomb of the Virgin Mary erected to her memory, the Garden of Gethsemane, the Mt. of Olives, Mt. Zion, the town of Bethany, the Tomb of Lazarus from which he was raised from the dead by the Saviour; of this Tomb we brought with us a piece from the inside. We passed over the ruins of the Cities of " Sodom" and "Gomorrah," there being nothing visible but stones, and in a few places can be seen traces of the walls of the Cities and perhaps of the buildings. The next place we passed was the City of Jericho, or properly speaking the ruins of Jericho. The walls near the Gates and the abutments of the gates are still standing. We encamped about two hundred yards from the gates for the night, and while there a tribe of Arabs or Bedouins came into camp and took away the arms from the Guard who accompanied us, and also several prisoners; they however brought back the arms to our Guard, about three hours after they took them away, after which they had a dance. The cause for all this trouble being, chiefly on account of a marriage. The Shiekh of the Band beyond the Jordan, married the daughter of the Sheikh of the Band on this side without his consent-the result of said marriage is the cause of enmity existing between the two tribes. Each tribe serve the other alike, when found tresspassing on strange grounds.

Monday, Nov. 8th, 1858.-At 2 o'clock, P. M., all hands were called and after a hasty Lunch we left our Encampment for the River Jordan, which place we reached at daylight. Upon reaching the river we took a bath

and again re-mounted our ponies and pursued our journey toward the Dead Sea. At nine o'clock a. m., we halted on a small cape of Land, or rather of stones, and took breakfast. Here we gathered a number of pebbles for the others who were denied the pleasure of going upon this journey. We left the Dead Sea about 10, a. m., and struck our course back for Jerusalem. On our way we saw many fine scenes, but barren. We passed the tomb of Moses, or the place where it is supposed to have been. We arrived in Jerusalem at 4 p. m., very much fatigued with the trip to Jordan and fully satisfied with the poetic expression that "Jordan is a hard road to travel." In the evening we met an old gentleman who spoke English, very well and whose appearance struck us at once to be that of an American. After conversing with him for a while, we made ourself bold enough to ask the place or name of his Nativity when he told us that he was indeed an American, a Pennsylvanian and a native of the City of Philadelphia, and that his name is Warder Cresson, having lived in this place for upwards of fourteen years, having come to this city as a Missionary; but having visited the seven Churches and made such examinations and discoveries as he thought proper and discreet, he formed such opinions concerning the Christian faith that he dismissed it and became a Jew! Previous to this he had received the appointment of American Consul to Jerusalem, but upon the news of his forsaking his religion and becoming a Jew reaching Washington, he was at once dismissed from office and another appointed in his stead. Upon his family finding out what had transpired they remonstrated with him and proclaiming him Insane. They even went so far as to take the matter into a court of justice in order that a jury should find a verdict against him that they might reap pecuniary benefit, as he was immensely rich, owning several valuable farms in the vicinity of the city of Philadel phia. The court however decided in his favor, holding that he was a man of rational mind, fit to transact his own business, and dismissing the case. His wife, the daughter of a worthy gentleman of Philadelphia, left him, and refused to live with him. A divorce was applied for and granted; after which he returned again to the Holy Land, and since then has been living independently, having married a Jewess with whom he has had two children. He appears to be a well informed man, unwilling to enter into a discussion on matters of Religion unless urged, leaving every person to enjoy his own opinion and worship his God according to the dictates of his own conscience.

Tuesday Nov. 9th 1858.-After partaking something in the shape of breakfast, we called for our horses and guide for a stroll to the Tombs of the Kings, and other places of interest in and around the Holy City. Arriving at the spot, the party dismounted and entered a large Tomb or Vault where the remains of the Roman Kings were interred. The general appearance of the place is that of neglect and decay; the carving on the outside entrance is defaced to such an extent that nothing of the original exquisite work is discernable, all is broken off by the traveler as a memento from the last resting place of those great and good men. We have brought with us several leaflets of evergreen growing from the Tombs, which we have preserved. The Tomb is cut out of a solid rock, and is one of the greatest pieces of workmanship in stone we have ever

seen.

We next visited the Tomb of the Prophet Jeremiah, but did not