with the Sand run out of the Veffel, by dividing the Tube into equal Parts, the equal Parts of this Time is found; or, which will be ftill more exact, at whatever Moment from the falling of the Sand into one of the Tubes, that Tube is fhut, by means of the Plate, it is taken off, which is very eafy, and the Sand run into it weighed; and as the weight of all the Sand contained in one of the Veffels is known, that Weight is in the fame proportion to that of the Sand that has run into it, as the whole Time in which the Tube would be full, is to the Time in which it has received but part of the Sand. The Machine continuing in the fame posture, at the inftant that this Tube fhuts, the other opens, and the Sand of the correfponding Veffel runs into it. In this manner there is no time loft in weighing the Sand of one Tube, and the Machine ftill goes on meafuring the Time. This Invention, tho' very ingenious, is, as any one may fee, fubject to the ufual inconveniences of Hour-Glaffes, which are, the different Vifcofity of the Sand, and the widening of the Holes from the continual running of it.

ARTICLE

ARTICLE V.

Hiftoire Ancienne des Egyptiens, des Car thaginois, des Affyriens, des Babylo niens, des Medes, & des Perfes, des Macedoniens, des Grecs. Par. M. Rollin, ancien Recteur de l'Univerfite de Paris, Profeffeur d'Eloquence au College Roial, & Affocie à l'Academie Roiale des Inferiptions & Belles Lettres. Tome Premier a Paris, 1730.

That is,

The Ancient History of the Egyptians, the Carthagenians, the Affyrians, the Babylonians, the Medes and Perfians, the Macedonians, and the feveral States of Greece. By Mr. Rollin, late Rector of the University of Paris, Profeffor of Eloquence in the Royal College, and Fellow of the Royal Academy of Infcriptions, and Belles Lettres. The 1ft Volume in 8vo. containing P.607, with a Preface of 40 Pages.

THE

E Author of this Hiftory is a Name fo very well known, in France, and the other Compofitions, wherewith he hath obliged the learned World, have met with fo general an Approbation, that there needs no Apology for our giving fome account of what this one Volume contains, even before the reft are compleated and made publick.

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THE

THE Defign of the whole Work (as our Author fuggefts in his Preface) is to give his Reader a right Conception of the Rife and Progrefs of States and Empires; to obferve by what fteps and means they arriv'd at their envied Grandeur, and from what Springs and Caufes their decay and downfall did enfue; and, ftill as he goes along, to remark the Manners of the feveral Nations, their Genius, Laws, Cuftoms, and Ufages, as well as the principal Characters of fuch Perfons who had the Administration of Affairs, and how far their good or ill Qualities contributed either to the Exaltation or Diminution of the State.

IN this Volume our Author treats only of two Governments, the Egyptian and the Carthaginian, the one a Monarchy, and the other a Republick; and, by way of Introduction to the whole, gives his Reader a fhort Narrative of what the firft Rife and Eftablishment of Kingdoms were on

To this purpose he tells us, that the first Form of Government was Paternal, or that every Father was the chief Sovereign of his Family, till in procefs of time, Families encreafing to a prodigious Number, and every one having its feparate Head, it was thought expedient, for the prefervation of Peace and good Order, to felect one out of many, a Perfon diftinguifh'd for his Wifdom, Virtue, and Probity, and him to place in an Eminence above the reft.

To him they gave the Title of King, and, that he might be encourag'd to make the Affairs of State his fole Bufinefs and Employ, to him they paid Homage and Tribute, protected his Perfon with a Guard, and putting the Sword

of Juftice in his Hand, gave him Authority, and Power to punish the wicked, and reward those that did well.

In this Condition we may fuppofe the Kingdoms continued for fome time, till a contrariety of Tempers, and fuch Differences, as are almost unavoidable among neighbouring Princes, gave occafion for Contention; which Contention flamed out into a War, and War foon terminated in the Destruction of one Kingdom, and the aggrandizement of another fo that by this means a Prince of a bold and martial Spirit, finding the fuccefs of his Arms, and' an eafy occafion to quarrel with his Neighbours, pufh'd on his Conquefts with Vigour, till, having added Kingdom to Kingdom, and Nation to Nation, he laid the Foundation of fome of thofe large Empires, which afterwards compriz'd the greateft part of the then known World.

AFTER this Hypothefis of the Origin and Progrefs of Kingdoms in general, our Author begins with giving us,

I. A fhort Description of the different Parts of Egypt.

II. AN Account of the Customs, Laws, and Religion of the People: and,

III. A brief Hiftory of their Kings, and of the Actions for which they were remarkable.

I. Egypt he divides into three Parts; the Upper, Middle, and Lower Egypt.

1. IN the Upper Egypt ftood the ancient City of Thebes (from whence the whole Country

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had

1

had its Name) not more famous for its hundred Gates, than for its vaft Number of Inhabitants, which, at one and the fame time, cou'd fend out of each Gate two hundred Chariots of War, and Ten thoufand Men able to bear Arms, as old † Homer fings its Praife.

2.IN the Middle Egypt ftood formerly the City of Memphis; but now Grand Cairo is become the Capital, whofe Caftle fituated on an high Rock with fteps cut out of it fo very eafy of af cent, that even laden Camels may go up, is one of the greateft Curiofities in this part of Egypt.

In the Defcription of this Country, the Hiftorian gives us an account of the ancient Obelifques, which were large quadrangular Pillars, ending in a Point, and ufually engrav'd with Hieroglyphics; of the Pyramids, vaft and prodigious Buildings, defign'd originally for the Monuments of their Kings, tho' few of them had the honour to be repofited there of the Lake of Maris, dug to receive the Super-abundance, and to fupply the Deficiency of the Nile's Inundation; of the Canal of Communication between the Red and the Mediterranean Seas, now quite fill'd up; and of the Sources, the Cataracts, and Overflowings of the River Nile, which occafion the great Fruitfulness of the Country: whereupon our Hiftorian raifes this Obfervation, Nothing certainly affords a more delightful "Profpect, than Egypt does, in its two different "Seafons of the year. To ftand upon a Mountain, or one of the Pyramids near Cairo, "about the Month of July or August, and thence to look upon a vaft Sea, with an in

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