LETTER XVI.

MY DEAR GEORGE,

THE destruction of Jerusalem being completed in the manner which I related to you in my last letter, Titus, before he quitted the spot where his soldiers had endured such incredible hardships, assembled them about his person; returning them thanks for the valour they had shewn, assuring them, that he was not less gratified by the glory which they had obtained, than by his own. He then presented to some of them crowns of gold, and put chains of gold about their necks: to others he gave spears pointed with gold. He also distributed among them silver medals, money, rich garments, and other, things of value, being part of the booty they had taken: thus rewarding every one according to his merit. All the army, in return, made vows for his prosperity. They then offered sacrifices for the victory; a multitude of oxen were slain on the occasion, and the flesh distributed to the army. Titus feasted all his principal officers for three days, after which he dismissed the troops to their different destinations, except the tenth legion, which he kept for a garrison at Jerusalem. He then went with the captives and part of the army to Cæsarea by the sea-coast, whence he shortly after removed to ~ Cæsarea Philippi. Here he made a longer stay, and, according to the barbarism of the times, authorised the exhibition of all sorts of games; where

in the captive Jews became the sport of the people: some being thrown to wild beasts, and torn to pieces in their presence; others forced in great companies to fight with each other till they perished.

While Titus was in this place, he had information that Simon, one of the Jewish generals, was taken. When the Romans became masters of the city, he, with a few trusty friends, went into a cave, with the intention of digging a way through, and so escaping; but, their provisions being expended, they were obliged to give over the enterprise. Simon, in order to deceive the Romans, and evade a discovery of his person, dressed himself in white, and cast a purple cloak about him. Thus attired, he suddenly made his appearance, just at the place where the temple had stood. There were several persons about at the time; but they were struck with such surprise, that they did not at first offer to go near him. As soon as they recovered from their astonishment, some of the soldiers ran to call their captain; who, being informed of all that had passed, and having learned who he was, ordered him to be bound, and sent to Cæsarea, to be disposed of as Titus should think fit. Diligent search being made in the caves and holes of the earth, many of the miserable Jews were found; among whom, was John the other general, and some who had been imprisoned by the seditious.

When Titus returned to Cæsarea by the seacoast, Simon was presented to him in chains; upon which, he commanded that he should be reserved for his triumph, which he purposed to make at Rome. Titus celebrated his brother Domitian's

birth-day with shows and pastimes, in which two thousand five hundred captive Jews were destroyed by wild beasts or mutual combat; and a future reserve was made for the emperor his father's birthday, at which time many more perished. Thus were these vile wretches punished for the atrocities which they had committed. As the Jews, who were dispersed in different parts of the world, had, by their determined opposition to the gospel, and their virulent persecution of the apostles and primitive christians, deeply shared in the guilt of their brethren at Jerusalem, who had betrayed and crucified the Lord of glory; so they were involved in similar punishments, being every where pursued by the just vengeance of God. About the time the war broke out, they began to be hated of all nations.

The Jews who resided at Antioch suffered much from the perfidy of one of their countrymen, who accused his father, and the rest of the Jews, of having a design to set the city on fire. To shew his hatred to his own people, and their laws still more, he offered to sacrifice after the manner of the Pagans, and persuaded the people of Antioch to make the rest of the Jews do the same, as a test of their obedience to the government. A furious persecution was immediately set on foot, in which all were esteemed traitors who would not conform to the Pagan customs, and many perished. After this, a dreadful fire happened at Antioch, in which were consumed the king's palace, and the public buildings where all the writings and registers were kept. The fire raged with such violence that it was with difficulty the citv was saved from the general de

vastation. The apostate Jew, before mentioned, accused the Jews as the authors of this calamity; which so incensed the people against them, that they would certainly have destroyed them all, had it not been for the prudent interference of Collega, the lieutenant-governor, who being determined, if possible, to discover the truth, found, by a diligent investigation of the matter, that not one of the Jews was guilty; but that the mischief was done by certain persons who were in debt, thinking that if they succeeded in destroying all the public records, their debts could not be required of them. Though the Jews were acquitted of this crime, yet they lived in great fear from these forged accusations, which never failed to gain credit with the populace, to whose blind rage they were perpetually exposed. Thus fulfilling what Moses predicted, Deut. xxviii. 65, 66, And among these nations shalt thou find no ease, neither shall the sole of thy foot have rest: but the Lord shall give thee there a trembling heart, and failing of eyes, and sorrow of mind and thy life shall hang in doubt before thee, and thou shalt fear day and night, and shalt have none assurance of thy life.

On the arrival of Titus at Antioch, the people besought him to banish the Jews out of their city, which he humanely refused to do, alleging that now their own country was destroyed, there was no place to which they could retire. Titus, shortly after, passing by Jerusalem in his way to Egypt, instead of exulting over a city that his valour had laid in ruins, he could not forbear lamenting the devastations which the obstinacy of the seditious had occa

sioned; and, comparing its former beauty and strength with its present desolated condition, the affecting contrast drew tears from his eyes. The soldiers found among the ruins, gold, silver, and other precious things, which had been buried by the owners in the earth; the captives pointing out the places to them.

Titus passed on to Alexandria, and from thence set sail for Italy; ordering John and Simon, the two generals of the Jews, and seven hundred beautiful captives, to be carried to Rome to grace his triumph.

On his arrival at that city, the greatest joy was expressed by Vespasian his father, and all the citizens. The senate decreed to Vespasian and Titus, each a separate triumph; but it was afterwards agreed to make but one for both.

As it may serve to give you some idea of the magnificence and grandeur of the Roman empire, I shall present you with a description of this grand procession, which was attended with a vast concourse of spectators. All the soldiers were assembled before day-light, with their captains at the head of their companies, near the temple of Isis, where the emperor and his son Titus lodged the night preceding. At day-break, Vespasian and Titus came forth, both crowned with laurel, and clothed in silk and purple robes. In this attire, they proceeded to Octavian's walks, where the senate, nobles, and Roman knights waited their arrival. A tribunal was raised, wherein were placed seats of ivory, on which the emperor and Titus ascending sat down. The soldiers, with a loud voice,