“As Alciphron held the opinions maintained since by Arius, his memory has not been spared by Athanasian writers, who, among other charges, accuse him of having been addicted to the superstitions of Egypt. For this calumny, however, there appears to be no better foundation than a circumstance, recorded by one of his brother monks, that there was found, after his death, a small metal mirror, like those used in the ceremonies of Isis, suspended round his neck.” NOTES. Page 17.—For the importance attached to dreams by the ancients, see _Jortin_, Remarks on Ecclesiastical History, vol. 1. p. 90. Page 22.—“_The Pillar of Pillars_”—more properly, perhaps, “the column of the pillars.” v. _Abdallatif_, Relation de l’Egypte, and the notes of _M. de Sacy_. The great portico round this column (formerly designated Pompey’s, but now known to have been erected in honour of Dioclesian) was still standing, M. de Sacy says, in the time of Saladin. v. _Lord Valentia’s Travels_. Page 23.—Ammianus thus speaks of the state of Alexandria in his time, which was, I believe, as late as the end of the fourth century:—“Ne nunc quidem in eadem urbe Doctrinæ variæ silent, non apud nos exaruit Musica nec Harmonia conticuit.” Lib. 22. Page 25.—From the character of the features of the Sphinx, and a passage in Herodotus, describing the Egyptians as _μελαγχροες και ουλοτρικες_, Volney, Bruce, and a few others, have concluded that the ancient inhabitants of Egypt were negroes. But this opinion is contradicted by a host of authorities. See _Castera_’s notes upon _Browne’s Travels_, for the result of Blumenbach’s dissection of a variety of mummies. Denon, speaking of the character of the heads represented in the ancient sculpture and painting of Egypt, says, “Celle des femmes ressemble encore à la figure des jolies femmes d’aujourd’hui: de la rondeur, de la volupté, le nez petit, les yeux longs, peu ouverts,” &c. &c. He could judge, too, he says, from the female mummies, “que leurs cheveux étoient longs et lisses, que le caractère de tête de la plupart tenoit du beau style”—“Je raportai,” he adds, “une tête de vieille femme qui étoit aussi belle que celles de Michel Ange, et leur ressembloit beaucoup.” In a “_Description générale de Thèbes_” by _Messrs. Jollois et Desvilliers_, they say, “Toutes les sculptures Egyptiennes, depuis les plus grands colosses de Thèbes jusqu’aux plus petites idoles, ne rappellent en aucune manière les traits de la figure des nègres; outre que les têtes des momies des catacombs de Thèbes presentent des profils droits.” See also _M. Jomard_’s “Description of Syene and the Cataracts,” _Baron Larrey_, on the “conformation physique” of the Egyptians, &c.