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[MIDDLE EAST]. FITZCLARENCE, Lieutenant Colonel George Augustus Frederick (1794-1842). Journal of a Route Across India Through Egypt to England. In the latter end of the year 1817, and the beginning of 1818. London: John Murray, 1819. 4to. Illustrated with 11 plates, 8 of which are hand-colored aquatints, 1 large folding engraved map with occasional hand-coloring, 6 maps and plans (including a map of Egypt with the route through the desert and down the Nile taken by Fitzclarence to reach Alexandria). [502] pp. Bound in contemporary three-quarter calf over marbled boards, rebacked to style in modern calf with red and black gilt morocco lettering labels (boards scuffed with some wear, frontispiece mounted on thicker paper, errata slip tipped-in, lacking half-title, some foxing, soiling in text and plates, maps). Very good. THE RARE FIRST (AND ONLY) EDITION OF THIS FASCINATING ACCOUNT OF AN OVERLAND JOURNEY FROM INDIA TO ENGLAND, WRITTEN BY THE ELDEST SON OF KING WILLIAM IV AND MRS. JORDAN. Fitzclarence served in Spain and France during the Napoleonic Wars before being sent to India, where he was appointed aide-de-camp to the Marquis of Hastings, in which capacity he made the campaigns of 1816-17 against the Mahrattas. When peace was arranged the event was considered of sufficient importance to send the dispatches by an overland route. Fitzclarence was entrusted with the task. He started from the western frontier of Bundelkund, on December 7, 1817, and traveled through districts infested by the Pindarrees, witnessed the defeat of the latter by General Doveton at Jubbulpore, and reached Bombay. He went from Bombay to Kosseir, Egypt, by the cruiser Mercury. In Egypt he explored the pyramids with Sir Henry Salt and Giovanni Belzoni, giving a valuable account of their discoveries. He reached London on 16 June 1818. Abbey Travel 519. Tooley 222.