spirits just at the rock of Gibraltar. Here I unhooked my squadron, and
having taken an affectionate leave of the officers, I suffered them to
proceed in their ordinary manner to the place of their destination. The
whole garrison were highly delighted with the novelty of my vehicle;
and at the pressing solicitations of the governor and officers I went
ashore, and took a view of that barren old rock, about which more powder
has been fired away than would purchase twice as much fertile ground in
any part of the world! Mounting my chariot, I took the reins, and again
made forward, in mad career, down the Mediterranean to the isle of
Candia. Here I received despatches from the Sublime Porte, entreating me
to assist in the war against Russia, with a reward of the whole island
of Candia for my alliance. At first I hesitated, thinking that the
island of Candia would be a most valuable acquisition to the sovereign
who at that time employed me, and that the most delicious wines, sugar,
&c., in abundance would flourish on the island; yet, when I considered
the trade of the East India Company, which would most probably suffer
by the intercourse with Persia through the Mediterranean, I at once
rejected the proposal, and had afterwards the thanks of the Honourable
the House of Commons for my propriety and political discernment.

Having been properly refreshed at Candia, I again proceeded, and in a
short time arrived in the land of Egypt. The land of this country, at
least that part of it near the sea, is very low, so that I came upon it
ere I was aware, and the Pillar of Pompey got entangled in the various
wheels of the machine, and damaged the whole considerably. Still I drove
on through thick and thin, till, passing over that great obelisk, the
Needle of Cleopatra, the work got entangled again, and jolted at a
miserable rate over the mud and swampy ground of all that country; yet
my poor bulls trotted on with astonishing labour across the Isthmus of
Suez into the Red Sea, and left a track, an obscure channel, which has