the unfortunate Mr. Ritchie d ied : 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 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 o f the Rev. W. Buck- land, Professor of Mineralogy at Oxford, for the interesting paper on the geology of the kingdom of Fezzan.
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