ment which distinguished the first ages of their history. It was our intention to have included an account of Nubia and Abyssinia in the narrative now submitted to the public; but we soon discovered that the interesting notices which are daily reaching this kingdom relative to the improvements introduced by Mohammed Ali, the present viceroy of Egypt, and the important changes which he still appears to meditate, would necessarily prevent the accomplishment of so extended a plan. Hence it has been determined to reserve a full and methodical description of those vast countries for a future volume of the Library.
In collecting materials for the history of modern Egypt, we placed the greatest reliance on the works of such writers as had lived some time in the country, and had thereby an opportunity not only of marking the progress of events under the extraordinary man who for more than twenty years has directed the government, but also of comparing the actual condition of the inhabitants with the oppression and barbarism from which they have gradually emerged. In this point of view the successive communications of Mr. Salt are extremely valuable; as are also several notices which have been received in this country through the medium of France. Among these last a distinguished place is due to the "Histoire de la Régénération de l'Egypte," written in the form of letters by Jules Planat, a staff-officer in the service of the pasha.
The reader may be surprised, that in describing the manners and customs of the modern Egyptians, we have not taken any notice of a volume by the late Mr. Burckhardt on this very subject. Suffice