X. A Letter from W. E. Rouse Boughton, Esq. F.R.S. to the Rev. Stephen Weston, B. D. respecting some Egyptian Antiquities

Extract

During my travels in Upper Egypt, in the course of the year 1811, I had the good fortune to meet with a mummy, in a catacomb near Thebes, which appeared never to have been opened before, containing some writing upon papyrus in a state of perfect preservation; and as these writings are but rarely found in mummies, I felt great anxiety to bring the one which fell into my hands safe to Great Britain. For this purpose I had a tin box made for holding it, in order to prevent it from being crushed amongst my packages. I myself proceeded by land to Constantinople; but having sent my baggage by sea, it was unluckily soaked by salt water, and the tin case corroded, so as greatly to injure the manuscript. I have, however, collected some of the fragments, and made accurate copies of them (Pl. I. II.), which I have now the honour of presenting to the Society of Antiquaries; conceiving that they may afford additional specimens of the antient Egyptian character, of which I believe there are not many in Great Britain, and may possibly contribute to the assistance of scientific men, in various parts of Europe, who are giving their attention to that interesting country, established by all profane and sacred history to have been the birth-place of science and wisdom.