OF AUCHER-ELOY. 183 
paper in order to aid the travellers memory on a future 
occasion. This is commonly the case in the three first jour- 
nals, which will be probably deemed too concise, and which 
we had hesitated about publishing, till we considered that 
they might be of use as an itinerary and memorandum of 
those localities where Aucher-Eloy's specimens of plants were 
gathered. 
It has been our object to preserve the original character of 
these journals, while rectifying the inaccuracies of the pen 
that haste had caused. A slight polishing touch, to borrow 
one of Aucher-Eloy's own phrases, and a better arrangement 
of subject-matter, are what we have chiefly aimed at, care- 
fully reserving to the close, those longer dissertations on 
morals and politics, which were scattered up and down in the 
MSS. The style of Aucher-Eloy is easy, and indicates the 
man of talent and taste, imbued with Greek and Latin litera- 
ture, that sure source of intellectual eminence, frequently 
à quotation from Virgil and Horace serving to express his 
feelings. His sentiments are always correct, and his tender 
affection for family and friends, his devotion to science, and 
attachment to the honour and interests of his own country, 
are manifested on every occasion, while the touching recital of 
his own misfortunes often recalls the memory of another 
French traveller, our friend and first companion in botanical 
Study, M. Victor Jacquemont, whose letters have been 
eagerly read all over Europe. Of course, the letters of 
Aucher-Eloy will never attain such literary success, but we 
cannot doubt they will be perused with interest. 
There has been no small labour involved in deciphering 
the papers, written with all sorts of liquids, deeper or paler 
n dye, and often with pencil, half-blurred and effaced, a task 
In which we have been aided by the acuteness and ability of 
M. Saillard, who is employed at the Home Office in labours 
of this kind, 3338. 2 
A few notes, historical and elucidatory of manners in the 
East, seemed needful to explain the text; M. Texier kindly 
added these, which his intimate acquaintance with the country 
