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of the first discoverers of the cuneiform inscriptions。
It was thus introduced to the notice of Europe。 It is
claimed by the Samaritans of Nablus that their copy
was written by Abisha； the great…grandson of Aaron；
in the thirteenth year of the settlement of the land of
Canaan by the children of Israel。 The copies of it
brought to Europe are all written in black ink on vellum
or 〃cotton〃 paper； and vary from 12mo to
folio。 The scroll used by the Samaritans is written in
gold letters。 （See Smith's 〃Dictionary of the Bible；〃
vol。 III； pp。 1106…1118。） Its claims to great antiquity
are not admitted by scholars。
The enumeration of some of the modes of writing
may be interesting：
The Mexican writing is in vertical columns； beginning
at the bottom。
The Chinese and Japanese write in vertical columns；
beginning at the top and passing from left to right。
The Egyptian hieroglyphics are written invertical
columns or horizontal lines according to the shape and
position of the tablet。 It is said that with the horizontal
writing the direction is indifferent； but that the
figures of men and animals face the beginning of the
line。 With figures； the units stand on the left。
The Egyptians also wrote from right to left in the
hieratic and demotic and enchorial styles。 The Palasgians
did the same； and were followed by the Etruscans。
In the demotic character； Dr。 Brugsch remarks
that though the general direction of the writing was
usually from right to left； yet the individual letters were
formed from left to right； as is evident from the unfinished
ends of horizontal letters when the ink failed
in the pen。
In writing numbers in the hieratic and enchorial
the units were placed to the left。 The Arabs write
from right to left； but received their numerals from
India； whence they call them 〃Hindee；〃 and there the
arrangement of their numerals is like our own； units
to the right。
The following noteworthy passage is taken from
Humphreys' work 〃On the Origin and Progress of the
Art of Writing：〃
〃Nearly all the principal methods of ancient
writing may be divided into square capitals； rounded
capitals； and cursive letters； the square capitals
being termed simply capitals； the rounded capitals
uncials； and the small letters； or such as had
changed their form during the creation of a running
hand； minuscule。 Capitals are； strictly speaking；
such letters as retain the earliest settled form of
an alphabet； being generally of such angular
shapes as could conveniently be carved on wood or
stone； or engraved in metal； to be stamped on
coins。 The earliest Latin MSS。 known are written
entirely in capitals like inscriptions in metal or
marble。
* * * * *
The uncial letters； as they are termed； appear
to have arisen as writing on papyrus or vellum became
common； when many of the straight lines of
the capitals； in that kind of writing； gradually acquired
a curved form； to facilitate their more rapid
execution。 However this may be； from the sixth
to the eighth； or even 10th century； these uncials
or partly rounded capitals prevail。
〃The modern minuscule； differing from the ancient
cursive character； appears to have arisen in
the following manner： During the 6th and 7th
centuries； a kind of transition style prevailed in
Italy and some other parts of Europe； the letters
composing which have been termed semi…uncials；
which； in a further transition； became more like
those of the old Roman cursive。 This manner；
when definitely formed； became what is now termed
the minuscule manner； it began to prevail over
uncials in a certain class of MSS。 about the 8th
century； and towards the 10th its general use was；
with few exceptions； established。 It is said to
have been occasionally used as early as the 5th
century； but I am unable to cite an authentic existing
monument。 The Psalter of Alfred the Great；
written in the 9th century； is in a small Roman
cursive hand； which has induced Casley to consider
it the work of some Italian ecclesiastic。〃
The learned who have made a life study of the history
of the most ancient manuscripts； mention them
specifically in great number and of different countries；
which would seem to indicate that the art of handwriting
had made great strides in the very olden
times； many nations had adopted it； and B。 C。 650 〃it
had spread itself over the （then known） greater part
of the civilized world。〃
We can well believe this to be true in reading about
the ancient libraries； notwithstanding that some rulers
had sought to prohibit its exercise。
Plato； who lived B。 C。 350； expresses his views of
the importance of writing in his imaginary colloquy
between Thamus； king of Egypt； and Thoth； the god
of the liberal arts of the Egyptians； he acquaints us：
〃That the discourse turned upon letters。 Thoth
maintained the value of Writing； as capable of making
the People wiser； increasing the powers of
Memory； to this the king dissented； and expressed
his opinion that by the exercise of this Art the multitude
would appear to be knowing of those things
of which they were really ignorant； possessing only
an idea of Wisdom； instead of Wisdom itself。〃
Pythagoras； B。 C。 532； we are informed by Astle：
〃Went into Egypt where he resided twenty…two
years； he was initiated into the sacerdotal order；
and； from his spirit of inquiry； he has been justly
said to have acquired a great deal of Egyptian
learning； which he afterwards introduced into Italy。
The Pythagorean schools which he established in
Italy when writing was taught； were destroyed
when the Platonic or new philosophy prevailed over
the former。 Polybius （lib。 ii。 p。 175） and Jamblichus
（in vita Pythag。） mention many circumstances；
relative to these facts； quoted from authors now
lost； as doth Porphyry； in his life of Pythagoras。〃
For the hundred years or more following； however；
the dissemination of learning and the transcription of
events was not to be denied。 We find ink…written
volumes （rolls） relating to diverse subjects being loaned
to one another； correspondence by letter to and from
distant lands of frequent occurrence； and the art of
handwriting regularly taught in the schools of learning。
Its progress was to be interrupted by the wars
of the Persians。 Mr。 Astle in calling attention to
events which have contributed to deprive us of the
literary treasures of antiquity thus refers to them：
〃A very fatal blow was given to literature； by
the destruction of the Phoenician temples； and of
the Egyptian colleges； when those kingdoms； and
the countries adjacent； were conquered by the Persians；
about three hundred and fifty years before
Christ。 Ochus； the Persian general； ravaged these
countries without mercy； and forty thousand Sidonians
burnt themselves with their families and riches
in their own houses。 The conqueror then drove
Nectanebus out of Egypt； and committed the like
ravages in that country； afterwards he marched
into Judea； where he took Jericho； and sent a great
number of Jews into captivity。 The Persians had
a great dislike to the religion of the Phoenicians and
the Egyptians； this was one reason for destroying
their books； of which Eusebius （De Preparat。
Evang。） says； they had a great number。〃
These losses； apparently； did not interfere with the
progress of the art in more western countries。 Professor
Rollin in his 〃Ancient History；〃 1823； remarks：
〃Ptolemy Soter； King of Egypt B。 C。 285； had
been careful to improve himself in public literature；
as was evident by his compiling the life of
Alexander； which was greatly esteemed by the ancients；
but is now entirely lost。 In order to encourage
the cultivation of the sciences； which he
much admired； he founded an academy at Alexandria；
called the Museum； where a society of learned
men devoted themselves to philosophic studies； and
the improvement of all other sciences； almost in the
same manner as those of London and Paris。 For
this purpose； he began by giving them a library；
which was prodigiously increased by his successors。
〃His son Philadelphus left a hundred thousand
volumes in it at the time of his death； and the succeeding
princes of that race enlarged it still more； till at
last it consisted of seven hundred thousand volumes。
〃This library was formed by the following
method： All the Greek and other books that were
brought into Egypt were seized； and sent to the
Museum； where they were transcribed by persons
employed for that purpose。 The copies were then
delivered to the proprietors； and the originals were
deposited in the library。
〃As the Museum was at first in that quarter of
the city which was called Bruchion； and near the
royal palace； the library was founded in the same
place； and it soon drew vast numbers thither； but
when it was so