The preface to this work describes how its authors, Charles Irby (1789-1845) and James Mangles (1786-1867), both officers in the Royal Navy, left England in 1816 for a tour of the continent.

Manuscript copy of journal entries and letters written by James Mangles between the 6th of September 1816 and the 10th of September 1818 during his travels in Europe, Egypt, Syria and Asia Minor. It is not known who made the copy.