The beauty of mathematical demnuMratiot.,
and the great ellicacy of mechanical power,
had, for his mind, more charms than the
glitter tit courts, or the coiMpicriug; of cities
anil provuires,
After stiidviur at hnmp. hrnhaldv tillhp
had exliansted all the scientific knowledge
which Hie place could allurd him, l.e repair-
ed, according to the prtvailins custom of
the ace, to Kgypt, that he might more sue
cossfiilly prosecute in Alexandria what he
had so happilv begun in Syracuse. Kgypt,
if not the birth-place ol the sciences, w as at
leasf the place w here, at that tune, they
were inos) rflectively taught ; and was the
great theatre of learning to w hich persons
from all ii'iarters. but particularly from the
different provinces of (ireere, regularly rc
sor'ed. We are iiiihaimily left ill the dark
1 with regard to the length f time he rcn 'n
led in l.eypt ; but we are informed that tlur-
j ing his "slay lie applied with assiduity to his
; favorite studies, end distinguished himself
i by some siii"ii!ar inventions. Diirinrr his
residence upon tho bai.ks of the iNile, he
enjoyed the society and friendship of some
of the most ilislingiiished chararteis of his
day, but especially of Cotton, a famous ma
thematician of the island of Saiuos. Their
fiiendship being founded upon their love of
science, the most disinterest! d of all fi it-nil-
shins, without the ntmcarance of the vlioht-
est jealousy, they had a mutual rsteein for
each othei'stalenls ami atliiintnrnts, nt.dof-
ten submitted problems to each other for so-
lotion. Having enriched his mind w itii the
iiitflh-rtii.il treasures of Lgypt, he at length
revisited the laud of his nativity, thai hi
countrymen might share in tnc fruits of his
exertions.
