The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1847-05-29

was given the Israelites while they were IN
favor; and again over the Eastern hills thro'
which Moses led his people when the oppres- |
sion became too bitter TO be borne. Nearer
than these hills and close by Cairo, lies the
Island of Roda, where tradition says Moses
was found by the Kings daughter. But this
is of course a very doubtful point, and one
which cared little about while gazing on the
same leading features Unnatural scenery AS
we're before him all the days of his youth.
One impression has taken me by surprise.
used to wonderland always did till now
at that stupidity ofthe Israelites which so an
gered their leader-their pining after Egypt
after finding il impossible to live there. IL
was uncomfortable how they could long TO go
back to place of such cruel oppression, for
the sake of anyfhingit could give. l now
wonder no longer, having seen and felt the
desert and knowing the charms otthe valley
of the Nile. One evening lately, just al sun
set, the scene struck my heart, depressing il
with the sense ofbeauty. village was be-
side an extensive grove fpalms, which sprnng
from out the thickest and richest clover TO the
height ofeighty feet. Their tops waved gem
tly in the soft breeze which ruttied the sur
face blue pond lying among grassy shores.
There were golden lights and sharp shadows
among the banks where stream had lately
made its way. The yellow sandhills of the
desert Just showed themselves between the
stems of the more scattered palms. Within
view were some carefully titled fields, with
strong wheat, lupins and purple bean bios
SONS; andlsome melon and cucumber patches
were not far off. Cattle were tethered beside
the houses; and on bank near sat an old
woman and boy and a girl, baskiug in the
last rays ofthe sun with evident enjoyment,
though the magical coloring given by Egyp-
tan atmosphere could not be so striking as TO
English eyes, But what must it have been
in the memory ofthe Israelites, wandering in
the desert where there is no color except at
sunrise and sunset, but only glare-parched
rocks and choking dust or sand! l Will not
attempt now, for no one has ever succeeded
in such an attempt, TO convey any impression
fthe appalling dreariness ofthe depths OF
the desert. | can only say that when It rose
up before me in contrast with that nook OF the
valley mt INSET, at last understood the sur
render of heart and the reason on the part OF
the Israelites, and could sympathize IN their
torgetfulness of their past woes in their PIN
| ing for yerdure and streams for shade and
good food, and for perpetual sight ofthe A.
dored river, instead of the hateful sands
| which hemmed them in, whichever way they
| turned.
! This is not the place for even the most rev.
erental inquiry into the relation between the
Egyptian theology and philosophy, and the
system of Moses. That great subject must
| be LETT untouched, now and here; and must
come down TO the time at once when Egypt
had sunk from her highest pitch OF greatness
and had been conquered, first by the PersIans
| and then by Alexander the Great. VIII
only observe that Moses was the son-ln-law
of priest, and must therefore have been of
the priestly caste; OF that caste which held
more power, more knowledge more wealth,
and higher station, than any other An old
Egyptian historian declares that Moses was
himselfa learned priest of Heliopolis. We
cannot suppose this TO be true; but II shows
how he was connected in the popular belief
with the priesthood, and how naturally much
of his system must have been derived from
the institutions of the country he was brought
up in.
The despised Israelites spread and con-
quered their enemies, and became nation
powerful enough to have acknowledged in
tercourse ofwar or peace with the kings of
Erypt. King Solomon married a princess
born and reared in the Nile Valley aud when
Solomon died. his father-ln-law, Shishankr
went I'D against Jerusalem,a and broug ht home
many captiyes and grievOus spolls. have
seen on the walls of the great temple OF har-
nae, at Thebes, a sculptured group OF Jewsh
eap;ves, whom the conqueror was holding
bv the hair of their heads and raising his war
knife over them, while they lmplored mercy
with uplifted hands.
These battle pieces Inbound on the walls
and gates of the grand old temples which are
ranged along the Nile valley as far as 1t has
been explored; and they remind every one
who looks ut them ofthe battles of Homers
poems--except in the great point that do
ner makes the gods take part in wars, while
1t II Il, of HIGH order
to be so debased by human passions. Some
scholars think that Homer had seen the Clty
of Thehes, ofwhich ne gives such nagnlti-
cent renortsand where he represents tue gods
rs coming down TO visit the noble inhabitants.
II is pIeasant to think, while gazing abroad,
that the father of poetry saw what see, ana
wrought his Epics in his mind from looking
on the sculptured walls that have been stud
wing. About another great man--the fLrst
/. of his class-the old HerodoIus, whom schol-
mrs yenerate as the father of history, there is
no such doubt. We have his account OF T.
gvnt IN his day: and so remarkable is his ven
eration for the antiquity of Egyptian usages
, and edifices, that shall ever think OF nm as
standing before the great monuments OF the
Iand-a learrer-as we are. lie knew well
enough, and plainly declared, that the Greeks
derived their religion from the Egyptians
thins, which it would be hard to doubt when
we think eftheir account iot the scene AFTER
death--their river SStyx,t their terrymanCh aron
j their dog erberus the judgesAll thls.naturalS
solemn amid the funeral scenery OF Memphis
was borrowedSt spoiled ythe Greeksas was
much else supposed to be their own. If any
thing is called Greek more emPhaticRily than ma
another, it is the philosophy of Plato: hut Pla'
to lived thirteen years,aL Heliopolis, studying
philosophy under the priests, who were con,
Fsdered masters of aillearning. Noone VIII
undertake to say that we should have had