Travels in Epirus, Albania, Macedonia, and Thessaly
F. Pouqueville
 
EDITOR'S NOTICE
 

"A more accurate description of this inland tract is ardently desired; but it is no where to be found.'' Such is the remark inscribed by the illustrious D'Anville on that part of his map of ancient Greece which comprehends Epirus. With what avidity, then, would he not have availed himself of the various information, assembled and given to the public since his time, relative to Epirus and other highly interesting portions of the north of Greece. Greatly, indeed, are the geographer, the historian, the antiquary, indebted to the gentlemen of our own and other countries, who have, of late years, communicated to the world the results of their learned and adventurous personal researches, in a country so peculiarly interesting as Greece, in the comprehensive sense of the name. So has it happened, however, that, from particular circumstances, the author of the work from which the contents of the following pages have been extracted, has been enabled to survey a much greater portion of EPIRUS and ALBANIA, of MACEDONIA and THESSALY, and that with much more deliberation and much greater advantages than any other person, without any exception, whose name is known in the world.

Dr. Pouqueville, a corresponding member of the class of antiquities in the Royal Institute of France, was selected as one of the men of science and learning to accompany the French expedition to Egypt. On his voyage back to Europe he was captured, and long detained at Constantinople. In 1805, after his return to France, he published "Travels in the Morea, Albania," &c. a work which gratified as it excited the public curiosity. In the autumn of the same year, Dr. P. was appointed consul-general for France at the court, and within the territories under the authority of Aly Pasha of Janina. In that character he acted for ten years, in the course of which period he traversed and examined many regions and places to which no stranger could possibly have access, who was not, as Dr. P., furnished with ihe special permission and protection of the ruler of the country.


iv

The original work extends to five full octavo volumes, to be illustrated by maps, plans, &c. from original materials collected by the Author, and arranged by M. Barbier du Bocage, the well-known Geographer of the "Travels of Anacharsis." In preparing the present publication it has become necessary to deviate, in various cases, from the arrangement adopted by the learned and accurate Author. The observations collected in the course of several different tours, performed at distant epochs, are here collected and condensed into one continued narrative. The person to whom the condensation has been intrusted never personally visited Greece, but he has long made the ancient military history and topography of the north of Greece the objects of his particular study, those operations, especially, in which Cæsar and Pompey were concerned; the subject is, therefore, not new to him. On the whole, the Editor would felicitate the geographer, the antiquary, particularly the military antiquary, on the acquisition of so rich a fund of genuine topographic information, as will be found to be compressed within the very narrow limits of the present publication. It will serve as the TRAVELLING COMPANION, the VADEMECUM of the traveller for information, whenever he shall visit the venerable source of science and art. It will call back to his remembrance many an event, many an operation, recorded in voluminous works, ancient and modern, which he cannot be expected to carry with him, nor to find in those quarters to which his researches may be directed.

The French original is not yet completely published; but the Editor is desirous to gratify the eagerness of public curiosity, with regard to the important work of Dr. Pouqueville, by producing, in the first instance, what relates to the greater portion of the north of Greece. As soon as the remainder shall appear, which he understands may be expected in January, the Editor will hasten to lay before the readers of this Journal Dr. P.'s equally elaborate remarks on the southern parts of Greece.

An Atlas of Plates being promised, on the completion of the original work, the embellishments of the second part of this publication may be expected to be strikingly splendid.

London, 15th Dec. 1820.


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