542 CO8M08. 



epoch of the Ptolemies, both by the combined action of external 

 relations, the foundation and proper endowment, of several 

 large institutions (jhc Alexandrian Museum and t.\vo libraries at 

 Bruehiuin and Khaknlis),* and by the collegiate association of 

 so many learned men actuated by practical views. This ency- 

 clop;cdic species of knowledge facilitated the comparison of 

 observations and the generalisation of natural views. f The 

 great scientific institution which owes its origin to the first of 

 the Ptolemies long enjoyed, amongst other advantages, that 

 of being able to give a free scope to the differently directed 

 pursuits of its members, and thus, although founded in a foreign 

 country, and surrounded by nations of diH'crcnt race's, it could 

 still preserve the characteristics of the Greek acuteness of 

 mind and a Greek mode of thought. 



A few examples must suffice, in accordance with the spirit 

 and form of the present work, to show how experiments and 

 observations, under the protecting influence of the Ptolemies, 

 acquired their appropriate recognition as the true sources of 



knowledge regarding celestial and terrestrial phenomena, and 

 how, in the Alexandrian period, a felicitous generalisation of 



views manifested itself conjointly with a laborious accumula- 

 tion of knowledge. Although the different Greek schools of 

 philosophy, when transplanted to Lower Kgypt, gave occasion, 

 by their Oriental degeneration to many mythical hypotheses 

 regarding nature and natural phenomena, mathematics stil' 

 constituted the firmest foundation of the Platonic doctrines 



* The library in the Bruehiuin, which was destroyed in the burning 

 of the fleet under Julius ('jesar, was t,he more ancient. The library at 

 Khakotis formed a part of the " Scrapeum," where it was connected with 

 the museum. By the liberality of Antoninus, (lie eolleetion of hooka at 

 Pergamus, was joined to the library of Kliakolis. 



f Vacherof. Ilixtoire critique de IKcolc d'Alcj-andric, IS Ii5, t. i. pp. 

 v. and 103. The institute of Alexandria, like all aeademieal corpora- 

 tions, together willi the good arising from the eonenrrenee of many 

 labourers, and from the acquisition of material aids, exercised also some 

 narrowing and restraining influence, ;v^ we find from numerous faetn 

 furnished by antiquity. Adrian ajipoinlcd his tutor, N'estinus, High 

 Priest of Alexandria (a sort of minis) er presiding over (lit 1 management 

 of public worship), and at the same time Head of the Museum (or 1 're- 

 sident of the Academy). (Lctronne, /.Yr//< /<//<* ],t>i<r ncrrir a I'/Iix- 

 (oire de I'Egypte pendant la domination de* (.Inc.* ct </(> In>mai?ij 

 1823, p. 861.) 



