PREFACE.

I THINK it right to avow, what the intelligent reader will, however, soon discover for himself, that as a literary production, this book is of small pretension. It is a sketch, and nothing more-just what its title indicates; and primarily intended to give my flock some instructive idea of the way in which the interval of my absence from them was spent. As a Pastor's familiar narrative, it contains many particulars in which the public cannot be expected to sympathize as those will who are so personally related to me.

My journey occupied something less than eight months-a space of time affording but little opportunity for adding to those stores of information already extant-the production of gifted authors, who taken altogether, may be said to have nearly exhausted most of the topics on which I have briefly touched in passing. I had intended to intersperse my narrative with certain views of prophecy, which from time to time have presented themselves to my mind, in a way not as yet fully wrought out; and to add more extensive particulars of the state and prospects of Israel, as connected with those of the Ottoman empire: but I have been obliged to forbear, in the hope of turning my attention

to them hereafter; for my great difficulty has been to narrow my subject, without really contracting it; and yet to expand sufficiently without making it too diffuse. To be adequately treated, it would demand volumes. I do, however, indulge the hope, that those for whom this sketch has been more especially made, will not rise from the perusal with regret that they ever requested me to write.

I may perhaps be permitted to add, that my materials were hastily noted down from day to day, amidst the wearisomeness of travel; and, for the most part, under the influence of a trying climate; and that this Memorial has been drawn up, not in literary ease and leisure, but amidst those incessant and higher demands upon my time which are inseparable from the spiritual oversight of a large manufacturing population.

They who know me, and respect my motive in publishing, will look indulgently upon all the defectiveness in execution which they cannot fail to notice, and of which none can be more sensible than myself. I say not this to forestall criticism, but only to bespeak kindliness towards an effort for the gratification and instruction of others, in which, circumstanced as I am, I have done what I could.

MEMORIAL, ETC.

CHAPTER I.

EUROPEAN ROUTE-OUTWARD.

Motives, etc.-France-Boulogne-Romish Preaching-Caviglia-French DiligenceLyons-Romish Superstitions-The Rhone-Avignon-Nismes-Genoa-Civita

Vecchia-Rome-Dogana-St. Peter's-Pantheon-Ancient Rome-Rome: "Holy Week"-The Pope-Papal Benediction-Italian Character and Habit-AlbanoVelletri-Pontine Marshes-Terracina-Appian Way-Fondi-Mola-Tomb of Cicero St. Agatha-Capua-Naples-Monte Posilipo-Virgil's Tomb-Puzzuoli -Bia-Ancient Remains-Carmelite Monastery-St. Januarius-Naples-Popery -Purgatory-Pompeii-Ascent of Vesuvius-Vesuvius-Procession of the "Host" -Sicily-Scylla and Charybdis-Rhegium-Syracuse-Malta-Sea storm-Zante -Melita-Malta-Syra-Crete-Mahommedan Devotions-First view of Alexan

drta-Arrival at Alexandria-Alexandria.

WHEN preparing this narrative, principally for the perusal of the members of a beloved flock at whose request it was undertaken, I felt that, in order to give a view of the manner in which the period of my absence from them was passed, I must introduce many a scene and topic already familiar to those whose reading has lain in the way of voyages and travels. I do not expect to add much to the impressions made on the public mind by travellers more extensive, and authors more gifted than myself; but I just entertain the hope, that many, who have not had much opportunity for perusing what has been already written upon the scenes of my pilgrimage, may participate the deep interest I have felt, and share the instruction I have derived from a visit to the most intensely interesting localities in the world; and certainly, when I left the shores of my native land, with broken health and unfitness for the toils of parochial duty, it was under the persuasion that I was not about to travel for my own selfish gratification, but with an extended motive-and I think a