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CHAPTER XXIX. 
Description of Alexandria. — Antiquities. 
Ir would be easy to form a library of the different 
voyages to, and descriptions of Egypt. This country, 
formerly known in a certain degree, has become more 
so of late years. A French army, accompanied by a 
body of learned men, whose knowledge and efforts in 
making researches in this country, have probably ex- 
hausted the subjects which, under other circumstances, 
might have arrested the attention of the traveller. Per- 
haps there remains nothing now for him to say upon the 
country of Sesostris; but is it possible to be in a land 
so celebrated, and pass off, as a shadow or dumb fugi- 
tive, without paying it at least some tribute of admi- 
ration, and trying to awaken it in others? I shall 
speak of it, then, but in a few words; and if I do but 
repeat what has been already said, my readers may pass 
it over: but I shall be happy if they find any thing new 
to them. 
The geographical position of Alexandria is fixed in 
the astronomical tables of the year 1806, in latitude 31? 
13' 5" N. and its longitude 27° 35' 30" E. from the ob- 
servatory of Paris. The eclipse of the sun on the 
16th of June did not take place at Alexandria till some 
minutes after its setting; and this delay hindered me 
from observing the first contact. However, in the fear 
of some moments of error in my calculation, I follow- 
ed the star with my telescope until it disappeared. In 
