PARK S SECOND JOURNEY. 101 



more populous than any formerly known in that continent ; 

 but other kingdoms, still greater and more wealthy, were 

 reported to exist in regions which he had vainly attempted 

 to reach. The lustre of his achievements had diftused 

 among the public in general an ardour for discovery, which 

 was formerly confined to a few enlightened individuals. It 

 was evident, however, that the efforts of no private asso- 

 ciation could penetrate the depths of this vast continent, 

 and overcome the obstacles presented by its distance, its de- 

 serts, and its barbarism. Thus it became necessary for 

 George III., the patron and employer of Cook, to come for- 

 ward as the promoter of discovery in this new sphere. In 

 October, 1801, accordingly, Mr. Park was invited by govern- 

 ment to undertake an expedition on a larger scale into the 

 interior of Africa. Having in the mean time married the 

 daughter of Mr. Anderson, with whom he had served his 

 apprenticeship as a surgeon, and having entered with some 

 success on the practice of his profession in the neighbouring 

 town of Peebles, it was supposed that, content with laurels 

 so dearly earned, he had renounced a life of peril and ad- 

 venture. But none of these ties could detain him, when 

 the invitation was given to renew and complete his splendid 

 career. His mind had been brooding on the subject with 

 enthusiastic ardour. He had held much intercourse with 

 Mr. Maxwell, a gentleman who had long commanded a ves- 

 sel in the African trade, by whom he was persuaded that 

 the Zaire, or Congo, which, since its discovery by the Por- 

 tuguese, had been almost lost sight of by Europeans, would 

 prove to be the channel by which the Niger, after watering 

 all the regions of Interior Africa, enters the Atlantic. The 

 scientific world were very much disposed to adopt Park's 

 views on this subject ; and accordingly the whole plan of the 

 expedition was adjusted with an avowed reference to them. 

 The agitation of the public mind, by the change of ministry 

 and the war with France, delayed farther proceedings till 

 1804, when he was desired by Lord Camden, the colonial 

 secretary, to form his arrangements, with an assurance of 

 being supplied with every means necessary for their accom- 

 plishment. The course which he now suggested was, that 

 he should no longer travel as a single and unprotected wan- 

 derer ; his ejcperience decided him against such a mode of 

 proceeding. He proposed to take with him a small party, 

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