them, being grand and majestic beyond description. A mist over the wide sandy plains formed a veil, which vanished gradually as the sun rose, and at length opened to their view that beautiful land, once the site of Memphis. The distant view of the smaller pyramids, on the south, marked the extension of that vast capital; while the solemn spectacle of the immense sandy desert on the west, stretching as far as the eye could reach, inspired sublime feelings. The fertile land on the north, with the winding course of the Nile descending towards the sea; the rich appearance of Cairo and its glittering minarets; the beautiful plain, which extends from the pyramids to that city; the thick groves of palm trees in the midst of the fertile valley, altogether formed a scene Belzoni was well calculated to enjoy. BERNARD.-Mamma, I do not understand how Belzoni mounted the pyramid. MRS. A.-There are steps on the outside, and by them he ascended it. Having gratified his admiration, he went with his friend round the next pyramid, examined several of the mausoleums, and returned to Cairo, highly delighted with having seen a wonder they had long desired, but never supposed they should have the pleasure of beholding. A few days after this time, a party was formed After visiting the pyra to go to Sacara by water. mids at that place, they returned to Cairo, except Mr. Turner, the English gentleman, and Belzoni, who went on to Dajior, and examined the remains of many other pyramids there. When they came back to the Nile, it was quite night, and they had to pass several villages before they reached a place where they could embark for Cairo. Their road lay through a cluster of palm-trees, which, as the moon was just rising, had a solemn effect. Some of the Arabs were dancing to the usual tunes of their tambourines, and, forgetting their masters, the Turks, were happy for a time. At length, Belzoni and his friend took a small boat, and arrived in Cairo before morning. Two days after this time, the former was to be presented to the Bashaw, on the subject of his hydraulic project. 3 EMILY. I hope the Bashaw was pleased with it, after Belzoni had taken so much pains to promote the comfort of his people. MRS. A.-But poor Belzoni met with an unfortunate accident, which detained him for some time. He received a violent blow on the leg, from a soldier who was passing on horseback, and was obliged to be taken to the convent of Terrasanta. BERNARD. It must have been very desolate to be laid up at such a place; and yet the convent C was, perhaps, more comfortable than that shabby old house at Boolac. Did he soon recover, mamma? I think that cruel soldier had never heard your favourite sentence, "Do as you would be done by." MRS. A.-The common feelings of humanity were strangers to his bosom. Belzoni, however, was well enough in a few days to be presented to the Bashaw. OWEN.-I do not like to interrupt you, mamma; but is the Bashaw in the place of a king? What sort of government is it in Egypt ? MRS. A.-The form of government in Egypt is called an aristocracy. OWEN.-What is an aristocracy, mamma? I know that despotism implies the will of the monarch to be the law, and that a limited monarchy, as in England, indicates that the king has only a part of the supreme power in common with some of his subjects; but I do not understand what you mean by an aristocracy. MRS. A.-An aristocracy is a republican state, wherein the supreme power is consigned to nobles and peers. Since Egypt has been under the dominion of the Turks, it has been governed by a Bashaw, who resides at Cairo, and who has under him inferior governors in several parts of the country. EMILY.-I observed, mamma, when you were talking of the Arabs enjoying the moonlight under the palm-trees, and playing upon their tambourines, that you said they were forgetting their mas ters the Turks. What have Turks to do in Egypt? MRS A.-The inhabitants of Egypt are composed of different races of people. The Turks, who think themselves entitled to be masters of the country, because the Arabs (who are another race) were conquered by them: then there are the Copts, who are descended from the first Egyptians; as well as many others, under different denominations. And now, having wandered from our subject, we will pursue it. BERNARD.—Oh, mamma! I want to hear some of Belzoni's adventures and escapes! MRS. A.-Adventures are delightful things, provided an escape follows. But you must have patience, my boy. Belzoni made an arrangement with the Bashaw, and undertook to erect a machine which would raise as much water with one ox as the machines of the country with four. BERNARD.-Useful Belzoni! Success to your project! OWEN.-How did Mahomed Ali like it, mamma? I expected that he was of too indolent a disposition to admire any thing new: he was a Turk, you know, and the Turks are famed for their indolence. MRS. A.-You are right, my love, in supposing that a person of an enervated turn of mind cannot derive so much pleasure from a new project as one of a more active disposition. Ali, however, received our Belzoni very civilly, and was much pleased with his proposition. OWEN. And well he might be, when he could foresee that, if put in execution, it would spare the expense and labour of many thousands of oxen. MRS. A.-Belzoni now commenced his hydraulic machine. It was to be erected in Soubra, at the garden of the Bashaw, on the Nile, three miles from Cairo. He had many difficulties to encounter, Bernard; for the very persons who were necessary to furnish him with wood, iron, carpentry, and so on, unfortunately recollected that they should be the first to suffer by it, if the machine succeeded. However success is secure unless energy fails, and Belzoni in time saw his water machine completed. But as he was some time at Soubra, perhaps you may like to hear how he passed the intervals, when unoccupied by his work. BERNARD.-Yes, dear mamma-I like him very much! What a clever man he was! MRS. A.-You see, my dear little boy, that a |