diate dialect between the hieroglyphics and the vulgar tongue, which letter, happily, is not loft; it exifts in Coptic books, with Greek and Arabic tranflations, and is found in a great number of manufcripts, scattered over Egypt, and in the libraries of Europe. To attain a knowledge of this facerdotal dialect, alphabets must either be found, or paffages common to both languages. On the walls of the temples, and caverns, among the hieroglyphics, are letters which differ from any known; and which, probably, were a part of the facerdotal dialect. Thefe are the characters that ought to be ftudied, as containing a key to the hieroglyphics, which they are either a continuation or interpretation of. Perhaps, a man of learning, perfectly acquainted with the Coptic, Arabic, and Hebrew, who fhould dedicate feveral years to this ftudy, among the monuments of ancient Egypt, would accomplish an enterprife fo noble.

Another reflection has particularly ftruck me, during my travels in this country. The Ammonians were an Egyptian colony; and the priests who rendered Jupiter Ammon famous

had

had the fame religion, the fame information, as thofe of Egypt. Their god no longer utters oracles, but his temple may ftill fubfift. The furrounding country, being very fertile, should be inhabited; and this people, having undergone no revolutions, which have fo often changed Egypt during more than two thousand years, must have preserved their customs, worship, and mother tongue. The love of fame no longer inciting them to the study of arts and sciences, these are probably loft; but they may have been kept in memory by tradition. Sanchoniathon affirms he gained his information from the monuments of Egypt, and the books of the Ammonians, which books ftill fhould remain in the country that gave them birth; and, perhaps, in the fanctuary of this antique temple, defended by deferts fo vaft. Hither, then, might a man of learning direct his footsteps, with a hope of fuccefs. The road is ftrewed with dangers. Alexander, with numerous attendants, and camels loaded with water and provifions, was near perishing in the attempt. One of the armies of Cambyfes was buried under the fands, and not a foldier

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foldier efcaped to revifit his native country. But what will not the fortitude of a man, guided by the light, and inflamed with the love of fcience, undertake? Till fome erudite European has vifited the temple of Ammon, and informed enlightened nations what are its treasures, and what its remains, it will be natural to fuppofe an Egyptian colony refides in its neighbourhood, and that this colony has preferved its native tongue, and the interpretation of hieroglyphics. I am further led to believe this colony exists, because the Oafes I have traced on the map are ftill inhabited, and the Bey of Girga fends a Cachef to govern the one which is nearest to that city. A traveller who fhould dare to traverse the deferts which divide them from the banks of the Nile, would find monuments infinitely curious, and, hitherto, unknown.

LETTER XLI.

PLAN OF AN INTERESTING JOURNEY NEVER YET PERFORMED.

To examine the great lake Menzala, and the ruins to be found in its Ifles; vifit Pelufium, Farama, and the Oafes; fay at Syene, to obferve the folftitial well; traverfe Yemen, and collect knowledge and manuscripts; remain at Mecca, during the pilgrimage; and, bearing from that city, and from Medina, works, and information, unknown in Europe, travel Arabia Petræa, and Deferta, and make fome ftay at Damafcus, and depart from thence to Europe.

To M. L. M.

Grand Cairo.

MANY curious things remain to be verified in Egypt, and the following are propofitions offered to whoever defire to render themselves useful in arts and fciences, and acquire fuch precious information as shall honour their country.

The great lake Menzala fhould be examined; its outlets into the Mediterranean founded; the Ifle of Tanis landed at; where, according to the Arabian writers, and the natives, grand ruins, and antique marbles, are to be found. The voyage voyage fhould be continued to the extremity of the lake, and the remains of Pelufium, and Farama, vifited, where the Arabian geographers describe a tomb which fhould be that of Pompey the Great.

The traveller fhould defcend the canal of Sebennytus, now Semennoud, to the lake Bourlos, and examine the ruins of ancient Butis, where Herodotus places the fanctuary of Latona, hewn from one aftonishing block of granite, which I have described, after that hiftorian.

The remains of Nauçratis, and Sais, near Faoua; and thofe of Phacufa, and Bubaftus, by which the famous canal of the Ptolemies paffed, should be searched,

A tribe of wandering Arabs fhould be treated with, that he might proceed to the Oafis of Amman, not far from the lake Maris, and from thence to the emple of Jupiter

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