The southern press., 1851-03-29
oliddonnN NILE.

work of art it has considerable merit, and sey.
era' of the "taLleanx" are very we'll drawn and
painted. This, ehave every reason to believe, is
very perfect representation OF the various local
tiles on the celebrated banks of that marvellous
river
There is no country in the world, which for
so rany ages, has been the object of such in
tense curiosity among the learned of all nations
as Egypt. Yet, though they have directed their
Investigations into its history and antiquities of
late years with considerable success, a world of
useful knowledge and historical information
still lies buried beneath its sand and in the re-
cesses of its tombs. 1t is true that the veil
OF mystery which has so long hung over that
land has been partly drawn aside and our
knowledge its early condition. social, religious
and political, has been considerably increased
Nevertheless, what we do know, is but Just
enough to create stronger desire for further
investigation; and we may expect, from this ap-
parently inexhadstible field of antiquarian Gu
riosity, better conducted and more numerous re-
searches than have hitherto been attempted
Mr.. GLlDDoS talks to us of monuments which
date back yWy centuries,--we are shown the
bodies of men who lived upon the earth before
the times Of Solomon, Of Moses and Of Abra-
ham,--we are told Of nation, in which the arts
Of civilization were carried to the highest per-
fection,--in which the sciences had made such
l.
tence as people, that intelligent men Of other
nations visited it to improve themselves by ac-
quiring a little Of lis learning and to study its
laws and Institutions,
And to have brought these laws and insttu-
tons to such hourshing state-to have acquired
such extensive knowledge in the arts and sciences
to have attained such remarkable projection in
astronomy, how many more centuries ought we
in reason to give to this nation! Not to speak
Of China India and Mesopotamin, which were,
at least, her cotemporaries in civilization, all
other nations seem insignificant by her side
Egypt was ancient, and wonder even to those
whom we are accustomed to look upon and to
style '.lhe ancients"
But let us return to the Panorama We are
carried up the western bank Of the Nile. We
visit Cairo. We have peep at Mohammed Ali,
surrounded by his court. Thebes passes before
US with its 1emple-Palace and Colossi; and we
look upon the AcherIlsian Lake, so famous in
Grecian story as the"Styx'. We enter Nubia--
pass the first, and arrive at the second Cataract
There we turn to descend the Nile down its
eastern branch; and again other wonders in the
shape of temples, and palaces, and sepuIchrcs.
pass before us. There is a beautiful scene of
the rising of the Dog Star (Srius). Thebes is re.
visited; but this time we have the gigantic ruins
OF karnac and Luqsor on the eastern bank--a
charming scene in the desert is presented to us,
with Arab horses dromedaries, camels, donkies.
an encanpmcnt and sand storm. Excellent
representations of the realities of Afric life
We row come, crossing the Nile once mere, to
the greatest Of the great curiosites of Egypt
the Pyramids or tombs of the third and fourth
Memphite Dynasty, some of them five thousand
years old
And last Of ALL the Sphinx" emblem of the
unknown, enigmatical, and occult to the Greeks"
closes these scenes of interest A sunset
follows, which is represented with good effec.
by the transparency-for such in fact is the
Panorama before us.
The original drawings nre by w. BosoMI late
associate Of the Prussian scientific mission to the
valley of the Nile; and the painting, over 800
feet in length by 8 in breadth, is guaranteed by
the excellent names of Messrs. FAHEY, JOHN
MARTIN, E. CoRBoULp, and others.
The hall is surrounded by plans, geographical
charts, maps, paintings, drawings, &c, descrip-
tive of the architecture, country, &c, of the an.
cient Egyptians. There are mummics of all
ssrts-comprisiDg rams, jackas, cats, dogs.
bises, iehneumons, owls, hawks, crocodiles,
snakes, reptiles, and such interesting creatures,
dear to the religion of their fathers" the ven
Grated superstitions of the civilized Egyptian
Here we might pen some reflections on the force
of habit and early impressions in bending and
subjugatng the mind to falsehood, never to be
eradcnted but by the nlightening and tocratinp
influences of liberty in religious matters.-We
might canvass the causes of the slow progress
of truth-we might attempt to probe the foun-
dations of superstitious belief, and expose the
fal'acies of faith of men, in mysteries accidental
and absurd, yet enduring, because unexamned-
but it is unnecessary. The Egyptian is before
us, with all his learning-bnd by priestly com
mand, and clinging by habit or authority to
errors which had become respectable by agcl
Our readers could hardly pass an evening
more agreeably than in paying Mr.. GLIpDos a
visit. couple of hours spent there will be
more instructive and entertaining than the read
ing of many volumes of travels.
The Light-House System
1t is remarkable that the government Of Great