IN TRO DU C TI O N. vH" 



This favourable event finally determined me. I had all 

 my life applied unweariedly, perhaps with more love than 

 talent, to drawing, the practice of mathematics, and efpe- 

 eially that part necefTary to aflronomy. The tranfic of Ve- 

 nus was at hand. It was certainly known that it would be 

 vhible once at Algiers, and there was great reafon to expect 

 it might be twice. I had furnilhed myfelf with a large ap- 

 paratus of inftruments, the completeil of their kind for the 

 obfervation. In the choice of thefe I had been affiited by 

 my friend Admiral Campbell, and Mr RufTel fecretary to the 

 Turkey Company; every other necefTary had been provided 

 in proportion. It was a pl^afure now to know that it was 

 not from a rock or a wood* but from my own houfe at Al- 

 giers, 1 could deliberately take meafures to place myfelf in 

 the lift of men of fcience of all nations, who were then pre- 

 paring for the fame fcientific purpofe*. 



Thus prepared, I fet out for Italy, through France ; arid' 

 though it was in time of war, and fome ftrong objections 

 had been made to particular paiTports folicited by our go- 

 vernment from the French fecretary of ftate, Monfieur de 

 Choifeul molt obligingly waved all fuch exceptions with re- 

 gard to me, and rnoft politely afFured me, in a letter ac- 

 companying my paiTport, that thofe difficulties did not in 

 any fliape regard me, but that 1 was perfectly at liberty to 

 pafs through, or remain in France, with thofe that accom- 

 panied me, without limiting their number, as Ihort or as 

 long a time as mould be agreeable to me.. 



Cn my arrival' at Rome I received orders to proceed to 

 Naples, there to await his Majefty's further commands. Sir 

 Charles Saunders,. then with a fleet before Cadiz, had orders 



to 



