CHAPTER IV.

HIEROGLYPHICAL METHOD OF WRITING-AN ACCOUNT OF THE DISCOVERY IN MODERN TIMES OF THE METHOD OF PERUSING IT, AND OF ITS NATURE.

Origin of language-Old Egyptian language-History of discovery-Rosetta stone-Labours of Dr. Young and Champollion-Expedition from France and Tuscany into EgyptDeath of Champollion-Nature of hieroglyphical writingPresent condition of hieroglyphical studies.

To

every studious reader of the book of Genesis it must be evident, that it does not profess to record all the transactions which took place between the Almighty and his dependent creatures in the early ages of the world's history. As in the record of the life and actions of our blessed Saviour, the writer of the fourth Gospel informs us that part only has been preserved to us, selected with a view to the profit of the readers; so also of the earlier revelations it may be said, that only those things have been written which, by the Spirit of sovereign wisdom, were considered "profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness," and which might prepare for the more distinct and complete communications from

God in future ages. In proportion as we recede into antiquity, the information which is given us is more limited, and the events which took place in the garden of Eden occupy a very small part of the book of Genesis. Amidst many subjects on which the sacred Scriptures are silent, may be reckoned the origin of language and of the art of writing.

It has been a matter of prolonged disputation, whether language was a discovery of man's own faculties, or a gift bestowed upon him by his bountiful Creator; the latter opinion is that which has most probability in its favour. The science of comparative anatomy, and the study of the physical history of the human race, abundantly confirm the plain declaration of Scripture, that mankind has proceeded from one pair; and the comparison and study of languages as plainly teach us, that all the various dialects of the earth's inhabitants are the result of a once common language, in which division and separation have arisen from a sudden and violent cause. It is natural to suppose, that in common with the arts which were necessary for the comfort and sustenance of the newly-created man, this language was taught him by the immediate inspiration of his Creator. The first man certainly never lay in a cradle, and it is probable that he never learned, after the manner of his descendants, to dread the fire by feeling its effects, or to determine the form and distance of objects by the exercise of the sense of touch. On him was at once

bestowed a knowledge of the elements around him, and of their qualities. And so also we suppose he had at once the gift of language, fitting him for intercourse with his companion and helpmeet, and for the high and solemn worship of his Creator, together with instruction in the earliest principles of the art of writing.

The confusion of tongues introducing changes into the languages of mankind, would occasion difference in the method of writing; and as the human race became divided, these differences would gradually increase, until it would be as difficult for one tribe to decipher each other's records, as to understand each other's speech. In sacred and profane history, we meet with indications of the employment of the art of writing at a very early period, with accumulations of ancient chronicles, and the occurrence of events by which they were destroyed, and have ceased to be found amongst us. The preservation of the immense library at Alexandria, if Divine Providence had permitted it, would have presented us with many thousand volumes, the records of the reigns of the Pharaohs, and the testimonies of the far-famed wisdom of the Egyptians. Now, however, we have handed down to us the inscriptions on their monuments, and the records on their rolls of papyrus. These latter exist in great numbers, and constitute some of the most valuable treasures of modern museums. The writing is of three kinds, but the most remarkable is that which is found on the monuments, and which is

known as the hieroglyphic. To an observer ignorant of its meaning, it appears a combination of figures of animals, parts of the human body, various mechanical instruments, and sundry wholly inexplicable forms; and it is no wonder, that for many years it should have been regarded as a mysterious cypher, purposely concealing from common eyes the secrets of nature, politics, or religion.

When, in modern ages, the learned became acquainted with the existence of Egyptian inscriptions, the most extravagant conjectures were formed respecting them. Some undertook to prove that the doctrines of Christianity were engraven on the ancient obelisks, some that the hieroglyphical inscriptions were transcripts of the Psalms of David, and others contended that they were only ornamental. Attention

was thus thoroughly awakened, and curiosity excited as to their interpretation. The scholar naturally referred to the pages of the Greek and Roman classics, but found that his favourite authors supplied little or no information, except that the perusal of the monumental inscriptions was a subject on which they, as well as the moderns, were thoroughly ignorant; and although Roman arms had conquered Egypt, and Roman emperors embellished Rome with Egyptian obelisks, no clue could be discovered of the meaning of this handwriting upon the wall.

The first step made towards the accomplishment of the difficult task, was to determine something respecting the nature of the old.

Egyptian language. lished six huge folios, containing professed interpretations of the Egyptian monuments. Unprofitable as these volumes proved for the immediate purpose of their publication, they yet served as a valuable collection of material, and directed attention to the Coptic tongue, in which many manuscripts existed in the Vatican Library at Rome. The Copts are the nominal Christians and learned men of Egypt, and the language which they use in their religious documents and services is the Coptic, which is translated into Arabic for the use of the unlearned. The Coptic has been found to be, in the main, the ancient Egyptian, written in Greek characters, with some few old Egyptian ones retained, for which no corresponding letters were found in Greek. By the researches of Jablonski and Quatremère, the close connexion between the Coptic and the ancient Egyptian was clearly ascertained. The Coptic, as at present known to us, came into use with Christianity, and has undergone changes and modifications in the lapse of years. About a hundred years ago it ceased to be a spoken language, and is now preserved, and has to be studied, in the Christian liturgies of Egypt.

In 1656, Kircher pub

On the return of Napoleon's expedition into Egypt, a work was compiled by the learned men of France, who had accompanied the expedition, which more than any other work in modern times promoted an impetus in Egyptian studies, and assisted to direct them. It fur