DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.1041#0172
iyx History of the Society of Dilettanti
reached Portsmouth on the 8th. An unusual continuance of
westerly winds and stormy weather detained them after two
fruitless attempts to sail, till the xoth of November, when in
company with near 400 sail they left the Mother Bank.
c A letter received from Mr. Gell on the i<fth of January
announces the safe arrival of the party at Gibraltar on the first
of December—His letter bears date the 2nd of that month, and
states that as " the Africa" was to touch at Sitily on her way to
Malta, he proposed to obtain, if possible, measures of the Temple
of Jupiter Olympius at Agrigentum of which recent Excavations
have discovered many curious parts hitherto unknown; and also
to measure, if time would permit, that Temple at Selinus, which is
not given by Mr. Wilkins.
'For the ultimate Success of an Expedition like this, no human
prudence or foresight can answer. Pestilence may render the
access to many places too dangerous to be attempted; Insurrection,
so common in the countries subject to the Sway of the Porte may
completely shut up at once a great tract of country; but it appears
that the present Ruler of Asia Minor, principally the object of our
Researches, Kara Osman Ogli, is a man of great talents and
singular probity—and possessing an authority far beyond what the
Pashas generally have. He has also been considered as very
friendly to the English nation, and as we may be assured that the
Spirit1 and perseverance of Mr. Gell are such as no common
difficulties or dangers will terrify, or subdue, we may indulge the
fair hope that he may return to his brethren fraught with such
Information as may at once be a Honour to the Society, and an
Advantage to the Country.'
instructions The instructions referred to by the committee in
to the their report were drawn up by the Earl of Aberdeen,
Expedition. and forwar(jed to Sir Henry Englefield, the Secretary
to the Society, on September ij, 1811. They were
as follows:—
'Instructions for Mr. Gell, Mr. Gandy and Mr. Bedford.
' Whereas the Society of Dilettanti have resolved that a person
or persons properly qualified be sent with sufficient appointments
to some parts of the East, in order to collect information, and to
make observations relative to the ancient state of these countries,
and to such Monuments of antiquity as are still remaining, we the
Committee, intrusted by the Society with the care and management
of this scheme, have agreed upon the following instructions for
your direction in the discharge of that duty to which you are
appointed:—
reached Portsmouth on the 8th. An unusual continuance of
westerly winds and stormy weather detained them after two
fruitless attempts to sail, till the xoth of November, when in
company with near 400 sail they left the Mother Bank.
c A letter received from Mr. Gell on the i<fth of January
announces the safe arrival of the party at Gibraltar on the first
of December—His letter bears date the 2nd of that month, and
states that as " the Africa" was to touch at Sitily on her way to
Malta, he proposed to obtain, if possible, measures of the Temple
of Jupiter Olympius at Agrigentum of which recent Excavations
have discovered many curious parts hitherto unknown; and also
to measure, if time would permit, that Temple at Selinus, which is
not given by Mr. Wilkins.
'For the ultimate Success of an Expedition like this, no human
prudence or foresight can answer. Pestilence may render the
access to many places too dangerous to be attempted; Insurrection,
so common in the countries subject to the Sway of the Porte may
completely shut up at once a great tract of country; but it appears
that the present Ruler of Asia Minor, principally the object of our
Researches, Kara Osman Ogli, is a man of great talents and
singular probity—and possessing an authority far beyond what the
Pashas generally have. He has also been considered as very
friendly to the English nation, and as we may be assured that the
Spirit1 and perseverance of Mr. Gell are such as no common
difficulties or dangers will terrify, or subdue, we may indulge the
fair hope that he may return to his brethren fraught with such
Information as may at once be a Honour to the Society, and an
Advantage to the Country.'
instructions The instructions referred to by the committee in
to the their report were drawn up by the Earl of Aberdeen,
Expedition. and forwar(jed to Sir Henry Englefield, the Secretary
to the Society, on September ij, 1811. They were
as follows:—
'Instructions for Mr. Gell, Mr. Gandy and Mr. Bedford.
' Whereas the Society of Dilettanti have resolved that a person
or persons properly qualified be sent with sufficient appointments
to some parts of the East, in order to collect information, and to
make observations relative to the ancient state of these countries,
and to such Monuments of antiquity as are still remaining, we the
Committee, intrusted by the Society with the care and management
of this scheme, have agreed upon the following instructions for
your direction in the discharge of that duty to which you are
appointed:—