Mungo Park. By H. S. Anderson, M.D. 303 



are bound up with his Hymns and i^piritual Songs, in three 

 books occupying 540 pages. On the fly-leaf the owner's name 

 appears " Alexander Anderson,'' General Military Hospital, 

 Gosport, Augt. 30, 1804. 



The waters of the Niger have left their traces on the brown and 

 stained pages, and almost obliterated the gilding from the edges 

 of the leaves ; but the dilapidated state of the little volume 

 makes it all the more titting a momento of the sad fate that 

 overtook its owner, and then his more distinjjuished friend and 

 leader. To both of them it probably brought help and solace 

 when parted from their fellow Christians, and contending with 

 the difficulties of African travel ; for Ander^on was a thoroughly 

 religious man, and the Christian faith of Park was strong and 

 sincere. 



A most gratuitous attack has recently been made on the 

 character of Mungo Park by an eminent and eloquent writer, Mr 

 Euskin, in " Furs Cldvigera," in haviu;^ questioned his belief 

 and kindne-^8 as a husband and head of a family. Fortunately 

 there exist documents wliich attt^st Park's religi"U8 principles, far 

 more satisfactori'y than his preservation and probable use of the 

 little volume I have referred to ; and a letter to his wife which 

 has been preserved exhibits bim in the character of a loving 

 and chivalrous husband. 



I append a letter written bv Park on the eve of his departure 

 for In lia, to the same attached friend who accompanied him to 

 Africa, and perished ere the Niger was reached, viz. Dr. Alex- 

 ander Anderson. 



The letter to his wife is almost too sacred for the public eye, 

 and but for Mr Euskin' s extraordinary and inexcusable explosion, 

 I doubt whether I should have printed it. It was written while 

 Park was in London, negotiating with the Government about a 

 proposed exploration of New South Wales, which never came to 

 any practical result, 'i he letter speaks for itself, and completely 

 refutes the baseless aspersions of Mr Euskin. 

 Extract of letter of Mungo Park to his brother-in-law, Dr. Alexr. Anderson. 



London Feby. 9th, 1793. 

 I have now reached that height that I can behold the. tumults of nations 

 with indifference, confident that the reins of events are in our Father" s hands. 

 May you and I not like the stubborn mule, but like the weaning child) obey 

 his hand that after all the troubles of this dark world in which we ar^- tiuly 

 strangers, we may, through the wonders of atonement reach a far greater and 

 aa exceeding weight of glory. I wish you may be enabled to look upon the 



