Ixiv INTRODUCTION. 



as it were an hereditas jacens, without an owner, abandoned 

 in common to thofe whofe original title extended no fur- 

 ther than temporary pofTeflion. 



A number of law-fuits were the inevitable confequence 

 of this upon my return. Une carried on with a very expen- 

 iive obftinacy for the fpace of ten years, by a very opulent 

 and active company, was determined finally in the Houfe 

 of Peers, in the compafs of a very few hours, by the weiL> 

 known fagacity and penetration of a noble Lord, who, hap- 

 pily for the fubjecls of both countries, holds the firlt office 

 in the law; and lb judicious was the fentence, that har- 

 mony, mutual confidence, and good neighbourhood has 

 ever fince been the confequence of that determination, 



Other fuits ftill remained, which unfortunately were 

 not arrived to the degree of maturity to be fo cut off; 

 they are yet depending ; patience and attention, it is hoped, 

 may bring them to an ifiue at fome future rime No impu- 

 tarion of rafhnefs can potlibly fall upon the decree, fince 

 the action has depended above thirty years. 



To thefe diftgreeable avocarions, which took up much 

 time, were added others ftill more unformnate. The re- 

 leivlefs ague caught at Bengazi maintained its groiinc- at 

 times for a ipace of more than fixteen years, though every 

 remedy had been ufed, but in vain; and, what was wuiii 

 of all, a lingering difteinper had ferioufly threatened the 

 life of a nioft near relation, which, after nine years conftant 

 alarm, where every duty bound me to attention and atcend- 

 i ance.3 



