XV111
The alternative of postponing for an indefinite period the
publication of the Work, or of going on half-pay, placed the
Author m a state of painful embarrassment. He had incurred
a serious outlay, which it was necessary to recover if possible ;
an e was most anxious for the publication of the Work, in
urtherance of which part of the fonds granted had been drawn
irom the Treasury; while, on the other hand, his position as a .
soldier of fortune would not justify him in making such a
sacrifice as that of quitting active service, particularly as he
had been serving without pay when commanding the Expe-
ition; and neither the Minute regarding an increase of Army
rank nor the repayment of the expenses incurred previously to
t e xpedition, had been realized by Government: the hope
also of assistance from the Board of Control and India House
towards the expenses of the Work had been disappointed*
T h e A u th o r eventually set out for C h in a ; and about h a lf
the first "volume being printed, he availed himself o f the opportu
n ity afforded by the leisure o f the voyage to improve the
remaining portion o f the work. T h e recent success in deciphering
the cuneiform character, has also led to the establishment
o f some facts which served to elucidate several important
points in the Pe rsian history.
The manuscript was sent to England in portions as it was
prepared, and the printing of the first volume was completed,
borne difficulties caused by the Author’s absence prevented
the completion of the Index Map and of the map of Arabia till
is return, when, the difficulties being removed, the maps were
finished, and the printing of the second volume proceeded.
By an accident which it is unnecessary to dwell on, the
* The East India Company had it appears declined the request, and the Solicitor
of the Board of Control gave it as his opinion that their funds were not
applicable to such a purpose.
PREFACE. XIX
Author, on his return to England, after an absence of four
years, had the misfortune to lose, together with other valuable
effects, a large portion of the manuscript; and the time since
spent in making good the deficiency led to a still further delay
in the publication of the Work.
It is hoped, however, that these circumstances have rendered
the Work as it now appears more worthy of the public favour
than when it was first written; though the Author must still rely
on their indulgence for the faults which may yet be found in it.
In extenuation, he can only plead that he has used his utmost
endeavours under the disadvantages of his situation; and he
cannot reproach himself with having lost a day in the prosecution
of the Work.
Though the publication of the narrative of the Expedition
will offer a more fitting place to acknowledge the many kindnesses
experienced from public men at home and abroad, the
Author cannot deny himself the grateful duty of expressing his
sincere acknowledgments to Viscount Ponsonby, when Her
Majesty’s Ambassador at the Porte, for his successful exertions
and untiring support of the enterprise.
And even for the portion of the work which now appears, a
large debt of gratitude is due, and felt. To the kindness and
industry of the Bev. R. Sheepshanks, the Author is indebted
for the calculations of the valuable astronomical observations
made by the astronomer of the Expedition, the late Lieutenant
Murphy, R.E.; and also for giving the triangulations and other
materials for the maps. On these much time and care have
been bestowed by Rear-Admiral Sir Francis Beaufort and Mr.
Walker, as well as by the gentlemen in the Hydrographer’s
Offic.e. Without the assistance of these his fellow-labourers
the Author could not have hoped to place before the public,