Page 218 - Travels in Arabis (Vol I)

XI.] TRAVELS IN OMAN. 179

have originated. Hitherto too little has been
known in Europe respecting this enlightened

Prince. His recent appropriate present to
our Sailor King of a large vessel of war com­

pletely equipped, and his desire to form a
more intimate alliance with Great Britain,
has brought him into some political notice,

while his munificent encouragement of science
and the arts, has attracted the attention of an

influential learned society, which lately nomi­
nated him one of its honorary members.

These occurrences are but trifling, and I
must solicit some indulgence for their inser­

tion. Indeed, were I to record every act of
consideration and kindness which we received
from the Prince during our stay in Oman,

there are few of the pages of this journal in
which they might not be made to appear.

To say that they were accepted with different
and higher feelings than those with which we

are usually disposed to view the favours of
the great, expresses faintly my sense and

recollection of them; but that they should
have awakened a feeling of this nature, may
convey an idea to others of the mode and

spirit in which they were bestowed.

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