82 M E M 
abfolutely require oral explanation to be imprinted with 
any efi'edt on the mind. The different impreffion which 
the fame object makes on different minds increafes the 
difficulty, and alnioft precludes the poffibility of an effec¬ 
tual explanation in writing. We may, without fear of con¬ 
tradiction, add, that the lyfiem is very eafy to be learned, 
but very difficult to be taught. 
The preceding obfervations are Hrengthened by the 
fa6l which the larger half of this volume proves; fmce it 
contains an account of fxty.works on artificial memory, 
ail of which are entirely forgotten, except the one to 
which we have already alluded. The reafon, according 
to our principles, is obvious. Dr. Grey’s’fyflem, though 
certainly not fo ingenious as many which preceded 
it, is of fo fimple a confirmation, that its principles are ■ 
eafily explained, and its application to practice requires 
only continued fludy in the pupil: while the very in¬ 
genuity of fome of the other fyftems, by precluding a 
clear definition of the principles, and throwing a caff 
of abfurdity over the examples, raifes an obftacle in 
the outfet more than fufficient to deter the learner from 
proceeding. 
Though we are therefore compelled, mod unwillingly, 
to exprefs an opinion againft the probable immortality of 
M. Von Feinaigle’s art, we are anxious, from a full con- 
vidlion of its fubftantial merit, to preferve its exigence by 
every method which our humble powers can.fuggeH. The 
fyflem itfelf, when orally communicated, is adapted to 
the meanefl capacity ; beiides being infinitely f'erviceable 
in the more important fubjedls to which other fyftems 
have been ufually confined, it can with equal facility be 
ufed in the common tranfaftions of ordinary life ; and its 
application, as none who have heard his lectures will deny, 
is rather a fource of amufement than of labour. It pof- 
fefles all the advantages of the preceding methods ; and 
as,a whole is fuperior to any that have yet appeared. 
Monthly Review, May 1813. 
Memory, Time of, in law, has been long ago afeertained 
by the law to commence from the beginning of the reign 
of RichardI. 2 Lift. 238, 239. This rule was adopted, 
when by the flatute of Weflm. (3 Edw. I. c. 39.) the reign 
of Richard I. was made the time of limitation in a writ of 
right. But fmce, by the flat. 32 Hen. VIII. c. 2. this pe¬ 
riod (in a writ of right) hath been very rationally reduced 
to fixty years, it feems unaccountable that the date of le¬ 
gal prefeription or memory ffiould flill continue to be 
reckoned from an era fo very antiquated. 
MEMORY ROC'KS, a reef of rocks among the Ba¬ 
hama Iflands. Lat. 27. 3. N. Ion. 79. 30. W. 
MEM'PHIAN, (tdj. Belonging to Memphis; Egyptian. 
Cole. 
MEM'PHIAN, f. An inhabitant of Memphis ; an 
Egyptian. Cole. \ 
MEM'PHIS, [Heb. the mouth.] In ancient geography, 
a large and populous city of Egypt, on the banks of the 
Nile. Concerning the epocha of its foundation, and alfo 
of its dellruftion, as well as of its precife fituation, writers 
are not agreed. Its foundation is aferibed by Herodotus 
to Menes ; and by Diodorus to Uchoreus, the eighth de- 
feendant of Ofymandias. Some have propofed to recon¬ 
cile thefe two accounts by attributing the commencement 
of the city to Menes, and its completion and aggrandize¬ 
ment to Uchoreus, who made it a royal city. See the ar¬ 
ticle Egypt, vol. vi. p. 290, 292. The occafion of its 
having been ereiled is thus Hated by Savery. After a 
king of Egypt had turned the courfe of the Nile, which 
loft itfelf in the lands of Libya, and the Delta was formed 
out of the mud depofited by its waters, canals were cut to 
drain the Lower Egypt. The monarclis, who till that time 
had fixed their refidence at Thebes, were defirous of com¬ 
ing nearer the mouth of the river, to enjoy a more tem¬ 
perate air, and to be more ready to defend the entrance 
of their empire. Accordingly they founded the city of 
Memphis, and flrove to make it a rival w'orthy of the an¬ 
cient capital. They adorned it, as Strabo informs us, 
with feveral temples, amongft which that of Vulcan at- 
i 
MEN 
trafted the attention of travellers, by the grandeur of the 
edifice and the richnefs of its ornaments. Another tem¬ 
ple, no iefs an objedl of wonder, was dedicated to Serapis, 
the principal approach to which was adorned by prodi¬ 
gious fphinxes. Here was alfo a temple of Venus, which 
fome have fuppofed to be the Moon. In order to prevent 
the dilaller which was likely to be occafioned by drifts of. 
land, the inundations of the river, and the attacks of an 
enemy, a long and lofty dyke was conflrudled towards 
the fouth ; and on the weft it was defended 1 by the king’s 
palaces and a fortrefs eredted on the mountain. On the 
eafl it was bounded by the Nile. Towards the north were 
lakes terminated by the Plain of Mummies, and by the 
caufeway which leads from Bufiris to the great pyramids. 
Thus fituated, Memphis commanded the Valley of Egypt, 
and communicated by canals with Lake Maris and Lake 
Mareotis. The citizen who inhabited it might travel from 
his own houfe all over Egypt in a boat; fo that it became 
the centre of wealth, of commerce, and of the arts. The 
new capital, thus circumllanced, funk Thebes and her 
hundred gates into oblivion ; and the glory of Memphis 
lalled for many ages. It maintained its lplendour till 
Cambyfes laid wafte Egypt at the head of a formidable 
army. This ferocious conqueror deltroyed, as far as he 
was able, her temples and her famous buildings ; and, 
above all, he flrove to extinguifh the torch of the fciences, 
which the Egyptians, furrounded by waves and deferts, 
had lighted in their fertile valley. Memphis, how'ever, re¬ 
tained fo many traces of her magnificence as to be flill the 
firfl city in the world. For its remaining hiflory, and that 
pf the pyramids in its neighbourhood, fee the article 
Egypt, vol. vi. p. 314-, 360. 
MEMPHREM'AGOG, a lake of America, part of 
which belongs to Canada, and part to the flate of Vermont. 
Lat. 45. N. Ion. 72. 8. W. 
MEMRAMCOOK', a river of America, which has 
been recommended as the moll proper boundary between 
the province of North Brunfwick and Nova Scotia. It 
lies a little to the eaflward of Petitcodic, and purfues a 
north-eafierly direftion. 
MEMRU'MUS, in mythology, a Phoenician deity, 
fprung from the race of giants, and the brother of Hypfa- 
ranius. The latter dwelt at Tyre, and invented the art 
of building cottages of reeds and rufhes, and the papyrus ; 
and his brother;, with whom he quarrelled, taught men 
to clothe themlelves with the lkins of beafls. When an 
impetuous fire kindled a forefl near Tyre, he took a tree, 
cut off its branches, and having launched it in the fea, 
made ufe of it for a fhip. He alio paid religious homage 
to two Hones, which he had confecrated to the wind and 
fire, and poured out libations to them of the blood of 
certain animals. This, fays Banier, is the fecond example 
of a worfhip paid to created beings ; the lun having been 
the firH objedl of idolatry. After the death of thele two 
brothers, their children, fays Sanchoniathon, confecrated 
to them mifhapen pieces of wood and Hone, which they 
adored, and inllituted anniverfary feHivals to their ho¬ 
nour. This is the firH time we rind religious worfhip 
performed to dead men. 
MEM'SHIEL. See Menshiel. 
MEMU'CAN, [Heb. to prepare.] A man’s name. 
MEN, the plural of man .—Wits live obfeurely, men 
know not how ; or die obfeurely, men mark not when. 
Afcham. —For men, there are to be confidered the valour 
and number : the old oblervation is not untrue, that the 
Spaniards valour lieth in the eye of the looker-on; but 
the Englifh valour lieth about the foldier’s heart. Bacon's 
War with Spain. 
MEN of MA'Y, rocks in the North Sea, near the 
north coafi of Scotland : five miles eaH from Dunnet Head. 
Lat. 58. 3. N. Ion. 3. 3. W. 
MEN'-PLEASER, f. One too careful to pleafe others. 
—Servants, be obedient to them that are your mafiers : 
not with eye-fervice, as men-pleafei's ; but as the ler- 
vants of Chriff, doing the wili of God from the heart. 
Eph. vi. 6, 
ME'NA, 
