Proceedings of the expedition to explore the northern coast of Africa, from Tripoly eastward : in MDCCCXXI. and MDCCCXXII., comprehending an account of the Greater Syrtis and Cyrenaica; and of the ancient cities composing the pentapolis

The volume recounts a two‑year naval expedition that set out from Tripoli to chart the little‑known stretches of Africa’s northern shoreline in the early 1820s. Its authors, a Royal Navy captain and his scholarly brother, were commissioned by senior government patrons and blend meticulous observation with a genuine curiosity about the region’s geography and history. Their narrative captures the challenges of travel in a remote desert‑coastal landscape while emphasizing the scientific value of their measurements and sketches.

Beyond the harsh terrain, the work offers vivid descriptions of ancient sites that once thrived along the Greater Syrtis and in Cyrenaica. Readers will find detailed accounts of ruined bridges, mausoleums, churches, and amphitheaters, each linked to the poets and historians who first recorded them. Accompanying plates and charts illustrate coastlines, city plans, and archaeological features, providing a rare glimpse into early nineteenth‑century scholarship on a part of the world that remains sparsely documented.