X PREFACE 



out to explore the Congo, were thankful for the 

 instructions they found in it; and Sir Joseph 

 Banks, on sending back the journal, said in his 

 letter, *'I return your journal, with abundant 

 thanks for the very instructive lesson you have 

 favoured us with this morning, which far excelled, 

 in real utility, everything I have hitherto seen.'* 

 And in another letter he says, "I hear with par- 

 ticular pleasure your intention of resuming your 

 interesting travels, to which natural history has 

 already been so much indebted." And again, *'I 

 am sorry you did not deposit some part of your 

 last harvest of birds in the British Museum, that 

 your name might become familiar to naturalists, 

 and that your unrivalled skill in preserving birds 

 be made known to the public. ' ' And again, * ' You 

 certainly have talents to set forth a book, which 

 will improve and extend materially the bounds of 

 natural science." 



Sir Joseph never read the third adventure. 

 Whilst I was engaged in it, death robbed England 

 of one of her most valuable subjects, and de- 

 prived the Eoyal Society of its brightest orna- 

 ment. 



