NEW-YORK, SEPTEMBER, 1838.

ANTIOCH IN SYRIA.

the Turk. Antioch abounded with great men, and the Christian church in this city was long governed by illustrious prelates; but it suffered much on several occusions, sometimes being exposed to the violence of heresies, and at other times being rent by deplorable schisms. Modern Antioch and its vicinity were devastated by a

neighborhood, at the passage of Bylan Boghaz, the Turkish army was defeated by the Egyptians under Ibrahim Pasha, in 1832.

THERE are several cities in the East which bear the name of Antioch; but only two are mentioned in Scripture, viz. Antioch in Pisidia; and Antioch in Syriaonce the capital of the Syro-Macedonian empire, of which a view is given in our engraving. Formerly, this "Queen of the East" was called Rib-tremendous earthquake in the autumn of 1822. In its lath, but it was not known under the name of Antioch until the reign of Seleucus Nicanor, who built it, and called it Antioch from respect to his father, Antiochus, B.C. 301. For several hundred years it was the residence of the Macedonian kings of Syria, and afterwards of the Roman governors of that province. This city is frequently mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles; and here "the disciples" of Christ "were" by divine appointment "first called Christians." (Acts, xi. 26.)

This city, which was anciently so beautiful, so flourishing and illustrious, is at present scarcely any thing but a heap of ruins, by the Arabs called Antakia. The walls are still standing; but within the city, which is

THE POET TO HIS CHILD.

WELCOME! blossom fair,

Affection's dear reward;

Oh! welcome to thy father's sight,
Whose heart o'erflows with now delight
And tenderest regard,

While on thine eyes
Soft slumber lies,

approached by an old bridge over the river Orontes, there As, bending o'er thy face, I feel thy breath arise.

is nothing to be seen but ruins, gardens, the minarets of the mosques, and some wretched houses. The bishop of Antioch has the title of patriarch, and has constantly had a great share in the affairs of the Eastern church.

Upon thy mother's cheek

Are trembling tears of joy;

We have no thought of worldly pain,
Past hours of bliss are felt again,
Unmingled with alloy.

May Heavan hear

The prayer sincere,

for thy earthly weal, a father offers here! May death's relentless hand

Some kind protector spare,

To guide thy steps through childhood's day,
To turn thee in religion's way,
By teaching early prayer;

In every hour

Check evil's power,

And in thy guileless heart plant virtue's fadeless flower.
Youth hath a thousand dreams

Antioch was almost square, having many gates; and much of it on the north side stood on a high mountain. It was adorned with galleries and fine fountains. Vespasian, Titus, and other emperors granted very great Which, privileges to this city; but it has likewise been exposed to great vicissitudes. It was almost demolished by earthquakes, A.D. 340, 294, 336, 458, 526, and 528. The emperor Justinian repaired it, A.D. 529: in his time it was called Theopolis, or the City of God, on account, it is said, of its inhabitants being mostly Christians. A.D. 548 it was taken by Chosroes, king of Persia, who massacred the inhabitants and reduced it to ashes. Four years afterwards it was rebuilt by Justinian and in the year 574 Chosroes took it a second time, and destroyed its walls. A.D. 588 it suffered a dreadful earthquake, by which upwards of sixty thousand persons perished. It was again rebuilt, and again was exposed to new calamities. In the year 637 or 638 the Saracens took it: in 966 it was re-taken by Nicephorus Phocas: four years afterwards an army of one hundred thousand Saracens besieged it without success; but afterwards they subdued it, added new fortifications, and made it almost impregnable. This city was the first object to which the crusaders directed their efforts. They held it from A.D. 1098, till it was taken and destroyed in 1263 by the sultan of Egypt, who demolished its splendid churches, and put most of the inhabitants to death. It has, ever since, lost its reputation and

As false as they are fair;
And womanhood's sad season brings
The stern reality of things,

Too oft the blight of care;
For man deceives
And woman grieves,

When passion plucks th' flow'r, and scatters all its leaves.

May no such lot be thine,

My loved and only child :
Nor guilt's remorse, nor sorrow's ruth,
But wedded love and holy truth
Preserve thee undefiled;

And when life's sun
Its course hath run,

magnificence, and has groaned under the dominion of Be thy departing words-" My God, thy will be done."

VOL. IX.-25