INTRODUCTION. xvii 



always had fliewed me, and fome other common methods 

 with the members of the regency, ilaved off the dangerous 

 moment, and were the means of procuring time. Admi- 

 ralty panes at laft came out, and the matter was happily ad- 

 jufted ; but it was an affair the leaft pleafing and the leaft 

 profitable, and one of the moil dangerous in which I was 

 ever engaged. 



All this difagreeable interval I had given to iludy, and 

 making myfelf familiar with every thing that could be ne- 

 ceffary to me in my intended journey. The king's furgeon 

 at Algiers, Mr Ball, a man of confiderable merit in his. pro- 

 feflion, and who lived in my family, had obtained leave to 

 return home. Before I was deprived of this affiflance, I 

 had made a point of drawing from it all the advantages pof- 

 fible for my future travels. Mr Ball did not grudge his 

 time or pains in the inftru(5tion he gave me. I had made 

 myfelf mailer of the art of bleeding, which I found confin- 

 ed only in a little attention, and in overcoming that diffi- 

 dence which the ignorance how the parts lie occafions. Mi- 

 Ball had fhewn me the manner of applying feveral forts of 

 bandages, and gave me an idea of drefling fome kinds of 

 fores and wounds. Prcquentand very ufeful leffons, which 

 I alfo received from my friend Doctor Ruffel at Aleppo, 

 contributed greatly to improve me afterwards in the know- 

 ledge of phyfic and furgery. I had afmall cheil of the moil 

 efficacious medicines, a difpenfary to teach me to com- 

 pound others that were needful, and fome ihort treatifes up- 

 on the acute difeafes of feveral countries within the tro- 

 pics. Thus inftructed, I flatter myfelf, no offence I hope, 

 I did not occafion a greater mortality among the Maho- 

 metans and Pagans abroad, than may be attributed to 



Vol. L c fome 





