much. I know that, in spite of your activity, you have not leisure yourself to do much in that line; but I have no doubt, from the motives I have explained, but you will assist me all you

can.

Literary persons in Scotland-those at least who have attained any name-are in general vain, indolent, and necessarily timid. They justly think, that, if the world will be pleased with such publications as cannot bear a deep investigation, it is more safe for them to keep up the veneration of the public by withdrawing themselves from view, than by coming familiarly among them; as in this last way imperfections would be more easily discoverable. Rousseau's judgment of authors in general was but too well founded: for one man who writes with a bona fide desire of serving his readers, a hundred write with an intention to exalt their own fame, and swell their self-importance; and, provided this last can be done, they are little scrupulous about the means of doing it. Hence, Sir, I have nearly the same veneration for grandeur in literature, as I have for grandees in civil polity; so that I am neither a favorer of the one nor a partisan of the other. In this way I cherish a spirit of independence myself, and wish to promote the like, with a due subordination to government, among all my countrymen, But you will easily see that I can neither become the right-hand man of a minister, nor the Atticus of any living author; and, though I live on very good terms with all of these, yet I can lay no claim to any share in that copartnery of

good offices, which Gilbert Stuart used to call the incense of the puffing club. Yet the public at large are so obliging as to receive my little efforts with a kind indulgence; and I have nothing to fear from the attacks of any one; but I have as little to hope for from the assistance of the fine geniuses of Scotland.

MR. W. G. BROWNE TO MR. PINKERTON.

Alexandria, Jan. 30th, 1792.

If a letter, like the camel so much used in this country, were qualified to travel only in proportion as it carries the materials of renovation in itself, I much fear that mine would scarcely survive the third day's journey: yet I am resolved to hazard its passage, though its original imbecility should be increased by the fatigues of the way. But an end shall be put to apologies, which have generally the reputation of being insincere, by adding only that I should with difficulty excuse myself for not complying with the desire you have been kind enough to express

Mr. Browne, so well known for his travels in Africa, Egypt, and Syria, from the year 1792 to 1798, and particularly for his singularly interesting account of Darfûr, where he was long detained in captivity, was, unhappily for science, murdered by robbers in Tartary, July, 1813, during a journey which he had undertaken to explore the shores of the Caspian sea. It was stated, at the time of his death, that the memo

of hearing from me an account of the progress I should make. After the loss of a complete

month by contrary winds on the coast of England, the rest of the voyage was expeditious and pleasant, having extended only to twenty-six days between Torbay and Alexandria. The vessel I

sailed in being a merchantman, though cleared for Naples, owing to some commercial finesse, did not touch at that place; a circumstance from which I felt little inconvenience, as the detention of a ship on those occasions is so precarious as not to afford much opportunity for observation. I have therefore not repented having chosen that mode of conveyance.

It was indeed with no small reluctance, as you will readily conceive, that I forbore to use so fair an opportunity of revisiting France; and if, according to the report current in this place, the aspect of affairs in that country is daily growing so much less favorable, as to promise no long duration to the constitution, my regret at having done so will not be easily removed.

My discoveries here have not been great. Indeed it seems to me very difficult, from the remains of antiquity which now exist, to fix the site even of those buildings which have been considered as ascertained by travellers. I think I have found a few Greek letters on the column

randa made by him in the course of his last journey had been preserved; and it is to be lamented that any observations, however imperfect, from the pen of so enterprising, so acute, and so enlightened a traveller, should be withheld from the public.

VOL. I.

T

*

called Pompey's, which, perhaps, have not yet been mentioned.

sup

It will hardly be saying any thing new to tell you, that the greater part of the Europeans here are out of the dregs of Venice, Ragusa, Leghorn, &c. and in general low enough in point of knowledge and of principle. I feel a considerable obstacle in not being able to speak Arabic, but do not despair of attaining it. I have observed the language to be pronounced least gutturally by those, who, from their situation, may be posed to speak it most correctly. Previously to leaving London, I mentioned to you having called on Sir Joseph Banks without being fortunate enough to see him. I was referred to Beaufoy, whom I also called on, but without success; a circumstance that gave me no anxiety, the volume of African Transactions being already in my possession. If this book should fall into your hands, you will perhaps agree with me that it contains but little that merits perusal. Ledyard, the man employed by the society on the Sennaar expedition, was a very unfit person; and, though he had lived, would not have advanced many leagues on the way, if the judgment of people in Egypt concerning him be credited. In visiting

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Upon this subject Mr. Browne says no more in his Travels than that not even so much of the inscription as Pococke copied is now to be distinguished." I need scarcely add, that the ultimate elucidation of this inscription was reserved for Colonel Leake, Mr. W. Hamilton, and Lieut. Squire, whose account of it is recorded by Dr. Raine in the fifteenth volume of the Archæologia, p. 59–64.

Abyssinia, one of the chief difficulties arises from the odium theologicum, with which those of the Greek church persecute the missionaries of the Romish, whose conduct under the Portuguese is still preserved in remembrance, and whom they expect to find, under whatever appearance a traveller may assume. I do not design easily to relinquish my plan, but can as yet form no predictions as to its success. Cairo will be the next stage, where I mean to proceed in a few days. I was sorry to be obliged to transport your books with me their presence is not necessary to remind me of the owner, or to keep alive the esteem I feel for him. Not knowing the period of any of my motions, I can only say that a line directed to me, to the care of G. Baldwin, Esq., British consul, Alexandria, will most probably find me in Egypt or Syria.

DR. JAMES ANDERSON TO MR. PINKERTON.

Edinburgh, Feb 12th, 1792.

I wrote to you about ten days ago, which I hope you received. The reason I trouble you at present is to beg your assistance in forwarding a Bill, T. Johnes, M.P. for Radnorshire, means to bring into Parliament this session, about which he has written to me just now, and which I think you must approve of. It is intended to establish a universal repository for printed papers in London, somewhat on the plan that was mentioned in one