LIFE OF MUNGO PARK. 
Park's narrative. In this important, but difficult, part of 
his work he appears to have been peculiarly successful. 
His natural and nnafFected manner of describing exertions 
and sulFerings which almost surpass the fictions of romance, 
carries a feeling and conviction of truth to the mind of 
every reader, and excites deeper and more powerful emo- 
tions than have often been produced, even by works of 
imagination. 
It is painful, after bestowing this well-merited praise, 
to be under the necessity of adverting to two circumstances 
unfavourable to Park's memory, connected with the history 
of this publication. These are, 1st. an opinion which 
has prevailed, that Park was a supporter of the cause of 
Slavery, and an enemy to the Abolition of the African 
Slave Trade ; and 2dly. a report, equally current, that the 
Travels, of which he was the professed author, were com- 
posed not by Park himself, but in a very considerable 
degree, by Mr. Bryan Edwards. — Topics, thus personal and 
invidious, the writer of this Memoir would naturally wish to 
decline ; but they are too intimately connected with the 
principal occurrences of Park's life to adaiit of being passed 
over without particular enquiry and examination. For this 
purpose, it will be necessary to trace, more distinctly than 
has hitherto been done, the connection between Park and 
Mr. Bryan Edwards ; which was a principal cause of the 
reports above alluded to. 
Mr. Edwards was an intelligent and respectable man, 
of no inconsiderable literary attainments, and known as 
the author of the History of the British Colonies in the 
West Indies. Being possessed of property in Jamaica, 
