White, Joseph; White, Joseph [Hrsg.]: Aegyptiaca, or observations on certain antiquities of Egypt (Band 1): The history of Pompey's pillar elucidated (Oxford, 1801)

Xll

PREFACE.

“ and to reftore the ftreams to their former channel,
“ when more worthy and lawful potTeffors fhall arrive
“ to cultivate the country How little do the baniffi-
ment of the Hugonots and the burning of the Palati-
nate appear, when compared with this grand and com-
prehenflve project of famine and extirpation !

But the land of Egypt, we truft, will yet happily be
delivered out of their hands; and the Column, we
fondly hope, is referved for a nobler and better fate,
more fuited to its ancient dignity and original office ;
being neither ilolen by fraud to exalt a vain-glorious
Monarchk, who purfued no higher end in war than the
gratification of ambition or revenge; nor yet feized by
violence to exhibit a dead Form of Liberty1 in that city,
from whence her fpirit and life have long fince fled.
If doomed to leave the foil where it was firft erected,

' “ Quand les Franqois fous les aufpices de Votre Majefte, apres avoir con-
“ quis les Indes, traverferont les vaftes provinces de l’Affrique—et qu’ils
“ afluietiront a Voftre Empire les campagnes, ou commence le cours du
“ Nil, qui ne peuvent eftre que tres-fecondes et tres-eftendues—Voftre Ma-
“jefte fera cefler alors l’admiration des Pyramides par un ouvrage tout
“ autrement grand et important, qui fera, ft nos voeux font exauces et nos
“ efperances accomplies, le detournement du cours de ce fleuve, par le
“ moyen duquel elle ravira fes fecondes eaux a l’Egypte, iufques a ce que
“ les Infidelles, qui la pofledent auiourd’hui, l’ayent abandonnee ; pour les
“ lui rendre enfuite, quand elle fera en eftat d’eftre cultivee par de plus
“ dignes et plus legitimes poflefleurs.” Epijtre au Roy.

k Louis XIV. See Note, pag. x. 1 See Note c, pag. viii.