says, 'be achieved by me, or remain, as it had done for the last two thousand years, a defiance to all travellers, and an opprobrium to geography.'

6

Fortune seemed to favour his scheme. Mr. Aspinall, having been very cruelly and ignominiously treated by the Dey of Algiers, had resigned his consulship, and Mr. Ford, a merchant, the Dey's acquaintance, had been appointed in his stead; but dying a few days afterwards, the consulship again became vacant; and Lord Halifax pressed Bruce to accept it, as being convenient for making the proposed expedition. This favourable event,' says Bruce, finally determined me. I had all my life applied unweariedly, perhaps with more love than talent, to drawing, the practice of mathematics, and especially that part necessary to astronomy. The transit of Venus was at hand. It was certainly known that it would be visible once at Algiers, and there was great reason to expect that it might be twice. I had furnished myself with a large apparatus of instruments, the completest of their kind, for the observation. In the choice of these I had been assisted by my friend Admiral Campbell, and Mr. Russell, secretary to the Turkish Company. Every other necessary had been provided in proportion. It was a pleasure now to know, that it was not from a rock or a wood, but from my own house at Algiers I could deliberately take measures to place myself in the list of men of science of all nations, who were then preparing for the same scientific attempt.'

On his appointment to be consul of Algiers, Bruce had the honour of being presented to his Majesty George III., who graciously requested

him to make accurate drawings of the ruins of ancient architecture which he should discover in the course of his travels; and to give Bruce a liberal opportunity of improving his taste, and to qualify him for collecting with greater ability the remains of antiquity in Africa, the southern region of the Roman empire, it was arranged that he should travel through France into Italy, and remain there for some months, under the pretext of waiting for some despatches which were there to be forwarded to him.

Delighted with prospects so congenial to his disposition, at the age of thirty-two he sailed from England in June, 1762; and though some objections had been made as to particular passports solicited by our government from the French secretary of state, M. de Choiseul waived such exceptions with regard to Bruce, and politely assured him, in a letter accompanying his passport, that those difficulties did not in any shape regard him, but that he was perfectly at liberty to pass through, or remain in, France, with those that accompanied him, without limiting their number, as short or as long a time as should be agreeable to him.

Having arrived at Rome (August, 1762), Bruce proceeded to Naples, and there, for some months, awaited his Majesty's further commands. He afterwards went to Florence, where he remained most studiously occupied for some time.

It would be tedious to enter into a detail of the antiquities, paintings, and other curiosities, which Bruce observed in the course of his journey, as they have been visited by thousands of our countrymen, and have been minutely described

by travellers of every possible description. It is only necessary to state that Bruce made very minute memoranda respecting every remarkable place or object which he visited*: that his catalogue of paintings is very extensive; and that his notes indicate the variety of his knowledge, the correctness of his judgment, and the exalted feelings with which he visited those faded scenes of Roman glory, which, like Byron's' Greece,' may be justly compared to a corpse, from which a noble spirit has departed.

While at Naples, he received from slaves, redeemed from the province of Constantia, descriptions of magnificent ruins, which they had seen while traversing that country in the camp of their master, the Bey; and as it was Bruce's intention not only to take accurate drawings of these, but also to endeavour to make a map of the country, with observations on its natural history, and on the manners and language of its inhabitants, he justly reflected that the packing and repacking, mounting and rectifying, the instruments alone would wholly occupy one man, and he therefore wrote to several of his correspondents, acquainting them with his situation, and requesting them to procure him an assistant. For a long time no one appeared willing to share the fatigues of such journies; but at last a young man was engaged, who was then studying architecture at Rome. He was a native of Bologna, named Luigi Balugani. Besides the assistance of this

* It appears, from sketches found among his papers, that he intended to write a dissertation on the ancient and modern state of Rome.

person, Bruce provided himself in England with two camera obscuras, the largest of which was made to separate into pieces, folding compactly on hinges: its body was a hexagon of six feet diameter, with a conical top; in this instrument, as in a summer-house, the draughtsman sat unseen, and in executing views of ruined architecture, could do more work in one hour than the readiest artist, without such assistance, in seven.

After having passed about eight months at Naples, Rome, Bologna, and Florence*, during which time he most attentively visited the antiquities, paintings, cabinets, &c., availing himself of every opportunity to improve his skill in drawing, he at last received his despatches from England. Immediately proceeding to Leghorn, Bruce embarked on board the Montreal man-of-war, and arrived at Algiers on the 15th of March, 1763.

'a

*The papers which are preserved relating to this journey are, " narrative of the route from Turin to Bologna-inscriptions-account of Trajan's tables-of Bologna-of the paintings there. Route from Bologna to Rome-description of the paintings in St. 'Peter's-the Vatican-Capitol-Belvidere-Albano-Barbarini Pa'laces-in the Palaces Spado-little Farnese-Corsini-Borghese, &c.-Route from Rome to Naples-Dissertation on Ancient and * Modern Rome, Florence, &c. &c.'

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CHAPTER II.

BRUCE'S RESIDENCE AT ALGIERS AS BRITISH CONSUL.

IT has already been stated that Bruce had been appointed to the consulship of Algiers to succeed Mr. Aspinall who had been recalled. This gentleman had, with great firmness and integrity of conduct, opposed many unjust demands which had been made upon him by the Dey, who, in consequence, sent a letter to England, requesting that that consul might be dismissed, and Mr. Ford, a British merchant, who had lately returned to England, appointed in his stead. This official document, addressed to the English Vizier, Mr. Pitt,' is a curious specimen of barbarous diplomacy:- My high friend: For some time past John Ford was a merchant at Algiers, whom we desire you will appoint consul, and send him a day the sooner to us, because your consul in Algiers is an obstinate person, and like an animal!'

This Mr. Ford died in England; and on Bruce's arrival at Algiers, he presented to the old Dey credentials from his Britannic Majesty, graciously appointing, as consul, our trusty and wellbeloved James Bruce, Esq., whom, by his birth and education, as well as by his knowledge and experience, we have judged to be every way qualified for this trust.'

Ali Pasha, the Dey of Algiers, was one of those savage characters, who, on the coast of Barbary,