the first time in which the sovereigns of Egypt have been figured under the fantastic form of a sphinx, with or without wings. This exhibition therefore, must be considered as a symbolical image of queen Tmauhmot herself, and the flowers of lotus, which are evidently, though emblematically, taken for the Nile, and the whole country of Egypt, produce one of those anaglyphs, which, under appearances very often monstrous, contained the praises of the Egyptian monarchs. The signification therefore of the whole, seems to be, a monument raised to the memory of queen Tmauhmot, styled the Guardian and Protectress of the land of Egypt, by her wisdom and strength.

This however, is not the only inscription which renders this monument highly interesting; for on the side of the Pharaoh there is another basso relievo, representing four prisoners, having their arms and necks tied by ropes; but two of them turn their faces to the right, while the faces of the other two prisoners are turned to the left. The former have all the appearance of Negroes, and resemble in every possible respect those which Belzoni discovered in the Royal tomb at Thebes, and exhibited at the Egyptian Hall. But the two prisoners who have their faces turned to the left, are peculiarly attired: they both wear a long and thick beard, have a species of tippet, which, descending to the elbow, covers their breast; and one of them has on his head a bonnet of a curious construction, narrow at the top, but increasing its

dimensions as it descends on the neck, where it is very large; and it is besides, fixed by a band, that resembles a diadem.

Now in looking over all the Egyptian monuments, in which prisoners, captives, and conquered enemies are introduced, we observe that the figures of these people, as well as the negroes, and another nation always painted in red, with blue eyes, and red hair, are constantly represented as the enemies of the primitive Pharaohs. These last people, with blue eyes and red hair, evidently more savage than the other two, are generally exhibited with long and dishevelled hair, and appear either dressed in the hide of an ox, still rough, which envelops them, or is simply tied round their waist; in which case their legs and arms are very roughly tatooed. As I stated in a former Lecture, the Egyptian monuments never exhibit these people, (and particularly those with long beards and large tippets,) but in a state of captivity and subjection; and often they are seen lying bound on the ground, serving as footstools to the throne of the Pharaohs; an example which was followed also by the Egyptian people at large; for they often wore the image of one of these savages in a state of bondage, under their sandals, so rivetted was the feeling of horror and contempt, in the bosom of the Egyptians, towards these strangers. There seems to be no doubt that these people are the Hyk-shos.

It is against them most particularly that the Pharaohs of the seventeenth dynasty, were perpe

tually engaged, until they were finally expelled from Egypt by Misphra-Thoutmosis. Every circumstance connected with the warlike exploits of this prince and his successors, is sculptured not only on the palaces at Karnac and Louqsor, but also in the magnificent excavations of Nubia. We are not however, to believe that these prisoners, engraved on the throne of king Horus, refer to any military expedition of that prince; for in the decree I have just mentioned we find not the least allusion to them in the enumeration of the benefits which he had conferred on his subjects, and of the deeds he had performed; but we must consider these representations as systematically adopted by all the Pharaohs of the eighteenth dynasty, as the lineal descendants of Misphra-Thoutmosis and Amenoftep, who, after many desperate battles, conquered these strangers.

According to the opinion of Mr. Bryant, of Sir John Marsham, and Mr. Faber, these Hyk-shos were, for some time at least, the masters of the Israelites, and to these barbarians we must look to ascertain the period of the reign, and consequently the historical name of the Pharaoh who opposed Moses, and was at last drowned in the Red Sea.

But before I proceed with my enquiry into this important point of the sacred as well as profane history, I will offer to your consideration all that the ancients have said of these Hyk-shos, and shall begin with Manetho, the most ancient of all. You remember he was a native of Sabenytus, and a priest

of Isis, and that by the order of king Ptolemy Philadelphus, he wrote the history of Egypt from the most remote antiquity. You also remember, I hope, that this history is now lost, and that only a few fragments have reached us in the works of Julius Africanus, Josephus, Eusebius, and Syncellus; and lastly you also recollect that Manetho compiled his history from the authentic memoirs and documents deposited in the archives of the temples entrusted to his care. All this appears from the original letter of Manetho to king Ptolemy, preserved by Syncellus.

Now in the answer which Josephus wrote against Apion, we find this remarkable passage from Manetho:

"We had a king whose name was Timaus, and in his reign we fell, beyond all imagination, under the god's heavy displeasure. There came flowing in upon us a rugged robust people out of the East, that made an inroad into the province; and, there encamping, took it by force, and carried all before them, without any material resistance, putting our princes in chains, cruelly laying our cities in ashes, demolishing our temples, and miserably oppressing our inhabitants; some they murdered, and others, with their wives and children, were sent away into bondage. After this they made one of their number to be king, and his name was Salatis."

"This new king advanced to Memphis, and having reduced both the upper and lower provinces to

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the payment of a tribute, and put garrisons into all tenable places, he fortified to the eastward in a particular manner, for fear of an invasion from the Assyrians, whom he looked upon as stronger than themselves. He found in the nome, that is, the province or department of Saïtes, a city formerly called Avaris, which was situated, very conveniently for his purpose, to the east of the river Bubastis. This city he improved, repaired, and fortified with strong works and walls, and a body of two hundred and forty thousand men to cover it. Hither he was wont to resort in summer time, to measure out the corn which he received as a tribute, to pay his soldiers, and to train them to the use of arms, that he might strike terror into his foreign neighbours."

"Salatis died in the nineteenth year of his reign, and one Bæon succeeded him, who reigned fortyfour years. After him came Apachmas, who governed thirty-six years and seven months. Apochis came next, and he ruled sixty years and one month; Janias fifty years and one month; and, last of all, came Assis, who reigned forty-nine years and two months. These six were the first kings; they were perpetually engaged in war, and they seemed bent on the design of utterly exterminating the Egyptians.

"These people were called Huc-sos, that is to say, shepherd kings, for Huc in the holy tongue means a king, and sos in the common dialect means a shepherd; so that Huc-sos is taken as a