nation; and, both in the world of letters and in the world of fashion, the celebrated traveller became a chief object of attraction. He now employed himself in preparing an account of his travels and discoveries for the press; and the work appeared about the end of the year 1820, in a quarto volume, accompanied with another volume of plates, in folio. It excited great interest, and soon passed through three editions; while translations of it into French and Italian had also appeared at Paris and Milan. It was after the publication of his book that Belzoni prepared his representation of the tomb he had discovered at Beban-el-Malouk, which was exhibited in London and Paris. Tired, however, of leading an inactive life, Belzoni soon began to project other schemes of foreign travel. He visited successively, France, Russia, Sweden, and Denmark; after which, returning to England, he undertook, under the auspices of the government, to prosecute the perilous attempt of penetrating into central Africa. His plan was to endeavour, in the first instance, to reach Timbuctoo, thence to direct his course eastward towards Sennaar, and then to return through Nubia and Egypt. But even his experience, skill, and extraordinary personal strength and prowess did not save him from falling a victim in the cause in which so many gallant men had already perished. He left England towards the end of the year 1822 for Gibraltar, on reaching which he immediately embarked for Tangiers. From this he proceeded to Fez, where he was well received by the Emperor of Morocco, and obtained permission to join a caravan for Timbuctoo, which was to set out in a few days. Unexpected difficulties, however, arose when he was on the point of departure; and after a residence at Fez of five months he was obliged to give On this disappoint he had originally fixed upon. ment he sailed for Madeira, and from thence, in October 1823, he set out for the mouth of the river Benin on the west coast of Africa, with the intention of making his way to the interior from that point. He entered upon this journey accompanied by an English merchant who was to conduct him as far as the town of Benin, and to introduce him there to the king of the country; but by the time had he arrived at this place a malady which had attacked him almost as soon as he had set his foot on shore, had reached such a height that he was unable to proceed any farther; and he begged his companion to have him taken back to Gato. He arrived here on the 2nd of December in a dreadfully exhausted state, and being immediately attacked with delirium, expired on the following day. His remains were interred under a plane tree on the shore, while the English vessels on the station honoured his memory by discharges of their cannon during the ceremonial. An inscription in English was afterwards placed over his grave, recording his melancholy fate, and expressing a hope that every European who might visit the spot would, if necessary, cause the ground to be cleared, and the fence repaired, around the resting-place of the intrepid and enterprising traveller. Many other names of persons of both sexes yet remain on the records of literature, science, art, and the other departments of intellectual exertion, which might be referred to as illustrating the Pursuit of Knowledge under Difficulties. But the selection of examples we have made, regulated as it had been with a view to give as much diversity of interest as possible to the contents of the work, will probably be thought sufficiently extensive for our purpose. The lesson we would teach, as we have already frequently had occasion to remark, is, that in no situation of life, be it what it may, is the work of mental cultivation impossible to him who in good earnest sets about it. What is chiefly wanted to invigorate the mind to the encounter and conquest of the most formidable difficulties which any circumstances can oppose to it, is simply the conviction of this truth; and of that conviction we can bring forward nothing likely to produce a more deep and abiding impression than some of the histories recorded in the preceding pages. FINIS, INDEX. ADAMS, Dr vol. i. page 51 Adrian, Emperor i. 32 Æpinus, M. i. 252 Africanus, Scipio i. 114 Alcuin, ii. 10 Alexis Michelovitch i. 23 Alfieri, ii. 5 Bacon, Dr N. i. 298 Bagford, John 189 Alfred the Great, i. 63; i. 11 Bayle, ii. 4 Allen, Mr ii. 149 Almon, John i. 185 Alphery, Nicephorus ii. 5 Alphonso X of Castile, ii. 20 Anaxagoras, ii. 4 Aram, Eugene i. 355 Archimedes, i. 20 Aurelius, Marcus ii. 7 Avicenna, ii. 247 Bacon, Anthony ii. 56 Beaufort, Lady Joanna i. 283 Beaumont, F. i. 75 Elie de i. 284 Beckman, Professor i. 124 Beddoes, Dr ii. 117 Behmen, Jacob ii. 215 Beighton, Mr ii. 306 Belzoni, G. B. ii. 387 Bernard, Mr ii. 238 Bewick, Thomas ii. 191 Bianchi, Ant. ii. 205 Bielby, Mr ii. 192 Birch, Dr ii. 90 Blacklock, Dr i. 298, 312 |