332 Dr. Thomas Thomsons 



with his own alphabet, could perceive nothing. On the 

 temples of Carnac, Compollion read twice Alexander ; on 

 the zodiac of Denderah an imperial Roman title ; on the 

 great edifice above which the zodiac was placed, the names 

 and sirnames of the emperors Augustus, Tiberius, Claudius, 

 Nero, Domitian, &c. Thus, on one side we find every 

 reason removed for continuing the keen and continued dis- 

 cussion which the age of these monuments had produced, 

 and on the other hand, it is completely proved, that under 

 the Roman sway hieroglyphics continued to be used on the 

 banks of the Nile. 



The alphabet which has already afforded so many un- 

 expected results, when applied either to the great obelisks 

 of Carnac, or to the other monuments which are also recog- 

 nized to belong to the time of the Pharaohs, presents us with 

 the names of several kings of this ancient race, and names 

 of Egyptian divinities ; and further, with substantives, ad- 

 jectives and verbs of the Coptish language. Young was, 

 therefore, deceived when he regarded the phonetic hiero- 

 glyphics as a modern invention, and when he advanced the 

 opinion, that they were only employed for the transcription 

 of proper names, and of proper names foreign to Egypt. 



M. de Guignes, and especially M. Etienne Quatremere, 

 established on the contrary a real fact of great importance, 

 which the reading of the inscription of the Pharoahs in- 

 scriptions has strengthened by the most irresistible proofs, 

 since they prove that the Coptic language was actually that 

 in use among the subjects of Sesostris. The facts have now 

 been stated. I shall now confine myself to a few brief ob- 

 servations by way of strengthening the consequences which 

 appear to me to result necessarily from them. 

 (To be continued.) 



Article II. 

 Notices of some Minerals. By Thomas Thomson, M. D., 

 F. R. 5. L. & E., &c, Regius Professor of Chemistry in 

 the University of Glasgow. 



I. — NACEITE AND TALCITE. 



Some specimens, which I have lately received from Ireland 

 by the kindness of Dr. Scouler, Professor of Mineralogy to 



