DEPARTURE FROM ENGLAND. 
457 
the nation, and their influence was felt in a quar- 
ter whence more powerful exertions could issue, 
than from the most powerful association of indivi- 
duals. The present reign had been distinguished 
by an extraordinary zeal for promoting the pro- 
gress of discovery both by sea and land ; and du- 
ring its lapse Britain had risen to the first rank 
in this distinguished career. The same patronage 
under which Captain Cook had displayed himself 
as the first of maritime explorers, was now extend- 
ed to one, who held a place equally eminent 
among land travellers. In October 1801, Mr 
Park was apprized that it was the intention of 
Government to send a new expedition, on a large 
scale, to Africa, and was invited to place himself 
at its head. In his ardent mind, neither the re- 
collection of former " hairbreadth 'scapes," nor 
domestic ties recently formed, could for a mo- 
ment damp the enthusiasm with which he em- 
barked in this new field of adventure. He would 
have departed without delay, had not a change of 
ministry, and some official difficulties, retarded 
the equipment of the expedition till September 
1804. On the 4th of October, he delivered to 
the Colonial Office a memoir on the plan and 
objects of this expedition. To understand these, 
it may be necessary to advert to some circum- 
stances by which his views on this subject had 
been powerfully affected. During his retirement 
