194f DESCRIPTIONS OF EGYPT. 
tion, and reduces the science of history itself to 
a species of experimental knowledge.* 
The expedition undertaken by the French into 
Egypt, although its object and conduct cannot be 
justified, deserves praise on account of the care 
which was taken to render it subservient to the 
interests of science. A body of those eminent 
learned men, who compose the Literary Society 
of Paris, was attached to the army, and availed 
themselves of all its movements, to obtain an ac-^ 
cession to knowledge in their various depart- 
ments. Denon, as an artist, had, for his pro- 
vince, to examine those gigantic monuments 
which form the peculiar boast of Egypt. Al- 
though he is not the most solid or sober-minded 
of observers, and though his operations were 
much obstructed by following the rapid move- 
ments of the army, his narrative still contains 
many things deserving of notice. 
Denon did not bestow any particular attention 
on Alexandria, nor did he minutely examine any 
object till he arrived at the pyramids. He made 
a very anxious effort to explore the contents of 
the great pyramid. The only passage is by three 
long galleries, two of which are ascending, and 
one descending. At the end of each there arq 
* The remainaer of this uliapier is by the Editor. 
