ca?) 
ding, that decifive obfervations were ftill 
wanting to determine finally, the pofition 
of the Black Sea; for, according to Cit. 
Bonne, it was eighty leagues longer than 
others had fuppofed it to be, a difference 
of nearly one third of its entire length. 
As Ihad been commiffioned with an ho- 
norable employ with the Imam of Mafcate, 
the Board of Longitude requefted, and 
obtained permiffion, that I fhould proceed 
to Conftantinople, Trebizond and Erze- 
roum. ‘The war rendered my paflage very 
tedious ; I had been clofely watched by 
the Englifh, both at Venice and Leghorn, 
and I could not arrive at Conftantinople 
fooner than the 6th of October 795. 
The firft difficulty. which I was pre- 
pared to meet was to obtain permiffion of 
the Porte, to execute my project of de- 
termining the pofitions of feveral points in 
the Black Sea. 
The aftronomer Tondu, brother of the 
mainifter Lebrun, died at Conftantinople, 
after waiting in vain four years for this 
permifion. Some years after, Doétor 
Jumelin, having penetrated as far as the 
Black Sea, was fent back in irens to 
Conftantinople. It was therefore from 
policy that a reftraint was laid on thefe 
geographical operations ; and the divan, 
who had never yet allowed the French 
the free navigation of the Black Sea, re- 
garded with a jealous eye the eager defire 
which they fhewed of becoming acquainted 
with its fhores. Two other obftacles alfo 
ftood in my way on my arrival, the im- 
poffibility of croffing this Sea during the 
month of November, and the very great 
difficulty of getting from Trebizond to 
Erzeroum. AsJI could not, of my own 
authority, abandon this important part of 
my miffion, I confulted General Aubert 
du Bayet. This ambaflador engaged me 
to pafs the winter at Conftantinople, and 
there to await the opening the navigation. 
I employed this time in examining the 
going of my time-piece, No. 29, by 
Louis Berthoud : its daily acceleration 
was at this time 6” 43, at 54°.5’ tempe- 
rature (of Fahrt.) and 7% 14 at 65°.75' 
temperature. 
As I was encouraged by various foreign 
minifters, who were zealous for the ad- 
vancement of {cience, I propofed to my- 
felf the plan of making the circuit of 
the Black Sea, and to examine ail the 
parts which have been pointed out by 
Citizen Buache, in his well-known me- 
moir. I hada conference on this fubject 
with the Captain-Bacha. ‘This great ad- 
miral warmly efpoufed my caufe. The 
‘war was indeed an obftacle againf{ my 
4 Geography of the Black Sea. 
[Feb. T, 
vifiting feveral interefting points in the 
Crimea. With the confent of our ambaf- 
fador, I had an interview with the Ruffian 
envoy ; but as he could not give me a fafe- 
conduct without the permiffion-of his 
court, he promifed me letters of recom- 
mendation in cafe I was obliged to put 
into any of the Ruffian ports. 
Thefe preliminary negociations being 
concluded, the ambaflador of our repub- 
lic prefented a note to the divan on the _ 
fubjeét of my voyage ; but it was rejetted, 
notwithftanding the warmth with which 
it was urged. 
The ultimatum of the Porte was to 
grant me fimply a firman to go to Tre- 
‘bizond under the title of a traveller. 
This titie gave me no power to make 
geographical obfervations : I afked to be 
acknowledged in my firman as a French- 
man, fent to make refearches: and I cited 
the example of Olivier and Brugutere. 
The Porte anfwered me that thefe learned 
travellers followed the beaten tracks, and 
that the name of the Black Sea was not 
mentioned in their firman: and as my 
plans were now known, it permitted me 
indeed to goto Trebizond, but only by 
land. Such a mode of travelling was 
become impratticable. I infifted on the 
_permiffion to go by water, and it coft 
me a month’s negociation before I could 
get this claufe inferted in my firman. 
The grand vizir put a queltion, by a 
note in the margin, whether there had 
ever been any precedent for this permil- 
fion ; I quoted that of Tournefort. The 
regifters of thofe times had been burnt, 
and I was obliged to carry to the chief 
drogman the work of this celebrated na- 
turalift, in which the order from the 
Grand Signor is tranflated literally. Upon 
which another exactly fimilar wes given 
me, and by this I was permitted to go to 
Trebizond by fea, there to collect plants, 
birds, and rare animals ; it was with 
much difficulty that I got the title of af- 
tronomer inferted, in order to fave my 
infruments in eafe of a vifit. I had alfo 
petitioned for the liberty of travelling in 
the environs of Trebizond, and to afcend 
as high as the mouths of the Phafis. or 
even to Anapa, but this was refuled me. 
The chief drogman anfwered in the name 
of the porte, that the Lazes were a wild, 
ferocious, and independent people ; and it 
did not choofe te have an affair with our 
ambaflader, in cafe any accident. fhould 
happen to me. 
However, after fo many refufals, I at 
laft gained the goldenfleece, which con- 
fifted principally in taking the aT 
2 of 
