and philosophical sciences, a religious philosopher, and an enlightened observer, nothing escaped his notice. He described the climate of Egypt, its natural productions and phenomena, and monuments of antiquity, many of which, since his time have disappeared. The whole volume of the translation, which was the fruit of nearly ten years' application, is executed with extreme care; and notwithstanding the progress which oriental literature has since made, it would be impossible to perform the task better at the present day.

M. de Sacy as we have seen, carried on conjointly several works; and yet these were but a part of his habitual occupations; he was one of those men who find recreation in a change of subject. While he was composing the works just mentioned, any one of which would have been sufficient to absorb the leisure of an ordinary scholar, he took a very active part in the labors of the Academy of Inscriptions; he furnished articles to the Notices and Extracts from the MSS. in the King's Library, and was one of the most zealous contributors to the Magazine Encyclopedique, the Mines de l' Orient, the Annales des Voyages, &c.

It is proper to add that M. de Sacy, throughout almost his whole life, was a man of business, as well as a man of science. His precision and accuracy, his indefatigable activity, the skill with which he invariably retained a command over his tongue, and the consummate address he could at all times employ, enabled him to take part in every thing, and to speak on every subject. Was a report to be drawn up on any matter whatsoever, he was always prepared for it; and what is most remarkable, his ordinary pursuits went on, in the meanwhile as if he had nothing else to attend to.

M. de Sacy had received from the Imperial Government, in 1813, the title of Baron, which he had so nobly earned. In February 1815, the Royal government appointed him Rector of the University of Paris, a post, which had been filled by Rollin and other distinguished personages. He was nominated in August a member of the committee of public instruction, which subsequently was designated the Royal Council of Public Instruction. In this period amid political and administrative avocations, we must place a species of researches, which has almost formed a new era in oriental studies-the study of the prosodial and metrical systems of the Arabic and Persian languages. It is well known of what advantage the knowledge of the Latin and

Greek metrical system has been in classical literature. This knowledge was still more necessary for Arabic poetry, in which the consonants alone are generally written; yet till very lately only two or three Europeans, who had made some stay in the east, had been initiated in so important a study. The researches to which M. de Sacy devoted himself commenced as early as 1814. In this year the writer of this memoir began to attend his course, where he met as fellow pupils, M. Freytag, professor of Arabic at the University of Bonn, M. Humbert, professor of Arabic at Geneva, and M. Garcin de Tassy, professor of Hindostani in the Special School of Oriental Languages. The investigations of M. de Sacy developed the system of versification of all the Mussulman nations which possess a literature, and his observations were welcomed and immediately adopted by the principal orientalists in Europe.

From this period to 1822 oriental literature had made rapid advances in Europe. Hebrew, Syriac, and other biblical languages, were still cultivated, particularly in Germany. Arabian and Persian, thanks to M. de Sacy, were now taught with new energy. and there had been added Armenian, Sanscrit, and Chinese, in fact all the languages of modern Asia, which enjoy any measure of celebrity. Under these circumstances the happy idea occurred to certain persons, of incorporating together at Paris all the lovers of oriental literature, whatever the branch they had adopted as the especial object of their researches, and of combining around this centre those persons, both in the provinces and abroad, who partook of the same tastes. Such was the origin of our Asiatic Society. Of this Society M. de Sacy was elected the first President.

We omit many contributions of great but minor importance, and republications. In 1823, he was made principal of the college of France, and in 1832, was raised to the peerage, and soon after appointed conservator of oriental MSS. in the Royal library and perpetual secretary to the Academy of Inscriptions. His last work was a sketch in two volumes, 8vo, of the religious doctrines of the Druses, for which as we have stated, he had collected most of the materials forty years before. The work thus published was left incomplete. On the 21st of February 1838, after an illness of only three days, he expired, in the eighteth year

of his age, his powers of intellect, and literary activity unimpaired.

The influence which M. de Sacy exercised over not only Arabic and Persian, but every department of oriental literature was very great. His direct connexion with the government allowed him to express his opinion on every thing in any way connected with those studies; on the other hand, his works, his oral instructions, his vast correspondence, his pupils, who were successively called to fill the principal chairs of Europe, and not the least, his contributions to the principal literary collections of the day, allowed the public to participate in all his ideas.

Uniting as he did talents so various and so brilliant, he was perhaps more distinguished as a professor than in any other character. Endowed with a perfect clearness of understanding, having had time to meditate on all the mysteries of the theory of language, and possessing a knowledge of the tongue he had to teach superior to that of any one before him, he added to these valuable qualifications much coolness and a presence of mind that was imperturbable. Did any difficulty arise, he took the matter up and went directly to the point, saying just as much as was necessary and nothing more. Thus, his lectures became not those of France alone, but of all Europe. They were constantly attended by men who had completed their studies, and who had in some instances distinguished themselves by important works, and who yet came to learn something from him. M. de Sacy was quite sensible that this formed a part of his renown, and he accordingly attached an extreme importance to the due discharge of his professional duties. He was in the habit of graduating his lessons, so as to consult the advantage of the most advanced students as well as of those who were less so; the former he required to explain works of extreme difficulty, and when the work was one which he had not yet thoroughly studied, he prepared his lecture previously at home, compared the text with the manuscripts which were within his reach, and cleared up all obscurities. When the hour of lecture arrived he was ready to explain every thing. Sometimes, however, difficulties would arise, which he had not foreseen, on which occasions he frankly confessed his embarrassment; for he was not one of those men who desire to have it believed that they know every thing; but on his re

turn home, he examined the question, and generally at the following lecture, gave the required solution. All his pupils were sensible of the trouble he gave himself on their account; all were struck with admiration at his immense erudition; but such of them as were natives of France, experienced in addition, a feeling of pride and exultation in the glory which thus redounded to their country.

In the daily habits of his life, he was punctual and uniform. He rose at about half past seven, and at eight repaired to his study. On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, he met his Persian class at the College of France; on Tuesdays Thursdays, and Saturdays, he had his Arabic classes at the King's Library, from half past ten till half past twelve. After his lecture, he went either to the council of Public Instruction, to the Institute, or to some of the government offices. At six o'clock he generally dined with his family. After dinner, he went to the charity board of his district of which he was a member, or to an evening meeting of Savants, or to the house of some friend or minister. When he did not leave home, which was generally the case, he entered his study at eight o'clock, and worked there till eleven. On Sundays and festivals he regularly attended the service of the church. M. de Sacy never left home except for a specific object; and for the sake of exercise he generally went on foot.

It may be asked how M. de Sacy, with so many duties academical, and administrative, found time to compose works requiring so minute attention? I answer, he ate sparingly, and with the exception of the hours of sleep, his mind was constantly at work. On the one hand, M. de Sacy was animated with that unceasing ardor which dispenses with all repose, and which might have been truly called the sacred fire; and on the other, he possessed the rare gift of being able to pass continually from one subject to another, without loss of time. When he went any where, if he was likely to have an hour, or even a quarter of an hour unoccupied, he took care to furnish himself with a book or some sheets of paper, and he turned those moments to account, however short.

We conclude this sketch, with a reference to the religious sentiments of M. de Sacy. We extract from his will, drawn up in August 1835. "I have always," he says, "lived in the faith of the catholic church; and if my conduct has not

always been, as I humbly acknowledge, conformable to the sacred rules which that faith enjoins, those faults have never been with me, the effect of any doubt of the truth of the christian religion, or of its divine origin. I firmly trust they will be forgiven me, through the mercy of my Heavenly Father, in virtue of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ my Saviour not putting my confidence in any personal merit of my own, and confessing from the bottom of my heart, that in myself I am nothing but weakness, misery and wretchedness."

ART. II. EGYPT AS IT IS IN 1838. BY THOMAS WAGHORN, Steam Agent in Egypt. London: Smith Elder & Co.

THIS pamphlet was published in England last Autumn, with the purpose of inducing the English government to recognize the independence of Egypt. It is addressed to Lord William Bentinck, late Governor General of India. The statement of facts contained in it corresponds with what we derive from other sources most entitled to credit. Indeed on most points the statements must be considered as officially sanctioned by the government of Egypt. Prefixed to the appendix, from which we have taken the documents relating to education given below, is the following certificate:

"Conformably to instructions given by His Highness the Pacha of Egypt the following information is rendered to Mr Waghorn, by me the minister of Public Instruction and Public Works. (signed) MUCTAR, Bey of Egypt.

Cairo, Dec. 21 1837.

The present position of Egypt is not without peculiar and even romantic interest. The date of her origin is lost in the obscurity of tradition. The traces of her high refinement are already found in the earliest authentic history. The government was fully organized, with settled divisions of office and forms of justice, and the riches of the country developed in the days of Abraham. She was the mother of arts and sciences and of civilization in Europe. For centuries has her power been feared, and for decades of centuries have her riches been coveted. Her pyramids and temples remain for the