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POSTSCRIPT. 
Since tlie foregoing paper was sent to the printer, a friend 
has sent me an interesting article by M. Ed. Naville in the 
Revue Ghretienne (1878, pp. 65 et seqq .), on the Israelites in 
Egypt, which contains many observations on the history of 
Joseph. 
There is nothing, however, which differs from the views 
which I have expressed. The eminent Egyptologist believes 
that both Abraham and Joseph were in Egypt in the time of 
the Hyksos Pharaohs, and considers the assertion of the 
Syncellus, that Joseph was made prime minister by Apophis 
(one of the last Hyksos kings), “ perfectly conformable with 
the chronological data.” 
I have also since procured a paper by M. Chabas, on the 
use of the walking-staff among the Hebrews and in ancient 
Egypt, and am much pleased to observe that he has already 
suggested the same connection between the ceremony of 
touching the head of the staff in making oath, and the act of 
Jacob in bowing himself to the head of the staff (that is, of 
Joseph's staff), as a token of homage, which I have noticed. 
I cannot but believe that this is the true explanation of 
the matter. M. Chabas has not remarked that this was the 
fulfilment of the dream. But this point was not relevant to 
his inquiry, although so very interesting in ours. 
In my paper I have omitted to mention the celebrated Tale 
of the two Brothers (Papyrus d'Orbiney), which in several 
points bears so curiously on the story of Joseph in his lord's 
house. It is carefully treated by Dr. Ebers, who sees in it a 
striking proof of the f< AEgypticity 99 of the Biblical narrative. 
A similar view is taken by Brugsch. 
The Chairman.— I have now, on behalf of the meeting, to return thanks 
to Mr. Tomkins for his very interesting paper. (Hear, hear.) As he has 
received some correspondence on the subject with which he has dealt, it 
would, I think, be desirable that he should be invited to read it to us before 
the discussion on the paper commences ; it will probably form a very useful 
introduction to the discussion. 
The Rev. H. G. Tomkins. — I have received one or two letters which 
are very interesting, and I think that those present will be particularly 
glad to hear the letter of M. Naville, who is one of the leading Egyptologists 
