5 3 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



Dr Shaw* thinks that this is further confirmed by Pliny's 

 faying that Memphis was within fifteen miles of the Delta. 

 Now if this was really the cafe, he fuggefts a plain reafon, if 

 he relies on ancient meafures, why Geeza, that is only ten 

 miles, cannot be Memphis. 



If a perfon, arguing from meafures, thinks he is intitled 

 to throw away or add, the third part of the quantity that he 

 is contending for, he will not be at a great flrefs to place 

 thefe ancient cities in what iituation he pleafes. 



Nor is it fair for Dr Shaw to fuppofe quantities that never 

 did exift ; for Metrahenny, inftead of f forty, is not quite 

 twenty-feven miles from the Delta ; fuch liberties would 

 confound any queftion. 



The Doctor proceeds by faying, that heaps of ruins J alone 

 are not proof of any particular place ; but the agreeing of the 

 diflances between Memphis and the Delta, which is a fixed 

 and flanding boundary, 1; ing at a determinate diflance 

 from Memphis, muft be a proof beyond all exception ||. 



If I could have attempted to advife Dr Shaw, or have had 

 an opportunity of doing it, I would have fuggefled to him, as 

 one who has maintained that all Egypt is the gift of the Nile, 

 not to fay that the point of the Delta is a flanding and deter- 

 mined boundary that cannot alter. The inconfiflency is 

 apparent, and I am of a very contrary opinion. 



Babyloj«t 



Shawls Travels, cap. 4. p. 2.98. fid. ibid. 299. ^ Id ibid. || Id. ibid. 



