English; and goes as my interpreter. My terms with him are ten bars per month, from the time he leaves Pifania till his return; five bars per month to his wife, during his abfence; and, if he accompanies me as far as Sego, he is to receive the price of two prime flaves on his return. The other is one of Dr. Laidley's own fervants; he has always behaved in the most faithful manner; and the Doctor has offered him, as a reward for going with me, his freedom when he returns. A blackfmith and his fon likewife accompany us; they have been employed by the Doctor for two years, and are now going to their native town, Jumbo, in the kingdom of Karrta.

With this fmall but felect party, I fhall take my departure, tomorrow morning, from Pifania. It is my intention to travel with as much expedition as poffible, till I have croffed the Senegal, and got Into the kingdom of Caffon. I fhall then think the most troublesome part of this journey is over, and take the firft opportunity of writing to

the Affociation.

As all my former communications have fallen into the hands of the French, I fhall here repeat fome of the moft material points of information contained, in them. I hall begin, by enumerating the days journies between this and Sego, by the northern route, which is the route commonly ufed by the Slatees, and that by which I fhall travel. They are as follow-From Pifania, Coota, Cunda, Wooli, Color, Tambacunda, Nomataba, Jalice, firft town of Bondou; Fittayeraboy, Cufang, Dibboo, Goolemboo, or Galambob, laft town of Benden; Gung-gadi, on the north

ern bank of the Senegal, in the fmall kingdom of Cajaga; Kirisnani, firft town of Caffen; Saboofura, Cooniakari, Soomina, Comoroo, Saimpo, the last town of Caf fon, fituated at the bottom of the Banbara mountains; Karrunculla, Gemmoo, or Kimmoo (for the G founds hard) Fangoomba, DibbongMeiffang, Seco, Karrabejanga, Comba, Dubbila, laft town of Karrta; Pampara, first of Sego, Nyamoo, Glungorrollo, Dampa, Finimar boo, Scracorro, Fanimboo, Wooloocomboo, Doolinkeeboo, Diggani, Sego.

Diggani ftands on the northern bank of the Joliba, oppofite to Sego, which is upon the fouthern bank of that river. The Joliba is very broad here, but fo fhallow, that people can wade over it in a dry feafon: but the king would be much offended at any merchant that crofled the river in this manner; for the old fishermen are entirely fupported by the fmail fares they receive for carrying paffengers over the river.

'The route from Sego to Genné lies along the fouthern bank of Joliba, by the places mentioned on the chart of the Association; and from Genné they proceed, by water, to Tombuctoo: few of the Slatees go farther than Sego, and none, I believe, farther than Genné. The only perfon I have yet feen who has been at Tombuctoo, was an old prieft; he reprefents it as a very large town; and fays, that Houfla is thirty days by land, and forty-five by water, to the coaft of Tombuctoo; that the canoes are large, and not made of one tree, but of many planks put together and, what is more furprifing, that they are navigated by people as white as I am.

'Thefe

'These are the most remarkable points of information that I have been able to collect concerning the route. I have got no information refpecting the termination of the Niger; and I am forry it is fo lame in other parts.

'I think it is but justice to acknowledge the many obligations I am under to Dr. Laidley, who received me, on my arrival in Africa, with an invitation to his houfe, where I have been ever fince; and it has been entirely owing to his exertions that I am now enabled to put my defigns in execution, and attempt, with fome probability of fuccefs, to fulfil my engagements to the Affociation.

I am, Gentlemen,

"Your obedient fervant,

'MUNGO PARK.'

Dr. Laidley to Mr. Willis. Sir, River Gambia, May 22, 1796. 'Your esteemed note, per the Robert, Captain Grandifon, I duly received. Your letter to Mr. Park will be fent off immediately, although I have but little hopes of its reaching him. A meffenger, who arrived here yesterday, informs me that he had paffed Gyttim, in his way to Sego, two months ago, and had paffed the territories of Deffy previously to the breaking out of the war that now rages between him and the king of Sego: had that not been the cafe, he would have been under the difagreeable neceffity of returning hither, or endeavour to penetrate, by a long, perilous, and circuitous route, his way to Genné. I am happy he has in time reached the territories of the king of Sego; and I hope, if all is well with him, he

muft, by this time, have reached Tombuctoo. For farther particu. lars refpecting his outfit, and the engagements I have entered into on his account, I refer you to his letter to Sir Jofeph Banks, which accompanies this. I understand there are letters at Galambole and at Deffer for the Association, which I am in daily expectation of. Should they arrive in time, they will be forwarded by the Robert. I remain,

With great deference, 'Sir, your most humble fervant, 'JOHN LAIDLEY.'

James Willis, Efq.

Dr. Laidley to Mr. Willis. Sir, River Gambia, Aug. 1, 1796.

I

'Your esteemed favour, per the Robert, was delivered me by Captain Grandifon; in anfwer to which, I beg leave to acquaint you, that Mr. Park left me on the 2d of December, 1795, completely equipped for his intended journey; fince which I have received no difpatches from him, which rather furprises me, as he promised to write to the Affociation from Galambole. have lately learned that he has reached the refidence of an Arabian king, fituate to the northward, and confiderably to the eastward, of Sego. The northward route, I judge, he has found neceffary to take, to avoid the territories of Deffeg, which have been depopulated by a numerous army of the king of Sego. I cannot account for his taking fuch a circuit, in any other manner than to avoid the feat of war, which has been carried on with unabated fury between thofe two powerful princes, for several months

Cc 2

past.

paft. This may, perhaps, account for his filence; or, he may have left letters in the hands of feveral people that may not have reached me. I hope he has long ere this reached Tombuctoo; and I flatter myfelf he will find great inducement to penetrate as far as Houffa. From every information I have received, fhips come there of about 100 tons burthen (according to the defcription given of them) but from whence, and by whom navigated, cannot learn.

I have written to Mr. Park feveral times; but, from the rapidity of his journey, I have little hope of any of my letters reaching him. Your letter will be forwarded the first opportunity.

"I have alfo, fince the death of my friend, Mr. H. Beaufoy, written by different opportunities to Sir Jofeph Banks, acquainting him of every particular refpecting Mr. Park, and the engagements I have entered into on his account; fome of which may not have reached him, as feveral letters have been deftroyed, to prevent their falling into the hands of the French.

Having nothing farther to communicate, I remain, with great deference,

Sir, your humble fervant,

Society from very different quar ters, and from perfons of the higheft credit, wholly unconnected with and at an immenfe distance from each other. Teftimonies without number occur to prove, that the river running eastward to Tombuctoo, and from thence to Houffa, widening as it runs, is the Niger, or a confiderable branch of it; and its termination in an extensive lake, or mediterranean ocean, in the very centre of Africa, seems extremely probable. Major Houghton (as we have feen) was informed at Medina, by the fhereef, whom he had known at Morocco, that he might embark at Genné, and proceed with the ftream to Tombuctoo; and, moreover, that decked veffels navigated. The fame information was given by the native who ferved the Major as a guide: and the Society have received a letter from Mr. Matra, the conful at Tangiers, inclofing one from his brother at Tunis, wherein the latter expreffes himself in these words: - "I have traced a mediterranean sea in the interior of Africa, from fuch a concurrence of teftimony as obviates all doubts of its existence; and it must be of a prodigious furface!"Concerning the people mentioned by Mr. Park as white, the only conclufion to be drawn is, that they are of Moorish origin. Some of thefe might appear, in the eyes of Mr. Park's informant, the negro-prieft, a race of whites; but it cannot eafily be fuppofed that a nation perfectly white, like the people of Europe, is to be found in the bofom of the African continent.

Since the foregoing sheets were printed, the fecretary of the Affociation has been enabled to announce

to

to the subscribers, that a Mr. Hornemann (another intended traveller) has begun his journey under very favourable circumftances. Having been provided with introductory letters to fome diftinguished literary characters in France, members of the Inftitut National, he proceeded to Paris, where he arrived in the beginning of July, and was received by thofe gentlemen with great kindness and attention; and with affurances, on their part, and on the parts of their colleagues, of an ardent zeal to promote the purposes of his miffion. M. la Lande furnished him with fome copies of his Mémoire de l'Afrique, and prefented him to a meeting of the Inftitut National, at which he was permitted to affift. M. Brouffonnet, who is appointed conful for Mogadore, introduced him to M. de Roche, lately nominated conful-general at Tangier, by whofe means he has formed an acquaintance with a Turkifh gentleman, a native of Tripoli, now refiding in Paris; who being made acquainted with the motives and views of the African Affociation, has entered into Mr.

Hornemann's intrepid enterprize with a liberality and ardour particularly honourable to a Mahometan. Befides giving him much excellent advice and inftruction with refpect to his route, he has favoured him with a letter of introduction, written in Arabic, to a perfon of confequence refiding in Cairo, conceived in terms of the warmest recommendation. He particularly requests his friend "to introduce Mr. Hornemann to fuch Mahometan merchants (men of integrity) as have travelled into the interior of Africa; to furnish him with every affiftance and facility in profecut ing his journey; and, above all, to fecure to him fuch protection in the caravan with which he may travel, as may render his progrefs not only free from peril, but com modious and pleasant.

Thus provided, Mr. Hornemann was on the point of proceeding to Marfeilles; from whence to embark by the firft opportunity for Alexandria; at which place it is probable he will arrive before the end of this month.

Auguft 26th, 1797.

Lift of Patents granted during the Year 1797, for various Inventions.

JOHN

JOHN LEE, of Lewisham, in the county of Kent, Brickmaker, for a mixture of chalk, whiting, or lime, together with clay, loam, or earth, for colouring and making of bricks. Dated January 23, 1797.

Dudley Adams, of Fleet-ftreet, Optician, for fpectacles upon a new principle, by which all preffure is removed from the temples and nofe. Dated January 23, 1797.

Anthony George Eckhardt, of Charing-Crofs, and Richard Morton, of Sheffield, in the county of York, Manufacturers, for making candlesticks, &c. fo that the lights may be raised or lowered, having likewife the advantage of an extinguifher. Dated January 23, 1797. Timothy Sheldrake, of the Strand, for a method of curing the deformities of children, or others. Dated January 24, 1797.

Robert Ferryman, of Hammerfmith, in the county of Middlefex, Clerk, for a machine for blanching, grinding, and dressing of corn. Dated January 24, 1797.

James Murphy, of Hertforu fi.eet, Pancras, for improvements in tanning hides and fkins, &c. Dated January 27, 1797.

William Rolfe and Samuel Davis,

of Cheapfide, Mufical-Inftrumentmakers, for improvements in harpfichords and piano-fortes. Dated. January 31, 1797.

George Cotes, of Edward-ftreet, Chrift-Church, in the county of Surrey, Carpenter and Builder, for a machine for expediting the making of horse-shoe nails, brads, &c. Dated January 31, 1797.

John Grover, of Chefham, in the county of Bucks, Brewer, for improvements in the construction and fixing of coppers, boilers, and furnaces. Dated February 7, 1797.

John Falconer Atlee, of Wandfworth, in the county of Surrey, Diftiller, for a method of condenfing and cooling fpirits, in the procefs of diftillation. Dated February 7, 1797.

James Glazebrook, of Hadley, in the county of Salop, Engineer, for a method of working and giving power to machinery, by means of air. Dated February 7, 1797.

John Nafh, of Dover-street, St. James's, Architect, for a method of conftructing bridges of plateiron, &c. Dated February 7,