310 HISTORY OF PHILIP DELWYNN. future joy; but in return, the fairy promises of hope, by detaching the eye from the passing scene, alleviate the pang of actual misery with the cheering view of bliss hereafter to be enjoyed. It is by a wise dispensation of Providence that the human mind is ever unsatisfied with that which it possesses;....this " eager longing for futurity" is a proof that we are destined to a state of more exalted bliss than the present one, in which nothing can arrest the fancy from its flights into the ideal world of unarrived events. Were it not thus, we should see men more disposed to profit by the reasonings of philosophers, and to attend to the paths they are actually confined to. (To be continued.) and sixty-one feet in length, surrounded at top by three magnificent domes of white marble, intersected with black stripes, and flanked by two minarets of black marble, and red stone alternately, rising to the height of a hundred and thirty feet. Each of these minarets has three projecting galleries of white marble, and their summits are crowned with light octagon pavilions of the same. The whole front of the Jama Musjed is faced with large slabs of beautiful white marble, and along the cornice are ten compartments, four feet long, and two and a half broad, which are inlaid with inscriptions in black marble, in the Nuskhi character, and are said to contain great part, if not the whole, of the Koran. The inside of the mosk is paved throughout with large flags of white marble, decorated with a black border, and is ACCOUNT OF DELHI, THE CAPI- wonderfully beautiful and delicate; TAL OF INDIA. Shah Jehanabad is adorned with many fine mosks, several of which are still in perfect beauty and repair. The following are most worthy of being described, and first, the Jama Musjed, or great cathedral. This mosk is situated about a quarter of a mile from the royal palace: the foundation of it was laid upon a rocky eminence, named Jujula Pahar, and has been scarped on purpose. The ascent to it is by a flight of stone steps, thirty-five in number, through a handsome gateway of red stone. The doors of this gateway are covered throughout with plates of wrought brass, which Mr. Bernier imagined to be copper. The terrace on which the mosk is situated, is a square of about fourteen hundred yards of red stone; in the centre is a fountain lined with marble, for the purpose of performing the necessary ablutions, previous to prayer. An arched colonade of red stone surrounds the whole of the terrace, which is adorned with octagon pavilions, at convenient distances, for sitting in. The mosk is of an oblong form, two hundred the flags are about three feet in length, by one and a half broad. The wall and roof are lined with plain white marble, and near the Kibla is a handsome taak or niche, adorned with a profusion of freezework. Close to this is a mimber, or pulpit of marble, having an ascent of four steps, and ballustraded. The ascent to the minarets is by a winding staircase of a hundred and thirty steps of red stone, and at the top you have a noble view of the king's palace, and the whole of the Cuttub Minar, the Currun Minar, Hummaioon's tomb, the palace of Feroze Shah, the fort of old Delhi, and the fort of Loni, on the opposite side of the Jumna. The domes are crowned with cullises, richly gilt, and present a glittering appearance from a distance. This mosk was begun by Shah Jehan, in the fourth year of his reign, and completed in the tenth the expenses of its erection amounted to ten lacks of rupees; and it is in every respect worthy of being the grand cathedral of the empire of Hindostan. Not far from the palace is the mosk of Roshun-a-Dowlah, rendered memorable to the Delhians for being the place whence Nadir Shah saw the massacre of the unfortunate inhabitants. The cause assigned by historians for this inhuman act is, that a sedition broke out in the great market, in which two thousand Persians were slain. Nadir, on hearing of the tumult, marched out of the fort at night with a small force to the Musjed of Roshun-a-Dowlah, where he was fired upon in the morning from a neighbouring terrace, and an officer killed close by his side. He instantly ordered an indiscriminate slaughter of the inhabitants, and his squadrons of cavalry, pouring through the streets, before the afternoon put to death one hundred thousand persons of all descriptions. "The king of Persia," says the translator of Ferishta, "sat during the dreadful scene, in the Musjed of Roshun-a-Dowlah; none but slaves durst come near him, for his countenance was dark and terrible. At length the unfortunate emperor, attended by a number of his chief Omrahs, ventured to approach him with downcast eyes. The Omrahs who preceded Mohummud, bowed down their foreheads to the ground. Nadir Shah sternly asked them what they wanted; they cried out with one voice, Spare the city." Mohummud said not a word, but tears flowed fast from his eyes; the tyrant, for once touched with pity, sheathed his sword, and said, "For the sake of the prince Mohummud, I forgive." Since this dreadful massacre, this quarter of Delhi has heen but very thinly inhabited. The mosk of Roshun-a-Dowlah, is situated at the entrance of the Chandney Choke, or market; it is built of red stone, of the common size, and surmounted by three domes richly gilt. Zeenul-al-Mussajid, or the ornament of mosks, is on the banks of the Jumna, and was erected by a daugter of Aurungzebe, of the name of Zeenut-al Nissa'h. It is of red stone, with inlayings of marble, and has a spacious terrace in front of it, with a capacious reservoir faced with marble. The princess who built it, having declined entering into the marriage state, laid out a large sum of money in the above mosk, and, on completing it, she built a small sepulchre of white marble, surrounded by a wall of the same, in the west corner of the terrace. In this tomb she was buried in the year of the Hegira 1122, corresponding with the year of Christ 1710. There were formerly lands allotted for the support and repairs of this place, amounting to a lack of rupees per annum, but they have all been confiscated during the troubles this city has undergone. Exclusive of the mosks above described, there are in Shah Jehanabad and its environs, above forty others; but as most of them are of inferior size, and all of them of the same fashion, it is unnecessary to present any further detail. The modern city of Shah Jehanabad is rebuilt, and contains many good houses, chiefly of brick. The streets are in general narrow, as is usual in most of the large cities in Asia; but there were formerly two very noble streets; the first leading from the palace-gatethrough the city to the Delhi gate, in a direction north and south. This street was broad and spacious, having handsome houses on each side of the way, and merchants shops, well furnished with the richest articles of all kinds. Shah Jehan caused an aqueduct to be made of red stone, which conveyed the water along the whole length of the street, and from thence into the royal gardens, by means of a reservoir under ground. Some remains of the aqueduct are still to be seen; but it is choaked up in most parts with rubbish. The second grand street was likewise from the palace to the Lahor gate, lying east and west: it was equal in many respects to the former, but in both of them the inhabitants have spoiled their appearance by running a line of houses down the centre, and across the strects in other places, 312 so that it is with difficulty a person The city is divided into thirty-six of the chancery office. Whether ACCOUNT OF THE VENERABLE In the course of the month of April, 1783, while Pius VI, was on a visit to the Pontine marshes, a report was suddenly spread in Rome, of the death of a French beggar, who was become the object of public veneration. His body, which was exposed for three days, preserved, it was said, the flexibility of its members, without shewing the least sign of putrefaction. He had lived nine years at Rome unnoticed by every one; but no sooner had he closed his eyes, than the most edifying wonders were related of him. He had led the most pious and most exemplary life. Reduced to the lowest degree of indigence, he added voluntary sufferings to his unavoidable privations; covered with rags, he remained exposed to the inclemency of the weather, and by way of penance, suffered the vermin to prey upon his flesh. Many persons recollected to have seen him stand motionless in the streets, and at the doors of churches, expecting, without asking, the charity of passengers. It was said, that he was accustomed to distribute the surplus of the alms he received to other paupers, and that he had pre. dicted the moment of his death, The greatest personage in Rome, the populace, and all, the priests, hastened in crowds to his tomb, where a great number of miracles were performed. The sick were carried thither: they returned healed; and these wonders, as al ways happens, were attested by numerous and creditable witnesses. The most minute particulars of his life were collected; his portrait was engraved; and in less than twenty-four hours more than four thousand impressions were sold. While waiting for canonisation, the title of venerable was adjudged to him. Men of observing minds were not long before they perceived that this was a competitor, set up by the Jesuistical party, in opposition to the venerable Palafox, whose speedy canonisation the court of Spain was at that moment, soliciting out of hatred to the Jesuits. It was the heads of that party who appeared to concern themselves the most about the beatified beggar. In the absence of the pope, the cardinalvicar gravely countenanced the disgusting farce; and, at the end of three days exhibition, ordered the holy mendicant to be pompously interred in a vault constructed on purpose by the side of the principal altar of the church of Madonna del Monte. In his tomb was inclosed a brief notice of his life written in Latin, an Italian translation of which was profusely given away. In spite of thy style of minute exaggeration, in which this singular piece of necrology was composed, means could not be found to render it interesting. It was confined to the few following facts. "Benedict Joseph, son of J. B. Labre and of Anne-Barbe Gransir, was born on the 26th of March, 1748, in the parish of St. Sulpice d'Anettes, in the diocese of Boulogne. After having passed his youth in the most orderly manner, under the care of an uncle, who was curate of Erin, he determined to devote himself to a life of penitence, and took the monastic habit in the convent of Sept. Fonts of the Cistercian order. The austerity of this mode of life occasioned a disease, which he suffered patiently; but the physicians obliged him to lay aside the habit, after a noviciate of eight months. He afterwards went on several pilgrimages, parti cularly to our lady of Loretto, and to the holy bodies of the apostles Peter and Paul. He then came and settled at Rome, which he never quitted, unless to go once a year to Loretto. He lived at Rome upon alms, of which he reserved but very little for himself, constantly giving the surplus to the poor. He led at the same time a very exemplary life, allowing himself only what was rigorously necessary for his food and raiment; holding all worldly things in sovereign contempt; and edifying mankind by the severe penance he imposed upon himself; by the continual prayers which he offered up in the churches; and by the other eminent virtues which he displayed. Although, while living thus, he appeared disgusting from the rags with which he was covered, he was, nevertheless, rendered dear and amiable to other men by his manners, forgetting himself and seeking only to please God. On the 16th of April, 1783, after a long prayer in the church of Madonna del Monte, he was seized with a fainting fit, and carried to the house of a pious man, who happened to be there. His disorder growing worse he received extreme unction, and at an hour after midnight, departed this life. The following day his body was conveyed, with decent funeral ceremonies, at the expense of some good Christians, to the said church. The report of his death diffused itself through the city ; and ere long, such an immense number of persons of all ranks hastened thither to see him, that it became necessary to call in the assistance of the military, to keep off the crowd. His body was thus exposed till the evening of Easter-day (the 20th of April), when it was attested by eye-witnesses, before a notary, that it was still flexible, palpable, and free from putridity. It was then put into a wood coffin, which was scaled with the scal of the cardinal vicar, inclosed in another cof fin also of wood, and deposited in a vauit, constructed on purpose, on the epistle side of the principal altar of the said church." This monument of superstition and hypocricy is worthy of preservation. It is well that posterity should know with what consummate impudence the priests imposed on the credulity of the people at the end of this enlightened century, in a city abounding with illustrious personages, with travellers from every part of Europe, and with masterpieces of art. It is well that posterity should be able to appreciate those factious knaves, who, disguising their worldly ambition under the mask of fanaticism, had the effrontery to engage heaven in a contest with earth; called upon the devout to pay homage to a vile mendicant, whose only merit, according to their own confession, was the having led a useless and disgusting life; and thus exposed to ridicule that religion of which they called themselves the supporters; and paved the way for its final overthrow. Instead of the hand of God, the hand of the Jesuits was plainly visible in the whole of this affair. In order that the enthusiasm inspired by the new saint, might not cool, a collection was made to defray the expenses of his beatification; and this pious care was entrusted by the cardinal-vicar to several persons of distinction at Rome, notorious for their attachment to the defunct society. Care was taken to inform all the friends it had in France, of the miracles performed by the holy Labre, which wanted nothing but witnesses; and of his prophecies, which were only known to his confessor, and which threatened the Holy See with great calamities, that were about to follow the suppression of the Jesuits. The bishop of Boulogne, one of their furious partisans, already announced to his flock, that they had another coun * In Roman catholic churches, the two sides of the church are distinguished by the terms, the gospel side, and the epistle side. T. tryman in heaven, and recommend- information In the meantime, continued to be collected, with regard to Benedict Labre, as well at Rome as out of Italy. The whole of it did not prove to his advantage. It was even to be feared lest one of his letters sent to that capital of the Christian world, by the bishop of Boulogne, should throw a damp upon the fervour of the devout. In that letter, Labre advised his pa |