IV PREFACE. 



larger dimensions has been avoided, and the uni- 

 formity of the two sets has been thereby main- 

 tained. 



I have much pleasure in acknowledging the kind 

 assistance of Mr. Burton and Mr. Pettigrew while 

 writing the accompanying volumes, to the former 

 of whom I am indebted for the Plates 85 and 86, 

 which are copied from his drawings in the tombs 

 of Thebes. 



In offering any remarks on so abstruse and mys- 

 terious a subject as the religion of the Egyptians, 

 I must observe that my view has been rather to 

 present the result of observations derived from the 

 Monuments, than to suggest my own opinion re- 

 specting it ; feeling persuaded that the progress of 

 discovery in hieroglyphical literature will at length 

 explain the doctrines of that people without the 

 necessity of unsatisfactory and doubtful conjecture. 

 Whatever statements I have ventured to make are 

 open to correction, and await the sentence of more 

 matured opinions derived from the experience of 

 future discoveries. 



Many interesting comparisons might be brought 

 forward of the religious notions of the Greeks, 

 Hindoos, and others, with those of the Egyptians; 

 but a minute examination of them would lead to 

 a lengthened disquisition, which neither the limits 

 of this work (already too long), nor the taste of 

 the generality of readers, would permit. Those 



