The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-03-12

SECOND ARTICLE.

| SECOND ARTICLE.
We learn with regret that Dr. Abbott's valuable and in
teresne collection Of Egyptian antiquities will close at
the end of the present month"; and that then the sub
scrpon set foot last year for its purchase be not
completed it will either be conveyed England broken
up and disposed Of piecemeal We trust that there is
sufficient good taste and public spirit amongst us to pre-
vent either of these latter eventuaes from coming to
pass The i'll success which the exhibition has met with
since its arrival in New York reflects sufficient dscredit
upon without negecting to profit by an opportu
nifty that win again present tseof forming the
nucleus of national museum which from this small be-
ginning might ultimately vie in interest with those of
other countries Although the Egyptian departments of
the British Museum and Louvre undoubtedly possess
greater numerical value they hardly be said to
coed in variety and interest this complete and admirable
collection its diversified contents will be found illus
trated all the social religious and political characteristics
this singular people, every variety phase their
regal professions and festivals down to the rude abors
and of the lower conditions of fe To those
who would the actual progress of civilization in
the years that have elapsed since the objects
displayed had practical application to the wants and
man. this collection presents evidence of the slow
with which the human race advances towards per-
reliability, Gf indeed, such state be attainable)
and of the comparatively little progress that has been
since made in many ofthe arts that contribute to the
! joyment and establishment of life.
Notwithstanding the theories to which the discoveries
of Layard and Bota at Nneveh have given RISE there is
doubt that to the Egyptians the first elements
of civilization Take, for instance, the discovery Of the
of writing. Whilst the origin of almost all ether al
phabets be traced by history analytical processes
hat of Egypt is unknown. At the earliest times Of
which we have any relics it perfect it
was at any of the latest Pharaonic periods. The
researches of Lamb and others show that it must
| have existed before the of tho solar month
Egypt, which astronomical observations in Egyptian
records prove to have been adopted at epoch close up
to the Septuagint of the Flood Whether the art of
writing practised by the Egyptians, invented by
them or merely the redscovery Of the prmeval al
phabet, which may have followed close upon primary
violation and been lost by the dispersion of the different
tribes and races, cannot Of course be determned but
it certain that to them belongs the credit of parent
SYSTEM to which the origin of the phonetic characters
of all other nations not excepting the Hebrew may
be traced In the collection of Dr. Abbott will be found
Of the most perfect specimens of early Egyptian
writing extant. Amongst others, recommend to the
inspection Of the curious magnificent roll of papyrus in
the Herac character about thirty feet long, and
such excellent preservation that does not require
! stretched on paper.
The origin of this singular people is involved in great
obscurity, but the form of the skull, features
other physical evidences would go to establish the
OouSooAoh
Gardner Wilkinson thinks that the Egyptians came to
the Valley of the Nile conquerors advancing through
Lower Egypt southwards, and entirely repudates the
notion that they descended and derived their civilization
from Ethiopia. Though country which played dis
tnguished part in the early history of the world the
extent of Egypt proper very limited, consisting
merely Of the strip of land between the Medi
terranean the first cataract about degrees
half of latitude. From the statements of the author
4
small tract of country must at period have been
nearly dense in proportion that of Europe at pre-
sent numbers little than two millions Joephus
reckoned population of millions half in the
Valley of the Nile alone but this calculation must have
been greatly oversated.
OF the gross and materia character of the religious
worship of the Egyptians the uniformed vsiter will
derive forcible idea from the many NEUROLOGICAL
images with which this collection abounds The most
markable of these three large mummies of the
sacred bull Apis found in the tombs at Dashour.
The Egyptians honored him image Of
the soul Of Osiris, the hypothesis being that
this soul migrated from Apis to another in
cesson His death of general mourning,
and his interment accompanied with the most costly
ceremonies One Of the most beautiful objects in the
gallery, however, work of art, is an exquisitey
carved statue Of the god Thoth 1t is only about two
inches and half high, and is in state of perfect pre-
servation. 1t found at Memphis and is Of the most
ancient style Of sculpture.
In former article we showed that the mythology
Of the Egyptians unlike that Of the Creeks had confer
red no real benefit art the gross nature Of the objects
selected representations Of their detes and the arbi
trary regulations imposed by the priesthood in order to
the mmutable character of their religious SYM
bos having inevitable tendency to cramp and restrain
the inventive faculties of the artist We have not yet
done with this branch Of our subject.
Colossal magnifcence seems to have been the chief
aim, it may be said to have constituted the chief
merit Of Egyptian sculpture The imposing effect pro-
duced by this vasness Of proportion is however apt to
be mistaken for the result Of combination of higher
qualities to which they could lay claim. The degree
of credit to which they really entitled for this char
acteristc 10 correctly defined by writer who has
devoted profound attention to the subject that
not do better than quote his opinions =
The fondness which the Egyptians display for the
colossal in sculpture is characteristic Of people who
professed unlimited command Of material and labor,
but ignorant Of the source from which sublimy In
the eye they gave full effect to their gigantic size but
the effect thus produced is akin to that OF exaggeraton
me sense Is Gy osy ns
sided its incongruity with all around it is forced on the
mind and the effect is lessened by repetition This APP
plies more to colossal statues forming portion or an
appendage of building than to those which are de-
tached. The statue Of Amenophis standing alone on
the Pyramids seem in harmony with their adjuncts,
and never cease to be sublime.
The art of painting must have been practised at quite
early period amongst the Egyptians that Of sculp
ture 1t true that have fewer evidences Of its USE
owing to the pershable nature Of its materials but there
is to doubt that it coeval with the sister
II characterized by all the defects and absurdi
tics observable in the works Of sculpture and
ployed in the treatment of similar subjects In
spcctthat Of the easier manipulation Of its medait
perhaps susceptible Of progress; but it was
held back by other difficulties, arising from causes over
which 1t could exercise control 1t made almost
entirely subervent to the requirements Of sculpture,
ard drawn still closer within the circle OF
gious influences the Of particular colors being
hbiied except in the treatment Of religious subjects
twas general practice of the Egyptians to color their
statuary and to such extent this passion for