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might carry on his history with greater expedition.

Amelia.-I think, I know now to what this scene refers; there sits Joseph in his chair of state, as my sister said, and those men who are coming up to the table, I suppose are some of the poor Egyptians, I am sure their faces look as if they were nearly starved; and I imagine that they are come to Joseph, according to Pharaoh's direction, to buy corn. See Harriot, how they bring out their money bags! the attendants weigh the cash, for which, others give them slips of paper or parchment, I cannot say which, but suppose they are warrants for them to

I

receive corn from the granaries; now

they are gone, the attendants are busily employed in putting the bags into

coffers.

Harriot. But look, there are more coming! How dejected they appear! They have rolls of something in their hands; what can they be?

Amelia.-I think they are rolls of parchment; they have Egyptian characters upon them, and are no doubt the writings of their lands, with which the owners are also come to purchase corn: they sign the deeds, I suppose transfer their lands, or other property, to Pharaoh; for they receive warrants, make their obeisance, and depart. Those now approaching in long garments I suppose are priests; they are

however in good liking.

Joseph re

ceives them very graciously; and, by their countenances, I think he has informed them, that Pharaoh had assigned them their portion: they do not sell their lands, but depart well pleased.

Harriot.-Look what a different

group now crowd into the hall! men, women, children; they look quite emaciated; the very children appear to make their supplications to Joseph, while tears run down their mothers' hollow cheeks.

Amelia.-Observe the man who has nearly approached the table; what deep distress is marked on his countenance! He points to the women

and children, then does obeisance to Joseph, as if offering the whole to slavery, that they may receive bread for their support.

Joseph seems moved; he directs his attendants to give them corn for their families, and seed for their land. Thus, during the severity of the famine, Joseph obtained not only the money and the land, (except that of the priests,) for his master Pharaoh, but all the inhabitants to be his servants, and to pay him one-fifth of the whole future increase, as an acknowledgment for their present support.

Harriot.-But what became of their Apis and Ibis? surely they did not

give them any of the corn, during the time the people were perishing for want of it.

D.-Idolaters always pay due respect both to the objects of their worship and to the priests who attend them; though, I am sorry to add, it too frequently happens, that some of the professed worshippers of the true God, disregard his laws, and neglect his ministers. The Apis, no doubt, was daily well fed; and as the Ibis lives on serpents, and their eggs, we must suppose, that in the time of this dreadful calamity, that idol also fared sumptuously.

Now, ladies, observe another scene.
Harriot, looking into the Camera,

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