ature British armies, whilst and sciences would have e to mourn the removal *. next remarkable object is 's pillar, which stands on th-west of Alexandria, withyards of the inundation, and exterior of which runs the f Alexandria. At a distance earance is noble; approachser, the pillar is lovely belescription. The dimensions stupendous, as would in a one excite wonder, but when egance of the capital, the of the shaft, and the proied solidity of base are comthe eye rests on this pillar delight, as the chef d'œuvre ; arts. Let imagination be raised to the utmost conception of perfection, and this perhaps is the unique excellence, which would answer such expectation. Pompey's pillar is of the Corinthian order, and eighty-eight feet six inches in height: the shaft formed of a single block of granite, retaining the finest polish, except where the wind on the north-east front has chased a little the surface, is sixty-four feet in height, and eight feet four inches in diameter. At the base of the pedestal is an aperture made by the Arabs, who, in the hopes of finding money buried underneath (the only idea attached by them to the admiration of Europeans), endeavoured to blow up the column. Not understanding ord Cavan, during his subsequent command at Alexandria, directed a working o remove the ground near the needles, when the pedestals of both were dis1. The obelisk which is upright was found to stand upon a pedestal of six height, but immediately resting on four brass blocks, or what properly are dogs. When lord Cavan was deterred from again prosecuting his design of emg the obelisk, which was lying down, by the commander in chief in the Median declining to sanction and patronize the measure, he raised it horizontally on' <of granite, so that a man can walk upright under it. The original pedestal he found reversed, he had raised on its outward angle, and excavating the e sufficiently to place in a piece of all the coins of George the Third's reign and esent sultan, he restored the surface by the marble slab, on which was sculpthe inscription to be seen in the appendix. It is to be hoped, however, that overnment and the country will second his intention of still securing this noble ment for England. The expense of bringing it home is estimated at about ol.; a sum which the two services alone would with pleasure raise, although the 's of both are not over well paid. e measurement of the obelisk is accurately ascertained, and is as follows: Extreme length Length to the commencement of the slope Ft. In. Ft. In. 68 3 61 0 3 Width of the base- - Ditto, at the narrow end female head sculptured in marble was found near the pedestal, and is brought me by lord Cavan, the principle of mining, the explosion did no mischief to the great fabric, only exposed some loose, stones under the pedestal, on one of which hieroglyphics are to be seen. These stones appear to have been placed there to form a solid foundation, The French, fearing that in time, this removal of support, might injure, at all events, the perpendicular elevation of the pillar, filled up the vacuity with cement, which, to the disgrace of the English, they broke away again, and a sentinel. was at last stationed to guard a monument, which had remained amongst barbarians unprotected for ages, since some officers even attempted to gratify an highly censurable vanity, by knocking off pieces of the pedestal, to present to their friends in the united kingdoms; a destructive mania, which occasioned also the fracture of the sarcophagus in the great pyramid of Cairo *. From several grooves and pieces of iron found by a party of English sailors, who, in order to drink a bowl of punch, ascended to the top, by flying a kite and fastening a rope round the capital, scarcely a doubt can remain of a statue having been formerly erected there, and Septimius Severus is supposed to have had that honour. A cap of liberty was substituted by the French; which, probably, is by this time taken down; the colours they removed themselves +. Although this pillar was so near to the town, the French never could venture so far, in less than parties of twenty armed men; even some of these detachments were surprised by the Arabs, disarmed, stripped, abused, and sent in scor back to their comrades in Alex andria. A French, officer, who superintended the manufactories of Giza, proposed removing this column to France: probably the attempt would have proved beyond his or any other man's abilities. Sonnini strongly recommends the project, and predicted that this monument would only be recognised in after-ages by the name of the pillar of the French. Animated with illusions, he describes the names of the soldiers who fell in the glorious storm of Alexandria, as being engraved on the column already by order of Bonaparté. Unfortunately, not a character is to be discovered, and imagination can scarcely trace any remains of the Greek inscription, which is supposed to have been formerly sculp tured on the shafts . The This observation ought not to give offence. Individuals are not alluded to. Such remarks are only intended to excite in future a more disinterested respect for such monuments. + An English officer of marines afterwards ascended and took the cap down. It has, however, at length been traced, and this pillar will be hereafter recognised as a monument of British ingenuity and talent. France sent her sçavans to procure the honour of these discoveries, which might interest mankind by promoting science and establishing historical data, but their efforts to mark the period when this superb column was erected, or to whose fame it was consecrated, proved altogether fruitless. They even pronounced the decyphering impossible. But this veto against further enterprises did not daunt the inquiring genius of two British officers. Captain Dundas of the royal engineers, and lieutenant Desade of the queen's Ger The city of Alexandria is very small: the population never exceeded six thousand nine hundred souls, and since the arrival of the French it is considerably diminished. General Menou was encamped on an open place behind his new wall, which certainly was the most agreeable and cleanly situation. The houses being all white, the general appearance of the city is more lively than of any other in Egypt. There is nothing very remarkable to be seen in the town, excepting the mosque of St. Athanasius, which is a superb structure, whose colonnades are formed of pillars of granite, marble, &c. There are no buildings so good as in Cairo. The quay of Alexandria is commodious; many antiquities were laying ready for embarkation, an account of which is in the appendix, serving as another evidence of general Reynier's correctness a beautifully ornamented piece of cannon was also found ready to be embarked, and is since brought home by general Lawson. The inner harbour was full of shipping, but in a ruinous state; even the vessels of war were not in good order; the Egyptienne, how ever, must be excepted, and mentioned as one of the finest frigates in any service. On the isle des Figuiers, or shoulder of land forming the flank of the inner harbour, is built the lazarette, to which several heavy batteries defend the approach every way. At the extremity of a, dyke' or causeway (apparently elevated by art), of about half a mile in length, and three yards in breadth, with walls on each side, stands the pharos, which is built upon a rock, and which originally was a lighthouse, of such construction as to be called one of the wonders of the world. The present castle is of considerable strength, defended by thirty-five very fine pieces of French cannon, with two tiers of batteries. This fort perfectly commands the eastern harbour, and would resist any attack by sea. Here the English officers taken prisoners had been confined by general Menou; but they had not found, although the situation was healthy, that the resi dence was very agreeable; upon the whole, their treatment had not been good; close confinement, perhaps, was justifiable, rigour was never necessary, and therefore the officers had some reason to complain. Description of Pompey's Pillar and Cleopatra's Needle. By Captain Walsh. and nearly in a line with the SOUTH of the city of Alexandria, pharos, stands that great piece of antiquity Pompey's pillar. Nothing can exceed the beauty of this fine monument of ancient architecture: it is in the highest state of preservation, except on the north-west quarter, which I imagine has suf man regiment, determined on the attempt. For one hour only in each day, whilst the sun cast a shade on the inscription, could they at all discern the characters; but after a labour of three weeks, success crowned their perseverance, and they traced the inscription to be seen in the appendix, except seventeen letters, which the ability of Mr. Hayter, an English clergyman at Naples, employed in decyphering the ancient manuscripts at Herculaneum, supplied. 3 F3 fered fered from the constant and violent winds blowing from that point the greater part of the year. The remains of a Greek inscription are plainly visible on the western face of the pedestal. The French have repaired the foundation supporting the pedestal, which had formerly been destroyed in part by the brutal rapacity of an Arab; who, imagining some treasure lay concealed under it, attempted, but happily in vain, to blow up this beautiful column. A cap of liberty was erected upon a pole on the top, having been placed there by the French, a short time after their arrival in the country. Close to the sea-side, south by east of the pharos, is Cleopatra's needle.. Near it lies its fellow obelisk, which had always been supposed to be broken, part of it being buried in the sand; but the French cleared away the ground all around it, and found it to be perfectly whole. It is exactly the same as the one now standing, both as to size and the hieroglyphics with which it is covered. ed. Those on the north and on the west faces of the obelisk standing are in a very good state of preservation; those on the other sides are nearly obliterated. These two obelisks are supposed to have stood at the entrance of some temple. Each is of one entire piece of granite, sixty-five feet high. Round the summit of that which is erect we perceived the remains of a rope, most probably put there for the purpose of pulling it to the ground, preparatory to the transporting of both of them to France. MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS. On the Atrocities of Bonaparté in Syria and Egypt. By Sir R. Wilson. G ENERAL Hutchinson was very angry with the Turks for still continuing the practice of mangling and cutting off the heads of the prisoners; and the captain pacha, at his remonstrance, again issued very severe orders against it; but the Turks justified themselves for the massacre of the French by the massacre at Jaffa. As this act, and the poisoning of the sick, have never been credited, because of such enormities being so incredibly atrocious, a digression to authenticate them may not be deemed intrusively tedious; and had not the influence of power interfered, the act of accusation would have been preferred in a more solemn manner, and the damning proofs produced by penitent agents of these murders; but neither menaces, recompenses, nor promises, can altogether stifle the cries of outraged humanity, and the day for retribution of justice is only delayed. Bonaparté having carried the town of Jaffa by assault, many of the garrison were put to the sword; but the greater part flying into the mosques and imploring mercy from their pursuers, were granted their lives; and let it be well remembered, that an exasperated army, in the moment of revenge, when the laws of war justified the rage, yet heard the voice of pity, received its impression, and proudly refused to be any longer the executioners of an unresisting enemy. Soldiers of the Italian army, this is a laurel wreath worthy of your fame, a trophy of which the subsequent treason of an individual shall not deprive you. Three days afterwards, Bonaparté, who had expressed much resentment at the compassion manifested by his troops, and determined to relieve himself from the maintenance and care of three thousand eight hundred prisoners*, ordered them to be marched to a rising Bonaparte had in person previously inspected the whole body, amounting to near 5000 men, with the object of saving those who belonged to the towns he was preparing to attack. The age and noble physiognomy of a veteran Janissary attracted his ob-. servation, and he asked him sharply, "Old man, what did you do here?" The Janissary, undaunted, replied, "I must answer that question by asking you the same; your answer will be, that you came to serve your sultan; so did I mine." The intrepid frankness of the reply excited universal interest in his favour. Bonaparte even smiled. "He is saved," whispered some of the aids-de-camp. "You know not Bonaparté," observed one who had served with him in Italy," that smile, I speak from experience, does not proceed from the sentiment of benevolence; remember what L Sav." The opinion was too true. The Janissary was left in the ranks, doomed to death; and suffered. A |