H INTRODUCTION. 



£bn had been, or had pretended to be, capable of giving the 

 public , any detail of the large and magnificent remains 

 of ruined architecture which they both vouch to have 

 i>en in great quantities, and of exquifite elegance and per- 

 fection, all over the country. Such had not been their 

 ftudy, yet fuch was really the tafle that was required in the 

 prefent times. He wifhed therefore that I mould be the 

 firft, in the reign jull now beginning, to fet an example of 

 making large additions to the royal collection, and he pled- 

 ged himfelf to be my fupporter and patron, and to make 

 good to me, upon this additional merit, the promifes which 

 had been held forth to me by former minitters for other 

 £crvices« 



The difcovery of the Source of the Nile was alfo a fub- 

 ject of thefe converfations, but it was always mentioned to 

 me with a kind of diffidence, a« if to be expected from a 

 more experienced traveller. Whether this was but another 

 way of exciting me to the attempt I fliall not fay ; but my 

 heart in that inftant did me juftice to fuggeft, that this, too, 

 was either to be archieved by me, or to remain, as it had 

 done for thefe laft two thoufand years, a defiance to all. 

 travellers, and an opprobrium to geography. 



Fortune feemed to enter into this fcheme. At the very 

 inftant, Mr Afpinwall, very cruelly and ignominioufly treated 

 by the Bey of Algiers, had refigned his confulihip, and Mr 

 Ford, a merchant, formerly theDey's acquaintance, was na- 

 med in his place. Mr Ford was appointed, and dying a few 

 days after, the confulihip became vacant. Lord Halifax 

 preiTed me to accept of this, as containing all fort of conve- 

 jiiencies for making the propofed expedition. 



a This 



