XX PREFACE. 



Obsewatiojis j^elating to some of the Antiqidties of Egypt, from the 

 Papers of the late Mr. Davison, p. 350. - 



Nathaniel Davison, Esq. was British consul at Algiers : he accom- 

 panied Mr. Wortley Montague to Egypt, in the year 1763 ; resided 

 eighteen months at Alexandria ; as many at Cairo ; and from that 

 place visited frequently the pyramids of Giza.* 



During his stay in Egypt, he made some excursions in the vicinity 

 of Alexandria with the Duke de Chaulnes ; they afterwards embarked 

 together on board of the same vessel for Europe. While they were 

 performing quarantine in the T^azaretto at Leghorn, the Duke con- 

 trived by means of a false key to obtain and copy Mr. Davison's 

 papers and drawings, f Coming afterwards to I-ondon, he advertised 

 a publication of his own researches with drawings by Mr. Davison, 

 whom he called his secretary. J The design of the work was laid 

 aside, in consequence of a strong remonstrance on the part of 

 Mr. Davison, conveyed in a letter to the Duke, Sept. 9. 1783, the 

 very day on which the latter expected an engraver to wait upon him. 

 A proposal of a joint publication was then made to Mr. D., which he 

 declined. Two plates from Mr. Davison's drawings are engraved in 

 Sonnini's travels, and must have been communicated by the Duke. 



* Mr. D. died in 1809. His Journals, Plans, and Drawings are in the possession of his 

 widow, Mrs. Davison, of Alnwick, in Northumberland, and his nephew Dr. Yelloly, of 

 Finsbury-square. From these papers the Editor has been permitted to select the extracts 

 now published for the first time in the present volume. 



f This is stated on the authority of Mr. Meadley (the author of the life of Paley), who 

 was well acquainted with Mr. Davison. 



\ This tract, in which Mr. D. is called the secretary to the Due de Chaulnes, is in the 

 possession of Mr. Meadley. 



