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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

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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 Musine 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 Moscovic, L. Bat. 1600.

In the course of the subsequent narrative, the author has generally used a plural expression, even with reference to his own personal observations. This mode of writing was adopted, not solely, with a view to divest his style of egotism, but in allusion to his friend, the cause and companion of his travels, JOHN MARTEN CRIPPS, M. A. of Jesus College, Cambridge; whose unceasing ardour in prosecuting every enterprise, added to the mildness and suavity of his manners, endeared him to the inhabitants of every country he visited: The constancy and firmness which he preserved through all the trials and privations of a long and arduous journey as well as the support which he rendered to the author, in hours of painful and dangerous sickness, demand the warmest expressions of gratitude. The Plants collected during the route were the result of their mutual labour; but the whole of the Meteorological Statement in the Appendix', together with the account given of Relays and Distances, are due to his patient observation and industry..

To the Rev. REGINALD HEBER, late Fellow of All-Souls' College, Oxford, the author is indebted

(1) See the Appendix to Vols. II. IV. VI. & VIII.

(2) Ibid.

for the valuable Manuscript Journal which afforded the extracts given in the Notes. In addition to Mr. Heber's habitual accuracy, may be mentioned the statistical information, which stamps a peculiar value on his observations: this has enriched the volume by communications which the author himself was incompetent to supply.

TO AYLMER BOURKE LAMBERT, Esq. Fellow of the Royal, Antiquarian, and Linnæan Societies, author of several Botanical writings, and, among others, of a splendid work on the Genus Pinus, as well as possessor of the finest Herbarium in Europe, for his kindness in arranging the Plants collected in the Crimea, and in preparing a List of them for the Appendix.

If the Vignettes prefixed to the several Chapters, answer the purpose for which they were intended, by exhibiting, within a small compass,

(3) See Appendix to Vol. II. Mr. Lambert is the present possessor of the celebrated Herbarium of Pallas, purchased by Mr. Cripps during his residence with the Professor, and brought to England, in the Braakel, by the author's brother, the late Captain George Clarke, of the Royal Navy, A. D. 1805.