ADVERTISEMENT. ix bably, owes that it is now fubmitted to his view. To the friendship of Mr. Braithwaite of the Poft-Office, he may place this, and other material helps he has experienced in the course of publication. But he should ask these gentlemen's forgivenefs, for involving them in a question, where their names are used less to their advantage than to that of the author. s eye. It behoves him to fay a word or two on the head of the Plates. His knowledge of drawing is fo confined, that more than a sketch of the places through which he paffed, exceeded the author's art. The antiquities of Egypt have given employment to the pencils of a Norden and a Pococke, and were not to be expected from the title of these travels. But drawings of particular scenes, in which he was engaged, and reprefentations of the fingular cuftoms of the country, would have brought them forward to the reader's He must ever lament the deficiency of his work in this refpect but he is happy at the fame time to observe, that there is a remedy at hand, for those who delight in novel pictures. The reputation of Mr. Dalton, his Majesty's antiquarian, was established by the work which he produced in 1752, confifting of plates of various antiquities in Greece and Egypt. The connoiffeurs, therefore, are not likely to be dif appointed in the Supplement to that work, which Mr. b : Dalton Dalton is about to publish. The defigns which relate to Egypt, obtained as they must have been with great difficulty, and executed as they are with great fpirit, will prove fuch an elucidation to his labors, that the author muft beg Mr. Dalton's pardon, if he prefumes to recommend thofe defigns to the reader, which are fo peculiarly adapted to this work, that nothing but its unworthinefs fhould divide them from each other. He has but one thing more to add, which concerns the companions of his travels. To the two gentlemen who accompanied him to Europe, he trufts an apology is needlefs, as they will readily acquit him of a defign to pay any but a proper tribute to their characters. By the other perfon, whom the hand of mischance separated from their company, he would with to be understood. The circumftances which produced that feparation fhould have been buried in oblivion, had not a regard for his own honor obliged the author to place the intentions of his companions and himself in their true light. The narrative of that affair—as it appears in this work—was figned by Major Henry Alexander, Mr. Anthony Hammond, and the author, and transmitted to India at the time. The paper have miscarried, but the parties are alive to testify the fact. All that delicacy and humanity could fug may geft, ADVERTISEMENT. xi geft, has been obferved on the occafion. The name of the unhappy perfon is fuppreffed, and felf-vindication alone could have induced him to revive a fubject, which more nearly affected the author and his companions, than all their subsequent misfor tunes ! To conclude. Were books, any more than men, to be judged only by their good intentions-were no regard to be paid to the figure which they make in the world-this work would have a better chance to maintain its ground. But as there are other points to be confidered; as truth can only be rendered efficacious in an amiable drefs, and as the jufteft defcriptions must be difgraced by inelegant language, the author cannot diveft himself of certain fenfations, which muft difturb the firmeft mind, on the eve of committing its thoughts to the difcuffion of the public. CONTENT S. LETTER I. Page 1. ADDRESS-The author pursues his voyage from Madras to Suez Journal Journal of the boat Impofition-Detained by contrary winds at the LETT FR II. Page 119. ADDRESS-The author, &c. land at Cofire-Their reception Set |