The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-04-06

nese physician, who, for several years was
attached to the military service in Greece ana
Egypt. While in Nubia, at great expense
and with incredible fatigue and danger, no
succeeded in excavating pyramid. ana
bringing away the contents Of sarcophagus
which he discovered within. According 10
the opinion Of the most esteemed archeoio-
gists whom he has consulted, this pyramid
was erected seven hundred years before the
Christian era, by King Tahraka. The coli
lection consists chiefly Of ornaments OF the
finest gold rings, bracelets, and necklaces,
upon which are wrought the various devices
and emblems Of Egyptian lore. Many OF
them are exceedingly curious, and different
from those previously known. But the most
singular circumstance attending this excava-
ton is, that among the articles disinterred is
a cameo, representing head Of Minerva,
executed in a style altogether beyond the
epoch in the history Of art from which the
other objects evidently date, In fact, there
are obvious indications that the stone is of
Grecian workmanship. The only satisiacto-
ny solution which has been given to this prob
lem is, that the pyramid, although commenced
during the reign Of Tahraka, was not COM
pleted until after an interval of three hundred
years. supposition which is confirmed by
the difference observable in the angle and
quality Of the stone. This valuable collec-
ton still remains upon the hands Of the
enterprising excavator, although it so richly
merits place in some public museum, for
which object it wsaald doubtless be purchased
las the poor physician regretfully declared
if it had been his lot to be native of Eng
land or France, instead Of impoverished Italy.
One of the most remarkable Of Catholic
festivals-called the Day Of the Dead-oc-
CURED on the loveliest day Of my brief So
journ in Bologna. Nature breathed any Ian
guage rather than that Of mortality and decay.
The road leading TO the celebrated Campo
Santo was thronged with people walking be-
meath the glad sky, in HOLIDAY attire; and
there would have been one universal SEM
blance of gaiety, but for the moaning tones
and wretched appearance of the beggars that
lined the way. The numerous arcades OF the
extensive burying-place resounded with the
hum and exclamation Of a careless crowd who
moved about like the multitude at a fsir. But
for the countless busts Of departed worthless,
the numberless inscriptions, and the echoes
Of the mass floating from one Of the open cha
that this concourse had assembled ostensibly
to remember and honor the dead. TO the
view of a stranger nothing could be more in
congruous or strange than the scene. The
expresses and cenotaphs assured him he was
in burial place while every moment he was
jostled by a hurrying group and his ears sa-
luted by peals of discordant laughter, the leer-
ing whisper Of the courtezan and the stern
reproof of the soldier. And yet in answer to
the inquiries which curiosity prompts, he is
told that this day is consecrated to the depart
ed, that this throng have assembled TO think
Of. and pray for them, and that these tapers
are placed by surviving friends around the
tombs of the loved and lost. There was
something jarring TO every nerve, something
that Knocked every hallowed association in
this rude contrast between the solemn en-
blems Of death, and the eager recklessness of
life. II suggested the idea Of memorable and
unmittigable destiny, rather than cnnsoling
Ialtn. 1t was redolent of bitterness and de-
spair. II was as if men would confront the
dark doom of mortality with hollow laughter
and railery. So, at least this scene Impress
ed our spectator, to whom it was new, yet
habit, or their peculiar creed, had apparently
associated it in the minds Of the multitude
with no such shocking suggestions. 1t was
affecting to notice here and there monument
unilluminated-p that of stranger,
who died nnhonored and unsoothed, or the
ancient mausoleum of such who could claim
kindred with the place and the people, but
whose memories memorable time had con-
signed to the dark abyss Of forgetfulness.
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