CAIRO. ^85 
the roof being supported by Corinthian pillars of Italian marble. 
But even this holy edifice had not been spared during the civil 
wars between the Beys and Albanians, and the artillery of both 
parties had equally contributed to its destruction when they occu- 
pied the opposite sides of the river, and were constantly firing at 
each other. 
Our next visit was to a Jewish synagogue, which had nothing 
remarkable in it, but its filth ; and we afterwards examined a Coptic 
church, which was not only more cleanly, but was an object of 
curiosity, from its being believed to contain the cell, in which the 
Virgin Mary resided during her abode in Egypt. It is a vault under 
the body of the-church, containing an ovenlike aperture, where the 
infant Jesus was supposed to have slept. Many of our attendants took 
the opportunity of so free an access, to chip off small bits of wood 
from the beams which supported the roof, to wear as amulets about 
their persons. 
We returned to the convent and found an excellent dinner pro- 
vided for me, and plenty of good wine sent from the Residency. I 
invited all the gentlemen to partake with me. This was the day 
fixed on by the French Agent to celebrate the victories of his 
master. He had invited the Pacha's interpreter to be of the party, 
but his Highness ordered him, " to go and dine with the General 
{as he always called me), and accompany him to the Pyramids.*' 
I was very glad to see him join our party, as it added a consequence 
to us, and greatly increased our security by the certainty which 
every one felt, that if any thing should be wrong, he would report 
it to his master. 
March 3, — We were all up by five, and immediately passed the 
VOL. III. 3d 
