The Monuments of Egypt: or Egypt a witness for the Bible ... Second Edition, revised and enlarged

Front matter

NEW YORK, GEO. P. PUTNAM. 1&49. 7 Bill IH@M[iaSKrT3 Ot? ES WIT- TH B MONUMENTS OF EGYPT; OR, EGYPT A WITNESS FOR THE BIBLE. BY FRANCIS L. HAWKS, D. D., LL. D. 3»tiji flliatafaB. SECOND EDITION, REVISED AND ENLARGED. NEW-YORK : GEO. P. PUTNAM, 155 BROADWAY. LONDON: JOHN MURRAY. M.DCCCL. Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1849, by G. P. Putnam, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the Southern District of New-York. John F. Trow, Printer and Stereolyper, 49 Ann-street, New-York. TO THE RIGHT REV. BISHOP BROWNELL, OF CONNECTICUT, THIS BOOK % Erajttrffellij SrarrM, IN GRATEFUL RECOGNITION OF THE UNWAVERING FRIENDSHIP OF MANY YEARS.

Preface

TO THE SECOND EDITION. The kind reception given to this work having created a demand for a second edition, the compiler has endeavored to add to the interest of the book by the insertion of a new chap ter descriptive of localities on the Nile, derived from the latest and most authentic sources. To make room for the insertion of this new matter, the journal appended to the former edition has, in this, been omitted. New-York, March I, 1850. CONTENTS. EGYPT AND ITS MONUMENTS.

Chapter I

Interest excited by Egypt. — Object of the present work. — Art of writing very ancient in Egypt. — Egyptian author, Manetho. — Greek writers, Herodotus, Diodorus. — Work of Horapollo. — Modern efforts at deciphering the hieroglyphics. — Father Kircher. — Zoega. — Warburton's hint. — QuatremSre's discovery. — Work of the French savans. — Discovery of the Rosetta stone, . . 17

Chapter II

Rosetta stone. — Specimens of the inscription. — Dr. Young's discoveries. — De Sacy. — Akerblad. — Champollion le Jeune. — Discovery of homophones. — Sir Gardner Wilkinson's tribute to Champollion. — Exposure of the ignorance of the French savans, by Champollion, 32

Chapter III

Examples of Egyptian writing. — Hieroglyphic. — Hieratic. — Demotic, . 50

Chapter IV

Climate of the Valley of the Nile. — Extreme dryness. — General appearance of Egyptian ruins. — Temples, tombs. — Arts of design in ancient Egypt. CONTENTS.

CHAPTER V. Localities of the Nile, 81

CHAPTER VL

Remarks on testimony. — Application of them to the evidence afforded by the monuments. — Facts related in Abraham's history, tested by Egyptian remains, ............ 128

CHAPTER VIL

Joseph, 167 CHAPTER VHL The bondage, 216

CHAPTER IX.

The deliverance, 233

CHAPTER X

The wanderings, 264

CHAPTER XI.

Direct monumental confirmation of Scriptural history, .... ILLUSTRATIONS. 1. Temple of Kamac, ..... Frontispiece. 2. Gerf Hossien, ....... Title-page. 3. Map of the Valley of the Nile, .... To face p. 68 4. Aboo-Simbul, . . . . . " 71 5. Interior of a Tomb, ..... "75 6. Sphinx and Pyramids, ....." 94 7. Koom-Ombos, ...;.. "122 8. Egyptian Chair, . . . . . " 197 9. Temple of Edfou, ...... "80 10. Ruins of Luxor, ......" 116 11. Temple of Medinet-Habou, .... "113 12. Statues of Memnon, ......" 115 WOODCUTS INSERTED IN THE TEXT. PASS. 13. Tablet of Abydus, .......... 25 14. Hieroglyphics from the Rosetta Stone, ....... 35 15. Record of a Marriage, ........ 52 16—22. Hieroglyphic Writing, 56—65 23. Appearance of the Nile during an inundation, ...... 70 REPRESENTATIONS FROM MONUMENTS AND T0MB3. 24.

Negro Captives, ........... 74 25. SSrvant and her Mistress, ......... 147 26. A party of Egyptian Ladies, ......... 143 27. Scribe taking accouQt of Black Slaves, ....... 149 28. White Slaves, 149 29. Steward overlooking the Tillage, etc., ....... 171 30. Egyptian mode of bearing on the head, ....... 174 31. Signet-rings and Bracelets, ....... 181 32. Investing with the Necklace, ........ 184 33, Necklaces and Ornaments, ....... 185 34. Egyptian Granary, .......... 190 35. Storing Corn, .......... 191 36. Egyptians at Meat, .......... 196 37. Guests at an Egyptian Entertainment, ....... 198 38. Casts from Egyptian Sculptures, ........ 199 39. Sculptures supposed by some to represent Joseph and his Brethren, . . . 200 40. Egyptian Funeral Procession, ......... 213 41. The Bastinado, .......*.. 219 42.

Brickmaking, ........... 223 43. Sentence affixed to a House, ......... 229 44. Doorway with Name upon it, ........ 229 45. Working of Metals, 268 46. Figure sculptured at Karnac— supposed to represent a King of Judah, . . .289 EGYPT AND ITS MONUMENTS.

Introduction

. The compiler of the following pages was prompted to the work partly by his own reflections, and partly by the request of a friend, who thought that such a labor might be useful to the cause of truth. It is not a scientific work, nor was it penned for the learned. They probably will have already acquired, in their studies, all the information they can gather from its pages. On such a subject as this book presents, to have attempted originality, would unavoidably have been to commit error ; for its simple object was to collect into a plain and com prehensible compend, the results of the research of many different inquirers in the field of Egyptian archæology. The writer, therefore, begs leave distinctly to disavow all claim to the merits of authorship. He aspires here to no more than the humble office of a compiler.

He will be abundantly satisfied, if he shall be found to have so used the materials, furnished by others more learned than himself, as to have made an intelligible, true, and readable book. He would not be guilty of the injustice of robbing those to whose labors he has been so largely indebted. He has

INTRODUCTION.

. used them without hesitation or reserve, wherever they could, in his view, advance the cause of truth ; because, first, he believed of many of them that, as lovers of truth, they would not withhold such use ; and next, because he meant distinctly to declare to the world, as he has done, that he claims to be no more than a compiler. He has often referred in the follow ing pages to the writer from whom he obtained information, and has quoted his words ; but as in some instances this is not done, he begs leave to make a general acknowledg ment, and enumerate the principal authors to whom he is indebted. These are Champollion le Jeune, Champollion Figeac, Rosellini, Young, Spineto, Lepsius, Wilkinson, Birch, Osborn, Bunsen, Kitto, Hengstenberg, and the " Description " of the French savans. Had there been precisely such a work as is here attempted, accessible to English readers, the writer would, with becoming modesty, have withheld his efforts.

The only one of a similar kind, is the truly learned work of Hengstenberg, " Egypt and the Books of Moses ;" very well translated into English from the German, in 1843, by Mr. Robbins, then of the Andover Seminary, and published in the same year. But this work, valuable as it confessedly is, (and none has been more useful to the compiler,) is almost too learned for general readers : its arrangement also seemed susceptible of improvement ; but above all, there was additional testimony resting in the writings of others, which it was desirable to incorporate with the valuable contributions of Hengstenberg. Hence the pre sent attempt. It had been easy to make the work more full. Many more illustrations and confirmations might have been pro duced, and a chapter might have been written on the fulfil-

INTRODUCTION.

. ment of prophecies concerning Egypt : but to have done this, would have been, in some measure to defeat the object of the work, which was, to select the plainest and most intelligible proofs, and to present them with reasonable brevity ; in the hope that without wearisomeness they might engage the attention of the general reader, who could not be expected to find much interest in evidence that could be made plain by learned discussion only. To Mr. Gliddon undeniably belongs the merit of having first awakened general attention in the United States, to the very interesting subject of Egyptian antiquities. It is to be hoped that his labors in this cause will attract the attention and invite the research of such of our young countrymen as may have the means and opportunity of travel, and that our own country may thus be enabled to yield her contribution to the general stock of Egyptian archæology. New-York, September, 1849.

Chapter I

Interest excited by Egypt. — Object of the present work. — Art of writing very ancient in Egypt. — Egyptian author Manetho. — Greek writers, Herodotus, Diodorus. — Work of Horapollo. — Modern efforts at deciphering the hieroglyphics. — Father Kircher. — Zoega. — Warburton's hint. — Quatremfire's discovery. — Work of the French savans. — Discovery of the Rosetta stone. "Egypt. — This country offers subjects of conversation and meditation which no traveller can entirely neglect, who ever he may be, if he have eyes to see, a memory to remember, and a sprinkling of imagination wherewith to dream. Who can be indifferent to the tableau of unaccountable Nature on the banks of the Nile : at the spectacle of this river-land, that no other land resembles 1 Who will not be moved in the presence of this people, which of old accom plished such mighty deeds, and now are reduced to misery so extreme 1 Who can visit Alexandria, Cairo, the Pyramids, Heliopolis, Thebes, without being moved by reminiscences,, the most imposing and the most diverse ?

The Bible, Homer, Philosophy, the Sciences, Greece, Rome, Christianity, the Monks, Islamism, the Crusades, the French Revolution: almost every thing great in this world's history seems to con verge into the pathway of him who traverses this memorable country ! Abraham, Sesostris, Moses, Helen, Agesilaus, Alex ander, Pompey, Cæsar, Cleopatra, Aristarchus, Plotinus, Paco mus, Origen, Athanasius, Saladin, St. Louis, Napoleon ! what names ! what contrasts ! ****** A country made to occupy eternally the world, Egypt appears at the very origin of the traditions of Judea and of Greece. Moses issues from her ; Plato, Pythagoras, Lycurgus, Solon, Herodotus, Strabo and Tacitus enter into her bosom to be initiated in her sciences, religion and laws." Thus breaks forth the enthusiasm of an eloquent French writer, as he kindles in the contemplation of a favorite theme.

Without participating in the excitement of his feelings, it must still be confessed, that there is an absorbing interest in the land which he thus glowingly depicts. The attention that it has excited within the last half century has developed so much, which neither the Christian nor the scholar is willing to neglect ; that patient labor still employs itself in research, undeterred by unusual difficulties, and undisgusted by the ex aggerations of the too credulous archæologist. Persevering industry will overcome the one, and a sound judgment affords a corrective to the other. Nor must it be supposed that the exaggeration is all on one side. If there be those who have prematurely sounded the note of triumph in their supposed discovery of monumental testimony that disproves the truth of the sacred records ; it must not be forgotten, that, on the other hand, there are some who have found, as they imagine, ANTIQUITY OF WRITING. 19 in certain particulars, evidence for the Bible, of the conclusive ness of w nich, even the sober-minded Christian will entertain a doubt.

He who is best acquainted with the present state of Egyptian discoveries, cannot but feel, that our knowledge is yet much too imperfect on some points, to justify over-confident assertion or critical dogmatism. From the tomb of past ages, much that is very valuable has undoubtedly been disinterred : that much yet remains to be unburied, is proved by the con stant accumulation of facts, daily added to our already exist ing knowledge of Egyptian antiquities. It is, perhaps, not saying too much to assert, that, with our present materials, any attempt at generalization on all the points brought to our notice by a study of Egyptian archæology, is premature, and as to some points, must terminate in erroneous conclusions. The object of the present volume, therefore, is neither to afford a connected history of Egypt, nor to furnish the reader with a satisfactory explanation of every inscription or representation on the walls of its venerable ruins.

Its less ambitious, and it is hoped not less useful aim, is to bring forward, in an intelligible form, certain facts that appear to be well attested, and thus to afford to the reader the means of judging for him self how far they furnish illustration of, or give direct confirma tion to, the truth of events recorded in the Scriptures. A necessary preliminary to the performance of this under taking, is a recital of the sources of information we possess in matters relating to Egypt; and particularly an account of the discoveries made in hieroglyphical interpretation within the last half century. With that, therefore, we commence. Of the very great antiquity of writing among the Egyp tians, and of their consequent early possession of books, little doubt seems now to be entertained among the learned.

The inkstand and the stylus are found on monuments which carry us back to a period anterior, as is supposed, to the time of which we have any recorded history. But on this subject we are not left to a mere inference from monumental remains. The earliest writings of the Egyptians, are believed to have been contained in their sacred books. For our knowledge of these writings we are indebted chiefly, and indeed almost entirely, to Clemens of Alexandria. He is entitled to belief, as having been a resident in Egypt, if not a native, eminently learned, and of unimpeachable Christian character. His life terminated between the years of our Lord 200 and 220 ; and he states that in his time the Egyptians had forty-two sacred books. These books were divided into several classes ; one, for instance, was on medicine ; another on astronomy ; a third was on the hieroglyphical art, and consequently taught the rudiments of Egyptian writing ; a fourth class was devoted t<- religious worship, while another comprised the sacerdotal ks, and bore the general name of Hieratic writings.

These last, as Clement states, treated of " the Laws, the Deities, and the entire education of the Priests." The only portion of these writings of which the moderns are as yet possessed, is in what Champollion called the " Ritual," and Lepsius named " The Book of the Dead." It was originally found in the tombs of the kings at Thebes, in the form of a hieroglyphical papyrus. Its pictorial ornaments showed that it treated of ceremonies in honor of the dead, and the transmigration of souls. Afterward, Champollion found a much more perfect copy in the museum of Turin : this has been published by Lepsius, with the remark that " this book furnishes the only example of a great Egyptian literary work, transmitted from the old Pharaonic times." It possesses one BOOK OF THE DEAD. 21 peculiarity that is significant of its great antiquity ; it is written in the pure monumental hieroglyphic character, while in all the other extant remains of Egyptian literature, the hieratic character is employed.

This difference is important in other aspects, to which we advert not here, as the object now is simply to illustrate the fact of the great antiquity of the art of writing in Egypt. The next question that naturally arises, is an inquiry whether any, and if any, what historical works have come down to our day from Egyptian authors? The answer to this must be, that although we have some fragments, of which to speak presently, yet that nothing deserving the name of an authentic and continuous history concerning ancient Egypt, has yet been found in her monuments or elsewhere ; while of some portions of that history, the only records worthy of con fidence, are contained in the Bible. For the preservation of these, the pride of a tyrannical Pharaoh little dreamed that U would be indebted to the oppressed victims of its persecuti ; The proud triumphs of Egyptian kings are lost in the past, or but indistinctly read in a mysterious language on the de caying walls of temples, tombs, and palaces ; while the heart less cruelties that preceded the exode of a race, outcasts in Egypt and trampled in the dust, are chronicled by the pro vidence of God, for all time, on imperishable pages : " The evil that men do lives after them."

Egypt has no certain history of her ancient greatness. That her " sacred books did not contain any history of the Egyptian nation," says the Chevalier Bunsen, " is no less certain than that the Old Testament does contain that of the Jews. The idea of a people did not exist — still less that of a people of God, the Creator of the heavens and the earth. History was born in that night, when Moses, with the law of God, moral and spiritual, in his heart, led the people of Israel out of Egypt." It has already been intimated that fragments of Egyptian writers have come down to our days. Of these, the only one worthy of note is Manetho. He lived in the time of Ptolemy Philadelphia, about 180 b. c. His work, originally in three volumes or books, was written, it is said, at the command of Ptolemy, and is now lost.

All that we have of it is to be found in quotations from it, in the writings of Josephus, Euse bius, and Syncellus. The last of these quotes from two abbreviators of Manetho, one of whom was Eratosthenes ; the work of the other is called " The Old Chronicle." Manetho (as Plutarch informs us) was a priest of Seben nytus; hence he is sometimes called the Sebennyte. He wrote in the Greek language, but professed to draw his materials from Egyptian sources. Manetho's history, like that of many other ancient nations, refers the origin of his people to gods and demigods, who reigned for hundreds of thousands of years. The first of these was the Sun or Phra, whence came the name Pharaoh, as a generic term applied to all the Egyptian monarchs. He then commences with the reign of men, and extends his list of sovereigns over an incredibly long period, if time were computed then as it is now.

But it is no part of the purpose of the present work to enter into the much disputed question of Egyptian chronology. The general reader will find in it little to interest him, and we are not presumptuous enough to suppose that our pages will furnish any attraction to the historical antiquarian. Beside, without MANETHO. 23 meaning to undervalue chronology, as a very important feature in the study of history, we may yet be permitted to say in the words of a modern writer on Egypt, that "the disclosures made by inscriptions on public buildings, of kings, wars, and conquests, may, when Verified as to age, and placed in their probable order by the aid of learning and criticism, reveal more as to the dynasties and individual sovereigns ; but on such information, even when free from doubt and most accu rate, little real value can be set ; while the Bible supplies, either by express statement or obvious implication, facts and principles which constitute genuine history, and go far to give the past all the value which it can possess for the men of these times."

It is proper to add that, while, among the learned gene rally, there seems to be no doubt that Manetho had a real existence, and wrote what has been preserved in quotations from his works ; yet there have not been wanting some who deem the writings under his name to be entirely fabulous. The learned Hengstenberg is of this class. In his work, entitled " Egypt and the Books of Moses," he devotes an entire article in his appendix to this subject ; and, with great ingenuity, throws more than the shadow of a suspicion on the authenticity and credibility of the supposed Egyptian historian. He considers the work to be spurious, and of later times than the reign of Ptolemy Philadelphus. In this conclusion we are not prepared entirely to acquiesce, though it is possible that an exaggerated importance may have been given by some, to the writings under the name of Manetho.

They derive, however, so much confirmation from the discovery of what is known as the " tablet of Abydus," that their entire rejection as authority seems scarcely consistent with sound criticism. The tablet of Abydus, which is now in the British Mu seum, is delineated on the opposite page. It is a series of royal rings inclosing the inaugural titles of the names of many of the ancient kings of Egypt, in the order of their succession. It was engraved on the wall of one of the vestibules of a temple, which has been excavated in the mountain to the north of the city of Abydus. It is not, however, to be concealed, that, while in some instances it confirms Manetho's lists, in others, it is directly at variance with them. Another source of information concerning Egypt is in the writings of Herodotus.

This oldest of the Greek histo rians was born about 484 b. c, and having from political causes become an exile from his native city, he travelled through Greece, Egypt, Asia, Scythia, Thrace, and Mace donia. His work is divided into nine books, which he named after the nine muses. The second of these, Euterpe, is devoted to Egypt, and contains an account not merely of what he saw, but also of such explanations as he received from the Egyptian priests, together with observations on the manners and customs of the country, and a long dissertation on the succession of its kings. He does not pretend, in this latter subject, to observe strict chronological order ; and his work is chiefly valuable when brought into juxtaposition with other authorities that can be relied on. Diodorus Siculus is another writer, of less value, however, than Herodotus.

He professes to treat of the affairs of Egypt. He visited the country about 58 b. c, though his work was written at a later period. He brought to his task (says Bunsen) "a mere acquaintance with books, without either sound judgment, critical spirit, or comprehensive views. He was more successful consequently in complicating and mysti- TABLET OF ABYDUS. fying, than in sifting and illustrating the traditions with which he had to deal." This, however, will probably be deemed by some, and those not altogether unlearned, a harsher judgment than Diodorus deserves. There is a school of " Egyptologists," as they somewhat affectedly style themselves, with whom it is fashionable to depreciate Diodorus ; though some among them can and do quote and rely on him when his testimony confirms their views. That Diodorus often betrays a want of sound judgment, and writes silly things, may be true ; so do Herodotus and others, at times ; but Diodorus often relates facts, the truth of which is established by other testimony as well as his.

The Christian student of Egyptian antiquities, however, is at no loss to find a cause for the studied depreciation of Diodorus. To these might be added other authorities of minor importance ; while of all it may be said that they shed little, if any, light upon the system of hieroglyphic writing, and certainly none upon its proper inter pretation. 5 JA §2 It was believed, long ago, that the singular devices and in scriptions to be found on the temples and tombs of Egypt, were historical documents ; and that, if correctly interpreted, they would probably furnish a more correct account of the early con dition of this ancient and long-civilized nation, than could be de rived from any other source. Many obelisks and other works of art may still be seen at Rome, which had been carried thither from Egypt by the emperors : these are covered with hieroglyphics, the meaning of which had provoked the curiosity, and stimulated the study, of men of letters, almost from the period of the revival of learning in Europe, in the fifteenth century.

The classic authors of Greece and Rome, however, who had written on the hieroglyphics, without understanding HORAPOLLO. 27 them, had created the impression that their correct interpreta tion had been so studiously concealed by the priests, and was, withal, so imperfectly understood even by them, that it had been irrecoverably lost before the days of the latter emperors. Notwithstanding this discouraging view, however, some among the moderns ventured to hope that persevering indus try, added to critical skill, might solve the mystery, and read this strange " handwriting on the wall." There was known to be in existence a work, purporting to have been written by Horapollo, and professing to give a meaning to some, at least, of the sculptured figures common in Egypt. Horapollo was an Egyptian scribe ; but he did not live until the beginning of the fifth century of our era ; and conse quently all that he could do was to gather the traditionary and fast fading interpretation of such symbols as were then under stood by his countrymen.

But even the original of his work, imperfect as it must necessarily have been, was lost ; and all that remains of it is a Greek translation made by Philip, who is supposed to have lived a century or two later than Horapollo, and at a time when every vestige of certain knowledge, in the work of interpretation, must have been lost. Philip undoubtedly introduced new matter of his own invention, but with all its imperfections, the book was not without value in the earlier modern efforts at interpretation ; and is at least curious, as being " the only ancient volume entirely devoted to the task of unra velling the mystery in which Egyptian learning has been involved ; and as one, which, in many instances, unquestionably contains the correct interpretation."* One of the earliest of the moderns, in the field as an interpreter, was the learned * A very beautiful edition of Horapollo, accompanied with an English translation, was published a few years since by Mr. Cory, of Pembroke College, Cam- Jesuit, Father Kircher.

In 1636 he published six bulky folios, in which he professed to explain and read most of the hiero glyphical inscriptions on the Egyptian monuments then in Europe. His interpretations were all wrapped in an unin telligible mysticism ; and at least proved that the imagination of the worthy father was as prolific as his learning was un questionable. If, however, he failed in interpretation, his labors were not useless. Osborn remarks that " Kircher emi nently assisted the researches that ultimately proved successful, by bringing together in his book a voluminous collection of passages from the Greek and Latin authors respecting Egypt. And still more, by calling the attention of the learned to the. Coptic tongue, in which a vast number of MSS. were collected in the Vatican and other libraries, both public and private, in Italy."

Kircher had many able successors, than whom, per haps, none deserves more honorable mention than the learned Dane, George Zoega. He published hi 1797 his work on the origin and use of the obelisks, and very many of his sugges tions were undoubtedly of great use to those who came after him. An incidental hint was thrown out, also, by the acute mind of Warburton, which, though viewed by the learned of that day with incredulity, has subsequently been found to point to the truth. In his " Divine Legation " he was led, from an attentive perusal of what had been said by Clement of Alexandria, and Porphyry, to conclude that " hieroglyphics were a real written language, applicable to the purposes of his tory and common life, as well as those of religion and my thology ;" and further, that among the different sorts of hierobridge, to which we are indebted for the facts above stated concerning the author and his work.

SPINETO — QUATREMERE. 29 glyphics, the Egyptians possessed those which were used pho netically, that is, alphabetically as letters. Zoega had also conjectured that certain figures of animals, &c, represented sounds, and were possibly letters ; and from the Greek word, <Pav>i, (a voice or articulate sound,) he had applied to them the term phonetic. It is obvious, as has been remarked by the Marquis Spineto, that to verify this conjecture, three things were indispensable. If these characters were phonetic, the words they expressed could belong to the ancient spoken language of Egypt only ; it was therefore indispensable first, to ascertain what was that language, and whether we had any remains of it. Secondly, a considerable number of inscriptions or sac -similes of them was necessary for purposes of comparison.

Thirdly, it was indispensable to possess an authentic translation of some one of these ancient Egyptian inscriptions into a language known to modern scholars. Perhaps the difficulty, not to say appre hended impossibility, of finding the happy combination of these three prerequisites, may have led the learned of that day to pay less attention to the conjecture and hint of Zoega and Warburton, than they deserved ; and yet it so happened that Providence was gradually bringing together this indispensable combination of circumstances. As to the first, Quatremere produced his work " sur la langue et litterature de I'Egypte," and satisfactorily proved, to the surprise even of scholars, that the Coptic was the language of the old Egyptians. The Copts are, in fact, the only direct descendants in Egypt of the primitive race, and until within about a hundred years they still spoke the Coptic tongue, though imperfectly ; but the language has been preserved in writing, and has come down to our day.

The alphabet in which it is written is the Greek, with the addition of seven other characters, taken from what is known as the enchorial or demotic writing, which will be explained hereafter. As we now have it, it came into use in Egypt with the introduction of Christianity ; and is still used in the Coptic Christian liturgies. The means of comparison are not wanting in the study of the language, for to this day, the Christians have their liturgy, the pentateuch, and nearly the whole of the Scriptures in the Coptic, accompanied with Greek and Arabic translations. The first desideratum was thus brought within reach. As to the second, the memorable expedition of Napoleon to Egypt furnished that. He was ac companied by the ablest savans of France, and the " Descrip tion de I'Egypte," which the French government published on their return, placed before Europe such a collection as it had never before seen of sac-similes of inscriptions.