The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1828-12-24
MONUMENTS OF EGYPT.

Extract Of letter from Alexandria, dated
.4ug. %, 1S28-pubIished IN a French
paper.
voyage, anu our gIass1o i1auy ~ o"i
us PomPey's pillar, the full extent of the
old harbor of Alexandra, even the town, of
which the view became every minute more
imposing, and an immense forest of masts,
! through which were seen the white houses
of Alexandria. At the entrance of the
channel, cannon shot from our corvette
| brought on board an Arab pilot, who ma
neuvred US through the breakers, and
placed us in safety in the middle harbor.
| We found ourselves. when there, surround
ed by French, English, Egyptian, Turkish,
and Algerine vessels, and the back ground
picture, a real mixture of nations, was filled
up by the hulls of the Oriental vessels,
which had escaped from the destruction of
Navarn. Every thing was at peace around
us-a sufficient proof, as ! think, of the
powerful influence which the Viceroy of
Egypt exercises over the minds of the
Egyptians
At o'clock in the evening, landed
with our captain and the companions Of our
voyage. Scarcely had we landed, before
we were surrounded by several drivers of
asses, which are the facres of the country
and, mounted on these noble coursers, we
entered Alexandria.
Every description of this city which
have yet read fails to give a correct idea Of
it: it was to US like an apparition of the
antipodes, or of an entirely new world.
Passages lined with stalls, crowded with
men of every color, sleepy dogs, and har-
messed camels hoarse cries set up on all
sides, mingled with the shrill cries of women
! and children half naked; sufocating dust
| and in the midst of it men of rank in mag
nifcent dresses, managing skilfully boauti-
r full horses in rich trappings-these together
will give you an idea of what is called /;
street in Alexandria.
| have visited all the monuments in the
neighborhoo6. Pompey's pillar has moth
ing very extraordinary about it. have
however, discovered that there is still some
, thing to be CLEANED respecting it. 1t rest
= upon a solid mass of masonry, constructed
out of some ancient ruins. have visitet
> still oftener the obelisks of Cleopatra. o
these two obeiisks, that which is standin.
1; has been given to the king by the Pacha O
>. Egypt, and hope that the necessary meas
ures will be taken to transport it to Paris
b The obelisk, which is on the ground, he
d longs to the English. have caused tn
hieroglyphical inscriptions, which are o.
them, to he copied and sketched under m
). own eyes. These two obelsks, with char
5. acters in three columns on the face of eac
d of them, were originally erected by KIM
i Meris, in front of the great Temple of tn
/, Sun, at Heliopolis. The lateral inscrip
If tons were placed there by Sesostris; an
| have discovered two other short ones O
y the face, which were placed there by tn
) successor of Sesostris. Thus three epoch
are marked out upon these monuments
= The ancient dcz, in rose colored granite, o
which each of them has been placed, st
: exists; but have ascertained, by causin
my Arabs to dig around them under tn
!. direction of our architect, M. Bibent, tina
" this dez rests on base of three PAGES
e which is of Greek or Roman workmanship
On the Oath of August. at eight o'cloc
in the morning, we had an audience of tn
: Viceroy. His Highness possesses severe
S beautiful palaces, constructed with niue
: care, after the fashion of those in Constan
tinople, These buildings, which have