Liberty advocate. [volume] (Liberty, Miss.) 1835-1866, 1841-11-18
EGYPTIAN MONUMENTS.

Had not the monuments of ancient e.
gypt been multitudnous in their number,
and impershable from their greatness,
none Of them would have been left unde.
stroyed by the various lamentations Of
fanatics and foreigners who have, from
time to overlooked the lands Of the Nile.
The Persians and the Saracens, under
the influence Of religious passion, did all
they could for the overthrow and ruin Of
works happily too majestic for their Puny
devices; and since invading armies have
left the gorgeous ruins in peace, hordes
of European travellers have been doing
their best to annihlate what thirty and
forty centuries have spared. There is
scarcely pillar, or temple, or monument,
which some hand or another has not been
busy in damaging. The beautiful tomb
of Osiris, which Belzoni laid open, is al
ready heap Of ruins. No man has
been more ruthless ravagerthan Cham
pollion himself, with all his pretended re-
spect for Egyptian antiquities, and pro-
fessed services to hieroglyphical learning.
For one traveller who has visited Egypt
to unravel and to honor the venerable rec
ords Of her solemn history, hundred
come to defle and deface them.
A German Prince, whose proceedings
are seldom spoken Of in Egypt without
some addendum Of reproach, thought it a
very fine thing TO leave his distinguished
name in large, black and filthy charac'
,ers on the most prominent part Of the
large sarcophagus in the sepulcher of
Nemesis the Fifth. The dilapidations Of
some Of the moss striking remains Of E.
gyptian antiquities have long been wit
messed with sorrow and shame by every
thoughtful traveller, and many wish has
been vainly uttered that measures should
be taken for their preservation. Even
within few years, some Of the most inte-
resting and ancient buildings-as the tenn
pie OF Abydos and Eermopolis-have been
wholly overthrown, and even the sites
they occupied are scarcely traceable. -
The attention of the Pacha has, however,
lately been particularly called to the subs
Ject, and he requested Dr. Bowrng to draw
up plan for the preservation of the mon
uments that remain, for the prosecuting
OF future discoveries, and for the forma-
ton OF museum of Egyptian antiquities
in Cairo. In consequence Of DR.. Bow
rings recommendation, a permanent com.
mission has been formed al Cairo, by the
direction of Mahomet Ali, con sisting Of
the principle Ministers Of State, OF the
Consul Generals Of England, France, Aus
triA and Russia, the President and Score,
tary Of the Egyptian Society, and other
appropriate persons, to whom is to be con-
fined the guardianship Of the monuments
Of Egypt. A sum is to be placed annually
at their disposal, TO enable them to protect
the va rious temples, tombs, and works of
art; to pursue new Investigations; to en-
Ploy fit persons in order to report on the
state Of existing antiquities, and TO pros
vide for their safe and proper Keeping
No ancient monument will be removed
in future without their sanction, which is
also necessary to allow any person 10
commence or 10 continue excavations
They will facilitate the researc hes of the |
curious and the learned who visit Egypt, |
and assist the inquiries Of those who have
NOT that privilege. They will be able to
give official protection and aid when re.
quired, and at the same time to prevent
the destruction, Of which the ignorance
and the cupldty Of the peasants, and the
selfish vandalism Of travellers have been
too long the eause.-LondOn Paper.