n P R E F A C E. 
Volney and Savary are in the public hands, and 
no attempt fhall be made to influence its judgment 
of their works. The talents of the former are well 
known ; but he faw the Eaft with no favourable 
eye ; and his manner in fpeaking of Egypt will be 
found materially different from that here adopted. 
Of Syria the Author could expert to fay little that 
is new, after the numberlefs defcriptions which have 
already been publiflied, and he has accordingly ufed 
great rapidity in his narrative. 
In Kahira, the fources of information are few and 
fcanty. A traveller may remain there many months, 
without finding his ideas of the country, or its in- 
habitants, much more clear or precife. 
The Europeans, there immured as prifbners, may 
be reafonably excufed for haftening their commer- 
cial advantages, and, whenever unengaged by that 
obje(5l, for amufing themfelves in trying to forget 
the place in which their ill fortune has obliged them 
to refide. Thofe who are found there, with every 
difpofition 
