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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

wonder of the world; but the power of her priesthood, the genius of her people, and the wise and stable order of her administration are gone. The world has admired and has despised her.

Yet there are tokens, slight and uncertain indeed, that Egypt may recover from this long degeneracy. This hope lies not in the energy of the people, but in the singular personal character of Mahomed Ali the reigning Pacha. As the eyes of Europe are turned with interest to the career of this extraordinary man, and men are anxiously watching the character and waiting for the results of his movements, we have thought a slight notice of his history would not be unacceptable to our readers, nor an unapt introduction to a statement of his labors for education.

Mahomed Ali was born in Cavalla, a small town of Roumelia, a district of Albania. By his vigilance, resoluteness, and promptness of action, he gained the appointment of subordinate collector of taxes in that place, an office allowing, and perhaps, in the customary discharge of it, requiring fearlessness and cruelty. Here he married a relation of the governor and became a dealer in tobacco. When the French invaded Egypt in 1793, he was sent with 300 men to join the opposing army. After the treacherous murder of the Mamelouks, he obtained the command of a division under Yousef Bey in the expedition against them in Upper Egypt. Being in danger from some alleged misconduct in this campaign, he combined with a rival to overthrow the administration, and the power reverted to the Mamelouks. In several changes which followed he became an object of attention at Constantinople, and was appointed Pacha of Djidda and Mecca in 1804. Before he could enter on this office he was, doubtless at his own instigation, proclaimed Pacha of Egypt by the army under his command, and after some. struggles with the rival Beys and with the Sultan, was fully recognized by the latter in that capacity. In 1807, he utterly defeated an English invading army under General Fraser. In 1811, he most perfidiously aud cruelly murdered several hundred of the Mamelouk chiefs. Till 1815 he was occupied in war with the Wakabees in Arabia. This war was renewed in 1824 and lasted several years.

At present the dependence of Mahomed Ali on the Sultan seems to be nominal. He has been recently at war with

the Porte and has conquered Syria, which he now holds. He is now about 70 years of age. There is yet an uncertainty who will be his successor, and a fear may be entertained that his plans will die with him, and Egypt revert to her former subjection and cruel oppresion.

The present viceroy has made great changes in the arts and habits of the people, as well as in the spirit of the government. He has assumed the proprietorship of almost all the land of Egypt. He is the principal trader of the country. Those who are yet permitted to hold lands may sell nothing till the agents of the Pacha have bought what they please at their own price. The population of Egypt is about 3,000,000, and the revenue nearly £20,000,000. The commerce of the country does not exceed £10,000,000, and the manufactures are recent and introduced by the viceroy. He has been at great pains to learn and use every recent improvement in the arts in Europe. He has constructed a canal from Alexandria to the Nile, 48 miles long, 90 feet broad and 18 deep. 250,000 men it is said were employed at once on this work and it was finished in six weeks. The culture and manufacture of cotton have been greatly encouraged. The soldiers are armed and disciplined after the fashion of Europe. This attempt nearly cost the Pacha his life. The army numbers nearly 160,000 men. Cannon are cast, powder manufactured, the steam engine used in Cairo. The changes in Egypt are a remarkable illustration of what the genius of one man can effect. Whether this genius has been influenced by motives of patriotism may well be questioned; whether what of good there is in his labors shall survive him is a problem which time only can solve.

EDUCATION IN EGYPT.

It is to his Highness Mahomed Ali Pasha that Egypt owes the introduction not only of special, but also of elementary education. The following is the plan of public instruction. There are 50 primary schools, of which there are

600 scholars,

3 at Cairo, of

1 at Alexandria, of

1 at Sious, of

45 at other towns of the provinces, composed of each 100 scholars,

Total,

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They are taught reading and writing, Arabic, and the four rules of arithmetic. These schools, after three years study, supply scholars to the two preparatory schools,

1 at Abouzabel,
1 at Alexandria,

Total

1500 scholars,

800

2300

In these two schools are taught Arabic, Persian, Turkish, and a complete course of arithmetic, the elements of geometry and algebra, history, and drawing. These last schools supply, after four years' study, scholars for the special schools which are ten in number as follows:

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All these schools are furnished with Professors, European and native. The duration of the studies varies from three to five years. The scholars of all these school are lodged in barracks, and subject to military discipline; they are clothed, fed, and paid, by his Highness. The scholars receive

monthly

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Special

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Of these schools certain of the distinguished boys are made corporals, serjeants and serjeant-majors; these first,

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