Voyages and travels in the years 1809, 1810, and 1811 : containing statistical, commercial, and miscellaneous observations on Gibralter, Sardinia, Sicily, Malta, Serigo, and Turkey

Preface

1 HIS Work is part of a design which I had formed, of giving such an account of the Countries connected with the Mediterranean, as would tend to familiarise them to the British Public. It will appear sufficiently evident, in many places, that a great part has been printed from the original Notes. I am not aware that this will be regarded as a fault, although it may expose me to the animadversions of verbal criticism. But I ought to apologise for publishing', unamplified, a number of remarks, which were noted down, as hints for dissertations. I was apprehensive that my Book would have been enlarged, without being augmented with information ; and I would rather that it were thought defective in disquisition, than deficient in facts which suggest reflections.

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I considered myself bound to be more minute, relative to the modes and circumstances of travelling, than, perhaps, may be deemed conformable to the title of the Book: — because the treatment which strangers receive, in any country, furnishes a topic connected with its domestic economy, and that kind of knowledge which is useful to the Merchant and Politician, as well as amusing to the general Reader.

Classical inquiries formed no part of the objects of my journeys. My obscure gropings, therefore, at the elucidation of ancient mythology, should be received with indulgence. They may amuse the learned ; and they serve to vary the narrative to the less accurate reader.

I trust that the papers in the Appendix will not be regarded as inserted to swell the volume. The statement of the productions of Sicily was not made without industrious inquiry. Nor will the utility of the other two papers, relative to that island, be disputed. The Eclogue I hesitated about inserting. It was written at Cape Passero, under a lively impression of the peculiarities of the Sicilian peasantry. What-

PREFACE.

ever may be the poetical defects, it will, probably, not be found incorrect as a delineation. The docur ments relative to the projects of the French are more than curious ; and those explanatory of the processes of dying Turkey red, though not new, will have their use, from being exhibited together.

The political opinions, occasionally introduced, have not been delivered without reflection. The importance of Malta to this country, first impressed on the public mind by the Star newspaper, will be enforced by the incidental notices in the following pages. Reflecting, in that island, on the influence of a free press over the operations of states, I was induced to interweave those remarks, in the text, which occurred to me, from seeing so central a station ne<rlected to be made a fulcrum to that powerful engine.

In the prosecution of the objects partly disclosed in this volume, I consider myself as under many obligations to several of our public officers. To Mr. Hill, our Envoy at the Court of Cagliari, I am indebted for much hospitality, and for a very ready offer, on his part, to facilitate my views, had I under-

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taken the tour of the island. To Mr. Smith, Secretary of Legation there, I am particularly obliged, for the willingness with which he assisted my inquiries. Indeed, I esteem myself fortunate in having met with this very accomplished gentleman. In Palermo, Mr. Fagan, the Consul General, rendered me all the assistance I could desire ; and I cannot omit here to mention the kindness of Signor Stirlingi, the Consul at Girgenti. For the privilege of wearing a British epaulet, this man executes all the drudgery attendant on the Malta packets, that land and receive the ambassador's dispatches, and the letters of the merchants and of the army. That such useful and necessary service should be unrequited, is a disgrace to the British nation. Mr. Canning, in Constantinople, evinced a very willing disposition to promote my objects, as far as his own influence extended ; but the influence of the British minister is, in that capital, contracted by the strange importance allowed to the foreigners connected with the mission. I shall ever remember, with pleasure, the singular purity of his mind, contrasted with the character of the diplomatic offal in the Ottoman metro-

PREFACE. Vll polis. Should the book reach his hands, he will discriminate the respect that is paid from a motive which had not its origin in considerations for his public situation, nor in return for any favours proposed or received.

The incidents of my first voyage to Greece will form a work by itself, and will afford me an opportunity of mentioning the names of other gentlemen from whom I received civilities*

London, 1st January l8l2.

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Contents

THE Mediterranean described, 1.

GIBRALTAR, 3.

SARDINIA.