Journey From Moscow to Constantinople, in the Years 1817, 1818.

1819. London, John Murray, 1819. 4to. Mid-20th century library buckram made for Bimingham Library (plates with small stamps, bookplate, deaccessioned), pp. vi, [2], 272; 6 aquatint plates after drawings by the author; occasional light spotting or browning, the final two leaves with a few minor marginal flaws. First edition. Macmichael (1784-1839) was a physician and travelling fellow from Radcliffe College, Oxford; his journey started in Moscow in December of 1817 and includes a visit to the Kremlin and the Military Hospitals. The next destinations were the city of Kiev and the Ukraine region. The narrative at this point is particularly noteworthy for its commentary on the Jewish population of some of these towns, the party stopping for refreshemnts at a Jewish household in Olwiopol. Having crossed Moldavia, Macmichael reached the capital of Wallachia, Bucharest and from there, travelled on to Adrianople. The author makes interesting references to his friend, Mr. Dodwell, who had travelled to Greece some 13 years before and who had commented in some detail on the state of the plague in the region. Macmichael reached Constantinople but was obliged to return to England via Marseilles where he underwent thirty days of quarantine against the plague. However, Macmichael's companion, Mr. Legh, continued on the intended route to Syria; the fourth chapter is therefore written by Mr. Legh and describes the journey from Jerusalem To Palmyra and the return back to Constantinople. Legh visited Hebron, the Dead Sea, Petra, Jerrash, Nazareth, Sidon, Baalbek, Palmyra and Aleppo. Abbey 20; Atabey 747; Blackmer 1054.