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 hierogly-
phics.—Father Kircher.—Zoega.—Warburton's hint.—Quatremere'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 remem-
ber, 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 ? Who can visit Alexandria, Cairo, the Pyramids,
Heliopolis, Thebes, without being moved by reminiscences,
2
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 hierogly-
phics.—Father Kircher.—Zoega.—Warburton's hint.—Quatremere'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 remem-
ber, 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 ? Who can visit Alexandria, Cairo, the Pyramids,
Heliopolis, Thebes, without being moved by reminiscences,
2