Nubia, or a part of ancient Ethiopia and on the west by Lybia, or the desert of Barca, which includes the ancient Marmorica and the kingdom of Cyrene. From the Mediterranean to Syene, or Assuan as it is now called, there is a distance of about 500 miles, and the breadth, upon an average, including the greater and less Oasis, may be estimated at 250. A considerable part of the country upon the north is low, level, and some of it marshy. That district which is bounded by the branches of the Nile is somewhat in shape like the fourth letter of the Greek alphabet, and is therefore denominated the Delta. This portion of Egypt, and the vale through which the Nile runs, in the upper part of the country, are verdant and fruitful; but excepting these and casual spots, where moisture is found, the rest of Egypt is full of barren mountains and burning sands.' pp. 4, 5.

The cause here assigned, both for the want of rain in Egypt, and for the overflowing of the Nile, though not new, may afford instruction to some of our readers.

'The tendency of the air to fill up the rarified space, between the tropics, not only produces the monsoons and trade-winds, but also assists us to offer a reason for the deficiency of rain in the districts of Egypt. Being mostly within the extent, and altogether within the influence of the northern monsoons, the clouds of that quarter are hurried toward the equator, from April to October, and being carried both rapidly and high, none of them descend on Egypt, nor let fall on its surface any part of their burthen; but leaving it unvisited and dry, they hasten to the mountains of Abyssinia, and there they deposit their watry stores. The heated and rarified air between the tropics necessarily ascends into the higher regions of the sky; and, yielding to the thicker atmosphere, by which it is displaced, it returns toward the northern mountains to be re-loaded with fresh vapours, and to proceed again, in a lower direction, toward the equator. pp. 19, 20.

In referring all nations of the world to one common source, the line of their migration may be traced back to the banks of the Euphrates or the Persian Irac. The ancient Persians and Indians, the Egyptians and Ethiopians, the Romans, the Greeks, and the Goths, appear to have descended from Ham a son of Noah. The original inhabitants of Greece were probably the children of Japhet, another of his sons, but the Greeks, properly so called, who emigrated from Syria, or Egypt, stiled the ancient people of Greece barbarians, and drove them out. It is suggested, from various hints and records, that Cush, a son of Ham, went into Ethiopia, Mizraim into Egypt, and Raamah, the grandson of Ham, into India. The Jews and the Arabs, the Assyrians and the second race of Persians, appear to have sprung from Shem, and the Tartars, with all their diversified nations, may be referred to Japheth, the third son of Noah.'PP. 30, 31.

Dr. W. stoutly contends that the original Egyptians were not

negroes.

* Mizraim is the name by which the Hebrew scriptures call the land of Egypt.

Of the famous Pyramids we have the following account.

The pyramids of Egypt are rather monuments of industry than skill and the immensity of their size has long attracted the curiosity of travellers. A pyramid is a solid figure, which is contained by three or more planes of a triangular form, having their bases in the same plane and one common vertex. The pyramids of Egypt have a quadrangular base, and some of their summits are not drawn completely to a point; although at a distance they have a sharp appearance. The contractions are not made in every case by a sloping shape of the stones, but are formed in the manner of steps, by having every successive row further in than the preceding; and notwithstanding what has been asserted, it does not seem that they were ever covered by blocks of granite or marble.

The height of the largest pyramid of Giza has been so differently represented that we are at a loss what conclusion to draw.

After comparing a diversity of accounts, the altitude of this pyramid may be fixed at somewhat less than 500 feet; the sides, which have sloping direction, may exceed 600, and the breadth of a side at the base, cannot be accounted less than 690. Of the pyramids, which are situated near Giza on the Lybian side of the Nile, and nearly opposite to Grand Cairo, there are three, which rear themselves in a majestic manner, and attract more especially the notice of travellers. They stand so high upon a rising rock, that they have never been reached by the waters of the Nile. The marble and granite, which have been found in their neighbourhood, are but fragments, and probably belonged to other buildings; for the stones of the pyramids are soft and free, and appear to have been found in the adjoining rocks.

The pyramids of Egypt depart but a little from that part of the geometrical definition, which describes them as solid bodies. The largest pyramid of Giza, the size of which we have attempted to describe, is the only one of those huge masses whose interior parts appear to have been examined. No exterior aperture seems to have been left; and the labour of opening them is difficult and tedious. The one which lies farthest to the north, and of which we have been more particularly treating, has several apartments, or chambers of a considerable size. In one end of these apartments, there is a trough or stone coffin, formed of a large and solid block of granite. The end for which it was intended, remains undiscovered; but every visitant has found it empty; and when struck, it emits a sound, which is repeatedly echoed through the cavities and openings of the whole pyramid. The passages which lead to those apartments are sometimes so small and straitened with sand, that the unexperienced visitant, though laid at full length, must occasionally be dragged forward by his conductor.' pp. 86-89.

To the memory of Egyptian superstition history has erected her lasting monuments. After an account of Osiris, Isis, Apis, and Typhon, our historian makes this comment.

'As in Greece and Rome various passions and affections had their altars, so in Egypt the power of superstition prevailed, and in grateful but misguided emotions of the heart, the fruits of the field were venerated. So inconsistent is it with the unbiassed exercise of reason to worship objects fading and lifeless, that we can scarcely credit historians

when

when they rank the leek, the onion, and other vegetable productions, among the objects of nature which the Egyptians revered. But the Lotus, which was highly esteemed in Egypt, is still held sacred in Bootan, a dependant province of Tibet. To these emotions of religious gratitude are we to ascribe the worship which in sultry regions is paid to fountains and rivers. pp. 108, 109.

While perusing this part of the work, we were led to ask, was this Divine unacquainted with the curious information collected in the Egyptiaca of the learned and pious Witsius?

To these places of burial (the isles) the dead bodies might be conveyed in a boat; and as we have found that those of unworthy characters were not granted funeral honours, so upon the union of those circumstances might be founded the fable of Charon ferrying the souls of the departed over the river Styx and Acheron, and not being permitted to receive into his boat the bodies of those who had not been honoured with funeral ceremonies. p. 125.

Passing over the renowned Sesostris, and the Shepherd Kings, we are conducted to the most important and well authenticated æra of Egyptian history, the Babylonian conquest under Nebuchadnezzar.

Her mer

For twelve years had Nebuchadnezzar carried on the siege of Tyre, which was the emporium of trade, and the queen of the seas. chants in point of splendour rivalled the princes of the earth; and her pride was on record among the nations. When Nebuchadnezzar was securing the destruction of the city, the inhabitants were building a retreat for themselves on the banks of an adjoining island. Thither they removed themselves and their effects; and when Tyre fell, it was a forsaken and an empty city. Having suffered so much during a long and painful siege, the king of Babylon cast his eyes upon Egypt, that with its riches and splendour he might reward the toils, and alleviate the disappointment of his war-worn soldiers. The distractions of that country presented an opportunity; and entering Egypt at Migdol, which was a fortress near Pelusium, he over-ran the country to Siene; thus scouring it from Palestine to the borders of Ethiopia. Satiated with plunder and destruction, he returned, and left Amasis a tributary king. pp. 178, 179. * Ezekiel, of the house of Aaron, was a captive in Babylon, along with Jehoiakim; and there, in a stile of true sublimity and awful grandeur, he foretold some great and interesting events. Among these was the downfal of Egypt; and this he announced in language of glowing ima gery and poetic fire: Thus, saith the Lord; behold I am against thee, Pharaoh king of Egypt, the great dragon_that lieth in the midst of his rivers; who hath said, my river is mine, and I have made it for myself. But I will put hooks in thy jaws, and cause the fish of thy rivers to stick to thy scales: and I will bring thee up out of the midst of thy rivers, and leave thee in the wilderness. Thus saith the Lord God, I will make the multitude of Egypt to cease by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon.' Son of man, speak unto Pharaoh king of Egypt,' and say, whom art thou like in thy greatness: behold the Assyrian was a cedar in Lebanon, the fir-trees were not like his boughs, nor was any tree in the garden of God tike unto him. But I delivered him into the hand of the mighty, and the terrible nations cut him off. Thus shalt thou also be brought down, even Pharaoh, and all his multitude, saith the Lord.'

Ip

In a further diversity of pointed allusions, he shews the impending ruin of Egypt, by the figure of darkness in the firmament of God. When I shall put thee out, I will cover the heaven, and make the stars thereof dark. I will veil the sun with a cloud, and the moon shall not give her light. To increase the horror, and shew tbe frightfulness of the scene, Pharaoh Hophra, or Apries, is led in vision to the mansions of the dead. There, in the caves and vaults of their respective sepulchres, he beholds Asher and Elam, Edom and the princes of the north, with their lords and attendants, laid in their silent abodes. The Egyptian king, with all his multitude, shall be laid with them who are slain by the sword. To sum up the whole there shall be no more a prince of the land of Egypt.' The arm of Pharaoh is broken; and it shall not be made whole, nor strengthened to hold the sword. How truly and how awfully these threatenings have been realised, the succeeding history of Egypt abundantly shews.' pp. 181-184.

We were surprised that the minister of Falkirk, who, on many occasions, discovers a laudable solicitude for the honour of Revelation, did not enter more into the remarkable prediction, that Egypt should not again have a prince of its own, but be under the dominion of strangers. What country was ever like it in subjection to foreigners?

The conquest of Egypt by Alexander, which introduced the dynasty of the Ptolemics; and their quarrels, which reduced Egypt under the falsely kind protection of Rome; are prominent objects in history. The first volume closes with an account of the famous, or infamous, Cleopatra.

To present her alive at Rome, and to adorn his triumph with the queen of Egypt, were anxiously desired by the Roman conqueror; and therefore to arrest the hand of death, he sent sudden messengers to the palace of Cleopatra. The guards were found in their usual situation, and there was no noise nor alarm in the apartments, but Cleopatra was lifeless on the bed of death. One of her women in waiting had also expired, and another was sinking in the slumbers of dissolution. Amazement and terror seized the messengers; rage and disappointment distracted Octavianus; and every method was fruitlessly tried to restore Cleopatra to life. It was certainly poison which freed her from the tyrant's power, but how she received it remains unknown. While some affirm that there was no unnatural appearance upon her body, others assert that a small puncture was visible upon her left arm; and her death has thus been attributed to the venom of a Lybian or Egyptian asp. At the time of her death, she was only in the 39th year of her age, and she had reigned twenty-two of those over Egypt.

To the beauty and gracefulness of her person, Cleopatra added the attractions of wit, affable manners, and high mental acquirements. Amid the pleasures and avocations of a court she ceased not to cultivate learning; and in addressing people of different languages, she astonished them with the correctness and fluency of her diction. Her understanding was enlightened, but her heart was corrupt. Ambition, vanity, and wantonness, were predominant passions in her soul; and by these she lost her power, her reputation, and finally her life. While there are

some

some minds resolutely bent upon evils, others are drawn into temptation by the unfavourable circumstances of their lot. Cleopatra was born in troublesome times, and drew her first breath in the contagion of a licentious court. While in tender years, she was raised to the seducing eminence of a throne, and surrounded by a crowd of flatterers, who neither durst reprove, nor desired to correct, the increasing follies of her conduct,' pp. 407-409.

(To be continued.)

Art. XIII. Memoirs of the Professional Life of the Right Honourable Horatio Lord Viscount Nelson, &c. &c. with his glorious Atchievements under the British Flag. A Sketch of his Parliamentary Conduct, with Biographical Particulars of Contemporary Naval Officers. By Joshua White, Esq. 12mo. pp. 335, price 6s. 6d. in boards. Cundee, London. 1805.

TO

NO country in Europe can boast of so bright a constellation of great and eminent characters, during the last two hundred years, as Britain has produced. It were well if we could add, that their histories had been fully and faithfully presented to the world: but this duty has been greatly neglected. Our writers of biography are too frequently and justly censurable, for having allowed their own partial views and particular prejudices to combine too closely with their immediate subject. A certain cast of character, and peculiarity of colouring, have deprived of resemblance to their originals the pictures which they would pass upon us for likenesses.

Of this defect, however, we acquit the author of the work before us, who, very properly, proposes to relate only the professional life of our departed Hero. To his public worth and singular merit, as the greatest naval character of any age or nation, we most cheerfully contribute our applause; and, deploring our country's loss in his untimely death, we drop a tear upon his bier. Great as are our hopes from those he has left behind, yet we fear that,

"Take him for all in all,

We shall not look upon his like again."

Lord Nelson's mind, as we learn from the work before us, even from the first dawn of reason, was marked with that superiority of intellect, that originality of conception, and that enthusiasm in the execution of every enterprize he undertook, which never forsook him. His heroic example in war; his coolness in danger; his ardent love for his country; his contempt or indifference for honours and distinctions, however richly deserved, and justly bestowed; his gentle and unassuming manners; his humanity in victory; his wisdom in peace; his affection, extending universally to every British seaman; all these and many other vir tues, which adorned and distinguished this truly great man, aré

F