"

of the family bowl, came without ceremony to begin a new meal at our mess, of which he took at least an equal share.

"A number of visits were paid in the evening by heads of christian families, and the topic of conversation was the heretical peculiarities of the English, and their lamentable ignorance of the true religion. Some insisted that none of them believed in the existence of a GOD; others thought it was still worse, that they did not bow to the Pope; many seemed to know that they did not hold the VIRGIN MARY IB esteem, and that the crucifix was not worn by them; and all believed that there were neither churches, priests, fasts, festivals, ner public prayers, throughout the country, but that every one followed the devices of his own heart without restraint.

"It would have been as easy to have moved a mountain, as to have changed opinions like these."

VISIT TO THE PYRAMIDS OF EGYPT. (From LIEUTENANT-COLONEL FITZCLARENCE'S Journal.) "I Now determined to ascend the Great Pyramid, and we walked together to the entrance, which is on the north side, where, leaving MR. SALT and BELZONI, I started with a few Arabs, to undertake the difficult task. It was by the north-east angle that I climbed up, for the stones which form the steps are from three to four feet high; but after mounting a considerable way, I was completely fatigued, and added to this, a violent north wind blew the sand from the desert continually over me. If I looked down, I was affected with sickness, and I had no companion to stimulate me by emulation: but my perseverance, which was

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about to take its flight, rallied afresh on my recollecting the regret I should feel, did I not overcome the difficulties; and after many halts to rest, and a good deal of assistance from the Arabs, whom I caused to take hold of each arm, I at last gained the summit. This pyramid has been proved, by geometrical measurement, to be 577 feet in height, from its base to its summit. This is somewhat more than if the Monument were placed on the highest summit of St. Paul's: and when an inhabitant of London is told that the area on which it stands is about the extent of Lincoln's-Inn-Fields, he will form a fair and adequate conception of the sort of object which it exhibits. About two-thirds up the north-east angle of the pyramid, there is a small cave or hole about twelve feet deep and high, which appears to have been formed by removing several large stones. The view from the top is extraordinary; and far from this building ending in a point, which it appears to do at a distance, there is a space of at least twenty feet square. It looks, indeeed, as if it had never been finished. I observed the pyramids of Sacarrah at a distance, towards the south-east, and think there must be more than twenty of them, of which I understand the greater number have not been opened. The two causeways spoken of by HERODOTUS take a direction from the pyramids, one to the north-east, and the other considerably to the eastward of south-east, and are astonishing works. I followed them with my eye towards the Mokuttum mountain, till lost in the distance.

"The line which bounds the cultivation and the desert is seen most perceptibly from this height, aud the crop of green corn is not two yards from the

burning sand; thus marking the utmost extent of the yearly inundation. The desert extends to the westward, till, in the horizon, it is blended with the sky.

"It was my wish to have dated some letters I intended for India, from the top of the Great Pyramid; but I found the Arabs had only brought up my memorandum-book and pencil.

"The descent, which I much dreaded, being always affected with giddiness in looking down from a height, I found extremely easy; the reason I know not, except my being aware that the alternative was, that of remaining the rest of my days upon the top of the pyramid, or of continually looking down during my descent; and I had no return of my usual complaint. I found my companions at the entrance, and, after resting a short time, was accompanied by BELZONI through the interior, which is a most distressing and fatiguing perambulation. The extreme heat of the interior is not to be described; and what with climbing, and advancing up the steep passage, particularly after my previous fatigue, I do not recollect ever being so distressed.

"I am happy to have it in my power to vindicate the character of a British Officer in the campaign of 1801, who has been accused of being the first defacer of the sarcophagus in the pyramid; for it is stated by TAVERNIER, who visited Egypt one hundred years before any English soldier set his foot here, that it was customary for travellers to break off pieces and carry them away. He adds, The stone, &c., of which it is formed is very hard, and very neat when polished, which induces many to break off pieces to make seals of; but it requires a strong arm and good hammer to knock off a bit. The individual above alluded to was