Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1856-04-30

Our late Minister to Greece Mr.. Pryor. made
visit to Egypt during his absence, from which
he wrote the following interesting letter to the
Richmond Enquirer
CAIRo, December II, 1855.
need not protest my reluctance to post
pone my return on any pretence of pleasure or
profit. ! am tired of travel, and long for
homo with the passionate yearning of an exile;
yet could not resist the temptation of visit
to this famous land.
If Egypt yields to Greece in classic inter
est, in the seductive influence of luxurious
climate 1t claims an Incompatible fascination.
II is the Elysium of reverie. Under the soft,
but subdued glow of its cloudless sun the sp-
rit reaxes its stern self-restraint, is dissolved
into state OF tranquil meditation, and floats
freely and peacefully over land where all the
energies of nature appear in repose. Nor is
Egypt wanting in the higher interests of his
torical association. Here the most eager am
bition of research is bewildered and baf1ed "a
mong the mysterious monuments of the reno
test antiquity; here the Imaginative mind finds
stimulus and sweep for its highest flights.
Since my earliest reading of the Pharaohs
and the Pyramids, Egypt has been the land
most desired to explore. At last this wish is
partially gratiied; but you must be content
with a very imperfect record of my impress
Isions.
Alexandria disappoints me. Besides the OBJ
elsk which tradition distinguishes as s.Cleo-
patra's Needle and ssPompey's Pillar,'' col
umn with beautiful porphyry shaft and bar
barous stone base and capital, it possesses no
monument of antiquity. No lingering ruin
attests the splendid civilization of the Ptolc-
mics. much less of remoter times. The city
presents repulsive picture of native degrade
tion and foreign refinement but the European
quarter does not possess enough of elegance
and luxury to compensate for the filth and bar
barity of the predominant Egyptian popula-
ton. However, since the trade of the Indies
has reverted to its ancient channel across the
county, Alexandria has recovered something
of its former fabulous splendor. 1t is the Gen.
tre already of considerable commerce, and
people predict the revival of its prosperity
when the Mediterranean and Red Sea are con-
nected by canal-a project now in execution.
Alexandria occupies an important position
III the relations Of the globe, but its immedi-
ate locality is destitute equally Of commercial
advantage and picturesque effect 1t is situa-
ted on q low and sandy shore. Its harbor is
neither deep, spacious, nor secure. My dis
appointment in Alexandria increased my inn
patience to see Cairo, where l was promised
such instructive memorials of antiquity and
such interesting representations of oriental
character.
But first let me express my admiration of the
Ill -of4 81, IL
conditions peculiarly favorable to an apprecia-
ton OF its glories, and do not hesitate to at
firm that they poorly celebrated in the
most gorgeous descriptions. If it is the mid
die of December, the appearances of nature
contradict the calender, and seem to convict
me of confounding the seasons. The ther-
mometer stands at II deg. Fahrenheit; the sun
glows with summers heat, and the atmosphere
pulsates with the passionate throbs peculiar to
the most ardent season of our year. Skirting
along the southern bank of the canal which
connects the waters of the Nile with the har-
por OF Alexandria, the railway traverses a por-
tioh ol the most fertile land in Egypt, and
si"1uaii9 uhioids scene which equally ex-
CITES the astonishment and the enthusiasm of
the spectator. All his ideas of the succession
OF seasons and OF the possibilities of aericpl.
tural productions are confounded. The fall
low neids are covered with the luxuran, rece.
tation OF tropical region. The crops are in
every stage OF preparation and progress fro,o
seed-time to harvest The young wheat oor
pets the ground with yerdurs before the labo-
rer garners the gray sheaycs OF the old ero,,,h
Here an Arab, in scanty dress, with plough