, HIEROGLYPHICS. 315 
nations enumerate with triumph the discoveries of their 
sons, it should hinder me from seeking, even in the pres- 
ent circle, among those colleagues whose modesty I would 
not hurt, the. proof that France is not degenerate; that 
she also adds every year her glorious contingent to the 
vast deposit of human knowledge.* 
I approach, then, the question of Egyptian =e 
and I do so free from all prejudice, with the firm wish 
of being just; with the lively desiré to conciliate the 
rival pretensions of two men of science whose premature 
death has been to all Europe a legitimate subject of re- 
gret. Lastly, I shall not in this discussion on hierogly phiés 
transgress the bounds imposed on me; happy if those 
who listen to me, and whose indulgence I ask, may find 
that I have known how to escape the influence of a sub-’ 
ject whose obscurity is proverbial. 
Men have imagined two systems of writing entirely 
distinct. One is that employed by the Chinese, which is 
the system of hieroglyphics ; the other, at present in use 
among all other nations, bears the name of the alphabet- 
ical or phonetic system. 
The Chinese have no letters properly so called: the 
characters which they use in writing are strictly hiero- 
* In bringing out a part of this chapter on Egyptian Hieroglyphics 
in the Annuaire for 1836, Arago has added: “ The first exact inter- 
pretation which has been given of Egyptian hieroglyphics will cer- 
tainly take its place among the most beautiful discoveries of the age. 
Besides, after the animated debates to which it has given birth, every 
one would desire to know whether France can conscientiously pretend 
to this new title to glory. Thus the importance of the question, and 
the national self-love properly understood, unite in encouraging me to 
publish the result of a minute examination to which I have devoted 
myself. Can I, then, be blind to the danger which there always is in 
attempting difficult subjects in matters which we have not made the 
special subject.of our studies?” 
