viii INTRODUCTION. 



to vifit Malta before he returned to England. It was faid, 

 that the grand-mailer of that Order had behaved fo im- 

 properly to Mr Hervey (afterwards Lord Briilol) in the be- 

 ginning of the war, and fo partially and unjuilly between 

 the two nations during the courfe of it, that an explanation 

 on our part was become necefTary. The grand-mailer no 

 fooner heard of my arrival at Naples, than gueffing the 

 errand, he fent off Cavalier Mazzini to London, where he 

 at once made his peace and his compliments to his Majefty 

 upon his acceflion to the throne. 



Nothing remained now but to take poffemon of my con- 

 fulfliip. I returned without lofs of time to Rome, and 

 thence to Leghorn, where, having embarked on board the 

 Montreal man of war, I proceeded to Algiers. 



While at Naples, I received from flaves, redeemed from 

 the province of Conflantina, accounts of magnificent ruins 

 they had feen while traverfing that country in the camp 

 with their mailer the Bey. I faw the abfolute neceffity there 

 was for affiilance, without which it was impoilible for any 

 one man, however diligent and qualified, to do any thing 

 but bewilder himfelr. All my endeavours, however, had 

 hitherto been uni'uccefsful to perfuade any Italian to put 

 himfelf wilfully into the hands of a people conilantly look- 

 ed upon by them in no better light than pirates. 



While I was providing myfelf with inilruments at Lon- 

 don, I thought of one, which, though in a very fmall form 

 and imperfect ilate, had been of great entertainment and 

 ufe to me in former travels ; this is called a Camera Ub- 

 fcura, the idea of which I had firft taken from the Spectacle 



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