"nearly as outrageous as if I had heard that he "had committed a murder: I have ever strongly "recommended it to my children to abftain " from that vice, which, not only in a Christian, "but in a Gentleman, is fo completely base and "indecorous."

WORTLEY MONTAGUE, ESQ.

The following Letters were written by this celebrated Traveller to the late SIR WILLIAM WATSON. Mr. ROMNEY has, with great kindness, permitted an ENGRAVING to be made of Mr. MONTAGUE, from the PICTURE which he drew of Him at VENICE in his TURKISH DRESS.

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LETTER I.

"Dear Sir,

Rofetta in Egypt, Feb. 16. 1773.

"I AM much obliged to you for the compliment that you pay my beard, and to my good friend Dr. Mackenzie, for having given you an account of it, advantageous enough "to merit the panegyric.

"I have

Painted by Remny·

Engr by Fiesinger.

EDWARD WORTLEY MONTAGUE Efq

London, Published by Cadell Jun! & Davies, Strand, May 1.1795

"I have followed Ulyffes and Æneas-I "have seen all they are faid to have vifited, "the territories of the allies of the Greeks,

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as well as those of old Priam, with less ease, << though with more pleasure, than most of our "travellers traverse France and Italy. I have "had many a weary step, but never a tiresome " hour; and however dangerous and disagree"able adventures I may have had, none could "ever deter me from my point, but, on the

contrary, they were only ftimuli. I have cer"tainly many materials, and claffical ones too, "but I was always a bad workman,

"I ftaid a confiderable time at Epirus and "Theffalia-theatres on which the fate of the "World was the drama. I took exact plans of Actium and Pharfalia, and should have fent "them to you to communicate to the Royal Society, but there are no fhips failing directly "for Europe.

"I cannot tell you the pleasure I take in the "fuccefs of Mr. Banks and Dr. Solander. I "fhall be happy when their discoveries are

"made

"made public. Good God! how happy must "thofe Gentlemen be, in having been fo fer"viceable to mankind!

"I have lately followed Mofes in the Wil"dernefs - I have fince followed the victorious "Ifraelites, and have vifited all their poffeffions. "But, with all thefe materials, I am idle with regard to them. What fhall I fay to you? "I am now fo fmitten with a beautiful Ara"bian, that the wholly takes up my time:"the only is the object of my every attention;

<6

fhe, though not in blooming youth, has more "charms than all the younger beauties. I am "totally taken up with the study of the Arabic language, and as I daily find fresh beauties " in it, I become the more eager in my pursuit.

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"Indeed, I have fo far fucceeded, that though "I read but little profe, I have attached myself

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to Arabic poetry, which, though extremely difficult, well pays my pains; its own energy "and fublimity are not to be paid. I know

not with what to amufe you, therefore I fend 66 you