ties of war, has, notwithstanding his natural partiality towards his countrymen, and his perfonal regard for many of the Chiefs in the expedition, given a fairer account of the treatment which the natives underwent from their invaders, than we are likely to receive from any other quarter; and, indeed, by accompanying the divifion of the French army, which was destined, under General Defaix, to achieve the conquest of Upper Egypt, he became the fole modern hiftorian of that wonderful region, and on that account his narrative is of peculiar value.

"The tafe and found judgment of Bonaparte was on no occafion more eminently difplayed than in his felection of Denon to accompany the troops in this expedition; for being both an artist and a man of letters, the remains of the architecture, the fculpture, and the paintings of the Egyptians, were the principal objects of his attention; and thefe he has defcribed, both by words and with his pencil, fo as to render them highly interefting to all thofe who feel any curiofity about a nation, from whom ancient Greece derived her fublimeft philofophy, and which is infeparably connected with the earlier ages of the Jewith history." These are fome of the judicious obfervations of the refpectable tranflator, which we have felected as the beft in troduction to the work; other parts of his advertisement we pafs over, willing to avoid cenfure, and to treat him with more lenity than he has fhewn to the renowned Commander in Chief, whom future hiftorians may, perhaps, view in a more favourable light than Mr. Aikin has placed him, even though, like him, they may be freeborn Englishmen.

It appears, from an accurate furvey of the original with the English edition. now before us, that the Tranflator has made feveral judicious alterations, which may be confidered as real improvements; and as he has modely noticed them in the moft concise terms, we lay them before our readers as a proper recommendation of the whole tranflation.

"The narrative, in the original, is one continued journal, without divifion of Chapters, from the embarkation of the Author at Toulon to his landing at Frejus, on his return to France; to this are added feveral notes, more particularly illuftrative of the plates,and

mentioning little traits of manners and customs, which, either from inadvertence, or want of opportunity, he neglected to introduce into the text. The tranflator, however, has taken the liberty of breaking the Journal into feparate Chapters, but without altering in the leaft degree the order of its arrangement, and, in a few inftances, of incorporating with the text fuch parts of the notes as appear to have been thrown to the end of the original work merely in confequence of having been forgotten."

As it is the octavo edition we are reviewing, it may be necessary to add, as another recommendation, that the French original fells in London for twenty-one guineas; a circumstance which, to the generality of purchasers and readers of English books, must render the cheap edition of a work on which fo great a value is fet highly gratifying; and they will readily admit the expediency, on the part of the proprietors, of omitting the picturesque views of battles, and of fome other tranfactions, which, from their very nature, must be mere fancy pieces, and of felecting the best of two or three views of the fame place from different potitions, in order to avoid enhancing the price,-more especially as, by this arrangement, they have been enabled to give a liberal allowance of plates, and to retain nearly the whole of those engravings that reprefent the archi tectural and hieroglyphical remains of Upper Egypt, which comprise the valuable part of the decorations of that fplendid work the Original.

The Translator's explanatory advertifement is followed by Denon's preface, which contains the difcourfe it was his intention to read to the Inftitute of Cairo, on his return from Upper Egypt; and is, in fact, a brief analyfis of the nature and defign of the work, and of his means of purfuing and attaining the objects he had in view. No precife explanation, however, is given of the plan of the Infti. tute; but we believe it to have been an affembly of fcientific Frenchmen, confifting of Officers of the army, the French Conful, intelligent merchants, and literati brought from France by Bonaparte, whole bufinefs it was to investigate the state of arts and sciences in Egypt, to promote and improve their cultivation, and to tranfmit to the Government of Paris regular accounts

of

of their tranfactions, more particularly of fuch discoveries, inventions, &c. as might prove either ufeful or ornamental to their native country.

In the first Chapter of Vol. I. we have a journal, commencing with Denon's embarking, on the 14th of May 1798, at Toulon, on board the French frigate La Junon, which, in company with two other frigates, was to reconnoitre a-head of the grand fleet de tined for the invafion and conquest of Egypt, and to take Malta in their way; the attack and capitulation of which is the principal fubject of the next Chapter. In the courfe of the fiege, fome Frenchmen in the fervice of the Maltefe Government having been taken prifoners by General Regnier, when he made himself master of Gozo, he fent them off in a boat to Bonaparte, the Commander in Chief, on board the Orient, who, after having queftioned them, faid to them with a fter. voice" Since you have taken up arms against your country, you fhould have known how to die. I will not accept fuch prifoners: you may therefore return to Malta, which is not yet in my poffeffion." Let the indecent, the ill-timed declaimers, who obftinately perfift in the groffett perfonal abufe of the First Conful of France, in some of our public prints, read this anecdote, and compare it with the conduct of other Ge. nerals in fimilar situations!

After the furrender of Malta, he ordered all the Turkish and Arabian flaves to be fet free, and never, fays our Author, was there a ftronger expreffion of joy than that which they manifefted. When they met the French, gratitude was expreffed in their countenances in fo affe&ting a way, that I repeatedly fhed tears. It was to me a true feast of the foul. To convey an idea of their extreme fatisfaction on this occafion, it is necef. sary to state, that their respective Governments never either bought or exchanged them. Their flavery was not alleviated by any hope; and they could not even dream of the termination of their fufferings."

The third Chapter opens with the landing of the French troops, and the ftorming of Alexandria, on the 2d of July. On the 4th, in the morning, the city being then in the poffeffion of the French army, confitting of thirty thousand men, Denon accompanied

Bonaparte in vifiting the forts, when they paffed by Pompey's pillar, and on this fpot it may be faid that his talents as an artist and an antiquary were first exercifed. But it being our intention to avoid going over the fame ground again, which we have formerly examined with Sonnini, we hall only remark, that Denon affigns fatisfactory reafons for concluding that this monument is not antique; and that it may have been erected either in the time of the Greek Emperors, or of the Caliphs. Of the erect obelisk called Cleopatra's needle, and another thrown down at its fide, he maintains a different opinion, viz. that they formerly decorated one of the entrances of the palace of the Ptolomies (Kings of Egypt), the ruins of which are till to be feen at fome diftance from thence. An infpection into the prefent state of thefe obelisks, and the fiffures which exifted at the time even when they were fixed on this fpot, prove that they were merely fragments at that period," and that they had been brought from Memphis, or from Upper Egypt;" confequently they are antiques; and as fuch, he was very defirous to have them conveyed to France, afferting that it might have been done without difficulty.

In the following curious obfervations on the prefent ftate of Alexandria, we recognise the difcriminating talents of an able artist and a learned investigator, unbiaffed by an over weening fondnefs for every object that wears the appearance of antiquity, yet anxious to give a fatisfactory account of fuch remains of the grand and fkilful workmanship of the ancients as are undoubtedly original, and not fophifticated by a mixture of modern fabrication. "Subterraneous refearches made on this ipot (near Pompey's pillar) might afcertain the site of the city in the time of the Ptolomies, when its commerce and splendour changed its original plan, and rendered it immenfe. That of the Caliphs, which till exifts, was but a diminution of the ancient city, notwithftanding it comprehends within itself, at this time, plains and deferts. This circumvallation being built of ruins, the edifices bring unceasingly to remembrance destruction and ravage. The jambs and lintels of the doors of the dwelling houfes and fortreffes confit entirely of columns of granite,

Nn 2

which

which the workmen have not taken the pains to shape to the ufe to which they have applied them. They appear to have been left there merely with a view to atteft the grandeur and magnificence of the buildings of which they are the ruins. In other places, a great number of columns have been applied to the conftruction of the walls, to fupport and level them; and these columns having refifted the ravages of time, now refemble batteries. In short, thefe Arabian and Turkish buildings, the productions of the neceflities of war, difplay a confufion of epochs, and of various indufiries, more ftriking and more approximated examples of which are no where else to be found. The Turks more especially, adding abfurdity to profanation, have not only blended with the granite bricks and calcareous ftones, but even logs of wood and planks, and from thefe different elements, which have fo little analogy to each other, and are fo ftrang ly united, have prefented a montrous affemblage of the fplendour of human industry and its degradation."

This nice difquifition may ferve as a complete juftification of every future attempt to difunite, remove, and preferve in other countries, thofe precious remains of antiquity which a rude and unlettered race of mortals know not how to convert to the nobleft purpofes, the elucidation of ancient history, and the embellishment of modern edifices. Let it not, however, be imagined, that we mean to justify the acquirement of these valuable curiofities by invafion and plunder; opportunities may hereafter occur to obtain many of them by purchase and other peaceable means.

In the journal of the fecond day's march of the French army, a moft affecting anecdote, exhibiting the domestic flavery of the eaftern nations and the atrocious effects of jealoufy; and another of the favage cruelty of the Arabs to their French prifoners; will make the reader hudder, and, in the moment, with for the total extermination of fuch inhuman mon

fters.

This march to the interior of the country was not interrupted by the Mamelukes, the most formidable enemies the French had to encounter, for having obferved that the French army was entirely compofed of infantry, a defcription of foldiery for whom thofe

barbarians have a fovereign contempt, they made themselves certain of an eafy victory, and forbore to hara's their march, which was rendered fufficiently painful by its length, by the heat of the climate, and by the fufferings of hunger and thirft; to which were added, the torments of a hope conftantly cheated, and conftantly renewed. In reality, fays our Author, "it was in the midit of heaps of corn that our foldiers wanted bread, while they were a prey to thirft with the image of a vast lake before their eyes. This punishment of a new decription requires explanation, as it refults from an illufion peculiar to this country. It is produced by the reflection of falient objects on the ob lique rays of the fun, refracted by the heat of the burning foil; and this phenomenon has fo truly the appearance of water, that the obferver is deceived by it over and over again. It provokes a thirst, which is the more importunate, as the inftant when it prefents itself to the view is the hottest time of the day."

We are informed, that no idea of it could be conveyed by a drawing, as it would be only the reprefentation of a refemblance, but that a philofophical defcription and analysis of this extraordinary optical deception will be found in the memoirs of the Institute of Cairo, as delivered in a report to that fociety by Citizen Monge, and published at Paris by the elder Didot. Pistachio-nuts were the firft relief which the foil of Egypt afforded to the troops, and of this fruit they never ceafed to retain a grateful remembrance. On reaching the Nile, they plunged into that river without waiting to undress themselves, to allay their thirst by the abforbent veffels.

On the 19th of July 1799, the army encamped at Amm-el Dinar, from whence it fet out on the following morning, before day-break; and, after a march of twelve hours, it reached the vicinity of Embakey, where the Mamelukes had collected their force, having an entrenched camp, furrounded by a clumfy moat, and defended by twenty eight pieces of artillery. As foon as the enemy was difcovered, the army formed; and when Bonaparte had given his final orders, he faid to the foldiers, pointing to the Pyramids, "Puth on, and recollect, that from the fummit of those monuments forty

centuries

centuries watch us." Enthufiafm in war has a fimilar effect to enthufiafm in religion; it operates with amazing force on the lower orders of fociety; and a more forcible incitement to extraordinary valour could not well be conceived, or comprised in more energetic and concife terms. On recollecting the pathetic harangues of this fortunate General upon other occafions, we cannot but confider him as much indebted for his fuccefs to the revival of this ancient military cuftom. The total defeat of the Mamelukes, commanded by the famous Murad-Bey, who had threatened to cut up the French like gourds, enfued.

A digreffion takes place, in this part of the volume, in which Denon gives an account of his accompanying General Menou (who had remained behind the main army, at Alexandria, on account of his wounds) in an excursion into the Delta; and having embarked on board an advice-boat in the new harbour of Alexandria, he has an opportunity to make a drawing of the fortrefs (engraved Plate V. fig. 1.) conftructed on the Island of Pharos, on the fite of that celebrated monument, equally useful and magnificent of that wonder of the world, which, after having taken the name of the ifland on which it was placed, has tranfmitted that appellation to all the monuments (light-houses) of the fame defcription.

Menou's divifion having fubdued a party of Arabs, who had oppofed their march, and fet fire to one quarter of the village of Salmee, which they likewife delivered up to plunder, the neigh bouring diftrists fubmitted quietly, and the General having established an ordinary poft in the other parts of the village, this expedition was concluded by making a circuit through the country.

And here it may afford fome relief to the melancholy reflexions on the horrors of war, which may have agi. tated the minds of our readers, to introduce our Author's account of an Arabic entertainment given to the French Officers at this ftation.

"A houfe of public entertainment, which had almoft invariably belonged to the Mameluke, heretofore, the Lord and Master of the village, was furnished in a moment, according to the fashion of the country, with mats, carpets, and cushions. A number of attend.

ants, in the firft place, brought_in perfumed water, pipes, and coffee. Half an hour afterwards, a carpet was fpread, and on the outer part three or four different kinds of bread and cakes were laid in heaps, the centre being covered with fmall dishes of fruits, fweetmeats, creams, &c. the greater part of them pretty good, and very highly perfumed. This was confidered but as a flight repait, which was over in a few minutes. In the courfe, however, of two hours, the fame carpet was covered afresh, with large loaves, immenfe dithes of rice, either boiled in milk, or in a rich gravy foup; halves of fheep badly roasted; large quarters of veal; boiled heads of different animals and fifty or fixty other dishes all crowded together, confitting of highly feafoned ragouts, vegetables, jellies, fweetmeats, and honey in the comb. There were neither chairs, plates, fpoons, forks, drinking-glattes, nor napkins: each of the guests fquatted on the ground, took up the rice in his fingers, tore the meat in pieces with his nails, dipped the bread in the ragouts, and wiped his hands and lips with a flice of bread. The water was ferved in a pot; and he who did the honours. of the table took the first draught. In the fame way, he was the first to taste the different dishes, as well to prevent his guetts from harbouring any fufpicions of him, as to show them how strong an interest he took in their fafety, and how high a value he fet on their perfons. The napkins were not brought until after dinner, when each of the guests wathed his hands. He was then fprinkled over with rofe water, and the pipes and coffee were again produced."

The glorious victory obtained by Lord Nelfon in the engagement with the French fleet in the Bay of Aboukir, which totally fubverted the grand object Bonaparte had in view, of establishing a French colony in Egypt, and a communication with India, is described in a partial manner, as might be expected from a French writer; but his most affecting relation of his vifit to the fea-fide at midnight, after the action which had tarnished the luftre of their arms, and had restored the empire of the Mediterranean to the English, atones for every defect in his account of the bloody conflict; and demon. ftrates, at once, the goodness of his heart, and his fingular talent for pa

thenc

thetic delineation of fcenes of human mifery. Few readers, we believe, will perufe it without a tribute of tears to the manes of the wretched victims of the day. It begins thus-" The fhore, to the extent of four leagues, was covered by wrecks, which enabled us to form an estimate of the lofs we had fuftained at the battle of Aboukir."See the remainder from page 180 to 183 of this interesting volume.

We have now reached Chapter VI. which contains an account of the anni. verfary feast of the Arabs on the birth of Mahomet, the ftratagem of the Mufti to avoid it, and General Menou's pofitive orders that it fhould be folemnized as ufual-of the mufic of the Egyptians-various races of the people in Rofetta of the Copts, Arabs, Turks, Greeks, Jews, and Abyffinians -Adgis, or Pilgrims from Mecca and Egyptian women. The portraits of two of them are engraved, Plate XXXV. figures 1 and 2. An anecdote of the first exhibits a specimen of their libidinous manners: "She was a native of Rojetta, and married to a Frank. She fpoke Italian, was handfome, of engaging addrefs, and fond of her husband. He was not, however, fo amiable, but that he could beltow a part of her affection elsewhere; and the jealoufy which enfued on his fide was the occafion of perpetual ftrife. She was all fubmiffion, and never failed to renounce the object of his fufpicions. On the following day, how ever, there was a fresh complaint the Lady again wept and repented: yet, the husband was never without fome motive for fcolding her. The houfe in which this couple lived was oppofite to mine; and as the street was narrow, I became very naturally her confident, and the witnefs of her chagrins. The plague broke out in the city; and my neighbour was fo very communicative, that the could not fail either to give or take it. Accordingly, The caught it of her last lover; beftowed it very faithfully on her hufband; and they all three died. '

The Author's further progrefs to the centre of the Delta-his defcription of the number and populoufnefs of the villages--of the Almés, or Female Dancers, at Metubis-of Defuk, a large village, which has a moque reforted to twice a year by all the nations of the Eaft, in which two hundred thousand fouls pay their devotions-a fkilmish

with the Arabs at Scha-abas-Amers, and the return of the party to Rofetta, are the fubjects of Chapter VII.

From Rofetta, a fresh voyage up the Nile to Cairo enables our Author to defcribe the Pyramids-the general face of the country-the manners of the inhabitants of Cairo-the kindness of the middle orders of the people, and other circumstances, concurring, for the most part, with Sonnini's relation of the fame fubjects; but diftinguished by three elegant views of the Pyramids, and a beautiful diftant view of Cairo, in one plate, illuftrating the narrative of incidents in this divifion of the Journal, Chapter VIII,

In the next Chapter, we have a curious account of the Mummies of the Ibis, the facred bird of the Egyptians, above five hundred of them being found in a fepulchral cave, in the vaults of Saccara, in feparate boxes, two of which were given to Denon, who, in company with Citizen Geoffroi, fet down to open them: the refult affords a learned differtation on these birds. See Chapter IX. p. 298. To this Chapter likewife belong a curious defcription of the juggling tricks of the Pfylli, a fect of Egyptian Priests, who pretend to an abfolute command over the ferpents in that country.Of the tents, fuperftitious ceremonies, &c. of the Bedouin Arabs -the march of General Defaix's army to Upper Egypt in purfuit of Murad Bey-the defperate battle of Sedinan, and fight of the Mamelukes-alfo, Views of Old Cairo-of the Port of Boulac-of the great Canal leading to Cairo-and of the tombs of the Caliphs at Cairo.

The volume clofes with General Defaix's return from Upper Egypt to Cairo for reinforcements --an account of the Convents near Bonefuef- of the Canal Jufef and other works. The employment of Denon, and the troops left to efcort him, during the absence of Defaix, was to reconnoitre the country, to make a progrefs through it, and to levy contributions for the fupport of the army. In the course of this rout, he visited the lake Moris, examines the fertility of the province of Faium-the Pyramid of Bilahun, and other antiquities; and when Defaix rejoins him with a corps of twelve hundred cavalry, two hundred infantry, and a train of artillery, our Author indulges the hope of arriving the first at Syene, of realizing all his projects,

and