37 



The twenty beautiful marble columns of Grecian 

 workmanship, discovered by JViehbur at Bolbitine, 

 no traces of which could be found recorded in the pages 

 of history, and of which no traditionary legend, of the 



most constantly floating in the atmosphere, are more liable and even 

 more subject to marks of decay or decomposition, than the same 

 substances when placed in situations more remote from the sea. 

 It is, doubtless, from this circumstance, that the parts of these 

 monuments which are exposed to the air, and being situated not far 

 from the port of Alexandria and the Mediterranean sea, have ex- 

 perienced some change at their surfaces, which indicates a slight 

 degree of decomposition ; while the parts not exposed, discover no 

 marks of the kind. 



This conclusion is warranted by the remarks of Dr. Clarke 

 respecting the attempt made to remove and transport one of these 

 obelisks to England j in which he observes, " The work went on 

 rapidly ; the obelisk was turned, and its lower surface" (which 

 was buried in the sand and rubbish,) was found to be in a high 

 state of preservation." Vol. III. page 170. 



This conclusion is, moreover, justified by another circumstance, 

 equally, if not more interesting in its character, though of a like 

 nature. It is the obelisk of Heliopolis, or pillar of On, supposed to 

 be alluded to in Genesis, chapter xii. 8th, and xiii. 4th verses ; and 

 of which Dr. Clarke, as well as Norden and SUaw, has given a 

 description. 



" This superb monument," he says, " is the only great work of 

 antiquity now remaining in all the land of Goshen ; standing on the 

 spot where the Hebrews had their first settlement." Its height, ac- 

 cording to Dr. Clarke, is between sixty and seventy feet : agreea- 

 bly to Dr. Shaw, sixty-four feet. Its diameter, at its base, six feet ; 

 and composed of one entire mass of granite. And farther it is ob- 

 served, From the coarseness of the sculpture, as well as the his- 



