Ixx 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
my wishes. One day, whilst I was in his roonij. 
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 particu^.arly 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 reaj 
Utility every tiling I have hitherto seen. 
" Your obliged and faithful 
*' Joseph BAnks." 
