Ixx 



AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



my wishes. One day, whilst I was in his room, 

 there came a letter to inform him that the steam- 

 vessel appointed for* the expedition did not answer 

 expectations ; for its powers were not considered 

 adequate to make way against the downward stream 

 of the Congo. " Then/' exclaimed Sir Joseph, with 

 great emphasis, " the intended expedition will be a 

 total failure and, putting his hand upon my shoul- 

 der, " My friend," said he, " you shall not go to 

 Africa. There will be nothing but disappointment 

 and misfortune, now that the plan of proceeding by 

 steam cannot be put in execution to the extent which 

 I deem absolutely necessary for the success of the 

 enterprise." He then requested me to prolong my 

 stay in London, and to meet the scientific gentlemen 

 who formed the expedition for a day or two at his 

 house, in order to impart certain instructions to 

 them. I did so ; and showed them many things which, 

 I think, could not fail to prove useful* to them in 

 their preparation of specimens for the benefit of 

 natural history. Above all things, I tried to impress 

 upon their minds the absolute necessity of temper- 

 ance ; and I warned them particularly never to sleep 

 in their wet clothes. 



I left London for Yorkshire, and from thence went 

 to Liverpool, where I embarked on board the Indian, 

 Captain Balberney, for Pernambuco, in Brazil 



* " Soho Square, Saturday evening. 



" My dear Sir, 



" I return your manuscript, with abundant thanks for the very instruc- 

 tive lesson you favoured us with this morning, which far^ excelled in real 

 Utility every thing I have hitherto seen. 



" Your obliged and faithful 



• "Joseph Banks." 



