308 Discovery of Cicero's Treatise de Republica. 



CailHand carefully observed the mountains which separate the 

 Nile from the Arabian Gulf, as well as the calcareouy tracts of 

 ground, and chains of mountains between the Nile and the Oasis, 

 which all belong to the primitive soil. Here he examined several 

 ancient Egyptian structures, and others of more modern date; 

 he drs'covered several very ancient vaults, thermal springs, &:c. 

 Among the Greek and Latin inscriptions which he met with in 

 his excursions, was one containing/O lines,and about9000 letters; 

 it ii more copious by at least one-fifth than the Greek inscrip- 

 tion on the Rosetta stone. By dint of.vast patience and labour, 

 M. Caillaud succeeded in copying this incription in three days. 

 Though it is of recent date compared with the Rosetta monu- 

 ment, since it belongs to the age of the Emperor Galba, it pre- 

 sents some new and curious facts relative to the internal admi- 

 nistration of Egypt. M. Caillaud returned last year to Paris, 

 bringing along with him a vast number of drawings, notes, and 

 antiques, found principally in the hypogea of Thebes, &c. These 

 treasures have been purchased by the French government. The 

 antiques are deposited in the cabinet of medals and antiques of 

 the king's lil^rary, and the drawings will be engraved and pub- 

 lished with descriptions in two vols, folio. M. Caillaud has again 

 set out for Egvpt. In November last he was at Bony-Souey, 

 25 leagues from Cairo. He was about to depart for the Fayoum, 

 and to proceed towards the Oasis of Sivah. He must ere this 

 have made many new and interesting observations. At a quarter 

 of a league from one of the pyramids of Sakkarah, he descended 

 into a hypogeum sacred to the deity Apis, where he found, in a 

 kind of labyrinth, several bulls embalmed and preserved like 

 mummies. 



It should be remarked, that M. Belzoni had performed the 

 same journey not long before ; and perhaps had discovered this 

 same sepulchre of Apis, in company with Mr. Beechey (son of 

 Sir William, the painter), whose name the French writers most 

 unpardonably mangle, by writing it Bitche ! 



DISCOVERY OF CICERO S TREATISE DE REPUBLICA. 



The following letter, dated December 23, ISI9, from the prin- 

 cipal Librarian )f the Vatican to the Pope, giving an account of 

 the discovery of Cicero's Treatise de Republica, has excited great 

 expectation ; and though the writer may be too sanguine as to 

 the possibility of deciphering the whole, there can be little doubt 

 that what is actually gained will be a valuable addition to classical 

 literature. (Copy.) 



" Most blessed Father, first kissing your sacred foot, I have 

 the honour and satisfaction to inform your beatitude that my 



studies 



