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"JUDEA, AND IN CAPPADOCIA, IN PONTUS, AND "ASIA, PHRYGIA, AND PAMPHYLIA, IN EGYPT, AND IN THE PARTS OF LYBIA, ABOUT CYRENE,

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AND STRANGERS OF ROME, JEWS AND PROS

"ELYTES, CRETES, AND ARABIANS."

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PREFACE

Το

PART THE FIRST.

IN presenting the FIRST PART of his Travels to the Public, the author is desirous to explain the general extent of his undertaking.

His design is, to complete, in THREE separate PARTS, a series of Travels, in Europe, Asia, and Africa; so that each portion, consisting of one, or more, volumes, may constitute a survey of some particular region. Thus, for example, the PART now published, relates to Travels in Russia, Tahtary, and Turkey; a SECOND PART may include the observations collected in Greece, Egypt, and Palestine; and, finally, a THIRD PART, those objects which were presented in Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Lapland, and Finland. But, in order to accomplish so extensive an undertaking, some indulgence is required to the manner of its execution; some credit for a better disposition towards his fellow-creatures, than the author's severe penance in Russia may seem to have excited. It is not so generally

known as it may be, that the passage of a small rivulet, which separated the two countries of Sweden and Russia, at the period of the author's journey, and before the dismemberment of Finland, the mere crossing of a bridge, conducted the traveller from all that adorns and dignifies the human mind, to whatsoever, most abject, has been found to degrade it. If, therefore, the late Empress and Autocrat of all the Russias, CATHERINE THE SECOND, could find a Volney, who would prostitute his venal pen to varnish the deformities of her reign and of her empire; if Potemkin did not want an apologist, and an advocate, even among the Writers of this country; Great Britain will forgive the frankness of one, among her sons, who has ventured, although bluntly, to speak the truth. It is a language not wholly obscured in the more cautious descriptions of former Writers. Tubervile, of England; Augustine, of Germany; Olearius, of Denmark; and, more recently, the Abbé de la Chappe, of France, together with the authors of many anonymous productions, represent the real character of the people, in colours, which neither the antidote of Aleksye Musïne Puchkine, the drivellings' of Voltaire, nor

(1) See Voltaire's Correspondence with the Empress CATHERINE, in the latter part of his life.

all the hired deceptions of French philosophers and savans, have been able to wipe away'.

With

A few words, by way of acknowledgment, to those who have contributed to the accomplishment of the present undertaking, it is hoped, will not be deemed superfluous: at the same time, it is not necessary to repeat expressions which occur in the following pages. the exception, therefore, of Lord WHITWORTH, whose respectable name the author here begs leave to introduce, no repetition will be offered. To his kindness, while Ambassador at Petersburg, the very existence of the FIRST PART of this work may be ascribed; and his character ought to stand recorded, in having afforded, as an English Minister, the very rare example of liberal patronage to his travelling countrymen, during the whole of his embassy.

(2) Omnes enim passim, cujuscunque conditionis sint, nullo respectu personarum habito, durissimâ servitute premuntur. Nobiles, magnates, præfecti, primores, consiliariique universi, se chlopos, id est, abjectissimos et vilissimos servos Magni Ducis fatentur; et bona sua omnia, mobilia et immobilia, quæ possident, non sua, sed Principis esse agnoscunt. Ut autem equestris ordo à Magno Duce, ita enim plebeius ordo à Nobilibus et Magnatibus gravissimè premitur: colonorum enim et oppidanorum bona, militarium hominum et Nobilium prædæ exposita sunt. Sex dies coloni in septimana dominis suis laborant; septimus dies privato labori conceditur. Neque hi strenuè laborant, nisi benè verberati." Descriptio Moscovia. L. Bat. 1600.

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