The Holy Sepulchre and the Temple at Jerusalem. By James
Ferguson, F.R.S. (Murray.)—Every one is aware of the controversy that Mr. Fergusson is waging on the subject of the true site of the Holy Sepulchre, and the Church built by Constantino thereupon. Does the present Church of the Holy Sepulchre satisfy the requirements of the case, or are we to pass with Mr. Fergasson to the outskirts of the city, in defiance of tradition, and find in the Mosque of Omar the identical erection of Constantine ? The former or traditional view is maintained by Rev. G. Williams in his Holy City ; the latter is ably argued in the pages before us, which consist of two lectures delivered at the Royal Institution, in February, 1862, and March, 1865. In the interval be- tween these dates Mr. Fergusson visited Jerusalem, and found the con- clusion that he had arrived at from the study of books and plans con- firmed by personal observation. He bases his argument on architec- tural and topographical considerations ; the building called the Mosque of Omar is wanting in the characteristics of a mosque, whilst it is simi- lar in style to churches of the fourth century, and has certain peculiari- ties which had disappeared in the age of Justinian ; its locality is adapted to the events of the Passion, as recorded in the Scripture narra- tive, whilst the site of the present Church of the Holy Sepulchre is inconsistent with them, and has always been regarded with dissatisfac- tion. He candidly admits that the tradition of eight centuries is against him, but reminds us of the unquestioning tendencies of the times when this tradition was growing. On the whole we think his view of the case is gaining ground, which is matter of congratulation to the world at large, as even his opponents must admit that nothing can be more unsatisfactory than the disappointments that at present await the traveller in the Holy City. The book is very carefully illustrated with plans and diagrams, and conveys the fullest and latest information in- cluding a description of the Holy Places in the twelfth century, just published from a codex in the British Museum, from which some extracts are given confirmatory of the author's argument. There is also an interesting account of the Mosque at Hebron, and some valuable letters from " experts " in the appendix.
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