INTRODUCTION. tdi 



Tins favourable event finally determined mc. I had alk 

 my life applied unweariedly, perhaps with more love than 

 talent, to drawing, the practice of mathematics, and efpe- 

 pially that part neceilary to aftronomy. The tranftt of Ve- 

 nus was at hand. It was certainly known that it would be 

 vifible once at Algiers, and there was great reafon to expect 

 it might be twice. I had furnifhed myfelf with a large ap- 

 paratus of inftruments, the completed of their kind for the 

 obfervation. In the choice of thefe I had been -amited by 

 my friend Admiral Campbell, and Mr RufFel .fecretary to the 

 Turkey Company; every other neceffary had been provided 

 in proportion. Ir was a pleafure now to know that it was 

 not from a rock or a wood, but from- my own houfe at Afr 

 giers, I could deliberately take meafures to place myfelf in 

 the lift of men of fcience of all nations, who were then pre- 

 paring for the. fame fcientific purppfe, - 



Thus prepared, I fet cut for Italy, through France ; an'd ' 

 though it was in time of war, and fome ftrong .objections 

 had been made to particular paiFports folicited by our go- 

 vernment from the French fecretary of ftate, Monfieur de 

 Choifeul mod obligingly waved all fuch exceptions with re- 

 gard to me, and moft politely aftured me, in a letter ac- 

 companying my paffport, that thofe difficulties did not in 

 any mape regard me, but that I was perfectly at liberty to 

 pafs through, or remain in France, with thofe that accom- 

 panied me, without limiting their number, as fhort or as 

 long a time as mould be agreeable tome,. 



On my arrival at Rome I received orders to proceed to 

 Naples, there to await his Majefty's further commands. Sir 

 Charles Saunders, then with a fleet before Cadiz, had orders 



to- 



