which carries the line down to Joseph, possess not only an historical value, but one also which is determined chronologically. They contain, however, also an admixture of the old hereditary reminiscences about the original connexion of the house of Abraham and Jacob, first with the North-Arabian races (Ishmael and the nations descended from Keturah); and, secondly, with their immediately cognate races, the Edomites, who then lived around the Dead Sea. Israel ("the struggler with God") and Esau ('Hesav, the hairy, shaggy) are primeval mythological names, just as Edom, the other name of Esau, is a purely popular name.

Further notices connected with this subject will be adduced in the Fifth Book out of Sankhuniathon.

At present, we cannot follow up the whole web any farther, although we believe we are justified in saying that it is capable of being unravelled to the very last thread.

E.

THE ASIATIC AND EGYPTIAN SYNCHRONISMS OF ABRAHAM AND THOSE OF HIS RACE IN EGYPT.

I.

THE FAIR CLAIMS ON EGYPTIAN AND BIBLICAL CHRONOLOGY. Ir is, as it seems to me, a very reasonable claim to make at the outset upon Egyptian research and everything connected with it, that it should establish the reality and correctness of the chronology which is either represented by, or is dependent on it, by proving a living connexion, or accordance at least, with other facts in the earliest history of mankind.

But I am not sure whether many of those who make such a claim have considered the consequences resulting from it. It gives investigators a right, indeed it imposes on them the duty, of inquiring how the case stands with the rabbinical chronology, which many conceive themselves bound to defend as biblical or ecclesiastical, just as their predecessors did the motion. of the sun round the earth, or some other similar absurdities.

It is a right we purpose to exercise on the present occasion, and a duty we intend to fulfil, only in so far as necessary to substantiate our chronologico-historical assertions in regard to Egypt.

The ordinary chronology, then, we declare to be devoid of any scientific foundation; the interpretation, indeed, by which it is accompanied, when carefully investigated, makes the Bible a tissue of old women's stories and children's tales, which contradict each other. When confronted with authentic chronology, it generally leads to impossible results. It does not har

monize with anything which historical criticism finds elsewhere, and which it is under the necessity of recognising as established fact. It is, as regards the religious views of educated persons, the same thing as the stories in the Vedas about the world-tortoise are to those who are supposed to believe them-a stone of stumbling, and it will become more and more so every ten years. For it contradicts all reality, and necessitates the denial of facts which are as clear as the sun, or if it does not succeed in that, compels them to be passed over altogether as matters of no moment. In countries where research cannot be prohibited by the police, or is not punishable by excommunication, this indeed in the long run becomes exceedingly laughable, but it does not on that account cease to be immoral.

How stands the case then with the ordinary chronology?

The date of Moses and the Exodus is supposed to coincide with the epoch when the power of the Pharaohs was at its zenith, a time in which conspiracy could not have ventured to break out into open rebellion, and still less have done so with success. The conquest or occupation of Canaan takes place, according to the same chronology, in or before the periods when the country was overrun by conquering armies. The age of Joseph, lastly, and the journey of Jacob into Egypt coincide with the Hyksos period: Abraham, indeed, must coincide with the same period, if with any at all. And all this is said to be for the honour of God and of the Bible, though neither of them know any thing about it.

Our restoration, on the contrary, is based upon the internal and historical data of the Bible itself, and is not complete until their historical value and origin have been submitted to an honest test and analysis. But whatever discovery is made by these means, will, when confronted with the critical history of ancient Asia and Egypt, take its place as an organic member in the