EHAF, XV.]

MAGIC—MAGNETISM.

99

with that of earth, intellectual power and art may have attained
a height from which—continuing to fall with man's degeneracy
—they can never rise again. In the busy and distracting life
consequent on the universal emigration from Babel, much of this
knowledge was undoubtedly lost; as, being oral, it was the first
to suffer from the confusion of tongues : but Astronomy still kept
her watch on the starlit plains of Chaldea ; Architecture wrought
her wonders at Carli, Ipsambul, and stupendous Thebes ; and
Magic cherished his dark mysteries in the caverns of Dakke,
Ekmin, and Domdaniel.

The Egyptian priests are said to have long retained somewhat
of the ancient superhuman knowledge ; which, being purely
traditional, was at any time liable to contract or expire under
the jealous guardianship of some high priest, who wished to be
the last of his power. In the mysteries of Isis some of the great
secrets were darkly shadowed forth; and enough has already
been discovered, in the hierophantic walls of her ancient tem-
ples, to prove the intimacy of their authors with subjects that
the wise men of our day are just beginning to obtain glimpses
of; amongst others that of Freemasonry,—now little more, with
us, than a convivial bond.

Magnetism also appears to have been well understood by the
Egyptian hierarchy ; not only from some of the effects we find
recorded, but, in one of the chambers, whose hieroglyphics are
devoted to medical subjects, we find a priest in the very act of
that Mesmerism which is pretended to have been discovered a
few years ago. The patient is seated in a chair, while the ope-
rator describes the Mesmeric passes, and an attendant waits be-
hind to support the head when it has bowed to the mysterious
Sleep.

But to return to Magic. Moses was well skilled in this, as in
all other "learning of the Egyptians;" but when, by miracles,
he came to prove his mission, Pharaoh sent to Dakke and Ekmim
for magicians to oppose him. Their power would seem to have
been real, though—like that of Elymas in later times—serving
only as a foil to the mightier works of the divine missionary.
When the Israelites came out of Egypt, they were so imbued