was probably to employ symbols, and to represent the thing signified by some shape, or circumstances, which might suggest the ideas, and communicate the sentiments. It was in this manner that the ancient Egyptians wrote; and this mode of representing language the Greek historians term hieroglyphic, because it was supposed, that thus they intended to keep the knowledge of their most sacred things from the curiosity of strangers and the inspection of the multitude. But as these characters were written on the tombs, as well as the temples, as they appear on the obelisks as well as the ruins of the palace, we are bound to believe, that it was an ancient and imperfect method, which was employed, without exception, in recording things civil as well as sacred.

Besides the allegorical figures, there appear to be arbitrary marks, which suggest the idea of alphabetical characters; but as the system must have been imperfect, so the knowledge of it is com

pletely lost; and all our ideas concerning the hieroglyphics must be connected with uncertainty, unless some happy circumstances shall occur to enable us to form an alphabet, and decypher the writings. Ancient manuscripts have been found, accompanied with hieroglyphical figures; and to this mode of description may we impute the allegorical language which St. John employed in the book of Revelations. The golden candlesticks, the rainbow, the stars, the beast rising out of the sea with seven heads and ten borns, and the woman clothed with the sun and having the moon under her feet, together with many other similar expressions, are all symbolically descriptive of important things, and striking But some of them by us are darkly understood, as being wrapt in allegories, which we cannot easily comprehend; and alluding to events, which

events.

a Tacit. Annal. lib. ii, c. 14; et Lucan, lib. iii. v. 222.

1

a

have not hitherto been completely made known. In ancient times the characters of language were engraven upon stones, buildings, and rocks. Thus the law, which was given from Mount Sinai, was inscribed upon two tables of stone; and in the time of Job it was customary to write upon the rocks."

On the Arabian as well as the Egyptian mountains various inscriptions are seen; but as they cannot now be decyphered, we know not whether they relate to civil transactions, whether they be sepulchral records, or whether they be only the temporary and casual effusions of the way-faring man. In the line of improvement, we find plates of lead or brass made use of instead of stone; then linen or tables covered with wax, so that what was written could easily be altered or expunged. A stylus, or iron

a See the book of Revelations, passim.

Exod. c. xxxiv, v. I ; and Job, c. 19, v. 24.

a

pen, was employed in writing; and as the corrections upon the wax or soft materials were made with the broad end of the iron instrument, so often to turn the stylus was a mode of expression among the Romans, for directing an author often to correct, and frequently to write again those pieces of composition, which he was resolved to publish." Thus, too, from the stylus, or iron pen, employed in writing, the word style is applied to the manner in which a person expresses himself in communicating his sentiments. In certain stages of society, pastoral notes and verses were inscribed upon the leaves of trees; but the rind, or inner part of the bark, was more especially made use of in writing, and hence the Latin word liber, which means the bark of a tree, was at length employed to signify a book; and such also

Liv. lib. iii, c. 57; and lib. iv, c. 7; Tacit. annal, lib. iv, c. 43. Hor. Art. Poet. v. 399.

Hor. Sat. lib. 2; Sat. x. v. 72, &c.

is the Greek noun biblos, from which our canon of scripture is denominated the Bible. Till after the time of the prophet Mahommed, writing was in a very imperfect state in Arabia; and, in the rude condition of that country, sentiments and couplets were occasionally inscribed upon the scapulæ, or shoulder blades.'

In the Egyptian progress of improvements, the papyrus, which grew in the marshes of the Delta, was applied to the purposes of writing, instead of the more inconvenient materials, which have already been mentioned. Two or more coats of the rind, being moistened, or pressed together, were formed into sheets of a convenient size, and devoted to the purposes of literary pursuits." When a king of Pergamus, and one of the Ptolemies, were vying with each other, in forming a library and encouraging learn

2 Nota in Specim. Hist. Arab. Pocock, p. 157 & 158.

b

Some say that they were made of the pith.