350 
CHAP. 
vn. 
Discovery 
<■£ the In- 
scription. 
ALEXANDRIA. 
are now believed to complete the name of the 
Emperor Diocletian. There is, indeed, good 
reason to conjecture that Diocletian's name is 
mentioned in that Inscription ; but it by no 
means necessarily follows that the pillar was 
erected by him ; and some reasons will be given 
in the sequel to shew that the legend admits of 
a different, although a doubtful, reading. At 
present, in justice to the memory of a distin- 
guished, but now lamented officer, it is neces- 
sary to prove that all the information afforded 
by the Im^c.yiption itself would have been con- 
signed to everlasting oblivion, but for the im- 
portant discovery made by the late Lieutenant- 
colonel Squire of some remaining characters 
upon the pedestal, while Mr. Hamilton, and his 
companion. Major Leake, were in Upper Egypt '. 
(l) This circumstance is mentioned in a Letter to his Brother, in 
the, following words : " I belie\e the Paper presented to the Antiqua- 
rian Society contains the best history of the discovery of thtt Alexandrian 
Inscription" {alluding to the misi-epresentations published vpon the 
subject by Colonel fValsh and Sir R. TVilson). " I wish not to be 
brought forward in any literary dispute ; but the fact is, that most of 
the letters were discovered by me while Messrs. Hamilton and Leake 
were in Upper Egypt. I had seen the same Inscription in Pococke's 
Travels before, and knew of its existence from that book. The next 
Extract is taken from a former Letter written by Colonel Squire to his 
Brgrther, from Alexandria: it relates to his discovery of the Inscrip- 
tion ; and is dated Alexandria, Christmas Day, 1801. " Here let roe 
remark," says Colonel Squire, ** that it is not impossible but that part 
of 
