486 CORRESPONDENCE RESPECTING 
to the reputation of the courageous traveller^ whose in- 
terests you justly defend. No one is less accessible than 
myself to impressions exclusively national^ and it is on 
behalf of humanity in general that I am devoted to the 
cause of science and its indefinite progress. 1 should, 
therefore, have sincerely rejoiced in being the first to make 
known in France the return and success of Major Laing, 
as I was fortunate enough to do in regard to Captain 
Clapperton and Major Denham on their arrival. You must 
be aware, Sir, that it was I who announced to the French 
public the labours of these intrepid adventurers, who first 
published their valuable Discoveries in Central Africa, 
and paid legitimate homage to the memory of Dr. Oudney, 
With respect to Major Laing, I long questioned and with- 
stood the premature rumours of his death, and exerted 
myself to point out the contradictions that pervaded the 
accounts circulated both in Africa and Europe ; nothing, 
indeed, had yet persuaded me of the reality of this catas- 
trophe, and your letter alone. Sir, could oblige me to give 
entire credit to this distressing intelligence, so ardently 
did 1 desire to be informed of Major Laing's success, and 
to have the pleasure of proclaiming it, and of contributing, 
however feebly, to his renown. Major Denham may have 
acquainted you with the reception which he experienced 
from me at Paris 5 and told you how happy I esteemed my- 
self in embracing this brave officer, and in conversing with 
a man who had ten times courageously hazarded his life, in 
order to penetrate as far as possible in an unknown 
continent. 
