1828.]

A good fac simile of it taken upon paper will put an end to it, and I shall be happy to place under the eyes of our men of science a faithful which reconcile all their copy, may differences respecting this monument of history. I have visited still oftener the obelisks of Cleopatra, and always by means of our asses. Of these two obelisks, that which is standing has been given to the King by the Pacha of Egypt, and I hope that the necessary measures will be taken to transport it to Paris. The obelisk which is on the ground belongs to the English. I have already caused the hieroglyphical inscriptions which are on them to be copied and sketched under my own eyes. These two obelisks, with characters in three columns on the face of each of them, were originally erected by King Moris, in front of the great Temple of the Sun, at Heliopolis. The lateral inscriptions were placed there by Sesostris; and I have discovered two other short ones on the face, which were placed there by the successor of Sesostris. Thus three epochs are marked out upon these monuments. The ancient dez, in rose-coloured granite, on which each of them has been placed, still exists; but I have ascertained by causing my Arabs to dig around them, under the direction of our architect, M. Bibent, that this dez rests on a base of three paces, which is of Greek or Roman workmanship."

After detailing some particulars connected with his introduction to the Viceroy, and obtaining the necessary firmans, M. Champollion concludes by observing, "I am filled with confidence as to the result of our journey, and shall spare no exertion to render it successful. I shall write from all the towns in Egypt, although the post-houses of the Pharaohs no longer exist. I shall reserve my description of the magnificence of Thebes for our venerable friend M. Dacier.

It will, perhaps, be a worthy and a just

tribute to the Nestor of amiable and scientific men."

361

agony, as if death had been produced by the heavy pressure of a great weight of stones. There is a difference of opinion as to whether the excavation be a Roman village or one extensive building, destroyed by some accident. The grounds have been purchased by government, and upwards of one hundred men are constantly at work.

ROMAN TESSELATED PAVEMENT.

ROMAN RUINS NEAR THE HAGUE.

An English gentleman who recently visited the immense Roman building lately discovered near Voorburg, says that innumerable vases of the most beautiful descriptions, Roman rings with inscriptions, ornaments and coins, some of which date before the birth of Christ, have been excavated; all which leads to the supposition that some calamity, either occasioned by fire, inundation, or otherwise, has thrown down and destroyed the whole buildings. In one of the cellars a perfect skeleton has been found, which further strengthens the opinion it is the most remarkable object that has yet been discovered. The right arm is placed on the heart, and the whole figure exhibits an attitude of the most perfect GENT. MAG. October, 1828.

A tesselated pavement has been recently discovered in a field of about eight acres, on the north-west of a hill, and under a wood,

opposite King's Sedgemoor, in the parish of Pitney, near Langport. It has been opened under the direction and superintendance of Mr. Hasell, of Littleton, near Somerton. The floor is 18 feet by 20; it is in the highest state of preservation, and is allowed by persons best acquainted with the subject to be the finest specimen that has been discovered in the west of England. The centre is an octagon, in which is a perfect figure of Bacchus with the usual emblems, and the other part of the floor is divided into eight compartments, containing figures of Minerva, Mars, Neptune, and other heathen deities, and at each corner is a bust; a beautiful border surrounds the whole, and runs round each division. The designs are admirably executed in tesseræ of various colours and very small dimensions, scarcely half an inch square; there is a coarser edging of tesseræ, each about one inch square, between the border and the walls, which are in good preservation, and about two feet high, and the top only a few inches under the surface of the field. Considerable numbers of persons of all ranks were attracted to view this interesting discovery during the short time it was open; but it has been for the present filled up, till effectual means are taken to secure it, for which a subscription is being raised. Sir R. C. Hoare has contributed handsomely, and has expressed his intention of visiting the spot early in the spring.

EXAMINATION OF A MUMMY.

Lately one of the mummies in the Museum of the Louvre was opened. It was one of the finest of the valuable collection made by the Chevalier Drovetti. According to the hieroglyphic inscriptions, this mummy. which was the embalmed body of Nouté Mai (the beloved of the gods), had been, during a few years, one of the priests of Ammon. It was enclosed in a kind of pasteboard, richly ornamented on the outside with fi gures of Gods, and symbolical animals. Th preservation of this funeral covering was perfect; it having been originally protecte by two wooden coffins, in which the mummy was conveyed to Paris. The pasteboard was untouched by decay, and in the same condition as when it at first came from the hands

And rears his lordly walls: His cope-clad Priests, with chant divine, The sacred host upraise; And, girt with tapers' holy shine, His gorgeous altars blaze:

363

A HYMN

For the Opening of the rebuilt Church at MORVAH, on the North-west Coast of Cornwall, A. D. 1828.

By the Rev. C. V. LE GRICE.
AGAIN we hear the Sabbath bell,
A welcome joyful sound;
O'er rock and moor, and down the dell
Its cheering peals rebound.
Come, come, again they seem to say,
To God's own House repair;
Come with a heart of faith to pray,

And Christ will meet you there.
Tho' floods of waters beat around
On ever-shifting sands;
A rock is the foundation-ground,

On which our Temple stands.

The winds may roar, the tempest frown,
Each breast from fear is free:
The worshipper looks calmly down
Upon the troubled sea.

So 'mid the storms of human life
The Christian is secure,
And far above the fretful strife
His path serene, and sure.
Tho' built by man our Temple-gate,
The way, by which it leads
To one "not made with hands," is straight,
If Faith for mercy pleads.

For mercy, while 'tis call'd to day,
To plead we'll hasten near;
Ere the same bell, that bids to pray,
Shall greet our coming bier.

PARAPHRASE

of Part of the Ninety-first Psalm. GOD! beneath thy feather'd breast, Secure from harm my soul shall rest; No more to winged shafts by day, Nor midnight pestilence a prey. Around shall gasping thousands lie; Around shall quivering nations die ; Despair shall bite his lip in vain, O'er me alone he ne'er shall reign. Beneath my feet shall Seraphs throng, And angels bear my steps along ; Nor adder's hiss, nor lion's roar, Nor dragon's fang shall fright me more. Thee, Lord! alone I'll love and fear, For I will call, and Thou shalt hear; Then hence, O hence, my soul remove, To everlasting bliss above!

Q. J.

FRANCE.

In France the reign of Jesuitism and bigotry is rapidly terminating. The Jesuit colleges in many of the principal towns have been abandoned; the famous college of the Ave has just been closed, and the reverend fathers have taken away their furniture. The mayor has already taken possession of the building, and it will hardly be believed that the fact of the retirement of the Jesuits has created a complete sensation in the town. An immense majority of persons illuminated their houses upon the occasion.

RUSSIA AND TURKEY.

According to the different accounts received from the theatre of war, the Russians have experienced some severe defeats. Even to judge from their own bulletins, they have been compelled to act generally on the defensive; but according to the Turkish bulletins, which have been issued, they have been compelled partially to retreat. It ap pears, that the arrival of the Emperor Nicholas from Odessa, was the signal for a renewal of vigorous efforts against Varna. After driving the Turks from some of their positions, the countersearp, in front of the north bastion nearest the sea, was blown up at sun-rise on the 14th Sept. and the fosse became so completely filled with the fallen materials, that the Russians were enabled to take possession of the entrance to a breach in that bastion. As a Russian corps occupied the road to Bourgas, cutting off all hope of relief from that quarter, the Emperor summoned the garrison to surrender. A temporary cessation of hostilities took place; but it being suspected that the Turks were only endeavouring to gain time, the canonade was resumed on the 15th. On the night of the 25th one of the Turkish redoubts, opposite the centre of the fortress, was taken by storm, without firing a gun, at the point of the bayonet, the Turks having had above 100 killed. On the 23th of September serious affair took place; the Turks having begun to entrench themselves, left their camp in great force, and attacked the Russian redoubts; the action continued for four hours. In this engagement the Turks are said to have brought forward 15,000 infantry and cavalry, and to have had an equal number in their intrenchments. The Russians lost Gen. Freitag and Col. Zaycow. Next day the Turks remained quiet, and were employed in fortifying their camp. On the 30th the Russians took the offensive, and they acknowledge they were defeated. --The last accounts, however, are very important, in favour of the Russians. On the 7th of Oct. a Russian corps, during the night secretly penetrated into the city and

a

[Oct.

surprised the fortress; the alarm was so great that the Turks abandoned the works, and thus Varna fell into the hands of the

Russians, without capitulation.

We learn that the Russian forces have retreated from before Schumla. On the 9th of October, Hussein Bey made a general attack upon their entrenchments; and although the Imperial troops are stated to have displayed the most brilliant valour, they nevertheless fell back to Jenibazar, where they stopped only one day, and proceeded to retreat towards Bazardjik. The privations of all kinds had produced excessive misery in the ranks of the Muscovites. The road from Schumla to Jenibazar was literally covered with dead, sick, and wounded, and the carcases of Russian horses. Such ravages had been caused by the excessive heat of the climate (say accounts from Bucharest), that they could not be overcome by the most determined perseverance. Immediately after the departure of the Russians, Hussein Bey quitted his entrenchments at Schumla, and at the head of 70,000 men proceeded on the road to Bazardjik in pursuit of them.

In the last sally from Silistria, ou the 15th of September, the terror of the Russians on the attack of the Spahis was so great, that they did not rally again till they got to Hirchova.

GREECE.

NAVARINO, Sept. 10.-The Turks and Egyptians evacuate the fort of Navarino. The Egyptians are embarking to return to Alexandria. The camp which was near Modon is also embarking. Ibrahim Pacha will not embark till the second Egyptian expedition sails.

GIBRALTAR.

An infectious yellow fever, of a malignant description, has made its appearance at Gibraltar. The gates of the garrison were, in consequence, finally closed on the 5th of September. The Spaniards had placed an extensive cordon sanitaire on the lines, to prevent all communication with Gibraltar, and the local authorities refused all vessels the usual clean bills of health from the 5th. According to intelligence of the 30th of September, the number of deaths among those attacked were nearly one in three. On the 11th of October a meeting took place at the City of London Tavern, to take into consideration the state of those who had been for some time suffering from fever and from want; W. Ward, esq. M.P. in the chair. It was unanimously resolved to enter into a subscription in aid of the one commenced at Gibraltar, and a committee was appointed to carry the object of the meeting

into effect.