ii introduction; 



this object, but all attempts had met with- the fame difficul- 

 ties as before, till, in the beginning of his Majefty's reign,,., 

 the unconquerable fpirit raifedin this nation by a long and 

 glorious war, did very naturally refolve itfelf into a fpirit 

 of adventure and inquiry at the return of peace, one of the 

 firft-fruits of which was the difcovery of thefe coy foun- 

 tains *, till now concealed from the world in general. 



The great danger and difficulties of this journey were- 

 well known, but it was likewife known that it had been 

 completely performed without difappointment or misfor- 

 tune, that it had been attended with an apparatus of books 

 and initruments, which feldom accompanies the travels of 

 an individual ; yet fixteen years had elapfed without any ac- 

 count appearing, which feemed to mark an unufual felf- 

 denial,. or an abfolute. indifference towards the wilh.es of. the 

 public. 



Men, according to their different genius and difpofitions,, 

 attempted by different ways to penetrate the caufe of this 

 filence. The candid, the learned, that fpecies. of men, in* 



fine*, 



* This epithet given to the fprings from which the Nile rifes, was borrowed from a very 

 elegant Englifh poem' that appeared in Dr Maty's Review for May 1786. It was fent 

 to me by my friend Mr Barrington, to whom it was attributed, although from modefly he 

 difclaims it. From whatever hand it comes, the poet is defired to accept of my humble. 

 thanks. It was received with universal applaufe wherever it was circulated, and a confide-ra-. 

 ble number of copies was printed at the defire of the public. Accident feemed to have 

 placed it in Dr Maty's book with peculiar propriety, by having joined it to a fragment of 

 Ariofto, then firft publifhed, in the fame Review. It has fince been attributed to Mr Mafoa.' . 



