vi INTRODUCTION. 



fon had been, or had pretended to be, capable of giving the 

 public any detail of the large and magnificent remains 

 of ruined architecture which they both vouch to have 

 feen in great quantities, and of exquifite elegance and per- 

 fection, all over the country. Such had not been their 

 ihidy, yet fuch was really the tafte that was required in the 

 prefent times. He wilhed therefore that I mould be the 

 firft, in the reign juft now beginning, to fet an example of 

 making large additions to the royal collection, and he pled- 

 ged himfclf to be my fupporter and patron, and to make 

 good to me, upon this additional merit, the promifes which 

 had been held forth to me by former minifters for other 

 ibr vices. 



The difcovery of the Source of the Nile was alfo a fub- 

 ject of thefe converlations, but it was always mentioned to 

 me with a kind of diffidence, as if to be expected from a 

 more experienced traveller. Whether-this was but another 

 way of exciting me to the attempt I mall not fay ; but my 

 heart in that inftant did me juftice to fuggeft, that this, too, 

 was either to be atchicved by me, or to remain, as it had 

 done for thefe lad two thoufand years, a defiance to all 

 travellers, and an opprobrium to geography. 



Fortune feemed to enter into this fcheme. At the very 

 inftant, Mr Afpinwall, very cruelly and ignominioufly treated 

 by the Dey of Algiers., had refigned his confulfhip, and Mr 

 Ford, a merchant, formerly the Dey's acquaintance, was na- 

 med in his place. Mr Ford was appointed, and dying a few 

 days after, the confullhip became vacant. Lord Halifax 

 preffed me to accept of this, as containing all fort of conve- 

 niencies for making the propoied expedition. 



3. This 



