ADDENDA. 
xxi 
tions of his own, subject to Park's approbation. This is a general description 
of what is nsually don;- by those persons who prepare the works of others for the 
press; sinH it obvious thai such literary assistance admits of all possible 
degrees. In some in-taiires it mav consist only of slight alteralions, and is 
little nuve than nominal; in others it may affect the whole texUire and 
fabric of the c<)mj)osilion, and supersede the claims of the original author. 
The case of Park's Work, if it could be ihoronghiy investigated, would 
probably be found to l)e somewhere between the two extremes; since it must be 
acknowledged to contain severrd striking passages bearing a great stamp of 
originality and strongly marked with those simple and natural beauties, of 
which there are various occasional traces in the Journal and Letters now 
published ; whilst, on the other hand, considerable parts, and especially the 
observations on the state of slavery in Africa, may be confidently pronounced, 
from the peculiar character both of the style and sentiments, to have pro- 
ceeded from the pen of Mr. Edwards. 
Such being the view which the Editor has taken of this subject, it remains 
to be seen how the transaction is represented by Mr. Park ; and it is unfor- 
tunate, in this respect, that his first letter to Sir William Young cannot now 
be found. But it is clear from Sir William's answer and Park's subsequent 
letter, that the ground of the complaint was, that Mr. Edwards had been 
held out to the public, in the Preface to the new edition of the History of the 
West Indies, as the Author of Park's Travels. In answer to this complaint, 
Sir William Young expresses his regret for having done an unintentional 
injustice to Park's literary pretensions, and his willingness to make him any 
reparation in his power. He at the same time states the transaction, as he 
understood it from Mr. Edwards himself; namely," that the latter assisted in 
the general arrangement of the materials which Park supplied, as Dr. Hawkes- 
worth did in the case of the voyages of Captain Cook." Upon this important 
passage Mr. Park, in his reply to SirWilliamYoung, makes no observation ; but 
appears to be satisfied with the explanation given, and desires that he may be 
at liberty to publish the letter; by which request he substantially admits the 
correctriess of the foregoing statement. 
If Park's claim to be considered as the author of the Travels in Africa, be 
taken (as it evidently must) with the qualification slated in Sir William 
Young's letter, there will be no substantial variance between his own account 
of this transaction and the opinion expressed in this work; and the only point 
of discussion which would then remain, would relate to the extent of Park's 
