PREFACE. 
xiii 
them, seems to have early possessed him. This 
it was that sustained and guided his footsteps ; 
and all who knew him unite in testifying that 
he concealed beneath a pleasant, cheerful ex- 
terior, the character of a Christian gentleman, 
and an ardent crusader against the worst form 
of oppression which has ever been put in prac- 
tice. The hope that the public will unite in 
this opinion must certainly assist in consoling 
his widow for the loss which she has sustained. 
Mrs. Richardson is alluded to in the narrative 
throughout. It is necessary, therefore, to say, 
that that lady remained in Tripoli until the news 
of her bereavement reached her, and that she 
then returned to England to promote the erection 
of this best monument to her husband's memory. 
I have now only to add an account written 
by Dr. Earth (dated April 3, 1851) of the 
death of Mr. Richardson, in a letter addressed 
to Mr. Crowe, Her Britannic Majesty's Consul- 
General at TripoK. The German traveller, 
as will be seen in the second volume of 
this work, had separated from his English 
companions on the plains of Damerghou, and 
proceeded to prosecute other researches, the 
results of which will be looked for with great 
interest : — 
