RICHARD FRANCIS BURTON, explorer and Orientalist, made himself a double reputation, first by his daring explorations of the remotest regions of Africa, Arabia, South America, and Iceland, and again by his books of travel and his celebrated translation of the “Arabian Nights.” He wrote “some thirty volumes” of travels, into which as episodes he frequently interjects admirable essays on the life and habits of the peoples among whom he traveled. He was born, according to the weight of standard authority, in Hertfordshire, England, March 19th, 1821; though it is proper to mention that in “Cabinets of Irish Literature,” in which extracts from his books appear, his birthplace is given as “Tuam, County Galway.” After serving in the East Indian army, he began his career as an explorer in 1853, by making in disguise a pilgrimage to Medina and Mecca. In 1854, he made with Speke a celebrated exploration of East Africa. In his later travels he was accompanied by Lady Burton, a woman of remarkable intellect, who, after his death on October 20th, 1890, took the responsibility of burning his “Scented Garden,” a manuscript collection of Arabic stories translated literally. She also edited his “Arabian Nights,” with a view to make its circulation possible in countries where Oriental standards of literature and morals are not generally accepted.