1 INTRODUCTION. 



in a weak ftate of health, but ftill making partial excur- 

 fions from time to time into the continent of Syria, through 

 Libanus, and Anti Libanus ; but as I made thefe without 

 inftruments, and pafled pretty much in the way of the tra- 

 vellers who have defcribed thefe countries before, I leave the 

 hiftory to thofe gentlemen, without fwelling, by entering 

 into particular narratives, this Introduction, already too 

 long. 



While at Canea I wrote by way of France, and again 

 while at Rhodes by way of Smyrna, to particular friends 

 both in London and trance, informing them of my difaftrous 

 fituation, and defiring them to fend me a moveable qua- 

 drant or fextant, as near as pofnble to two feet radius, more 

 or lefs, a time-keeper, Hop- watch, a reflecting tele fcope, and 

 one of Dolland's achromatic ones, as near as pofhble to 

 three-feet reflectors, with feveral other articles which I then, 

 wanted. 



I received from Paris and London much about the fame 

 time, and as if it had been dictated by the fame perfon, 

 nearly the fame anfwer, which was this, That everybody 

 was employed in making inftruments for Danilh, Swedifh, 

 and other foreign aftronomers ; that all thofe which were 

 completed had been bought up, and without waiting a 

 confiderable, indefinite time, nothing could be had that could 

 be depended upon. At the fame time I was told, to my 

 great mortification, that no accounts of me had arriveditom 

 Africa, unlefs from feveral idle letters, which had been in- 

 duflrioufly wrote by a gentleman whofe name 1 abftain 

 from mentioning, firft, becaufe he is dead, and next, out o£ 

 Eefpect to his truly great and worthy relations, 



3 lN 



