THE situation of an author, when he presents himself to the scrutinizing observation of the public, must ever be one of the greatest doubt and anxiety; but as the following pages are intended only to detail facts in the plainest manner, without attempt at embellishment of any kind, it is hoped that they will not only meet with indulgence from the general reader, but escape, without very severe comment, from the examination of the critic. All that can be said in their recommendation is, that they adhere strictly to truth, and that not a single incident described by the author is in the slightest degree exaggerated; on the contrary, he has not only abridged but, in some instances, entirely omitted to mention circumstances which occurred to him, fearing either to excite doubt in the minds of his readers, or by too long details to trespass on their patience. The Tour is divided into two parts. The first comprizes the original progress of the mission from Tripoli to Morzouk, where[vi] the unfortunate Mr. Ritchie died: the second embraces the author’s examination of the remainder of the kingdom of Fezzan, from the death of his companion, until the final return of the mission to Tripoli; it being deemed too hazardous to attempt advancing farther into the interior, without fresh authority and additional pecuniary supplies from Government. In that part of the journey which was undertaken after the death of Mr. Ritchie, the state of the temperature is, by a thermometer, graduated according to Reaumur. In consequence of Mr. Ritchie’s frequent and debilitating attacks of illness, and his having relied too much on a singularly retentive memory, he had, from time to time, delayed committing his remarks to paper, in the delusive anticipation of ease and leisure, which, unhappily, he was destined never to enjoy; and it was thus owing to an unfortunate procrastination, that much valuable information has been lost to the world. The present journal, therefore, although regularly kept, must necessarily be very inferior to that which would have been produced by Mr. Ritchie, had he been blessed with better health and prolonged life; but, however great his loss may be considered in a scientific point of view, this circumstance, it is earnestly hoped, will operate as an additional claim, on the part of the author, to the[vii] kind consideration of the public, to whom he offers his little work only as an humble substitute for one which would have been far better arranged; trusting that in his total want of pretension and ready admission of its defects, it may meet the general indulgence, which he can claim on no other account. The author is indebted to the kindness of the Rev. W. Buckland, Professor of Mineralogy at Oxford, for the interesting paper on the geology of the kingdom of Fezzan...FROM THE BOOKS.