ing city, built by Alexander the Great when he went to consult the oracle of Jupiter Ammon. The old city is entirely ruined, but the ancient walls, which are beautifully built of hewn stone, are most of them standing, with turrets at convenient distances. The new city is built on the strand to the North, without the walls; and though upon the whole it makes but a mean appearance, we find in it a great variety of pillars, mostly granite, and many fragments of columns of beautiful marble, all tokens of the grandeur and magnificence of the ancient city, from the ruins whereof they were taken. The cisterns, which were built under the houses of Alexandria to receive the waters of the Nile brought by a canal from the Canopic branch, are many of them entire, and still serve for the same purpose. The pillar, commonly called Pompey's pillar, is a fine piece of antiquity, which is still standing on a little eminence, about a quarter of a mile to the South of the old walls; but upon what occasion it was erected is uncertain. It is of red granite, about a hundred and fourteen feet high, with a Corinthian capital, the leaves whereof are not at all indented. The shaft, which is nine feet in diameter, and almost ninety in height, is of one entire stone, and the base and pedestal of another. It stands on a foundation consisting of several pieces of stone and marble, some of which have been dug away, which makes it surprising how such a vast weight is supported.

"

The island of Pharos, on which stood the famous watch-town or light-house of the same name, which was reckoned one of the wonders of the world, is

now joined to the continent; and probably the lighthouse was situated where the castle is at present, at the entrance of the New Port, some pillars being dis'cernible thereabouts at the bottom of the water, which perhaps are the remains of that superb structure. The present city of Alexandria has two ports, being situated exactly between them; one of which is called the New Port, and appropriated to the ships of Christendom; the other the Old Port, into which Turkish vessels only are admitted. The former is what Strabo calls the Great Port, and the latter the Port of Eunostus.

Amongst the curious remains of antiquity to be seen at Alexandria may be reckoned the catacombs, and also two obelisks, one of which is broken, part of it lying upon the ground. The patriarchal chair in the church of the Coptic convent is another thing usually shown to strangers, and the Greeks boast of their being possessed of the stone on which St. Catharine suffered martyrdom, with other curiosities of the same nature. But we had not half time enough to take a view of every thing in this city, and its neighbourhood, that is worth a traveller's observation, the ship which was to carry us to Europe setting sail a week sooner than we expected. With some reluctance therefore we embarked the 4th of February on board a ship bound for Marseilles, where we landed the 27th of the same month, and waited a week for a passage to England. This short time was spent very agreeably in the company of our good friend and fellow-traveller M. Du Marais, of whom we took our leave the 5th of March, and sailed for

London, where we arrived in good health on the the 12th of April 1785, sincerely thankful to that gracious Being who had preserved us through the course of our long travels, and restored us safe to our native country.

HISTORICAL REMARKS

RELATING TO

EGYPT.

TILL THE PERIOD OF THE EXPEDITION UNDER

SIR RALPH ABERCROMBIE.

IN the annals of almost every nation, there is a period involved in fables. In the early ages of the world, when writing was unknown, and when tradition was the only mode of transmitting events, transactions, by passing through the heated imaginations of var ious narrators, often assumed an aspect altogether different from that which really belonged to them. Ignorance always delights in what is marvellous: and it was no less easy, perhaps much easier, to tell a wonderful story, than one entirely consonant to the truth.

Almost every nation has attempted to obtain an imaginary honour from its antiquity. Where the origin was unknown, or but obscurely related, national prejudices extended it through many ages. He who fancied he had traced the history of his people,

scrupled not to give it to the world. Where all were ignorant, none could detect. Few, indeed, were willing to inquire; and, perhaps, still fewer were willing to detract from the credibility of that narration, which, by reflecting honour on their nation, imparted an imaginary honour to themselves. And, where the great body of a people say, This is our history, strangers may laugh, but cannot easily undeceive.

The history of Egypt, as well as of the greater part of nations which have subsisted during many ages, and undergone many revolutions, may be divided into three parts. First, that which is fabulous. Second, that which, though well authenticated, has no connection with their present state. And third, that which has gradually brought them to the condition, in which we at present find them. The first of these is the province of poets and mythologists; the second, of those who aspire at the reputation of learning; and the third, of such as wish to obtain an accurate notion of the present, political state of the world. It. is easy to see, therefore, that, however, entertaining, however interesting, the two former periods may be, they are but slightly connected with our present undertaking: and that the latter period, however trif ling, is attached to it by a very strong connection. It must be our endeavour to proportion our attention to these periods, according to their relative importance.

In the Egyptian history, the fabulous period includes all that preceded the reign of Psammiticus, who is generally placed, by chronologers, 670 years, before Christ. The second, or ancient historic per- . iod, extends from the reign of Psammiticus, to the