the late African Traveller. 7 1 



tinue to be so in a great measure. I hope that the active 

 steps now taken by the French and other Governments will 

 awaken the British legislature to a sense of what we throw 

 away by an ill-judged ceconomy. London may be the metro- 

 polis of commerce, but it will never be that of science until 

 it possesses the advantages of a school of natural historj', with 

 a truly national museum, menagerie and botanic garden, 

 and a school for mathematical and physical science on the 

 footing of the French Ecole Polytechnique. I could have sent 

 home, during the time I have remained here, many additions 

 to a menagerie ; but if they were to get to England, there is no 

 place to put them in ; and besides, I doubt even whether, un- 

 der the actual management of the British Museum, the ex- 

 pense of their conveyance would be paid. 



My instruments have arrived here in pretty good state, that 

 is, with only two accidents, which, considering the number of 

 things, I do not think more than I might have expected. One 

 of these losses is Six's thermometer for indicating the maxi- 

 ma and minima of temperature. I have, however, written 

 for another from England, which if fortunate I may get be- 

 fore I leave this place, as the Bey of Fezzan will be yet six 

 weeks or two months before his preparations are finished. 

 The other accident was Fortin's barometer, which Dupont let 

 fall on board the ship in which we sailed from Malta. I have 

 however since my arrival repaired this loss to my satisfaction. 



I cannot tell you so much about my plans as I could before 

 leaving Europe. In the first instance, I shall go with " Ma- 

 hommed il Muckne " the Bey of Fezzan, to Fezzan, and after- 

 wards proceed with him in an expedition which he is on the 

 point of undertaking against Waday to the south-eastward. 

 This is the same country which is called Bergou in the maps. 

 My subsequent motions will entirely depend on circumstances. 



I have had two accessions to my party since I saw you. 

 One is Lieutenant Lyon of the Albion, the admiral's ship at 

 Malta, an officer who draws very well, and is an exceedingly 

 well-informed young man. The other is John Belford, a car- 

 penter from the Maltese Dockyard, who turns out to be a very 

 steady and useful man. I intend to attach four Africans to 

 the party. Two of these are Mustapha, a native of Tripoli, 

 formerly one of the English Consul's Dragomen; and Hassan, 

 a native of Fezzan, who speaks the languages of Bomou and 

 Haoussa. I have had very numerous offers from persons both 

 at Malta and here, who were willing to accompany me. In- 

 deed I should have no difficulty in finding two or three hun- 

 dred volunteers, as a day hardly ever passes without some ap- 

 plications. 



If 



