Protecting The Monuments Of Cairo

london Times. Among tho minor questions whioh Lord DufFerin has wisely included in his general revisión of Egyptian nffairs, the protection of the monuments of Cairo deservedly holds a prominent position. Itis known that he hasalreadysuggested to the Khedive's Government a schemc for their better preservation, and that the scheiue will probably embrace aliko the ancient monuments of the Nile Valley and the medieval architecture of Cairo. It is tho first time that Arab monuments htivc been held worthy of a placo besidc the remains of Eg}-ptian art. The roonuments of the Pliaraohs and Ptolcmiles havo naturally excitod tbc grealer interest and havo boen proportionatcly bcttcr carcd for. Till late years, howevcr, this caro has been altogether inadequate. Tonrists have been suflercd to cüip olV piceos of inscriptions and statucs, and to blacken tho sculpturcd walls and tombs with their vuthless candios anl tourches ; and even tho leading oxplorcrs and scholars ha.vn ininnd in the work of spoilation, and thonght more of cnriching tho ïnuscums of their own countrios than of tho lamentable gaps Ihey loft in Egypt itsclf. Even now, though M. Maspors is as vigilcnt and single-mindert as could bo desirod, bis Btaff and bis power are not suflicient adequatcly to control tho vandalism of travollors. ïo lovers of the ancientmouuments, tborofore, Lord Dufforin's proposal of an archwological pólice will bo wclcouie. But to students of Arab art, his reform will secm oveu more important. The moditcval buildings or Cairo havo in recent times suffered influitely worso treatment than tho ancient temples and tomb1;. Thoy are built, and oftcii vcry badly built, of porishable rcatcrials; somo of thuir fiu03t decoration is in stucco aud wood, while that of anciont Egypt is carvod in limestono and ganite. Thus with Arab art the agency of natural decay was added to Oio ncglcct and wanton destruction of man. Nothing but constant and skillful repairs could have preserved tho mouumouts of Cairo in thcir original perfection, tbough il may bo doubtcd whether any skill could havo resisted tho action of timo upon many of their most dclicato and beautiful decorationi. Tho attornpt, howover, was not mado, for the f unds with which they woro endowcd by thcir pious founders wero coniiscated early iu tho century by Mohan;nid Ali, and sinco then no ono has shewn liiiiiesclf iuclincc.1 to keep up at bis owu expenso monument which whoro dctlicatcd to the metBory of Hom! uno clac.