Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1843-11-24
EoYPr.-At a late meeting of the N. Y
Historical Society, Mr.. Bartlett read a paper

EGfPT.-ht d ldte m5ctiIB u TX |" 1
Historical Society, Mr.. Bartlett read a paper
from which the following is an extract:
Egypt continues TO he the land of wonders,
and attracts to its venerable monuments the
learned Of all n~atinns. The magnificent
work bv the savans who accompanied Napo-
leon, which was published under his auspi-
ces, was thought to embrace all that could
be SAID on that country. But France has
contributed another work, equally impor-
tant, by the lamented Champoillon; and
when we close this list with the splendid
work by Rosellini, under the patronage OF
the Tuscan government, which embraces all
the recent discoveries in Egyptian archao-
logy and hi~crogly phics, We must acknowl-
edge that no part of the world has been more
thoroughly Investigated and described. Yet
we have to announce a new scientific COM
mission, sent to the land of the Pharaohs by
that patron Of learning, the King of Prussia.
AT its head is placed DR.. Lecsius. one of the
most distinguished philologIsts and antigua
ries Of Europe.
This gentleman has already made some
remarkable discoveries in and about the pyr-
amids but the most important is that of
the celebrated labyrinth, a short account Of
which we extract from his late letters, pub
Iished in London, dated Pyramid of MGris,
June Goth.
1--WE have now been settled for some
weeks at the ruins of the labyrinth Of Moe
ris, and l hasten to give you the first infor-
nation of the definite discovery Of the site
Of the true labyrinth and pyramid. We were
astonished that earlier travellers had scarce
y mentioned those remains, when we saw
ruins of hundreds of still well defined cham
bers lying before us. The main result of
our investigation is, however, the finding, on
many of the pillars and architraves of the
hall, the name Of the true Mnris, who built
the labyrinth for his palace, and the pyramid
for his tomb. This pyramid is the latest Of
all the pyramids ofthe Pharoahs. Ruis Mo-
lis reigned from 2194 to 2l51, B. C. Tor
4O37 years ago) and was the last king of the
old kingdom of Egypt before its conquest by
the Hyksos. Both the labyrinth and the lake
prove his power, his love of magniiicence
and his interest in the welfare of his people.
At the end of the vast plain lies the pyramid
in which Mpris was buried, with the ruins
Of the village, precisely as described by Stra-
DO. Near this were many hillocks, beneath
which we found several hundred chambers,
some of them with roofs, corridors and col
uinns. The rooms are so irregular, and of
such various sizes, that no one could have
found his way, without a guide, through this
mass of buildings. Herodotus describes
3OOO apartments above and below the ground
an account which the remains lead me to be-
lieve not exaggerated.
The forms of the most important part OF
the palace are described by Herodotus as con-
sisting of twelve hills, that is, Of twelve open
courts surrounded by covered colonades.-
This palace was surrounded by labyrinthine
buildings on three sides, ai.l intersected by a
water course. Here our establishment &C.
cupy the ruins of the pyramid, and recall the
old village of Slrabo which lay on the same
level with the pyramid. Around us are scat
tered huge blocks OF granite, the remains of
old pillars and architraves Of the courts
which are of interest. as offering in severai
cases the names Of the builder, MGris, and hi,
sister, who succeeded him. am employing
one hundred workman in digging into the
chambers, and latterly in searching for the
entrance into the pyramid"
DR.. Lepsius has also discovered the re.
mains of many pyramids and IA large number
of tombs, which recent travellers had over
looked. Being one Of the best hierologist!
living, he has been enabled readily to decy'
pher the numerous inscriptions with which
! the monuments of Egypt are covered, and I,
, identify the sovereigns and distinguished per
sonages by whom these tombs were built ant
, occupied. In fact so precise were the an
cient people in the erection and decoration
, of their tombs with paintings and inscriptions
i that the doctor states that he could give
l complete history Of their courts.