Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1850-08-21

import, one IN hieroelyphics, III the popular
characters, and one in Greek; and hence il,
proved the key of the hierogly phcal char
sc,ers of Egypt.
The saloon also contains beautiful and
perfect sarcophagi, covered with inscrip-
lions, and bas-reliefs Of goddesses, colossal
busls, statues, sphnxes, tablets. and sepul-
chrsl ornaments, all of them invaluable as
illustrations Of the history, the manners and
customs of Egypt. Besides this, there is an
other room devoted to Egyptian antiquities,
in which are innumerable smaller objects,
such as household furniture, objects of dress
addition to the above, q room called the
bronze room, is devoted 10 the remains Of
ancien, Egypt. On these walls observed
the celebrated pictures which adorned the
sepulchres Of ancient Thebes, the brilliant
coloring Of which survives, in ell its fresh
ness, the lapse Of 5000 years.
| ! must confess, however, that The interest
awakened in my mind by Layard's volumes,
caused me eagerly 10 seek on, the room de-
voted 10 the reception Of the monuments he
has sen, home from the plains of Assyria,
duu tIIdt tueSS lCttoiUS cACtcu III
teresl than any thing else | saw in the Mu-
scum. They are no, yet we'll arranged, and
are in a basement room, where there is moi,
sufficien. light TO exhibi, them perfectly
Notwithstanding this they fully met my ex-
pectalions. Perhaps the sombre, sepulchral
light in which saw them, added 10 their
effect. ] seemed al once to be let down q.
mid the subterranean palaces Of the kings
Of A-syIia. recognized the bas-reliefs and
sculptures from their resemblance 10 the
very accurate engravings accompanying the
volumes published. II is difficult TO believe
lha, these as.reliefs are the work Of human
hands 5000 years ago; there is a freshness
about the appearance of the stones, and in
the scuI plures a sharpness end perfection
which might lead one .o suppose lha, they
were the work Of yesterday. But there they
are, disinterred from the oblivion Of ages.
the las, survivors. the sole historic monu
man,s Of NIneveh, her kings, her people,
and her glory
Surely the providence of God has some
grea, and good design in thus preserving the
remains of one Of the most ancient nations
Of the world, and in causing them to appear
again among the men Of our generation.-
No one can fail to see that they are casting
fresh and strong light upo' ,:e Bible they
seem to be witnesses rslsrt from the dead.
to testify Of manners aHd customs, Of kings
and kingdoms, of battles and caT!ivi,ies ages
ago. and to prove that the anrien! scriptures
chronrled events, and described truly the
people of their time. These dsn,erred
l. Il. IL
upon them. seem like mirrors around the
histories aud prophecies of the Old Tesla
men,, so accurately do they give back in
pictures, the representations Of Holy Writ
But ] must hasten to saw something OF
the great library Of the British Museum ::
this is worthy of its name; nay, i, gives
dignity To the Repositories Of science and art
with which i, is associated. 1t is impossi-
bic by mere numbers and vague descriptions
to give any adequate idea of the exlen, and
value Of the library You enter the Gren-
vile Library, long and lofty hall, and are
told that it contains $4,000 volumes from
This you are admitted into noble room.
300 feet in length, and learn that on the
walls around vou $4,000 volumes are ar
ranged. This last number, however, will
give ynn an lncorrec, idea Of the library !;
for The volumes are all Of them large, and
some Of them folins Of the greatest size and
highest cost. These books were collected
hy King George ILL.,, and presented IL the
public library Of The Museum BY George ".
The number Of volumes in The whole library
is 100000. Since 1914 no, less than S5O.-
600 has been expended annually in the pur
chase of books; and upon the Museum the
Government has for ten years past, eXpend
ed $4,000 per onnum.
The American scholar cannot fail 10 be
pleased with this great library, for j. is par
ucularly rich in books illustrating the his
tory and literature Of our country. The
American historian must come here, if he
would draw his history from the original
sources. Our intelligent countryman, Hy.
s;'evens, Esq. VIII" Is doing much to en-
rich our land with valuable books, kindly
obtained for us the privilege of entering all
parts of the library, and added greatly 10
our enjoymen. of the privilege by his ex
tensive acquaintance, not only with the Ii
brary, but The treasures it contains.
We passed the desk usually occupied bv
Mr.. Macaulay; it was covered with volumes
of IRISH history and political tracts, from
which he is preparing another volume of
his Incompatible history, soon to appear.
was also gra'i6ed in seeing, in one of The
alcoves, the venerable Dr.. Horne, sulhor Of
the Introduction to the Bible, which has
been so extensively circulated both in Eng
land and America. Bot my shee, is nearly
filled, end have not reserved 10 myself
space enough 10 say what had intended
Of some of the special treasures of the H.
brary, which may no less be considered the
treasures of the whole literary world.
In the Kings Library we saw, in cases
a. IL >,