

THWARTED PLANS. 225 



part of Bavaria, the place of which has been determined by 

 astronomical observation ; therefore the maps are in error in 

 every direction to the amount of from 5' to 6'. By sextant 

 observations of polar stars, I have satisfactorily obtained the 

 latitude of Salzburg, Berchtesgaden, and Eeichenhall.' . . . 



In November 1797, Humboldt had received a proposal from 

 an English nobleman to accompany him in an expedition to 

 Upper Egypt. This was no other than Lord Bristol, Bishop of 

 Derry, who, notwithstanding his high position in the Church, was 

 a bold free-thinker and a votary of pleasure; in the enjoyment 

 of an income of 60,000. a year, he held a conspicuous place in 

 the fashionable world, and was an enthusiastic patron of the fine 

 arts. 1 He had visited Greece and the coast of Illyria, and had 

 spent manv years in Italy, where at Rome he had made the 

 acquaintance of the archaeologist Hirt, subsequently court 

 counsellor at Berlin. Strange to say, in the party selected for 

 this expedition to Egypt, which was equipped with every ap- 

 pliance for securing an amount of comfort truly princelike, 

 besides Humboldt, Hirt, and Savary, the well-known traveller 

 who had spent eight years in Egypt, two ladies were to be 

 included, the Countess Dennis and the Countess Lichtenau. 2 



1 This eccentric bishop called forth some severe criticisms from Goethe. 

 See ' Sammtliche Werke ' (8vo.), vol. xxi. p. 367. 



2 In the letter of invitation addressed to Hirt, under date Triest, there 

 occurs the following passage : l We shall have two large spronari with both 

 oars and sails. La Dennis and M. le Professeur Hirt are to accompany 

 the dear Countess in her boat. M. Savary, the author of the charming 

 letters upon Egypt, will be with me in mine. I intend to take with me two 

 or three artists, not only for the ruins and the grand points of view, but also 

 for the costumes, so that nothing shall be wanting to render the journey 

 agreeable. 



' Dear Hirt ! will not this be an expedition worthy of your profound know- 

 ledge and your indefatigable industry ? What splendid drawings may we 

 not expect from our artists ! what a magnificent work will not our united 

 efforts furnish for publication ! ' 



In a similar strain Lord Bristol raved in the letters he addressed to his 

 cheve amie et adorable Comtesse de Lichtenau : ' Jamais un voyage ne sera 

 plus complet tant pour I'ame que pour le corps.' Indeed his gallantry 

 carried him so far as to lead him to remark with a play upon the words : 

 ( Quant aux femmes, il faut que vous passiez pour la mienne, et que pour 

 n'etre pas violee, vous soyez voilee, et alors votre personne est plus sacre'e que 

 la mienne.' 



YOL. I. Q 



