Some Observations In Egypt.

same words , the rest joining iu chorus at the end . M . Muriefctc is very stringent with respect to any strangers taking memoranda , sketches , or dimensions ; aud it was , as it were , only by stealth , and as though I were doing something else , to avoid observation , that I could put together a few notes of what I saw . Iu tho illustrations , therefore , that accompany my remarks , these difficulties must be borne in

mind ; and , except when I give positive dimensions , very precise accuracy must not be expected . It is to be regretted that M . Marictto does not supersede such imperfect data by himself giving accurate descriptions of his most important discoveries . He has full knowledge of bis subject , aptitude and felicity iu knowing where to direct his researches , and great success has attended his labours ; for the collection in

the museum at Boulak contains many objects of tho highest value , particularly those found in the tombs . He ought himself to reap tho full benefit and credit of his investigations . But bis delays arc unjust to himself and injurious to the study of Egyption archaeology ; and he must not feel cither displeased or surprised that a passing traveller , like myself , should seek to make known to his colleagues ,

bowever imperfectly , some of the discoveries brought to light from time to time , and iu which all Europe fool interested . I regret that I bad not the advantage of seeing M . Marietta while I was at Cairo . I called twice upon him at Boulak , He was out both times : the first ho had gone to Ghizeh with M . Lcssops : the second time ho bad just started on the Nile to pay a visit of inspection to the operations carrying on at Thebes .

TOMB SEAR THE GKEAT SM 1 IXX . M . Mariette has for sonic years past been engaged in excavating a tomb upon the Ghizeh p latform , within 100 yards of the sphinx . This tomb , like that of Campbell , is sunk in the solid rock , out of which it has been excavated , 30 or -1-feol deep . It assumes very much the form ofa church , with a central aisle , and an aisle on each sido , separated by square pillars , with a transept at one end , having a central lino of

pillars . There is a wido door at the end , leading into a land of vestibule parallel with the transept , nearly as longbut only half as -wide . In the vestibule there is a well of considerable depth , with water in it from tho Nile . At each end of this vestibule arc doorways , one leading into a gallery still filled with sand , the other into a wide passage running at right angles to it , tho end also blocked up with sand . I

should state that tho whole of these parts have no roofing now , and arc open to the sky . From the transept there arc openings : that on tho one side loads into three cells parallel with the aisles I have just described : they are about 10 feet high : and over thorn was a much larger chamber . The opening from the other end of the transept leads into a narrow passage , also running parallel with the nave and side aisles rising in an inclined direction , and being apparently tho passage of entrance . On one sido of this passage , iu tho thickness of the rock between the passage and side aisle , is

a chamber ; on the other side of the passage an inclined passage , leading to an upper story , probably over the entrance passage and tho chamber last noticed . The inclined passage is lined half its height with large blocks of granite , and the other , or upper half , and tho ceiling , are lined with slabs of Egyptian alabaster , 12 inches to 15 inches thick . A specimen of this alabaster I brought away with mo .

The piers dividing tho nave and aisles are monoliths , 4 feet 9 inches by 3 feet 4 inches wide and 14 feet high , upon which rested longitudinal beams or architraves , about 3 feet high : most probably on these rested the transverse beams , forming the roof or coiling . The walls were lined with blocks of granite of different tints , some of deep red , others approaching to grey . I measured some of these as memoranda of

the gigantic character of their construction , —15 feet long by 5 foot high ; 11 feet long by 3 ibct 6 inches by 5 foot , and others 3 foot 4 inches square on . the face . The blocks in the angles bad no joints there , but returned on tho other luce 2 inches 02- 3 inches , of course alternately breaking joint with the blocks above and below . This must necessarily have caused great waste of material and

considerable additional labour . In tho upper part , near the surface , I perceived some constructed walling formed of huge blocks of tho rock itself , laid in regular courses . As I did not moot with M . Mariette at Cairo , I was unable to

Some Observations In Egypt.

ascertain what had been found in this tomb ; if any sarcophagus had been discovered ; and the nature of any other particulars brought to light . Before quitting the platform of the Pyramids I will venture to mention two or three other points with which I was struck . In front of the smallest of the three great Pyramids there was originally a considerable court , with a

dromos or avenue which led up to it . The walls are thick and consist of blocks of the full depth of 6 feet , and in courses 6 foot high . I measured , as the average length , blocks 1 C foot 11 inches , 16 feet 9 inches , 10 feot- ' C inches , and 11 feet 5 inches long . When the liases of the Pyramids were clear of the sand , debris , and blocks which now encumber them , they must

have had large platforms , the rock having been cut away to form the level ; consequently , at 100 or 150 feet behind the Pyramids , to the west , the face of tho rook gave a perpendicular height of 10 or 15 foot . In the body of the rock tombs were cut having doorways opening upon the platform . I found , on the lower part of the third Pyramid , courses of red granite , several blocks remaining in their original

position , and having the appearance of bossed blocks , 3 feet 8 inches high , 3 feet G inches deep from front to rear on the upper bed , and from 2 feet 10 inches to 4 feet wide : they were wedge-shaped in plan , so as to form a key ; and there was a curious angle-shaped channel on the face of some of the blocks lying about . The second Pyramid was faced with

a granite revetment in the same manner as the first . Of the once renowned Memphis , the great city of ancient Egypt which Alexander styled tho gate of Egypt , — for whoever had j > ossessiou of it could command the whole country , —there was nob a trace left , save a gigantic statue , which lay half buried iu a hole , from which tho water of the Nile had not receded . All its magnificent buildings , its

propylene , its temples , had disappeared , and not a wreck remained to tell of its grandeur and its might . Ho was at a loss to account for this circumstance , save on the supposition that , as it was built so near the Nile , tho Egyptians , from time to time , carried away its matoi ials to erect temples in other places . The memorials of the dead alone remained to indicate the site . Long successions of pyramids occupied

the Lybian range , and attested the magnificence of the mode of sepulture among tho ancient Egyptians . The ruing of Saccara were distant from this place about three or four hours' journey . You pass a lake , aud reach a mound , and behold a monument made of blocks . Another lake is then encountered , abounding with wild duck , snipe , and other aquatic birds , which furnish fair sport to the fowler .

Fragments of mummies and of bones are strewn about for miles of the way . —Ho arrived at Saccara in tho evening , and , yielding to the representations of bis dragoman , deferred his visit to the ruins until morning . Rising very early , ho proceeded before dawn to explore the ruins . ( To be continued . )

The Good Effects Of Freemasonry.

THE GOOD EFFECTS OF FREEMASONRY .

Bro . William Hunter , Master of the Lodge of Journeymen Masons , Edinburgh ( No . 8 ) , in the course of an address which he delivered at a social meeting of the members and their friends , held a few days ago , in the Hall of the Lodge , said—He was often asked such questions as the following , viz . -. —What is the use of Freemasonry ? What good does it do ? Docs any person over reap advantage

from ifc _ ? Were I , said Mr . Hunter , fully to descant on the beneficial effects of Masonry , even though I were to go no further than our own society , I would i-cquirc the whole of the present evening , and oven then might fail to exhaust the subject . When the illustrious Laurence Sterne wished to present an impressive picture of the miseries of captivity , ho found that ho was distracted with tho multitude of sad

groups that rose up before his fervid imagination . He selected only a single prisoner , and described his wretched condition . In like manner I will only give one or two instances of tho good effects of Freemasonry , and hold them up as samples of thousands of others which I could advance . A member of this lodge , and as I do not see anyneed for concealment , I will give his name—Bro . Andrew Kerr , who sits beside me —( cheers)—a week or two ago heard that the widow and children of a brother of this lodge—a man