ALEXANDRIA. 347 
sition, that, although sufficiently compact to chap. 
admit of their receiving a spheroidal form, yet, ■ 
when fired at our ships, the substance shivered, 
and flew about in small pieces, like canister 
shot, proving a very destructive species of 
ammunition'. 
We were now desirous of visiting the stu- p»mpey\<: 
pendous Column so long distinguished by the 
appellation of "Pompey's Pillar." It is visi- 
ble from almost every spot in the neighbourhood 
of Alexandria. The Inscription upon its pedestal 
(containing, as many have believed, the name 
of the Emperor Diocletian) was not then known 
to exist, although it had been mentioned by the 
Consul Maillet^, and after him by Pococke^. 
The circumstances of our visit may therefore 
be deemed curious ; as Mr. Hamilton was one 
of our party, who afterwards assisted in the 
development of this important record, and who 
himself discovered the name, believed to be 
(1) The auUiorhas specimens of this decomposed granite, which the 
Turks employed against our fleet, ducing its passage of theDardanelles, 
under Admiral Duckworth. The feldspar has entirely lost its colour; 
and the mass is become friable, like loosely cohering breccia. The 
Strand Bridge is built of a decomposed granite. 
(2) D^scr. de I'Egypte, tome I. p. 180. a la Haye, 1740. 
(3) Descr. of the East, vol. I. p. 8. J/)nd. 1748. 
