=viii INTRODUCTION. 



to vifit Malta before he returned to England. It was faid, 

 that the grand-mailer of that Order had behaved fo im- 

 properly to Mr Hervey (afterwards Lord Briftol) in the lie- 

 ginning of the war, and fo partially and unjuftly between 

 the two nations during the courfe of it, that an explanation 

 on our part was become neceflary. The grand-mafter no 

 fooner heard of my arrival at Naples, than gue fling the 

 errand, he fent off Cavalier Mazzini to London, where he 

 at once made his peace and his compliments to his Majefly 

 upon his acceflion to the throne. 



Nothing remained now but to take pofTeffion of my con- 

 fulfhip. I returned without lofs of time to Rome, and 

 thence to Leghorn, where, having embarked on board the 

 Montreal man of war, I proceeded to Algiers. 



While at Naples, I received from flaves, redeemed from 

 the province of Conftantina, accounts of magnificent ruins 

 they had feen while - traverfing that country in the camp 

 with their mafter the Bey. I faw the abfolute neceflity there 

 was for affiftance, without which it was impoflible for any 

 one man, however diligent and qualified, to do any thing 

 but bewilder himfelf. All my endeavours, however, had 

 hitherto been unfuccefsful to permade any Italian to put 

 himfelf wilfully into the hands of a people conflantly look- 

 ed upon by them in no better light than pirates. 



While I was providing myfelf with instruments at Lon- 

 don, I thought of one, which, though in a very fmall form 

 and imperfect ftate, had been of great entertainment and 

 ufe to me in former travels ; this is called a Camera Ob- 

 fcura, the idea of which I had firfl taken from the Spectacle 



3 de 



