XXXVIU 
ACCOUNT OF THE 
at Peebles; wliere Park continued to reside together with 
his African instructor, till about the middle of May. He 
then finally quitted his house at Peebles, and took his 
family to the farm at Fowlshiels, where he quietly waited 
the expected summons of the Secretary of State. During 
all this time he employed himself with great diligence in 
acquiring a familiar use of astronomical instruments, and 
in the study of the Arabic language, in which he became 
a tolerable proficient. 
Early in September he received a letter from the Under 
Secretary of State for the Colonial department, desiring him 
to set off without delay for London, and to present him^ 
self on his arrival at the Colonial Office. He accordingly 
lost no time in settling his affairs ; and taking an affec- 
tionate leave of his family, wife, and children, quitted 
Fowlshields, and arrived in London towards the latter end 
of September, 1804. 
In the course of Park's communications with the Colo- 
nial Office, Lord Camden had intimated a desire to be fur- 
nished with a written statement of Park's opinions, both 
as to the plan of the expedition, and the particular objects 
towards which he conceived that his attention ought to be 
chiefly directed during the intended journey. In compliance 
with this request, he had, during his leisure in the coun- 
try, drawn up a Memoir upon these subjects, which he 
presented at the Colonial Office within a few days after his 
arrival in London. As this paper formed the ground work 
of the official instructions which were afterwards given to 
Park, and is in other respects interesting and important, 
it is here inserted at length. 
