Page 29 - Travels in Arabis (Vol I)

VI INTRODUCTION.

founded on self-evident facts, can scarcely be
impugned. Such readers, however, as feel in­
terested in the question,—and in this number

the Author flatters himself the great majority are

included,—will be gratified to know that one—
by no means the least virulent of his detractors—
did an act of tardy justice to the reputation he

*
.
once actively laboured to destroy
It remains but to acknowledge the assist­
ance derived from others towards the comple­
tion of this work. The Author's thanks are

especially due to John Arrowsmith, Esq., to
whose knowledge, skill, and industry, so many

travellers have already recorded their deep
obligations, for constructing and engraving the

* The following communication from Captain W. H. Smyth,
R.N., V.P.R.S., to the Author, is here alluded to:—“ It may
strengthen your conviction of the substantial claims of Bruce to
the applause of his country, when I tell you that Mr. Salt admitted
to me that he (Salt) had drawn his conclusions too hastily, and
from preconceived impressions. The late Dr. Gillies, the his­
torian of Greece, who criticized Bruce so severely in the Monthly
Review, also assured me that he afterwards altered his opinions
entirely in favour of him. Indeed, those who have made journeys
in the present day can readily estimate what must have been his
courage, address, and perseverance, to have accomplished so much
at that time;—and when I first visited Algiers and Bengazi, he
was not entirely forgotten.
“ It is curious that Dr. Gillies married the sister of the enter­
prising Captain Beaver, who, in his 4 African Memoranda,’ renders
due tribute to the merits of Bruce, and emphatically styles him
4 the Prince of Travellers.’ ”